The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-06-02

The Wanderer was admitted with
out question. He found Unorna in
her accustomed place. She had
thrown aside her furs, and was sitting
In an attitude OF deep thought. Her
dress was black, and in the soft light
q the shaded lamp she was like a
dark, marble statue, set in the midst
OF thick shrubbery in a garden. Her
elbow rested on her knee. her chin
upon her beautiful, heavy hand; only
In her hair there was bright color.
II come from Israel Kafka," said
the Wanderer. standing still before
her.
'What of himP" she asked, in a
voice without expression. us he
well?"
HE bids me say TO you that he has
promised before heaven to take your
life, and that there is no escape from
a man who is ready to lay down his
own
'And you have brought me this
message-this w~arning-tO save me?"
she said.
LAS | tried to save him from you
an hour ago. But there is little time.
The man is desperate, whether mad
or a n / cannot tell. Make haste.
Determine where 10 go for safety, and
l will take you there.
II fancy it will not be safe to hest
tate long he said. HE is in earn
est"
Il do not fear Israel Kafka, and I
fear death less, answered Unorna, de-
liberately.
''Why, does he mean to kill me?"
II think that in his place most very
human men would feel as he does,
though religion or prudence, or fear,
or all three together, might prevent
them from doing what they would wish
to do"
You, too? And which of the
three would prevent you from murder
ing meP"
None, perhaps = though pity
might"
Il want no pity, least of all from
you. What I have done, I have done
for you, and for you only"
..Yop do not seem surprised" said
Unorua you know hat 1 love you"
II know it,"
II must repeat that, in my opinion,
you have not much time to spare" he
said. IF you are not in a place of
safety in half an hour, 1 cannot
answer for the consequences"
mo timep There is all eternity.
What is eternity or time or life to me?
/ will wait for him here. Why did
you tell him what l did. if you wished
me to live?n
.'Why-since there are to be ques-
tions-why did you exercise your cru
city upon an innocent man who loves
youp"
why? There are reasons
enough" Unorna's voice trembled
slightly. you do not know what
happened. How should youp You
were asleep. You may as well know,
since l may be beyond telling you in
an hour from now. You may as well
know how I love you, and what
depths I have gone down to win your
love-"
Il would rather not receive your
confidence" the Wanderer answered
haughtily. Il came here to save your
life and not to hear your confess
sions."
'.And when you have heard you
will no longer wish to save. If you
choose to leave me here. l will wait
for Israel Kafka alone, He may kill
me if he pleases. | do not care. But,
if you stay you shall hear what I have
to say"
"a loved you from the moment
when l first saw you," said Unorna,
trying to speak calmly. ."But you
loved another woman. Do you re-
member her? Her name was Beatrice,
and she was very dark, as 1 am fair.
You had lost her and you had sought
her for years. You entered my house,
thinking that she had gone in before
o Do you remember that morn
ing. 1t was a month ago to-day.
You told me the story"
stYou have dreamed it." said the
Wanderer in cold surprise. II never
loved any woman yet"
I1OW pcIlCCb IL q was Sb HISb.
she exclaimed. ''How smooth it
seemed! How easy. You slept be-
fore ne, out there by the river that
very afternoon. And in your sleep I
babe you forget. And you forgot
wholly, your love, the woman, her
very name. ever as Israel Kafka for
got today what he had suffered in the
person of the martyr. You told him
the story, and he believes you, be-
cause he knows me, and knows what
I can do. You can believe me or not,
as you will. | did it."
You are dreaming the Wanderel
repeated, wondering whether she was
out of her mind.
II did it. | said to myself that If
could destroy your old love, rooti it out
from your heart and from your mem.
ory and make you as one who had
never loved at all, then you would
love me as you had loved her, with
your whole soul. I said that / was
beautiful-it is true. is it notP And