Phillips County herald., 1923-09-20
The Family
Feud
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Ey MORRIS SCHULTZ
"s"s"s
10. 1923. Western Newspaper Union>


TETERE was feud between the
Rabinovitz and the Epstein fam
lilies. One of them had done some
thing to one of the other in the past,
in the old country. Ephraim Rabi-
novitz5sfa stern, bearded patriarch,
guarded his Becky like the apple of
his eye from Jacob Epstein. What
mattered it If Jacob had been to col
lege? One of Jacobs ancestors had
offended one Of his ancestors In the
old country.
Ephraim was sreputed wealthy He
sat all day long in Mirowitz' place,
playing chess, challenging all comers.
No one could beat Ephrnim. He had
one wonderful move, halfway through
the game; gambit no one could fol-
low. 1t always won.
On the day after Becky eloped with
Jacob Epstein the old man was in his
corner as usual. One of the bystand-
ers, who had not heard the news that
was percolatlng through the East side,
asked him how his daughter was.
Daughter? have no daughter"
replied old Ephraim mildly.
Ephraim was like that. mild in man.
ner, bitter at heart. He never acknowl.
edged that he had had daughter,
even though Jacob was making good as
a salesman and they lived in fine
apartment uptown.
Day by day he continued to sit play
ing chess In Mlrowitz'. 1t was point
Of honor with him to take on all COM
ers. Once Becky used to stand beside
his chair and watch. Now there was
no Becky. But. !.
There were stories of Becky who
had come to the apartment with a
child in her arms and seen her father
face to face. "No, no, do not know
you, madam" Ephralm had answered.
That Madam" was the crowning In
suit. II signlfied that she was no
longer Of his race. Even on Yom Kip
pur. when Jewish people are recon-
ciled. he had denied Becky.
He was sitting In his corner. Sud
denly the onlookers gasped. Jacob
Ensteiu. looking very prosperous and
pale. had pushed forward. ~ will play
a game with you, Mr.. Rabinowitz," he
said.
For u moment old Ephraim was non
pIussed. He could not give vent to
anger, for. according to his hypothesis.
he had nevef. heard OF Jacob. He hes
itated and glared.
"Sit you down." he said coldly.
"But. MFR. Rabinowitz. shall we not
have a little stake on the gamer" asked
Jacob.
Ephrslm shrugged his shoulders.
What you will" -
Listen. then. II you win. pay you
q thousand dollars. IL win--my wife
and adopt you AZ our father"
Ephraim looked thunderstruck.
lhen boistfrous mood seized him.
"Sit you DOWN. he roared. "What Is
your name. my future son?''
"Jacob Epstein" replied the other.
Ephraim chuckled. II was evident
that he meant to give Jacob the trim
ming of his life. daughter or no daugh-
ter. 80
Everybody watched with bated
breath. The game proceeded along
strictly orthodox lines until Ephralm's
move was due. He made II. What
A lightning change In the
The sudden hurting Of his
forces forward
Mol Something had happened
lcphralm looked bewiidered. He had
made his famous. mysterious move. and
Jacob had countered. He sat gnaw.
Ing his beard ln psrplexity. Then he
looked up at Jacob. And suddenly he
burst into such oaths ss had never
been known to come from his lips be-
fore. With a single motion OF his hand
he swept every piece from the board.
He sank back In his chair. giaring
defiance nbout him. at Jacob--nt
Becky. who had appeared, who had
come forward Into the circle Of spec
tators.
"My game." said Jacob coolly. This
lady Is my wife. Mr.. Rablnowitz. ]
call upon you. AS n man OF honor. to
fu,all the terms OF tho compact"
Old Ephrn,m's bloodshot. haggard
eyes passed from Jacobs To Becky's.
Becky wns standing where she uSd to
stand beside her father. Nobody
stirred.
"Do you honor your word. sir?"
Jacob asked.
Old Ephrnim looked at Becky. md a
spnsm shook him. "0i. oil" he moansd
''you tnaght that fellow my gnmbIt.
traitress."
'I,ut. father. was no longer your
daughter" pleaded Becky. "oh. father.
say that you Will forgive US"
Ephraim rose up from his chair. Il
forgive" he muttered. ''comc home,
children. We've got to keep that gam
bil In tho family"