The Denver Jewish news., 1919-03-12
The Sacrifice
BY special permission OF Live Stories"
by TZiRIL GoRDON
(Continu.d from last ws,tI

l1ontinusd from Last WSek
The woInan's hands fen from the
keyboard TO her lap. Her eyes flashed
up 10 him in bright interest.
You sing:"
As she spoke, she reached 10 the
music, on the top Of the piano. She
handed him II sheet. which hr accept.
ed with tentative wonder
Then his brows knit th"ughtfully. y
plcasurablc flush roSr t" his olive
checks. He murmurcd rNcitrdly t."
himself. and shook his head in eager
intelligence. rs one wit" suddenly rec
ogniZcs in "A chance paS~rrhy an old
friend He hummcd to himself at
first slowly. hcSitatingIy then more
and more steadily with CROWN" con
fidencc.
Wondcrinsly, the Young woman
struck the opening chords. With his
eyes on the music. GrCrnbcrg hcgan
TO sing the "Elegic." forgrtful of the
interval where the thread of his life
had snapped.
As his voice. full Of u,iody. gained
! in strength there was Il murmur of
I surprise. \ door quickly opened. Miss
/ Brooks. her hand ON the doorknob.
| listened attcntiycly.
/ At her elbow stood u tall heavily
| built man of about forty. his high
! silk hat held against his breast. His
! earlcd mouth was stern. aud his steel
| gray eyes narrowed rs. thru long
/ practice. he unconsciuuSly registered
| the tone values.
/ The simple melody rose and fell
I Morris Grecnbcrg put into the song
| all the rcprcssed longing of his life
1 The song throbhcd with the tragedy
of soul blanching beneath buried
unlivcd years.
il His voice died away with n single
break that was like n knife stab. Miss
Brooks mobile face was rapt. her lips
parted. her gray eyes misty.
The silence was broken only by tl'
heavy breathing of relaxation. Thcr
the man in the doorway rushed into
the room. He GraSpcd Morris Green
bcrg's hands ana wrrng them emo
tionally.
The effect was electrical. There
was confusing bahhl". This inter
est of the quiet man who paid III,
Settlement n monthly visit to hear tho
singing. had II portent"uS significance
The woman at the piano turned cN
citctlly to Miss Brooks.
"Who would have thought tit" l"ol
at him" she Whispered. Did yo,
see Professor Sard"u'S face
Il AIhrriS Grccnbcrg was drawn bach
To the office. with Dchhv cl!nging I,
his coat. forgotten. unnoticcd.
Al first Grccnhcrg could not comprr
hcnd what was said to him by tho tall
man. whose French accent was all the
! more confusing because of his ire.
! prrssible excitement and grsticulationS
But the fire uf his enthusiasm work,
/ ed like II potent drink. and Grccnhcrc
/ was carried far. lar beyond the wild
! est fancics of his imprcSsionablr youth
I lie left the Settlement House in II
! dazr. Dehly followed. too awcd IL
I speak. lie was unconscious of her
I presence at his side. His face was
,npt. and his eyes Shonc like stars
! in II sky of victory.
! For II block they walked. the child
silent. instinctivcly feeling his mood
7 too sacred TO interrupt. Then he drew
I II long breath and looked down NJ
( her. accepting her presence natural
. ly.
J "Dcbby. did You hear what the big
professor said:"
The rlation in his voice was conta-
/ gions. The little girl'S heart gave n
/ joyful throb.
"IIc said could sing, An artist
/ he called me. When | was II
. hoy and sang in the synagoc they all
said I'd he II great CnntOr--thc Ole
. Cantor taught me we'll. But | waited
only my violin, Ny violin.''
"Oh. Papa! And the big professor
: he'll let you sing lay the opera
Morris Grcrnberg nodded. Hut his
thoughts were far away. lie was
dreaming the dreams of his youth.
! Projected before him was an acclaim,
ing audience: tn" SOul-"ntrancirs
4 swelling of violinS filled the air; the
| stirling scent of roses woocd away his
, senses.
Right away hell let you slug
! uucricd Debhy eagerly. Then right
away-riSht away | can have my VIC
linz"
/ He pressed her hand soothingly.
"NOt--not--not right away. FIRST
| Papa must work hard. Papa must
practice and practice before they give