The Washington critic., 1889-01-21

DC met WIN on every corner,
James listened to the words of the jew
with quivering anxiety. The sun was
Just about disappearing, and IL seemed
to James as if the Jew and all about him
was encirced 10y halo of differing,
tempting gold. lie dared not speak and
hid his face in his hands for few
seconds. When he looked UP again the
jew stood on the same spot and the same
position, but his red beard did not ap-
pear as stream of gold now, as il had
before. The scene had disappeared and
the soom looked rs poor and empty as
ever
"Well, sir" broke in the Jew, "will
you then sell me your character Aaron
pays well. There is great market for
characters since the election Is near
viii you sell yours2 Aaron pays any
amount
Speaking thus the jew took gold
piece out Of his purse and held II In his
hand in front of James. For moment
James looked greedily upon the gold,
then suddenly be turned his head and
said with firmness and indignation:
"No will not sell my character"
The Jew shook his head.
won't sell it. chr Indeed q handsome
character. / will double any oirerl /
will make you millionaire. You will
he able to live in palace, drink the
most genuine wines and kiss the hand
soonest lips.
James stood for q moment and looked
up to the heavens, as If he was invoking
some power to help him to resist the
great temptation. Then he repeated
with a sigh, mo. l will not sell my
character"
"Well then, please yourself. You
keep your character with what follows,
starvation and misery. and Aaron keeps
his gold. Good bye, young man.
He threw the gold piece, grinning ma
liciously, into the purse, took his time in
hiding it in the inner pocket of his coat
and was about leaving, when he suddenly
stopped in the doorway.
aaron has good heart" he said.
"Ie does not like to abandon an honest
young man in distress. / will lend you
the money, and you can pawn your char
acter as scurity for the amount. Was
not that good idea2 Aaron is very kind
and good-hcarted, can tell you, and
well, what do you sayP"
James reflected for few minutes. He
took quick survey of the room. The
wardrobe empty, no blankets on the bed,
no books on the stand; and now, more
than ever before, distress seemed to grin
from the corners its horrid assurance:
"Ncver, never, will leave your
Poor James is hard beset. The gold
he thinks Is escape from the grinning
spectre of misery; but shall he therefore
give up the jewel Of his soul? Shall he
forfeit his character and become beg.
gar, indeed? The struggle, though short
was intense, but James good angel was
defeated. A sigh and helpless move
ment of his hand told the Jew that he
had won in the ghastly game. Said
James: well, then, take my character.
l pawn it."
Thus speaking he suddenly felt aston
ished anew. How was 1t possible to
pawn characterY Did he not dreams
Was it not visionP
He closed his eyes and opened them
again. No, the Jew was still there; the
misery and want were still there. 1t was
not vision, but grim fact.
81 know why you are uneasy, sir, y
said the Jew, "but 1 will take that feel
ing away at once"
from his pocket, opened 1t and closed it q
moment later.
"Now your character is here he con
tinued with grinnig leer and tapped
with his finger upon the cover of the box
James looked astonished on the box
In the twilight he could read the words
that were printed on the cover
"NoBLE CHARACTERS.
"You see," said the Jew, "how pretty
an epitaph your character gets. Now
will show you," he continued. taking
other boxes from his pockets, "somt
Ill Oh ntnr,
the most easily to be found with old
people that have long gray boards, and
here you see some 'high-minded' char
acters; they are, somehow, dirt cheap
but not goods to be warranted, as a rule
Especially one has to look out for then
in the world. Besides, the politicians o.
the same party make each other often s
present of such charachter, but'-h,
suddenly interrupted himself-"what d,
you care for my boxes? You prefer t
see your money on the table, or am yer.
much mistaken"
He opened his purse and piled lot o
money on the table.
Five years and you will see me again
II you then cannot pay me this amount
with interest, your character is forfeited
to me. Do we agreeY'
James consented, and 1t seemed to hin
as if the jew put the gold in piles s.
, high that 1t reached to the ceiling, ant
as If the Jews purse had no bottom.
, Great Scott, what q lot Of goldl
Five years have passed
We find of James now great man
leading high and luxurious life, in a
air redolent with the bouquet of the wines
the frou-frou of silks, the glitter an
, flash of jewelry. He has obtained al
this material enjoyments of life by tn
help of gold. He is handsome man
He bears himself with grace, looks S
we'll as to be taken for the very pctur
of health, and his eyes are full of salts
faction. One sees that he drinks wit
moderation from the cup of enjoyment
with the delicacy OF. a genuine epicure.
, His want of character is in harmon
with his surroundings. He is married
But is it to the young girl that ono
filed him with love? No, indeed, it j
| not. Her heart would most likely hav
5 been softened If she had seen his gold
> but James heart had suddenly becom
as cold as ice. He wanted beauty. no
/ love. He did not love his wife. no
she him, but that did not disturb thei
{ lives. To the world they loved eacl
l other, and when alone Why tax
> things so earnestly?
| James want of character Is an opel
! secret. Every one knows how it is wit
him in reality, as one can read 1t upol
) his forehead
L