The Washington times., 1905-07-09
PART I-CHAPTER l.

lIle street IN rocking gale, but in the
parlor behind the curio shop, life seem
ed at its ebb. Old Solny pored over a
nusty book. and Anna stood with her
head thrown back, her hands clasped
behind her. her eyes seeing dreams;
above them. on the dun-colored wall the
Dutch clock ticked methodicalIy, but
otherwise the room was bereft of sound
1t was long before either moved; then
Soiny stirred automatically-all his ac-
tions were jerky and indirect-and Anna
onciasped her hands. She watched him
rumble for his handkerchief, and the
corners of her mouth stiffened uncon-
sciously as he opened the knotted corner
and drew out his worn snuff-box, open
Ing the lid with a little snap Youth is
All raw edges to the foibles of age, and
Anna was not yet sixteen. She moved
tmpatiently, and the dreamy look. drift
ed from her eyes like a shadow before
the sun.
Father" she SAID, its long past
eight
brown sand. scattered from his fingers
along his sleeve
Its after eight she said again.
So?" He shut his book reluctantly
"And the supper"
The supper has been ready for half
All hour There was no vexation in her
voice; She spoke with the Indifference
of one Schooled to wait Life in the
curio shop, in the little parlor behind
1t. in the cramped bedrooms upstairs
was one persistent waiting-for some
thing that never came. She made the
tea quietly il the Russian fashion that
her father had brought with him to Eng
land many years before; then she took
her place at the table, and. began to cut
Up the bread
There was another riot at the docks
last night she said. ..and another rob-
berry. Whites gang this time
"So?"
"A woman was robbed OF a purse
with ten bank notes sn it, She drew
up her chair
500" Old solny stretched out fur
tive hand and drew tis book nearer by
an inch
Yes. And she geee up the purse
without word
SOP
~ the third exclamation the girl
struck the table sharply with her hand
Father, she cried. do say something
more You make me feel so much"
her voice shook. so much alone" She
scanty furniture, its odds and ends its
accumulation of value and rubbish, and
her eyes suddenly filbed with tears. She
knew every detail. from the half-f1iled
packing cases crowded on the window
seat to the darkened ceiling, but she had
never consciously spoken the word
home" She looked across the table
and, throwing back her head, tossed the
tears out of her eyes
You'd rather have one page of that
old book than-than--''
Solny looked up perplexed; then he
passed his finger lovingly over the man
nscript. But it is priceless" he said
''Merovinsian-ten hundred and twelve
He returned to his place on the sixth
page.
Anna cut herself another round Of
bread; then she sighed Il wish 1 were
a mani
Soiny went on deciIihering; the storm
shook the house in further gale and |
the fire roared up the chimney.
Il wish l were a unan.' she said
again.
This time her father looked at her
over his glasses. why, my child? Are
you not content? Is the life not good p.
''Oh good enoughl'' She leant back l., |!
her chair. But If I were man-if I |
were a man. father I'd get on board a !
ship and be sailor. At the docks % |
day the wind was roaring through the
masts, and 1t sounded. like a great, loud
song, it made me mad to see the sea
The world and the sea must be very |
much alike She rested her elbows on
the table and took hersface between her
hands.
m N ,ryGy toll 1f~rgt,
1.-THE world is fit for one thing" he
said-''to keep out Of
But, father"
You talk too much, child. Get me
the catalogue
She rose. Don't ypu think that the
woman whose purse was stolen was a
fooi?"
1.-The catalogue His head was bent
again.
She crossed the room. and pausing by
the bookshelf. reached, for a volume on
the upper tier IF 1 had been in her
place, I'd have fought. for what belong
ed to me-with White or any man" She
tossed back her plait of thick red hair
and blew some dust from the cover of
the book. ut must be fine, you know. |
to feel like that--o feel in the middle of
things and not to care. Here it's lust
y g.
Don't you ever wantsto go back?r
y ts
Back where?"
.'Oh, back into life: back into when
you were young" She paused.
when | was young" he said slow
ly, there was persecution-poverty and /
persecution for every Jew. That was
ALL"
She looked at him lingeringly. TT
must be fine to be prosecuted. Did YOU
feel hero?"
No" he said shortly, and his head
dropped.
Anna was studying the dial Of the
clock and missed the expression on his
face At the brEsqueness of his answer
her expression fell. you aren't a bit
like a story she said regretfuily: you
never. never tell things; and you mustf
have seen" She made descrintiye
gesture with her hands.
You can see too much,' he said Ia
conically.
She sat on the back of a chair and