The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-06-10


direction. BY and by she had the red
screen placed round her bed, which gave
her artificial walls and quasi privacy.
Her husband would know where to look
for her.
"Woe is mer' walled her octogenari-
an countrywoman, rocking to and fro.
'tWhat sin have committed to get such
grandchildren? You only come to see if
the old grandmother isn't dead yet. So
sick, so sick, so sick!"
Twilight filed the wards. The white
beds looked ghostly in the darkness.
The last visitor departed. Sarah's hus-
band had not yet come.
''He is not we'll, Mrs Kretznow, I"
Sister Margaret ventured to say in her
best Yiddish, ''or he is busy working.
Work is not so slack any more" Alone
in the institution she shared Sarah 8
Ignorance of the Kretznow scandal.
Talk of it died before her youth and
sweetness.
HE would have written, said Sarah
sternly. ''He is wearied of me. have
lain here year. Jobs curse is on me. ;"
NAoAt W AliIy b1SuSI lhdI SaI Ou
paused to excogitate the word, writer"
''No: he hears me knocking at his
heart"
They had flashes of strange savage
poetry, these crude yet complex souls.
Sister Margaret, who was still liable tc
be startled, murmured feebly, "But''-
Leave me in peace!" with cry like
| that Of wounded animal,
The matron gently touched the nov
| ices arm and drew her away. II will
write to him." she whispered
Night fell, but sleep fell only for
some Sarah Kretznow tossed in a hell
of loneliness. All, surely her husband
had not forgotten herl Surely she would
not lie thus till death-that faroff death
her strong religious instinct would for
bid her hastening She had gone into
the refuge to save him the constant
sight of her helplessness and the cost Of
her keep. Was she now to be cut off
forever from the sight of his strength?
The next day he came by special in
vitation. His face was sallow, trimmed
with swarthy hair; his under lip was
sensuous. He hung his head, half veil
ing the shifty eyes.
Sister Margaret ran to tell his wife
Sarah's face sparkled.
'Put up the screenl" she murmured
and in it's shelter drew her husband 8
head to her bosom and pressed her lips
to his hair.
But he, surprised into indiscretion,
murmured, ST thought thou vast dy-
ing"
A beautiful light came into the gray
eyes.
'.Thy heart told thee right, Herzel,
my life. was dying for sight of
thee''
"But the matron wrote to me press
ingly," he blurted out.
He felt her breast heave convulsively
under his face. With her hands she
thrust him away
| Goods fool that I am! should have
known. Today is not visiting day.
They have compassion on me-they see
my sorrows-it is public talk
His pulse seemed to stop. 'They have
talked to thee of me, y he faltered.
ST did not ask their pity, but they
saw how I suffered. One cannot hide
ones heart. -
''They have no right to talk" he
muttered in sulky trepidation.
''They have every right, " she rejoined
sharply. eff thou hadst come to see
me even once-why hast thou not?''
sfI-I-have been travelling in the
country with cheap jewelry. The tailor
| ing is SO slack
''Look me in the eyes! The law of
Moses? No; it is lie. God shall for
give thee Why hast thou not come?'
81 have told thee"
sTell that to the Sabbath irewom an
| Why hast thou not come? Is it so very
much to spare me an hour or two a
week? IT could go out like some of the
patients, would come to thee, but
have tired thee out utterly
''No, no, Sarah" he murmured I'M
easily.
''Then Why
He was covered with shame and con-
fusion. His face was turned away. 81
| did not like to come" he said desper.
ately.
"Why not?" Crimson patches came
and went on the white cheeks Her
heart beat madly.
''Surely thou canst understand"
Understand what? Ispeak Of green,
and thou answerest Of blue"
81 answer as thou askest.
'fThou answerest not at all. -
| 'tNo answer is also an answer" he
snarled, driven to bay. "Thou under
standest well enough. Thyself saidst it
was public talk.
"Ah-h-h!' in a stifled shrek Of de-
spair. Her intuition OWNED everything.
The shadowy, sinister suggestions she
had so long beat back by force Of will
took form and substance. Her head fell
back on the pillow, the eyes closed,
lie sta1d on, bending awkwardly over
her.
$50 sick, SO sick, SO siok!' moaned
the grandmother.
'"Thou sayest they have compassion
-