Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-25

'You do not really love me-" she said softly.
Israel Kafka started, as man who II. struck
unawares. The monstrous untruth wnicn nned
veiled the penetrating sharpness OF his gaze,
and his hand trembled.
II do not love your /! Unorna-Unorna!'
The first words broke from him in q cry OF
horror and stupefactiOn. But her name, when
he spoke it, sounded as the death moan OF
young wild animal wounded beyond all power
to turn at bay.
He moved unsteadly and laid hold of the
tall chair in which she sat. He was behind her
now, standing, but bending down SO that his
forehead pressed his fingers he could not
bear to look upon her hair. still less upon her
face. Even his hands were white and blood
less. Unorna could hear his quick breathing
just above her shoulder. She sat quite still !,
and her lips were smiling, though her brow was
thoughtful and almost sad She knew that the
struggle was over and that she had gained the
mastery, though the price of victory might be
broken heart.
You thought 1 was jesting," she said in a
low voice. looking before her into the deep
foliage, but knowing that her softest whisper
would reach him. "BuL there was no jest in
what said-nor any unkindness in what l
meant. though it is all nv fault, But that Is
true-you never loved me as 1 would be loved"
"Unorna-"
mol am not unkind. Your love is young,
fierce. inconstant; half terrible, half boyish;
aiame to-day, asleep tomorrow; ready to turn
into hatred at one moment to melt into tears
at the next: intermittent. unstable as water,
fleeting as a clouds shadow on the mountain
side"
1T pleased you once" said Israel Kafka in
broken tones. 1T is not less love, because you
are weary of it, and of me"
Weary. you say? No, not weary-and very
truly not of you. You will believe that to-day.
tomorrow you will still try to force life into
your belief-and then it will be dead and gone
like all thoughts which have never entered into
the shapes of reality. We have not loved each
other we. have but fancied that it would be
sweet to love. and the knife of truth has parted
he yvp Of N n q
that we see before US what is, though the ghost
OF what might have been is yet lingering near"
Who wove that. web, Unorna? You, or li'
He lifted his heavy eyes and gazed at ner coilsd
hair.
what matters it whether it was your doing
or mine? But we wove it together-and to-
gether we must see the truth"
IF this is true, there is no more together for
I'VE may yet CLEAN friendship in the fields
where love has grown"
Friendship-the very dregs and lees of the wine
of lifel Friendship-the sour DRAWINGS of the
hearts cup, left to moisten the lips of the
damned when the blessed have drunk their fill.
l hate the word, as hate the thoughtT'
Unorna sighed, partly. perhaps, that he might
hear the sigh and put upon 1t an Interpretation
soothing to his vanity, but partly. too, from
sincere regret that he should need to suffer as
he was evidently suffering. She had half be-
lieved that she loved him. and she owed him
pity. Women's hearts pay such debts unwill-
She wished that she had never set eyes upon
Israel Kafka. she wished that she might never
see him again; even his death would hardly
have cost her pang, and yet she was sorry for
him. Diana, the huntress, shot her arrows
with unfailing airn-Dlana, the goddess may
have sighed and shed one bright immortal tear,
as she looked into the fast glazing eyes of the
dying stag-may not Diana, the maiden, have
felt touch Of human sympathy and pain as she
listened to the deep note OF her hounds baying
on poor Acteon's track? No one is all bad, or
all good. No woman is all earthly, nor any
II am sorry" said Unorna. "You will not
understand"
II have understood enough-I have under
stood that a woman can have two faces, and
two hearts, two minds, two souls-it is enough,
my understanding need go no farther. You
sighed before you spoke. IL was not for met
was for yourself. You never felt pain or sor-
row for another"
He was trying to grow cold and to find cold
words to say, which might lead her to believe
him stronger than he was and able to master
his grief But he was too young. too hot, too
changeable for such a part. Moreover. in his
first violent outbreak, Unorna had dominated
him, and he could not now regain the ad-
vantage.
You are wrong, Israel Kafka. You would
make me less than human. If l sighed, it was
indeed for You. See-I confess that I have
done you wrong. not in deeds. but in letting
you hope. Truly, myself have hoped also. /
have thought that the star of love was trem-
bling Just below the east and that you and L
might be one to another-what we cannot
be now. My wisdom has failed me, my sight
has been deceived-am I the only woman in
this world that has been mistaken Can you
not forgive? If l had promised, if had said
one word-and yet, you are right. too, for 1have
let you think in earnest what has been but
passing dream of my own thoughts. It was all
wrong. it was all my fault-there, lay your
hand in mine and say that you forgive, as ask
forgiveness"
He was still standing behind her, leaning
against the back of her chair. WIthoI looking
round she raised her hand above her shoulder
as though seeking for his. But he would not
take it,
"Is it SO hardf' she asked softly. as 1t even
harder for you to give than for me to ask?
Shall we part like thls-not to meet again-each
bearing wound, when both might be whole7
Can you not say word?"
What is it to you whether forgive you or
not7'
"since I ask it. believe that it is much to
me-" she answered, slowly turning her head
until, without catching sight of his face, she
could Just see where his fingers were resting on
her chair. Then. over her shoulder. she touched
them. and drew them to her cheek. He made
no resisr ance.
"Shall we part without one kind thoughtr'
Her voice was softer still and so low and sweet
that it seemed as though the words were
spoken in the ripple of the tiny fountain.
There was magic in the place. in the air. in the
sounds, above all in the fair womans touch.
lis this triendship?' asked Israel Kafka
Then he sank upon his knees beside her and
..lt is friendship-yes-why notf Am I like
other women?"
"Then why need there be any parting?"
"lf you will be my friend there need be none.
You have forgiven me now-l see it in your
eyes, Is it not truef"'
He was at her feet, passive at last under the
superior power which he had never been able
to resist. Unorna's fascination was upon him.
and he could only echo ner words, as he would
have executed her slightest command, with
consciousness of free will or individual thought.
1t was enough that for one moment his anger
should cease to give life to his resistance, it
was sufficient that Unorna should touch him
thus. aud speak softly; his eyelids quivered and
his look became fixed. his strength was alb
sorbed in hers and incapable OF acting except
under her direction. So long as she might
please the spell would endure.
Sit beside me, now, and let us talk" she
said.
Like a man in a dream he rose and sat down
near her.
Unorna laughed. and there was something in
the tone that was not good to hear. Amoment
earlier 1t would have wounded Israel Kafka to
the quick and brought the hot, angry blood to
his face. Now he laughed with her, vacantly
as though not knowing the cause of his mirth.
You are only my slave, after ALL" said
Unorna. scornfully.
Il am only your slave, after ALL" he re-
peated.
4 could touch you with my hand, and YOU
would hate me, and forget that you ever loved
me-"
This time the man was silent. There was "a
contraction of pain In his face, as though a
violent mental struggle we're going on within
him. Unorna tapped the pavement impatiently
with her foot and bent her brows.
"You would hate me and forget that you
ever loved. "she repeated. dwelling on each
word as though to impress it upon his con-
sciousness. Say it. | order you"
The contraction of his features disappeared.
II should hate you and forget that I ever
loved you" he said. slowly.
"Yo GU never loved me-"
~ never loved you."
Again Unorna laughed, and he joined in her
laughter unintelligently, as he had done be-
fore. She leaned back in her seat and her