The Washington times., 1938-04-15

shadow hanging over Mildred
Jack Berger was back. He had
returned the night before, after
an absence of a year and haIf.
With him had returned the
shadow that had been forgotten
during ali that time.
Mildred's protests to her father
had been met with angry blunt
ness.
1T is wrong for you to tell me
that you love someone else, !"
Solomon Krantz had said. when
Jack was a little boy, before you
were born, you were bethrothed
to him. His father was my dear
est friend. We pledged that l.
my first-born were daughter, she
would marry Jack"
But that was before I was
born. It's unfair" Mildred had
objected. And isn't it a sin for
me to marry Jack when I love
someone else?"
Solomon shook his head stub
bornly. 1T is a sin for a daugl-
ter of our people to marry any
man but the one to whom she is
first betrothed. You have been
betrothed to Jack and such tie
is second only to the marriage
ceremony itself in sacredneSs.
AS the shadows began to
lengthen, her nervousness III
creased and she tried to fight i
off by plunging wholeheartedly
into the work of preparation. she
dreaded the moment Jack, at the
synagogue with her father, would
return to take his place at the
table with the family in the tradl'
tional holiday festival.
JACK EMBARRASSED
When they did arrive, Jacks at
titude both relieved and puzzled
her. He had not seen her since
their formal betrothal 18 months
before, but his greeting was
hardly warm. He was cordial
enough when he saw her, but he
seemed a little embarrassed. 20
her relief, he made no move 70
kiss her. 1t was strange. He had
kissed her at the little engage
ment party and had kissed her
again when he left to take bet
ter job in the West.
Mildred hadn't minded at the
time, because that was before she
met Harry Fox. Now the thought
of kissing anyone else was repel-
liant. Still Jacks attitude, II
gratifying, was strange. He was
home on brief vacation over the
holidays, after which he would
return West to make his home
there permanently.
Mildred could get no explana-
ton for his behavior. Though her
father tactfully retired to the
kitchen for a moment, taking Lily
with him, Jacks conversation with
Mildred was confined to common
places. His manner was as nerV-
GUS as IlcI OWL
When Solomon Krantz returned
to the room, he seemed diSpleased
at finding them at either end OF
it, but covered his feelings by or
dering that the seder begin at
once. His grave manner relaxed
only after Lily had placed five
chairs around the table and quick
ly occupied one of them.
LEAVE EMPTY CHAIR
Solomon brought another chair
to the table, smiled and told her:
"On this night, my child, we leave
one empty chair. For on this first
night of Passover, the Prophet
Elijah is said to wander about the
world, visiting the homes of the
piouS.
I'VE leave this empty chair for
him, that he may be welcome at
our feast. And we leave the door
open for the unexpected guest;
on this night our door and this
chair are open to the needy and
the homeless, for them to enter
and eat and be satisfied. And
now, my child, open the door,"
Lily obediently slid from her
chair and swung open the door.
Then she fell back a step in sur
prise. Harry Fox stood in the
doorway.
Mildred shot a swift glance at
her father. The dark, angry blood
had flooded his face, but he re-
membered his duty in time.
He bowed gravely and said, "a
good holiday to you. Welcome to
our table"
Harry advanced, his face pale
with determination. He said, "a
good holiday to you. And thank
you for your hospitality"
Mildred's voice shook but hel
eyes shone while she introduced
Jack and Harry. Jack, standing
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