The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-19

but one s,ul?'' said Anna extending her hand acros the table to Manasseh. They looked. long into each others eyes. III.
 The Face of Benjamin. For the next eighty-two days I shall be your constant companion" said Blan- ca, pressing Anna to her heart. when. late at night. they were alone in their l She was as happy as child about this. And. as Is customary with children. 1t was her first concern to make herself acquainted with all the secrets of the lit- tie room. which was now and would be for a long time her home. She saw the books which were arranged on Anna's table. This was an interesting discovery, for it had been carefully kept secret from her that there existed Hungarian liter ature. She then rummaged among the needlework. In vain Anna urged her to lie down, for 1t was late. Blanca said she was not sleepy: first she desired to see everything. All at once she started. back in terror. She ceased to breathe. In a small oval frame she beheld a picture, the sight of which curdled her blood. A beautiful, ideal, manly face. A picture evidently painted with the warmth of love It Is lifeIike, and at the same time idealized. The eyes beam; the lips smile proudly; the expression is bewitching. It was the picture of Benjamin Vajdar. A ghost
 
 did this picture. Could it. then, have gained access into that secret paradise in order to prosecute her even there? The evidences of involuntary emotion who. when she met that confused look, sighed deeply: "Has Manass sh spoken to you about him ?''
 "I know him we'll" said Blanca, who could pot avoid the shudder that crept through her veins.
 Anna took Blanca's hands in both her own, and, in a tender sorrowful manner. said:
 "I beg of you. if you know anything evil of him, do not tell it to me-
 Do you, then, love him still?' asked Blanca. full of compassion and terror. Anna sank upon the edge of her bed and pressed Both hands between her knees. Her beautiful, curling locks hid her face as the branches of the weeping-wflIow hide the gravestones.
 He has killed me. He has done much that a man, an honest man. ought not to do, and still can not hate him. I loved you yesterday--tomorrow will hate you One can not say this; one fsn fseI PFe!snd Ps. to do 'hl'' but one can not
 My poor Anna" whispered Blanca, covering her face before that picture as one would protect his aching eyes from the glare of the lamplight.
 T know that he Is dishonorable," said Anna In a secret whisper. There are women here who tell me everything They think they can heal my wounds in th.s way. But of what use is 1t? He who is really sick can never be healed by per- suasion. How many have there been who have waited for the return of one trav- cling in distant land. They waited for him while he was sailing around the globe. and expected that he who had gone to one pole would return from the other. And during all this time they dId not cease loving him.
 ''If nothing but the world lay between you" said Blanca. <&
 True said Anna. resting her face ups on her hand. "l ne globe is not so great an obstacle as charming face which has intruded between two hearts. This Is harder to circumnavigate than the world.'
 And if only a charming being stood between you" stammered Blanca. sitting down and drawing Anna's head to her breast. wi
 ''I know that. too. The whole world is between us. Heaven and hell. All laws of honor, of faith, of patriotism, tear me asunder. I can not go where he is, but he can come where l am?"
 Do you believe this?''
 "I believe it as firmly as I believe in the one God said Anna, with beaming eyes. No. I do not hope that we shall ever be happy together-that he will ever be able to give me joy. This I do not believe. But do believe. I am convinced. that the road upon which he went from here leads back to this threshold; 1 be- lieve that some time, broken down, hu- initiated. hated by the whole world. an outcast, he will totter back to this his last place of refuge. Then he who Is loved by no one will find heart which has never ceased to love him-a being wounds inflicted by the world, and to wipe from his brow the stains which crime has left upon it. This Is my firm belief"
 With these words the figure of the maiden became erect and her face beamed.
 An angel loving devil!
 Look" said she to Blanca, as she pointed to the picture, which was still surrounded by a wreath of immortelles; this picture here in my room bears daily testimony to the boundless love of the members of our family. All my brothe B feel a deadly hatred towards this man. but knowing that I still love him, the do not burn or otherwise destroy this picture; they leave 1t in my room. They do not insult me by trying to make me man better than he. They know how much love him. and they tolerate what they cannot understand Oh, beg of you, even if you have cause to hate hm, the others. and do not look at it. , Blanca now hated the man still more. She remembered the feautiful Cyrene, and compared her with Anna. How could the former have remained the vie tor?
 But see." said Anna. with smiling face T am not ungrateful to them for 1t. None sees me with red eyes caused by weeping. I do not spoil anybodys hu- mor with my signs. I am cheerful, and take an interest in everything which takes place around me. scare away no one by face made pale by sorrow. See, | [ am just as rosy as you are
 And drawing Blanca to the mirror, she pressed her face to that of Blanca. and now they quarreled as to which of them was the rosier.
 And you are happy. and will be hap py,' said the maiden. "Manasseh will make a paradise on earth for you Oh, when you know him as I do. to the bot tom of his heaftr / Blanca could not help laughing little. The sister thinks that she knows her brother better than does she. his aff- anced But Anna grew serious.