"Useless it would be. Miriam is not one of those who say 'no' and then

'yes.'"

"Nearly two years you have known her. That was long to keep you in hope

and doubt. I think she is a coquette."

"You know her not, mother. Very few words of love have I dared to say.

We have been friends. I was happy to stand in the store and talk to

Cohen, and watch her. A glance from her eyes, a pleasant word, was

enough. I feared to lose all by asking too much."

"Then, why did you ask her to-night? It would have been better had your

father spoken first to Mr. Cohen."

"I did not ask Miriam to-night. She spared me all she could. She was in

the store as I passed, and I went in. This is what she said to me,

'Bram, dear Bram, I fear that you begin to love me, because I think of

you very often. And my grandfather has just told me that I am promised

to Judah Belasco, of London. In the summer he will come here, and I

shall marry him.' I wish, mother, you could have seen her leaning

against the black kas; for between it and her black dress, her face

was white as death, and beautiful and pitiful as an angel's."

"What said you then?"

"Oh, I scarce know! But I told her how dearly I loved her, and I asked

her to be my wife."

"And she said what to thee?"

"'My father I must obey. Though he told me to slay myself, I must obey

him. By the God of Israel, I have promised it often.'"

"Was that all, Bram?"

"I asked her again and again. I said, 'Only in this one thing, Miriam,

and all our lives after it we will give to him.' But she answered,

'Obedience is better than sacrifice, Bram. That is what our law teaches.

Though I could give my father the wealth and the power of King Solomon,

it would be worth less than my obedience.' And for all my pleading, at

the last it was the same, 'I cannot do wrong; for many right deeds will

not undo one wrong one.' So she gave me her hands, and I kissed

them,--my first and last kiss,--and I bade her farewell; for my hope is

over--I know that."

"She is a good girl. I wish that you had won her, Bram." And Lysbet put

down her work and went to her son's side; and with a great sob Bram laid

his head against her breast.




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