New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-19

they want because OF the love tnt JEWISH clurcH De
their parents. The only condition they make IS that
when YOU surrender her and accept the 1--WE thousand
dollars she must pass out OF your HE forever You are
not even to know the identity Of her foster parents
Aaron turned from the superintendent with shudder
Of aversion "Sell my chd-ncvcr! he repudlated the
offer. $500
ITS not as if you were selling her the official expos
tulatcd. you're simply giving her the best oppor-
tuntv she Il ever have in life. What have YOU to offer
herr Povertv-unending poverty! job in the sweat
shop Why what have you accomplished III inc last TWO
wears? You're three weeks in arrears to this nsttu-
ton and Won don't know when you'll be able to renew
payments Do you want her to suffer with you, to
Slave away her life to live always on the edge OF StrN
ton? And all because you're too selfish to surrender her
Aarons eyes shot a silent appeal for mercy; but the
slperntendcnt genuinely convinced that he was SeTv-
ing the best interests Of the girl, mcrciess.
You are her father, and eventually she must be sur
rendered to YOU. he said. "Vcry we'll Wen keep her
here. But think his voice grew suddenly 10" ana
solemn "thnk Of the uncertainties Of HE! You may
I've called away suddenly, as was your wife LOO lor-
bid But if it should be ordained that your child IS to
be left fatheress then what would become OF her; II
is very hard in this world Tor lrendcSs orphan
He had thrown the turning weight into the scale Oh
argument Aaron was torn by chaos OF emotion; but
in the midst Of the inward tunult he felt his mind Set
ling toward the surrender OF the child
Let me consult with the Rabbi he pleaded, III laS
effort to delay the moment OF his remuneration h'eu
aXo moi" the superintendent quickly objected fore
SEEING the inevitable outcome Of the consultation. y on
answer. Come, what do you say;
For five minutes Aaron paced the room IN agitation
bcset by a hundred contendng sensations FINALLY ne
paused before the superintendent desk one hand over
h heart as if TO moderate ITS pulSItloIS.
an do it," he whispered hoarscly then sank weakly
into a chair.
The superintendent produced legal document
which evidently had been prepared in confident antlc
patton of the fathers decision Aaron slowly dragged
a pen across the line indicated by the official.
Your Ruth's future is now secure. that ought to
make you happy said the Official delivering 10 the
father a check Tor five thousand dollars.
MAY see her now-for the last timer! Aaron asked
nournfully.
"You may"
In few minutes the girl was brought into the rcccp
ton room-a timid, dark haired, dark eyed, healthy
voungstcr with that singular constrant OF manner de-
rived from the automatic upbnnglng OF the institution
For hall an hour Aaron held her on his knee, while
the silence Of the remained unbroken save by the
low half suppressed lamentations of the father and the
responsive sobbing OF the daughter. Presently nurse
summoned the girl and the father tore himself away
10 proceed TO his home like man under the influence
Of some torpifyng drug.
In conformity with the articles Of adoption Ruth
delivered that same dav 10 her foster parents thereby
passing out Of her fathers life. And Aaron might never
have behed her again but for an odd combination Of
circumstances that brought her one day unwittngy
into his presence That, however, was twenty years
Later twenty years in which Ruth had time % develop
into beautiful womanhood
BEFORE that fatefu meeting occurred, Aaron had
likewise undergone slow process OF trdnslormdtlon
With the five thousand dollars paid by the supcrn-
tcnient he went into business on his account \
new loneliness had come on him. and 10 relieve it he
applied himself unsparingly 10 building up the new
ttrprise He worked without hope without inspiration,
but with seadfastnes that could not help but produce
results. He prospcrcd nightly At the end Of twenty
years Of unrcmitting toll he found himself occupying
topmos position in the shirtwais industry. His cstb
lishmcnt consisted Of five huge lofts wherein twelve
hundred girls were employed And hc had attained the
distinction Of being chosen president Of the Employers
Association.
In outward personal appearance Aaron reflected the
prosperity that had crowned his work. His face
cred by closely cropped black beard in which silver