Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-08
THE CRACK IN THE BELL
A STORY OF POLITICS IN PHILADELPHIA

after generation OF her ancestors, call
Ing her the most detested name in the
Hebrew language, "apostate." And the
word was on her mothers lips now.
She-even she--was about to hurl 1t.
Sylvy lifted a hand to her ear as If
she could shut out the hateful sound,
and she turned her face away also but
a vision pursued her-a vision of her
mother coming into room filled with
Rollinson's relatives and seating her
self at table with them. The thing was
impossible. Like a flash she saw once
more that the whole project was impos-
sible. mad. insane--promising nothing
half-suppressed sob, she reached out
one appealing hand toward her mother
and that stern face softened instantly
to an expression of encouragement and
parental pride, as If she were saying:
the chance to show what blood is in
For moment Sylvy' stood, wiping her
eyes and trying to calm herself then
turned white face of entreaty toward
her lover.
Victor" she said TREMENDOUSLY, "I
was right in the first place. Oil and
water your people and mine. cannot
fit to sit at the table of a king. but how
would she feel at yours? Can't you see
1t Is impossible? I love you, God
knows, but I love my people, too, and
III.
Victor, dear man. it would be better
that we had nothing but this backward
look at few pleasant weeks. than d
life of eternal Observation-Disclosures Ours
could not be happy home, Victor, for
there could be nothing but discord be-
tween your people and mine. l am not
too old to learn to understand your peo-
pie, and neither are you too old to un-
derstand mine: but they are too old to
learn to understand each other. Yours
come from the Occident, mine from the
Orient. Things little and unimportant
to yours would be of paramount impor-
hurt to both of US, Victor, but we are
young-we must bear II. 1t is better to
part loving one another, than to live to
hate one another.
IF mother had not been here, I might
have forgotten, and made both of us
miserable, but now I know I cannot
marry you, Victor. In my heart, / will
De your bride-l can never marry an
9tser.but plsere bs in, in reality i cannot pc
me 60. God bless you! Do big things
In the world for both our sakes. kiss
The girl came forward and offered
her slender self to the big man. He took
then drew her up very, very close. his
great, deep-seeing eyes drinking ia
every detail of her face as he lifted II
toward his and after a long. long mo-
iHeHt, piahteo upon the pitiIul, DeSeech-
ing lips kiss that was as soft, as
tender and oonsoling as heart-broken
love could make it, Then he let her 20
and stood like a frozen man while
liachel Aurentsky, throwing one corner
Of the shawl which perpetually hooded
her head, over the shoulders of her
daughter, led. the girl from the room
weeping silently and so engrossed In her
own sorrow that she forgot word of
good-by to her friends.
But they were in mood to forgive
her. Ruth. humB1ed and mystified by
this incomprehensble devotion of a
daughter to a race that was greater
than her devotion to herself. turned back
to cross the threshold and was surprised
to find Jerry and Aunt Letitia standing
breathless and sympathetic beside her.
Victor. meanwhile, moved across the
larger room and stood staring out into
darkness. Jerry instantly made his way
to him and, not venturing on speech,
laid = Abrotherly hand upon his shoulder.