The Denver Jewish news., 1925-01-22

Naiasha. Her father who idollzcd her
became rcconclled 10 the Jew lie per
-uHdcd him to give mp his private les
SONS and remain at is home until he
had finished. In the interest Of his
daughter as well ms to remove from
his future what would necessarily he
mn impcdimcnt t0 success he often ven.
turcd on the subject or conversion,
bernard" he said one day, "Juda-
ism from what | have heard Is out of
date. 1t has been superseded by other
and more virilc faiths. It has served
u great purpose in the world but now
Christianity has come to carry ON the
program of enlightenment and lifted
the task from the shoulders Of Juda-
ism that has exhausted itself"
yes" Baruch agreed, that is So
1t seems that Judaism is no longer able
10 meet the demands of modern times.
| have often thought of it i'm that
light An inhibitiyc religion, in way
stulting Il mans best effort"
You are satisfied then that Christ
ianlty is SUPERIOR questioned Ma.
tahsa's father scarcely conccaling his
elution.
Yes. have come to that con
clusion."
"Bcruard' spoke the millionaire
acizing Baruch's hands in the excess
of his emotion, ''you have made "A splcn-
did record in the school there is
nothing to prevent you from becoming
great lawyer You have marvellous
, ability your professors icll me. You
tell me you love my daughter and |
know that she loves you. You are not
formally engaged but YOU will he
when you leave the University within
the year. With my influence, with the
resources / command You will become
leader in your profession. Embrace
/ Christianity -
Bernard hcsitated. But he had gone
so far how could he hold back now.
lie must take the final step. He owed
It to Natnsha, To her father to his
future. The only opposition he dread
cd was that of his parents hut he felt
sure they would hr won over when they
saw the heights to which lie might at
tain and when he could relieve their
poverty with the money he could oh
tain. Whatever scruplcs he had We're
overcome when Nntasha added her I'M
portuuitics and pointed out her i'm
possible position when married to n
jew.
Now as he sat in a room mt one of
OdcsSa's hotels he silently reviewed
all of these things, Natasha had left
the room in his absence early that
morning and when she returned she
brought back with her a partly con
sumed bottle of vodka. He snatched
the bottle from her and in the stormy
scene that followed he had found il
impossible to adhere TO his resolution
of the previous day, to forget all that
had tranSpircd.
Natasha had been spoiled all her life
by the indulgence of doting parents
and face to face with a crisis that pre-
sentcd itself now. she was hopelcSsly
lost She could only avail herself OF
womans instructive weapon, tears.
"Nntasha," scolded Baruch. "what
is this. Have you gotten so fond OF
drinking that you desire to make mt
the laughing stock Of your friends? Is
that your purposc:'
NataSha was crying. But at the
last words She looked up ut him. You
You liar, cheap Jew, bcggar, do you
dare to talk, to me in that way
Baruch bit his lips. lie was ventur
ing on dangerous ground. He would
have done much to undo what had beer
done But justify himself he must.
Better if Natasha had left him alone
to work out his own salvation. But
womanlike she must ever bring mp The
subject She felt a keen delight in
the pain of probing her own wounds
"Why don't You answer me? Are you
thinking Of returning to those poor
sculnwags that make fun of me and
my people? Better go there and live
in the filth and CRIME that You are
used to-"
NO, Natash1, that is no intention of
mine But Natasha. they are my peo.
pie. They are sorrowing for the loss
of my brother. and -"
lie caught himself rs he was going
to add that he had proved faithcss
to them
But Natasha intuitivcly knew what
he was going to say. Yes you were
going TO say thnt you didn't follow
their teachings, weren't you: And you
found out too late: And your wife
was in your road?"
"Natashn calm yourself. What is
the use Of all this excitement" begged