San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-12


singular beauty came out of the green
shadows and stood beside the chair
in the open spa ce.
Unorna betrayed no surprise as she
looked up into her visitors face.
She knew 1t well. In form and
feature the youth represented the
noblest type of the Jewish race.
Israel Kafka stood still, gazing
down upon the woman he loved and
drawing his breath hard between his
parted lips.
"Well?" She interroSated.
Under an irresistible impulse he
fell upon his kness beside Unorna.
covering her marble hand with all his
lean, dark fingers, and pressing his
forehead upon them, as though he
had found and grasped all that could
be dear to him in life.
"Unorna! My golden Urornam he
cried, as he knelt.
UnorGa looked down upon his bent
head. AS though collecting her
thoughts she closed her eyes, as she
tried to draw back der hand; then as
spoke to him.
You have not understood me, ~ she
said, as quietly as she could.
"Not-undersrood?n he repeated in
startled, broken tones.
Unorna sighed and turned away, for
the sight hurt her ami accused her.
mo, you have not understood, Is
it my fault? Israel kafka, that hand
is not yours to hold"
mot mineP Unofna!" Yet he
could not quite believe what she salG
Il am in earnest" she answered.
''Do you think | am jestiIg with YOU
or with myself"
Israel Kafka still kneit beside her
moIiOnless and hardly breathing.
Il have been mistaken" Unorna
continued at last "Forgive-forget
Israel Kafka rose to his feet and
drew back a step from her side.
How easy it is for you!" exclaimed
the Moravian. How easy! How
You let your eyes rest on me,
and | kneel before you. You sigh,
and | speak words Of love. You lift
your hand, and / crouch at your feet.
You frown-and l humbly leave you.
How easyn'
You are wrong and you speak fool
ishly. You are angry and you do not
weigh your words"
Angry! What have l to do with
so common a madness as anger? l am
more than angry. Do you think that,
because | have submitted to the veer-
ing gusts of your good and evil hui
mors these many months, l have lost
all consciousness of myselfP Have
you promised me nothinge Have
you given me no hopeP Have you
said asd done nothing whereby you
are bOund?"
Il never gave you either pledge or
premise" answered UnOrna in a
harder tone. The only hope l have
ever extended to you was this, that
would one day answer you plainly. l
have done so. You are not satisfied.
Is there anything more to be saidP
do not bid you to leave my house for
ever, any more than | mean to drive
you from my friendship"
From your friendship. All, l
thank you. Unorna, l most humbly
thank you. For the mercy you eX-
tend in allowing me to linger near
you, l am grateful Your friend,
you say? Ay, truly, your friend and
servant, your servant and your slave,
your slave and your dog. Your friend
ship have no words for thanks"
Take it, or take it not-as you
will" Unorna glanced at his angry
face and quickly looked away.
Take it? Yes, and more too,
whether you will give it or not" an
swered Israel Kafka, moving nearer
to her. Yes. Whether you will, or
whether you will mott will have all,
youp friendship, your love, your life,
your breath, your sOul-an or moth
ing"
you are wise to suggest the latter
alternative as a possibility" said
Unorna, coldly, and not needing his
approach.
The young man stood still and
folded his arms.
''Do you mean what you say?" he
asked, slowly. "Do you mean that L
shall have not all, but nothing? Do
you still dare TO mean that. after all
that has passed between you and me?"
Unorna raised her eyes and looked
steadily into his.
Israel Kafka, do not speak to me
of daring"
But the young mans glance did not
waver. The angry expression of his
features did not relax.