The Denver Jewish news., 1920-01-21

was its wont, and her voice trembled
us she addressed him. Not that he was
handsomer than some of her rejected
suitors-poorer he was than the least
rich-but he possessed what to Rachel
seemed the more important: gentle
ness, and above all, a great, tho as
yet untutored, brain.
Being of lowly birth Akiba, of
course, dared not venture to express
the sentiment he felt for his employ
er's daughter. but she knew intuitive-
ly of his love, and was happy in that
knowledge. Then she suddenly de-
veloped an extreme interest in her
fathers flocks--sO much so that she
had to inspect them daily. especially
that portion over which Akiba watch
ed. Not that she was unwOmanly. for
the tenets of her religion forbade that
but she realized that. un.ess she gave
.\kiba justifiable hints, he would never
make the respectful advance for which
she longed.
AT last, one evening in July, they
met in the rose gardens of her palace.
Gentle nightingales trilled their love
and anguish in indescribable melody
the soft, perfume-laden breeze caressed
the night-love reigned supreme. And
then-with caste and position swept
aside-with no thought but that which
reigned in their hearts, Akiba told
his love to dark eyed Rachel and she
answered:
Whittier thou goest, l will go; thy
people shall be my people, and thy
God my God. Where thou diest, will
l die and there will ] be buried.
But Rachel made u condition to
plighting her troth to Akiba, to which
he readily agreed. Before she would
be his wife he would have to study.
study, study, until he was her equal
mentally. Then no power save death,
she said, could keep her from becom-
ing his wife.
Miss Nikodemon was not idle either.
to-be: but her choice was from far
more exalted station than that oc-
oupied by Akiba. Her choice fell upon
the son of Ben TZizith- -ha- -Kesath, the
third richest man in Jerusalem. and
when the fathers of the woman and
man consented great feasts were held
to celebrate the betrothal.
Before the mighty Sanhedrin the
troth was plighted. Both the parties
signed the "shiddukin" or first stfp-
ulations." in which. they naturally
agreed that il either broke the troth
the other should receive great sum
of money or its equivalent, but that
il the engagement We're broken by
mutual consent the agreement should
be void. Another clause provided that
If either party were to lose his or her
wealth, or were to move to strange
city, or We're to become an apostate,
IT, agreement should be considered
at ar end, the troth broken.
soon after. Miss Nikodemon was
married amid pomp and splendor
which dazzled even the Romans i'll
vited, used. tho they We're. to the law
ish extravaganza of the Roman En-
pcrors.
After the ceremony NikodemOn arose
and addressing the multitude said
"when King Solomon married the
Pharaoh the Egyption King gave his
daughter city as her marriage por-
.tion. Shall it be said that jew is
less generous tuan wOrshiper 'of
Baal?"
And with that he announced that
bis daughters dowry would be four
hundred and fifty million dollars
tho he gave its equivalent in golden
talents. Not to be outdone even by
q Jew, Ben Tzizith responded, declar-
ing that he would give similar
amount.
Great was the acclaim, and for three
days Jerusalem feasted, and not even
the most poverty-stricken wretch was
forgotten.
"Why do you not select hus-
band" asked Kalba of his daughter
as they returned from the wedding
festivities.
81 have done so. father replied
Rachel, and then size confessed her
love for Akiba. Furiously Kalba up
braided her. declaring that il she did
not break her troth to AKlba he would
disinherit her.
There was no struggle in the breast
Of Rachel-riches had no weight when
compared with love, and so she left
her palace, and placing her hand in
that of Akiba went with him to a