The Denver Jewish news., 1919-07-23
The Heritage of
Centuries
l. G. L,
(continuation.)


ing submission to the dictates of ira
dition, ctc,-a Jewish home where
whatever pressure might keep the fam.
lily apart during the week. that one
holy night brought them all together
again; where, together they ushercj
in the Sabbath with blessed candles
and sanctified wine a home poorer
than hers by far in material wealth.
yet how much richer in spiritual treas
ure.
Harriet now felt an intense longing
for all this. She asked herself why.
Suddenly she sprang up She UNDER
stood herself at last. She was Jew
1 css, not because she happened to be
born 80. but because she felt the in
severable ties which bound her TO her
| iace.
She could not stay here alone any
longer. For the first tim,. In her lift
she was afraid In her own; home. She
erept downstairs again and out into
the street. st
She was not conscious Of the time
that had elapsed wlien she reached teI
destination. She only knew that she
was where she wished to be. She en-
tered the house just as the father wa
about to begin the blessing of the
wine. Her friends concealed their sur
prise at seeing her when they noticed
that she was troubled. In a few mo-
inents she was Standing us if in her
usual place among them listening to
the sanctification.
The music of the unfamiliar words
soothed her. She breathed the sanctity
IF the atmosphere and the tender spirit
which pervaded the house lowered
about her. Tears gathered in her
dOwncast eyes.
Thruout the meal she was silent
The members OF the family talked
pmon. themselves us usual, respecting
the pcrturbed spirit that had come to
them for peace.
When she was alone with her
friends, Harriet poured oat her heart
with burning tears and was conf0rt
ed.
That night Harriet Roses returned
to her fathers house a stranger.
Harriet Roses possessed one of those
natures which never of themselves take
the Initiative in any course of Thought
or action. As long as things run
smoothly they follow without question
the path mapped out for them by 9th
crs. Only sudden shock can make
them pause. Then, If on analyzing
their position. they find that their IN
.dividuality demands Of them somc-
thing other than that which they have
hitherto represented, they abandon
with an impetus as uncomprOmising
as their obedience was passive. every
thing which conflicts with this new
outlook upon life.
So it was with Harriet, She had
never analyzed herself with regard To
the Jewish question. Her parents and
grandparents before her had decided
their life, and it had never occurred
to Harriet that she might live hers dif-
ferently. 1t was not lack Of inteilt-
gence on her part; simply this uhqucs-
tioning spirit which took for granted
that what was must not be changed.
She thought of what her life would
have been had the events Of the past
week not occurred. She would have
married Mr.. Burdett, Christian. Now
She felt that there could be no union
between them. Her love for him was
one of the incidents in the old lie
which she had renounced. She shud.
dered when she thought of the. conse-
quences. Had the awakening come too
late;
When MIR. Burdett took Harriets
hand in greeting u few days later iln
was conscious of an indcfinable cinnge
both in herself and in her manner TO
ward him. 1t was with some Difficult
ty. therefore. that fie broachcd the pur-
pose of his visit
I, After a silence he began apruptiy'
Harriet, l have come to ask you to
be my wife
\ She did not answer. and he phled
little at the unresponsive look on her
lace. He drew little nearer.
You are not surprised. are Sou'
dear?"
mo" Her answer was low. scarce
ly audible, but it gave him hope.
You know that love you, Hast
riet:"
Yes s it