The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-04-28
is. though the ghost Of what might

have been Is yet lingering near"
''Who wove that web. Unornap
You OF Up" He lifted his heavy eyes
and gazed at her coiled hair.
What matters it whether it was
your doing or miner But we wove it
togeth-r-and together we must see
the truth"
IF this Is true, there is no more
together for you and me-"
1--WE may yes CLEAN friendship in
the fields where love has grown
''triendship--tae very word is a
wound! Friendship-the very dregs
and lees of the wine Of life! Friend
ship-the sour DRAWINGS of the hearts
cup, left to moisten the lips of the
damned when the blessed have drunk
Their fill. | hate the word, rs | hate
the thought"
Unorna sighed, partly, perhaps,
that he might hear the sigh and put
upon it an interpretation soothing to
his vanity, but partly, too, from a sim
cere regret that he should need to SUI
fer as he was evidently suffering. She
had half believed that she loved him.
and she owed him pity. Women's
hearts pay such debts unwillingly,
but they pay them. nevertheless.
Il am sorry" said INFORM. You
will not understand"
II have understood enough have
understood that a woman can have
two faces, and two hearts, two minds,
two souls-it is enough, my under
standing need go no further. You
sighed before you spoke. It was not
for met was for yourself. You
never felt pain or sorrow for an
other"
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.
"You are wrong, Israel Kafka. You
would make me less than human. If
1 had promised, if | had said one
woodland yet, you are right, too, for
L have let you think in earnest what
has been but a passing dream of my
own thoughts. 1t was all wrong, it
was all my fault-there, lay your
hand in mine and say that you for
give, as l ask forgiveness"
He was still standing behind her,
leaning against the back of her chair.
Without looking around, she raised
her hand above her shoulder, as
though seeking for his. But he would
not take it.
us it so hard?" she asked, softly.
els it even harder for you to give
than for me to askP Shall we part
like this-not to meet again--each
bearing a wound, when both might be
who.e? Can you not say a wordp"
"What is it to you whether I for
give you OF not?"
''Since l ask it, believe that it is
much to me-" she answered, slowly
turning her head until, without catch
ing sight of his face, she could just
see where his fingers we're resting on
her chair. Then, over her shoulder,
she touched them, and drew them to
her cheek. He made no resistance.
"Shall we part without one kind
thought"
''ls this friendship" asked Israel
Kafka. Then he sank upon his knees
beside her and looked up into her
face.
1T is friendship-yes-why not?
Am | like other womenp"
Then why need there be any part
tng?'
eff you will be my friend, there
need be none. You have forgiven me
now-I see it in your eyes. Is it not
true?"
He was at her feet, passive at last
under the superior power which he
had never been able to resist.
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.
You are. only my slave, after ALL"
said Unorna, sc%ornfully.
II am only your slave, after all"
he repeated.
Il could touch you with my hand
and you would hate me and forget
that you ever loved me-"
You would hate me and forget that
you eve loved me-" she repeated,
dwelling on each word as though to
impress it upon his consciousness.
'.Say it. I order you"
81 should hate you and forget that
lever loved you,"he raid, slowly.
You never loved me-"
Il never loved you"
Again Unorna laughed, and he
Joined in her laughter. u~nintelli-
gently, as he had done before. Israel
Kafka sat motionless in his chair,
staring at her with unwinking eyes.
Yet the man was alive and in the full
strength of his magnificent youth,
supple, active, fierce by nature, able
to have killed her with his hands in
the struggle of a moment. Yet she
knew that without a word from her
he could neither turn his head nor
ooro l., h;o eao4