The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-27

them. for the elections are at the door
Well. will you sell it? Aaron will
pay an enormous sum for it,"
with these words the jew took a
ducat out OF the purse and raised 1t
aloft between his fingers, Alfred fol-
lowed for "A while eagerly the golden
circle that family glimmered In the
dark. but he suddenly turned his head
away and called out resolutely: II
won't sell it,"
The Jew shook his head: "Oh, OH
you won't sell it, God knows II is
fine character, I'll give twice as
much! three times az much--its
pure character! Well. nothing? I'll
make you millionaire-you will be
living i'm palaces. you will drink the
finest wines. kiss the sweetest lips
Alfred locked for a moment into the
air as if "A beautiful vision had APP
peared there to him, then he rubbed
his eyes with the palm Of his hand
and repeated with "A sigh: Il won't
sell it,"
well, as you please. Keep your
character with your misery Aaron
will keep hs money. ! bid you good
by" He threw back the ducats he
had taken out. so that they made "a
loud sound, slowly put the purse back
into his Chaftan, and started to go.
But he returned.
Alfred medtated. He looked around
his room: his clothespress yawncd his
bed dreamed, his bookshelves com
planned. and misery whimpered:
Never never will leave you"
He made decision. He motioned
with his hand and called out well,
I'll pawn it,"
suddenly he stopped. How can one
pawn a character? why. that's the
conception of a diseased brain" He
closed his eyes, he opened them; the
Jew was there; he pinched his eye
brovs. the Jew did not bulge, but
stood there and said: Il know what
troubles you. But that is Aaron's
affair"
Saying this he drew out his caftan
a common pillbox, opened it and closed
it. after while. "All right your
character is in there" he said with a
smile. as he drummed on the lid of
the box.
Alfred looked at the box in terror;
he could make out in the twilight the
inscription: Noble character" upon
1t.
You see" spoke the Jew. what a
respectable label adorns your char
acter. / classify them according to
their worth. Here" and he drew
another box out of his caftan. you
have honest old Bohemian characters
you find these generally among old
people, with long boards. who have
| never killed anybody. Here are pure
| characters they are comparatively
| cheap. but not durable one has Ia
protect them we'll, especially against
| the wind. Political comrades make
each other presents of them upon
! various occasions. In this box ! kcer
| decent characters mostly a joblot
But what do you care for my boxes
rather had pay out the money tc
you. Is it not SOP
He again took out his purse and
| began to place the shining coins on tor
| of each other.
| Suddenly ne stopped. I'm FIVE years
| from now. at the same time, Aaror
| will appear before YOU wherever yot
may then be. If you do not pay me
back with interest the sum that | an
J counting out to you, your charactel
| will belong to me. Agreed"
Alfred nodded assent. And the
| Gkhostlike jew put his hand deeper in
his purse, with fairy-like rapidity th'
| golden pillars rose to the ceiling, an'
| the bottomless purse did not grow
empty and dry up. Heaven give us al
such a purse
| Five years have passed. We se'
Alfred in one of those whirlpools tha
foams with champagne, glitters Will
diamonds and rustleS with silk. Day
like brillianCy, tn" gurgling of water
falls, cOlored shadows in the water
the intoxicating fragrance of Shizri
ga rdens,-all this the demon of gOl
has brought together and has prOduc
ed miniature fairyland. Alfred look
very we'll. The contour of his bod
has rounded out, health blooms on hi
checks, his eyes gleam with content
ment. 1t is evident that he quaffs tn
chalice of pleasure in temperat
draughts, with the cautiousnsss of
true Epicurean. The lack of CharaCte
agrees Well with him.
There is his spouse. 1t Is tina
beautiful, hut cold-hearted girl who's
, image his fancy had evoked five year
|
not at all, The ice of her little hear
had melted in the glow of Alfred
, ducats, but Alfred's heart had sudden
ly become cOngealed. He was no lone
er attracted by the fair image of III
ma iden in the frame of smoke, bu
in the frame of pure gold. Indeed, h
did not love his wife, nor did she loN
him: but that did not in the least dis
L l,.lNs 1..N
: each other, but i'm private--a fool is i
who mars his enjoyment of life wit
old prejudices
/ Alfred's CharaCterlessness is an ope
secret; everybody knows it, every
/ body reads it on his brow, And "
he proudly raises his head, and a
[ | humbly bow down before him ii
D breast is covered with decorations; II
highest honors have been conferrc
, upon him. worth, beauty, wisdom |
= at his feet, Honest fathers place hi
before their sons eyes as shining o.
Y | ample to follow. See, How he h
rsen' How he did it--who cares f,
4 | that? All submit to him: Gray-hairt
y old men who expostulate on the 90
!, ruptiOn of the world grow young Wht
= pressing his hand; gloomy philosophe
!, frightened up at once at one or his gr'
n cious smiles, guardians of justice liz
p in his chambers, political parti
a fight sharp battles for him, his nan
e is foisted on the people in panegyr
articles, journals, pamphlets, cncyci
= pedlas and readers, and in that garr
n where he had pawnod his charactc
= there again sits a slender, pale yout
3 wornout slippers, In ragged clotht
d and at the last flicker of tallo
n candle dedicates To him long poe
Is which is full of enthusiasm for &
q high purposes of humanity