The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1920-09-08
THE LEADER


would have come our way later on,
when our hearts had become still more
closely knitted, and the agony would
have been greater. Believe me, it is
better So"
Look, Gregor," said Saul, after
pause. his hand on the others Shout
der; you said that faith was narrow
ness. and now you let your own ac-
ton belle your words. l, that am mar
row. can bear with YOU as you are.
/ make no attempt to bring you into
line with me. But you, who make Il
principle of your want of bias, your
breadth of view, have no room to
house these puny self-delusions OF
mine: what am to Think
Think what you like-that l am
whimsical fool. whose humors play
fast and loose with him. Saul. l am
willing to accept the humiliation;
treat me as a child, and give way to
me. Show how great you are; show
yourself the hero; follow me"'
Gain a friend and lose Heaven" re-
piled Saul half aloud. NO. Gregor,
you ask too much. Let 1t be as you
say, our ways lie apart One day
my good fortune may make them to
cross each other again. Till then,
goodbye"
Softly he walked to the door. and
stopped for moment with his hand
on the latch, as tho he half expected
to be called back. But Gregor sat on.
his head low down on his chest. inn
movable. as if he had suddenly lost
all power of motion. Long after Sauis
departure he fancied he could still
hear his footsteps descend the stair
case. slowly and reverently, as tho he
were walking away from a grave. For
Il moment an irresistible desire had
seized on Grcgor to hurry after his
friend. to drag him back and ask his
forgiveness. But his resolve had held
him back, his resolve that had been
slowly shaping itself all thru their
colloquy. and the motive of which he
must keep secret from Saul. Could
he tell him of the vague. nameless
jealousy that was beginning to hnge
their intercourse with wormwood!
Their friendship was only six months
old. it had score of years to IFS
credit BY mere accident Grcgor had
met the brilliant young physiologist,
who. despite his youth, had already
made considerable stir in scientific
circles. He had recognized il him
nature to which guile and falsehood
were strange, and he rcvelcd in MS
company that came to him like the
pure breath of Heaven after the foul
and grovelling sycophants in which
lie had moved all his life. That was
all the benefit which had accrued to
him from his wealth, from the miles
and miles of forest, from the count
less acres of pastures and ploughland
his father had left him. Ever since
lis tenth year lie had been in the
hands of strangers. who allowed him
to drift as he pleased, till he had drift
ed away from everybody, and his
solitude hedged him in MS with wall
of ice which no one had completely
succeeded in crossing. But when he
looked into Saufs face for the first
time he had felt his heart become alive
and warm. and with its warmth the
ring of ice melted. and thru the breach
,SauI had stenped into his life.
And now his fa tp that had destined
,,; O.. nm ox,;st.r,, ,opoIr and self.
oo,+,inod Soomod tr,ckinp him fur
tbor rIo had admired his friend he
had +r,,nnbod in his ov, triumphs:
no. shad,,, Of o,rv ,ur,,cd in his
A., .,,. ,, boon