The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-05

Il - NgsAAAA W. A&M ~ 2AA@A
In it, DO you fear aughtfs 4
'Xos, daughter, much, or FatherI expso
! do not fear, who am prepared and desir
20 meet all things as they come. Yol
have sworn that oath, have you mott An
you will Keep 1t, will you notfg
ssAyelS they answered with one breath
'Thon prepare yout feel the weight OF tn
drSt OF those trials whereof 1t speaks, 70
l win no longer hold back the truth from
you. Children ], whom for all these year
you have thought Of your own faith, am
jew, a. my forefathers were before me
back tothe days OF Abraham"
The effect OF this declaration upon Ii
hearers %as remarkable. Peters. jaw
dropped. Apd for the second time that da,
his face went white; while Margaret sanl
down into q chair that stood near by anC
stared at him helpIessly. In those timei
1t was Q very terrible thing to be a Jew
Castell looked from one 20 the other, and
feeling the insult OF their silence, grew
angry.
aWhatl' he said in q bitter voice, 4are
you like all the otherSP Do you soorn me
also because ! antfof a race more ancient
end honorable than those Of any Of your
mushroom lords and kings2
You know my life; say. what have ]
done wrong9 Have I caught Christian
children and cruci6ed than TO DEATH Have
/ defrauded my neighbor or oppressed
the poor? Have / Knocked your symbol
OF the HostH Have I oonspired against
the rulers Of the land? Have. / been a false
friend or q cruel fatherp
You shake your heads; then why do
! you stare at me a. though 1 were a thing
~aocursed and uncleanP Have I not q right
to the faith Of my fathersi May I not
worship God in my own fashion, and he
looked at Peter. a challenge In his eyes.
Sir answered Peter, without q doubt
you may, or 20 1t seems to me. But then
why for all these years nave you appeared
to worship Him in oursf'
Az this blunt question, 90 characteristic
OF the speaker. Castell seemed to shrink
like q pin prioked bladder, or some bold
fighter who has suddenly received a sword
thrust In his vitals. All the courage went
out OF the man, bis fiery eyes grew tame. he
appeared to beo6me yisibly smaller. and
to put on something Of the air Of those
naendioants OF his oWn race. who whine
out their woes and beg aims Of the passerby.
When mex he spoke. 1t wa as q supplicant
for mereiful Judgment at tho hands of his
" child apd her lover.
Judge me not harshly. he said. "Think
what IL Is to be o Jew-an outcast, a thing
that the lowest may spurn and spit at, one
beyond the law, one who can be hunted
from land to land like a mad wolf. and
tortured TO death, when caught, for the
sport Of gentle Christians, who first have
stripped him Of his gains and garments.
And then think what 1t means to escape
all these woes and terrors. and by dofing
Of q bonnet. and the mumbiing Of certain
prayers with the lips In public. to find sane
tuary peace. and protection within the
walls OF Mother Church, and thus fostered
to grow rich and great"
He paused as though for a reply. but as
they did not speak, vent on:
Moreover, as child I was baptized into
your Church; but my heart. like that OF
my father, remained with the Jews. and
where the heart goes the feet follow
That makes 1t worse.' said Peter, as
speaking to himself.
MY father taught me thus" Castell
vent on as though pleading his case before
a court OF law.
we must answer for our own sins. said
Peter again.
Then at length Castell took fire.
you young folk, who as yet know
little OF the terrors Of the world. reproach
with cold looks and colder words he
said; 'but ! wonder should you ever come
% sue a pass as mine whether you will
ind the heart to meet II hall az bravely.
Why do you think that I have told you
his secret thai / might have kept from
Tou as l kept it fromyour mother, Margaret?
say because 1t 10 a part of my penance
the sin which l have sinned. Aye, 1
NOW well that my God 10 q jealous God
md that this ain will fall back on my head, |
md that I shAn pay its price to the last
rroat, though when and how tie blow will
me / know not.
@ you, Peter. or you, Margaret, and
me. IL you will. Your priests
viii speak wei OF you for the deed and
pen to yousa shorter road to heaven.
nd / shall not blame you nor lessen your
Vealth by a single noble
do not speak 90 madly, siri' said Peter.
These matters are between you and God.
What have ~e to do with them and who
made US judges over you? We only pray
hat your fears may come TO nothing and
hat you may reach your grave in peace and
Il thank you for your generous words,
Thich are such az beht your nature said
astell, gently; 'but what says Margareti'
Il, father9' she answered wildly. 'ohl
have nothing to say. he Ia right. It
between you and God; but II is hard that
must lose my love 90 soon.'
Peter looked up. and Castell answered:
Lose him! Why. what did he swear but
ow?r
Il care not what he swore; but how can
ask him. who 10 Of noble Christian birth,
marry the daughter Of a Jew who all his
fe has passed himself of 40 a worshipper
I that Jesus he denies and splits on?'
Now Peter held up his hand.
Have done with such talk he said,
We're your father Judas himself, what Ia
rat to you and me? You are mine and I
n yours till death part us. nor hal the
Of another man stand between US
IT an hour. Sir. we thank you for your
onidenoe, and Of this be sure. that al
1t makes us sorrowful. We do not
ve or honor you the less because now We :
now the truth" ,
Margaret rose from her chair, looked a
lille at her father. then with o sob threw
upon his breast.
Forgive me III spoke bitterlys abe