" 'Tis the wasting disease," they said;
" God's judgment is upon him."
36



A RENEGADE



One morning the children of the Gass
came running home with the cry that the
Count and his guests were riding through
the village on their way to the hunt.
The gay cavalcade, at its head Dr.
Neuer, came cantering down the street.
" Seest him, the wretch? " whispered the
Jewish women, pointing him out to their
children, on whom the moral of a familiar
story was lost, for they gazed with delight
at the wicked infidel. Indeed, never had
a nobler-looking man been seen in the
Gass. His hair was gray, his smoothly
shaven face lined with care and disease,
but he sat, a manly figure of perfect ele-
gance and grace, on a high-stepping, milk-
white horse, and the large black eyes
glanced with haughty indifference about
him.
" He is not even ashamed," cried the
people with rage, as the riders disappeared
in a cloud of dust.
37



A RENEGADE AND OTHER TALES

The great Passover festival had arrived.
Through all the village, aye, even at the
princely Schloss Maritz, was its wide and
subtle influence manifest. Professor Neu-
er, his heart heavy with memories, fever-
ishly paced a long, dark corridor, when
suddenly the clear voice of the young
Countess Gisela reached his ear.
" That Jew girl," she cried angrily,
" sends me word that, on account of one
of their heathenish festivals, she cannot
mend my tunic. It is most exasperating!
She is the only lace-maker in the
village."

" We shall admire the fair penitent in
another gown," replied her husband, jest-
ingly.
