The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

and come to the dining-room." said
Mr.. Takiff 20 me as 1 came in.
found Make, who had remained in
her room all day. lying on her bed with
her head buried in the pillows. When /
delivered ny message she answered me
DULY: IN come in soon"
In a few minutes she entered the
room and sat DOWN quietly, her face
white and drawn. Her mother glanced
at her pale face and quietly dropped
her eyes upon the prayer-book before
her My heart ached with love ana
sympathy fer Make. / wished TO
speak TO her, but l dared not and could
not.
we sat in an embarrassing silence
Till the door opened and Mr.. Takih
ushered in 4 young man.
oh. heavens, Shmunke Menke
Shmunke's stood before me in all his
ugliness. His tail. lank figure, with
his head dropped over his chest, looked
like a faced sunfiower bending the
stalk of its weight. His STOPPING
shoulders seemed TO have become more
rounded, and the corkscrew curls that
hung over each ear had certainly
heightened He wore a coat that al
most swept the floor. and an octagonal-
shaped hat with a long visor that
overshadowed his greenish eyes.
cut Shabbos,' he bashfully stam-
mered.
Mr.. Takin turned TO his wife.
Sarah. this is the bridegroom"
Makes face changed from white TO
scarlet. then to white again. ] had a
great desire to knock down this in
Vited idiot. though I could not clearly
see how he was 10 blame. Neither
Make nor / was introduced to
-Shmunke. I managed TO sit at one end
Of the table. and as his eyes rarely left
his plate I esca pea recognition
During the meal Mr.. Takiff tested
the young mans sharpness in the Tai
mud. The host questioned and the
bridegroom answered with wonderful
cuickness. Mr. Takiff's admiration was
plainly read on his face: he was costa
tic over finding his future son-in-law
so well equipped for the battlefield OF
hair-splitting discussions. The chosen
did not exchange a word with ms
fancee that night; once 1 noticed him
glance through the corner Of his eyes
at the silent. trembling girl, but he
bashfuliy dropped his eyes as soon as
she looked up.
Depressed and miserable I sneaked
out Of the room in order to avoid
Shmunkc. ] spent all of the next day
in the forest On the pretense of feeling
in. ] hated the whole world-Mr-
Takiff for bringing this Talmudic inn
beetle. Mrs. Takiff for not chasing
Shmunke out Of the house. and 1 al
most hated even Make because she
kept silent.
The following evening the betrothal
took place Make. SAD and pale, did
rot utter q syllable or even show
smile during the ceremony. When bro
ken clay pots and dishes came rafting
down in 2 shower. celebrating the sol
ernn event in accordance with the ira
ditional Jewish custom, she stared
blankly in front Of her. ! noticed her
mother once turn aside and wipe her
eyes But Mr. Takif was So lost in
the Tslmudic labyrinth and so elated
in spirit that he paid little attention TO
his child and her sufferings.
The bridegroom did not exchange
woid with his bride this night. either.
hut sat surrounded by coterie of
Talrnudists. who were called together
by NJ. Takiff 10 test the "Illui's"
81 ~ e and know ledge. For an
hour 1unke swayed himself to and
fro. while he explained in his nasal
voice some knotty point of Talmudic
lax. Half d dozen were quizzing him
at o~Ue. s1d 10 all OF them Shmunke
replied with lightning rapidity.
~Pishi pish, an nlui-ach. an Illui."
the guests whispered to one another,
and shrugged their shoulders in great
admiration.