Part 34 (1/2)
”Count Drentell,” replied the girl, with a proud glance. ”Do not persecute me with your attentions, which are extremely distasteful to me. I trust we shall never meet again.”
And with a haughty sweep of her beautiful head, she pa.s.sed the astonished Loris and walked rapidly down the street.
The young man looked after her for a moment in silence; then he stamped his foot in rage.
”She refuses my attentions, the proud Jewess! But I will conquer her in spite of her pride.”
It was not until Kathinka reached home that her strong spirit gave way, and she threw herself into a chair and wept bitterly. Her mother and father, surprised at such an outburst of emotion, hastened to her side, but it was some time before the girl attempted an explanation. Then she told her parents of her encounter with the Governor's son.
The Rabbi walked up and down the room in great perturbation. The affair promised no pleasant conclusion.
”Alas, that your beauty should have attracted the young Count!” he said.
”It is very unfortunate. Who knows to what extremes he may go to revenge himself upon you for having refused his advances.”
”Was there any other course for me to take?” asked Kathinka.
”No, my child; you acted honorably. There was nothing else for you to do.”
”But the calamity which the man predicted would befall Israel?” said Recha.
”It may have been an idle threat. There is no need of borrowing trouble.
Misfortune has ever found the Jews steadfast and ready to bear the greatest hards.h.i.+ps for their faith. If new troubles come, we will not be found wanting. In the meantime there is nothing to do but wait.”
”If I should meet him again and he should again force his attentions upon me, what could I do?” sighed Kathinka, nervously.
”For the present do not venture out unless with me or Joseph. We must inform Kierson of this matter at once. He has doubtless frequent opportunities of seeing this young Count and can keep his eyes on him.
Perhaps Drentell is honorable enough to desist if he sees that his advances are repelled.”
Kathinka shook her head, despondently.
”I fear not, father. You should have seen his face and heard his words.
Such pa.s.sion is not subdued by neglect. I am afraid that he will become our implacable enemy and that we will eventually have more to fear from his hatred than from his love.”
The Rabbi did not reply, but his heart echoed his daughter's forebodings.
CHAPTER x.x.x.
AN UNFORTUNATE ENCOUNTER.
Kathinka now rarely went out, and never alone. On her way to the synagogue and upon her little errands of mercy, she was invariably attended by her devoted Joseph. The very danger to which the girl had been exposed served to cement their hearts more closely.
For a time, nothing was seen of Loris. One day, however, Joseph and Kathinka had just left the Rabbi's house.
”Look,” whispered Kathinka, pressing Joseph's arm, ”he is following us.”
Joseph turned rapidly and perceived the form of Loris at some distance behind them. The Count, seeing that he was observed, turned a corner and disappeared. For several months after, Kathinka saw nothing more of her persecutor, and the disagreeable episode gradually faded from her memory.