The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-05-13

copyright, 1905 by the Authorl
Continued.
II can disbelieve it and still remain
q Jewess. " Then, satire boiling over
into passion, she cried vehemently:
1--WE are thrashing empty ears. Thinkst
thou am not aware of the judgments
Il the granddaughter of Reb Shloumi2
Thinkst thou am ignorant thou couldst
not obtain Gett against meme, who
have borne thee children, who have
wrought no evil? speak not of the
Beth Din, for in this impious country
they are loath to follow the judgments,
and from the English Beth-Din thou
wouldst find it impossible to obtain the
Gett in any case, even though thou
didst not marry me in this country nor
according to its laws speak of our
| own Rabbonim-thou knowest even the
Maggid would not give thee Gett mere
ly because thy wife is bedridden. That
that is what thou vast afraid Of ="
| "But if thou art willing" he replied
eagerly, ignoring her scornful skepti-
| cism.
His readiness to accept the sacrifice
was salt upon her wounds
Thou deservest l should let thee
burn in the lowest Gehenna, " she cried.
1.-THE Almighty is more merciful than
| thou, he answered. ut is he that hath
ordained it is not good for man to live
alone, and yet men shun me, people
talk, and she--she may leave me to my
loneliness again. His voice faltered
with self pity. Here thou hast friends,
nurses, visitors IL have nothing.
True, thou didst bear me children, but
they withered as by the evil eye. My
only son is across the ocean He hath
no love for me or you"
The recital of their common griefs
softened her toward him.
CO." she whispered. $50 and send
me the Gett. Go to the Maggid. He
knew my grandfather. He is the man to
arrange it for thee with his friends
Tell him it is my wish. "
"God shall reward thee. How can l
thank thee for giving thy consont"'
"What else have to give thee, my
Herzel, l, who eat the bread of stran-
gers? Truly says the proverb, When
one begs of a beggar, the Herr God
laughsp
81 will send thee the Gett as soon as
possible. +"
"Thou art right; am thorn in thine
eye. Pluck me out quickly"
Thou wilt not refuse the Gett when
it comes?" he replied apprehensively.
"Is it not a wifes duty to submit?
Nay, have no fear Thou shalt have no
difficulty in serving the Gett upon me.
will not throw it in the messengers
face, and thou wilt marry her?'
"Assuredly. People will no longer
talk, and she must bide with me. 1t is
my one desire"
1T is mine likewise. Thou must
atone and save thy soul"
He fingered uncertainty.
"And thy dowry?" he said at last
''Thou wilt not make claim for COM
pensation?'
"Be easy. l scarce know where my
cesubah (marriage certificate) is. What
need have L of money? As thou sayest,
have all want. l do not even desire
to purchase grave-lying already so
long in a charity grave The bitterness
is over"
He shivered. Thou art very good to
me-" he said. "Goodby"
He stopped down. She drew the bed
clothes frenziedly over her face.
kiss me not!'
"Goodby, then," he stammered.
God be good to thee'' He moved away
"Herzel!" She had uncovered her
face with a despairing cry. He slouched
back toward her, perturbed, dreading
she would retract.
"Do not send it. Bring it thyself.
Let me take it from thy hand.
A lump rose in his throat. II will
bring it, he said brokenly.
. The long days of pain grew longer;
the summer was coming, harbingered
by sunny days that flooded the wards
with golden mockery. The evening Her
read every word ON the parchment
plainly if her eyes had not been blinded
by tears.
She put out her hand toward her hus-
band, cropping for the document he bore.
He placed it in her burning palm. The
fingers closed automatically upon it,
then relaxed, and the paper fluttered to
' the floor. But Sarah was no longer a
l wife.
Herzel was glad to hide his burning
face by STOPPING for the fallen bill OF
enforcement. He was long picking it
up. When his eyes met hers again, she
had propped herself up in her bed. Two
big round tears trickled down her
cheeks, but she received the parchment
calmly and thrust it into her bosom.
Let it lie there" she said stonily-
"there, where thy head hath lain.
Blessed be the true Judgep'
Thou art not angry with me, Sarah?'
why should be angry? She was
right l am but dead woman. Only
: no one may say Kaddish for memo one
may pray for the repose of my soul
am not angry, Herzel. A wife should
light the Sabbath candles and throw in
the fire the morsel of dough, but thy
house was desolate There was none to
do these things. Here have all / need.
Now thou wilt be happy too"
Thou hast been good wife, Sarah, 4"
he murmured, touched.
Recall not the past. We are stran.
gers now," she said, with recurrent
harshness.
But may come and see thee-some.
times?" He had STRINGS of remorse
as the moment of final parting came.
, "Wouldst thou reopen my wounds2"
Farewell, then
He put out his hand timidly. She
seized it and held it passionately.
"Yes, yes, Herzel! Do not leave me!
Come and see me here-as friend, an
: acquaintance, man used to know.
The others are thoughtless-they forget
mel shall lie here--perhaps the angel
of death will forget me too" Her grasp