The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-05-26

inant idea.
The belief in a great cruelty and a
greater injustice reused the mar who
throughout SO many days had lived
in calm Indifference to every aspect
Of the humanity around him. SEEING
that Israel Kafka could not be re-
stored to consciousness, he rose to
his feet again and stood between the
PROSTATE victim and Unorna.
'|You are killing this man instead
of saving him." he said. His crime.
you say, is that he loves you. Is that
a reason for using all your powers to
destroy him in body and mind?"
Perhaps" answered Unorna, calm
ly, though there was still a dangerous
light in her eyes.
mo. 1t is no reason" answered
the Wanderer with a decision to which
Unorna was not accustomed. Ike
york tells me the man is mad. He
may be. But he loves you, and de-
serves mercy of you"
Whatever your art may be. you
use it badly and cruelty. A moment
ago l was blinded myself. If l had
understood clearly while you were
speaking that you were making this
poor fellow suffer in himself the hide
Gus agony described. l would have
stopped you. You blinded me as you
dominated him. But I am not blind
now. You shall not torment him any
~longer."
"And how would you have stopped
me? How can you hinder me now?"
asked Unorna.
'.By force, if need be, The answered,
very quietly.
You talk Of force to a woman!''
she exclaimed, contemporary. You
T. indeed braven
you are not a woman. You are
the incarnation of cruelty. | have
seer it,"
His eyes were cold and his voice
was stern. Unorna felt a very sharp
pain and shivered as though she we're
cold.
"You do not know" she answered.
''How should you?" Her glance fell
and her voice trembled.
Il know enough" he said. He
turned coldly from her, and knelt
again beside Israel Kafka.
He raised the pale head and sup
ported it upon his knee, and gazed
anxiously into the face, raising the
lids with his finger, as though to con-
vince himself that the man was not
dead Indeed, there seemed to be
but little life left in him. as he lay
there with outstretched arms and
twisted fingers, scarcely breathing.
In such a place, without so much as
the commonest restorative to aid him,
the Wanderer saw that he had but
little chance of success.
Then she heard footsteps on the
frozen path, and turning quickly she
saw that the Wanderer had lifted
Kafka's body from the ground and
was moving rapidly away. toward the
entrance of the cemetery. He was
leaving her in anger, without a word.
She turned very pale and hesitated.
Then she ran forward to overtake
him. but he, hearing her approach,
~quickened his stride, seeming but lit
tie hampered in his pace by the
burden he bore. But Unorna, too,
was fleet of foot and strong.
s.Stop!" she cried, laying her hand
upon his arm. Stop. Hear me-!
Do not leave me sop
But he would not pause and hurried
onward toward the gate.
'Stop!" she cried again. Il will
save hlm-I will obey you'll will be
kind to him-he will die in your arms
if you do not let me help you-oh!
for the love of Heaven, wait one mo-
ment! Only one moment!'
She so thrust herself in the Wan
derer's path, hanging upon him and
trying to tear Kafka from his arms
that he was forced to stand still and
face her.
Let me pass!' he exclaimed, MAX
ing another effort to advance. But
she chung to him and he could not
move.
s'No-I will not let you CO." she
murmured. You can do nothing
without me, you will only kill him as
I would have done a moment ago"
'.And az you will do now," he said
sternly, ''if 1 let you have your way"
by all that is holy in heaven, I
will save him-he shall not even re-
member
"Do not swear. / shall not believe
you"
You will believe when you see
you will forgive me-you will under
derstand.n
Without answering he exerted his
strength and, clasping the insensible
man more firmly in his arms, he made
N or two steps forward. Unorna's
foot slipped on the frozen ground and
she would have fallen to the earth.
but she chung to him with desperate
energy. Seeing that she was in dan
ger of some bodily hurt if he used
greater force, the Wanderer stopped
again, uncertain how to act. Unorna
stood before him, painting a little from
the struggle. her face as white as
death.
'.Unless you kill me-" she said, ..you
shall not take him away so. Hold
-.