Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-11-09

able to decipher script and could only
read Roman capitals with some diff
Guilty. He made out the postmark Il
be New York, but obviously this coult
not be the gas bill. for 1t was too early
In the month, and. besides, the gas
bill came In white envelope. Once
before he had received a letter othel
than the gas company's missive, which
proved to contain an invitation to the
grand ball Of the Societa San Rocco d
Savoia di Lucania.
What a sensation he had created ir
his hired dress suit, which fitted hin
as though he really owned 1t! 1t had
been q most enjoyable occasion from
every point Of view. There had beer
excellent music and the usual quota
Of good looking girls, the whole end
Ing with as pretty free-for-all lght
as he had ever witnessed-ive casual
ties, with mortality Of 40 per cent.
| Perhaps, he reelected. there was tC
be another dance. In that event ht
|
had a convertible setting, as shir1
stud. After all, youth is the time fol
enjoying oneself Let Ginsburg have
his bank roll and tenement house; ht
Nomonte) would be merry while he
could.
He, Lomonte, would show-he con
| tnued to reflect as he tore open the
envelope-would show that premature
ly aged Hebrew that he, Lomonte, was
no-he withdrew the inclosed sheet
was no fossil. No, indeed, he-"Santa
Rosalie!" he shrieked as he spread the
unfolded paper on his knee.
| Almost Its entire surface was over
laid with the impression Of human
hand In printers ink. from beneath
which there grinned skull and cross
bones neatly executed in carmine. II
bore an Italian legend in capital let
tiers, the import Of which even Lo
monte's agitation could not render diff
ficult Of apprehension:
Do you want to die? Then d!sobey our
will. We demand 800. The time, next
Friday. at noon. The place. in front OF
the restaurant Of the three Abruzzi. or
| Mott street There one will say to you
| Monte Pellegrino." Speak Of this to moi
man nor woman nor child.
LA MANo NERA
Annibale stared into vacancy and re
peated mechanically, LA Mano Nera'
(the Black Hand, while his throat
grew parched and his heart thumped
wildly In his breast. He sank into g
lethargy of panic from which he was
aroused by Ginsburg's bedtime sup
plications.
Apparently Morris could perform nc
office of his daily life without sancti
flying 1t with ritualistic color. Did he
wash his hands, then Annibale was
regaled with the appropriate blessing
rendered In Ginsburg's strong bari
tone. The salt herring and potato
which formed Ginsburg's evening re.
past, were preceded and concluded by
sacred song In the traditional notation
of the Polish Jewish service, for Nor
ris was strictly orthodox In his views.
He was, indeed, virtuoso In the
performance Of his faiths innumera.
BILE tenets save in one respect. Al.
though he was more than decade
older than eighteen, the prescribed
age, he had neglected to take unto
himself a wife.
In vain had the marriage brokers of
the neighborhood approached him with
fattering offers. He rejected them all.
One Freedman, q schatchen In q large
way Of business, had gone 80 far as to
insinuate that Ginsburg's apathy was
founded in fear Of the secular law.
might you already got wife In
RusslandT he said bitterly after the
presentation, on paper, Of his tenth
candidate, for your east side schatcheu
Is nothing II not persistent.
Morris grinned.
Might" he replied enigmatically
Anyhow l ask you ah question. Must
I get married?"
The schatchen nodded vigorously.
"Surs you must" he retorted. 1T is
doch law from old times yet"
"Und II wouldn't" said Morris,
Struggling, "who could do me some,
thing? Tell me dot7" Thus was the
matchmaker completely silenced.
But now Ginsburg was obliged to ad.
init to himself that he might have
made a mistake In 80 long remaining
single. With an established business
and one-twentieth interest In tene.
ment house, he could demand dowry
Of almost a thousand dollars, to say
nothing Of the furniture for fiat.
His prayers concluded, he made an
attempt at slumber, but without avail
Only two weeks and that $3.50 must be
forthcoming or his career as a land
owner would incontineniy cease. The
thought of Freedman, the schatchen
with his innumerable candidates, re
CURED In his musings, and at length
he resolved to consult the marriage
broker on the morrow.
The next morning broke clear and
cool. A smart breeze blew from the
river and. entering the rear window OF
Ginsburg's store, bore with it the char
acteristic odor Of "mone" seed and her
rings. To Morris this was the spice
laden wind of the Scriptures. and he
managed to add to his morning devo
lions one or two extra roulades and ca
denxas Of such penetrating timbre tha
the tenant in the fat above sought to
stem the flow Of melody by stamping
on the bare floor.
As Morris concluded, his assistant
knocked at the door Of the store, and
Ginsburg unlocked 1t on the instant.
"You know Freedman, der schatch
enT' he asked his employee.
Ivy not" the youth replied. "Atn't Il
everybody knows him?"
"Nie, make words about It," Morri!
cried impatiently; II want 1t yol
ahould 60 und tell him he comes b.
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