"Father, dear, I greatly respect your feelings, which I understand thoroughly, but there are times when one must tear oneself loose from traditions and customs. Love is too holy to be sacrificed on the altar of public opinion. As I said, you need not fear that I would marry without your consent. I repeat that there is no happiness for me if it be not shared by you. But if I do not marry Sheeka I will remain unmarried. You wished me on New Year's eve that God may fulfill my wishes. My wish is that I may become the wife of Sheeka. It surely would be a contradiction that God should do a thing for me which you, yourself, refuse to do. I wish to exact a promise of you. Will you try to study Sheeka, impartially, as to whether or not he is worthy of me? And if you find him to be what I have told you he is, will you then, with contentment of your heart, sanction our union?'

"My child, I promise you to study him, but press me not further. I am too stormtossed to be justified in binding myself to such a promise."

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Pardon me, my good father! Oh, how thankful I am to you!" Thus exclaiming, she threw her arms around him and covered his patriarchal face with kisses.

Wielnik, true to his promise, immediately after his return from Lomza, began with the study of the character of Sheeka Klezmer. As the president of the " Khevra Kadisha it fell to his lot to make all arrangements for its yearly banquet. Sheeka's gentle manner and his businesslike way impressed old Wielnik agreeably. He felt himself drawn to him, and could not help but think

That same evening Shprintza could read from her father's entire demeanor that he was more kindly inclined toward the idol of her heart, and she attuned her soul to a "Hallelujah."

The more observations Wielnik made, the more he had to admire Sheeka, despite himself. He had to acknowledge in his own heart that his Shprintza was right. Nevertheless poor Reb Kalmen was faint of heart. His discomfiture was the greater because of the strain to conceal his feelings from Shprintza. He sought solitude. Buried in his tomes he tried to forget his trouble. But like the mighty stream, when its course is arrested, will break its dam in the mad rush, and flood the lowlands, so will suppressed woe break forth in fury and mock its combatant. Try as he would Kalmen Wielnik could not master his feelings. He ran to the synagogue and sought relief in prayer.

Prostrating himself before the Holy Ark, he cried: "God, O, God, my Lord! I come not to demur against Thee for Thou art just and righteous. Thou punishest man as he deserveth. But greater than Thy justice and righteousness are Thy mercy and loving kindness. With a contrite heart and broken spirit I pray and beseech Thee to come to my rescue in my present distress. Strengthen me that I may be steadfast, yet just and loving. I have lived beyond the limit of years allotted to man. Thou hast always guided and protected me; may my life be such during the remainder of my days as to please Thee and mankind." Greatly relieved and strengthened, he decided to expedite matters at all hazards. "I am in His hands; whatever may be the outcome I will bend to the will of God." Ever true to his resolutions, Wielnik lost no time in broaching the subject anew to his daugh

ter.

Before him stood again the same Shprintza, winsome and full of charm, but the same loving face betrayed the same determination, and with even greater passion and pathos than the last time she again proclaimed her never-swerving love for Sheeka Klezmer.

One morning Reb Kalmen Wielnik returned home from the synagogue accompanied by the beadle on whose arm he was leaning. His unsteady step and the pallor of his face greatly alarmed Shprintza, who at once sent for their family physician. Her anxious eyes turned from her heavily breathing father to the grave looking doctor from whose countenance she could not fail to read his apprehension. The beadle stated that Wielnik had fainted in the synagogue during the morning service, and that the rabbi thought it best not to let him go home alone.

Reb Kalmen sank rapidly. He became