The Denver Jewish news., 1919-03-05
The Sacrifice
BY special permission of Live Stories
By Thrill GORDON
lContinusd from last wcekl

WILL -NuSil II 'o'''
Is the man crazy: Did you ever:'
She turned martyrcd eyes upward.
Ma. MAJ" he interccded huskily.
an importunate hand outstrctched.
Her gaze returned to him wrath
fully She caught frenZiedly at the
bosom of her dress.
Money you'll spend ON II violin? :.
Look at me? She pounded wildly al
her breast. Isn't it enough what l do
yet? Everything | do myself. Wash .
Sew. Cook!. And you have mon
ey for violin -. Look how l so!'
With eyes flaming, she thrust out Il
ragged foot 'The children go in
rags! In rags, ] tell you. Aud my
husband has nothing to do with his
muney--he must spend for II violin -
Her sobbing voice. full of uncontrolla-
bic rage, broke passionately.
''Channa. Channa ~ he begged
The children! You .frightcn them
Hear him YETI TearfulIy she ad-
dressed herself to the covering chill
dren. "All the time l don't say II
word-yOur father always finds money
for his concerts-his operas"
"Na. Ma, Why should you talk
so? This year two times l 80. The
money l got from the old fat-the
meat scraps-always," lie continued
chokingly "Dou't I-don't l tell you
SO hard you shouldn't work? And
Dehby-'
She turned on him furiously. Tie
rage in her seemed to dry her tears.
and her eyes wera piercing and tiinty.
Sure, Sure, You're right yet
What will you make from Dcbby: A
a. You want she shouldn't help her
parents: You'll make from her-an
actress?
The baby sat up weakly i'll its cradle.
and sent forth an ear-splitting shrick
of fear. Mrs. GrecnBerg snatchcd it
iiercely to. her breast and strained to
her.
MY poor baby, NY poor baby
Such II father You got Mayb" 1t
would ic brttcr if YOU didn't--iI you
didn't
The little boys voice joined the
baby's in loud terror. He slid from his
chair and chung TO his mothers skirt.
Large tears tremblcd ON Dchby's
laslies. Her little face WIS white aud
set with infinite pain. She sidicd close
to her father. and looked up at him in
mute remuneration.
Eat. Dcby, Eat he whispered.
Mamma is little excited: she doesn't
mean nothing"
He bent low over his plate. Eating
was u miserable prctcnsc, and his
heart beat with sickcning paintulncss
in his side.
: When Greenberg rose from the ti-
bic, Debby Slipped from her chair and
followed him downstairs. She flung
herself ON the low doorstep, her ell
bows resting on her knees. and her
small, white face cupped in her hands.
She stared ahead with fixed in-
leiisity, her pale lips trembling her
heart heavy within her. How she had
smarting tears wellcd i'll her eyes and
rolled down her cheeks. Quickly she
brushed them away with the back of
her hand.
Her violin. 1t had been the dream
that had l,aiuted the s0rdidness about
her in shades of mystic wonder.
Through it she bad lived in IL world
Of her own creation. where all was
music and color and volominouS 81
lcnccs of hushed rapture.
When her father spoke of the muSi-
cianS he had heard. their power to
thrill and carry one away i'll cN;tita-
tion. the web of fancy had always en-
mcshcd her: hers of fancy had always
been the triumphs. Their glory re
fiectcd what hers was to be.
Now it was all over. 1t already
seemed as far removed as If ii had
never existed The dreariness of tall.
E Lrooding tcuerucnts. shutting out the
sky; the foul odors of 1lrremovcd gar
hasc in the street; family wash dry
ing on lire.cscnpes. closed about her.
She glanced Lack at uef father. In
the dim light his face was guant and
cIrc-worn; heavy circles beneath his
melancholy eyes -belied his smile. the
ready words on his lips.
Dcbby turned her head away.
troubled. Without actually under
standing. she fclt the tragedy of that
smile. She shivcrcd as if il had been
II covering over n dead face.
The red flames of tn" torches sur
mounting the pushcarts danced Sin"us-
ly in the night breeze. Threading his
way through the pressing crowds, II