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

from what danger l am to be saved.
But l a guess. perhaps. You would
advise me to give up the attempt 10
win herp"
Precisely. l need say no more"
"On the contrary" said Kafka,
with sudden energy, when "a mar
gives such advice as that to a stranger
he is bound to give also his reasons"
The Wanderer looked at him calm
ly as he answered:
Zone man need hardly give a reason
for saving another mans life. Yours
Is in danger"
81 see that you hate her, as she
said you did"
You and she are both mistaken in
that. / am not in love with her, and
l have ceased to be her friend. As
for my interests in you, it does not
even pretend to be friendly. II is
that which any man may feel for a
fellow being, and what any man woald
feel who had seer what / have seen
this afternoon"
The calm bearing and speech of the
experienced man of the world carried
weight with it in the eyes of the
young Moravian.
'.If / am to lose her love, I would
rather lose my life also, and by her
hand" he said hotly. you are
warning me against her. l feel that
you are honest, and | see that you
are in earnest. THANK you. If l am
in danger, do not try to save me. |
saw her face a few moments ago,
and h spoke to me. l cannot be-
lieve that she is plotting my destruc-
ton"
What did she say to me when l
was ~asleep?" he asked after a short
pause.
''Did you eve hear the story OF
Simon Abeles?" the Wanderer in
quired, by way of answer.
Kafka frowned and looked round
sharply.
Simon Abeles? He was a renegade
Hebrew boy. His father killed him
He is buried in the Teyn Church?
What of him? What has he to do with
Unorna or with me? I am myself a
Jew. The time has gone by when we
Jews hid our heads. / am proud Of
what l am, and 1 will never be a
Christian. What can Simon Abeles
nave to do with me?"
Little enough. now that you are
awake"
'.And when 1 was asleep-what
then? She made me see him, per-
haps?"
She made you live his life. She
made you suffer all that he suffered
'.What?" cried Israel Kafka, in a
loud and angry tone.
What l say" returned the other.
quietly.
"And you did not interfere? You
did not interfere? No-of course
forgot hat you are u Christian"
II would have stopped her if l
could" he said.
''Were you sleeping, too?" asked
Kafka hotly.
II cannot tell. I was powerless,
though I was conscious. l saw only
Simon Abeles in it all, though |
seemed to be aware that you and he
were one person. l did interfere SO
DON as | was free to move. | think
l saved your life. / was carrying you
away in my arms when she walked
you"
Il thank you'll suppose it is as you
tell me. You could not move, but you
saw it all, you say. You saw me play
the part Of the apostate, you heard
me confess the Christians faith?"
''Yes-I saw you die in agony, con
Tossing it still"
Israel Kafka ground his teeth and
turned his face away. The Wanderer
was silent. A few moments latter the
carriage stopped at the door of
Kafka's lodging. The later turned
to his companion, who was startled by
the change in the young face. The
mouth was lot closely set, the fea-
lures seemed holder, the eyes harder
and more manly, a look Of greater
dignity and strength was in the
whole.
You do not love her?' he asked.
"Do you give me your word that you
do not love herr"
eff you need SO much 10 assure you
of it, l give you my word. | do not
love her"
''Wili you come with me for a few
moments? l live here
The Wanderer made a gesture Of
assent. In a few moments they found
themselves in q large room furnished
almost in eastern fashion, with few
objects, but those of great value.
Israel Kafka was alone in the world
and was rich. There were two or
three divans, a few low, octagonal.
inlaid tables, a dozen or more splen-
did weapons hung upon the wall and
the polished wooden floor was partly
covered with extremely rich carpets.
.'Do you know what she said to
me when | helped her into the car
riage?" asked Kafka.
No. | did not attempt to hear"
'sShe did not mean that you should
hear her. She made me promise to
send ySu to her with news of myself