No, they were not boy and girl, but rather young man and young woman, to be absolutely correct. But in private conversation each had often affirmed that it was best to feel like a young boy or girl when out for a little recreation. To-day it seemed as if they were carrying this idea of theirs into practice. Standing on the nearby shore, you could see that the oars were lying idly about, while the row-boat itself was gliding of its own accord in a sort of lazy, listless way, quite in contrast to the vivacious and animated conversation of its occupants.
That afternoon, the lake was unusually clear of the pleasure craft with which it was generally crowded. It seemed, indeed, that chance had been favorable that day, leaving them to the seclusion and security which two young people who possess a deep feeling for each other (especially when it happens to be a boy and a girl) so naturally crave. When the time comes for one heart to beat in responsive unison to the other, when soul is about to answer unto soul and spirit unto spirit, then does nature subdue its habitual harshness, and its rapidity of motion—everything seems to hasten to attume itself to the tender chord which is about to be struck.
And the hour—oh, how fortunate! As I peered through the cluster of trees that bordered the opposite shore of the lake, the sky was all aglow with the radiant hues of the sunset. It was a rare feast for the eye, this wonderful agglomeration of millions of variegated tints. I peered, and peered and peered—but whither? If only my eye could pierce this gorgeous mantle of the twilight! Perhaps, perhaps. But who dares to gaze with naked eye at the eternal mystery of things? . . .
I was rudely awakened from my revery by the slight splashing of the oars of the boat, whose occupants I had noticed be-
* * *
"Look, look! A star has appeared in the heavens!"
"Yes, yes, but it seems that these drifting clouds will soon cover it completely."
fore. As they drew nearer I could discern their features more clearly. It seemed as if my suspicions of the previous moment were only too true—in the faces of these two young people I was able to read the fact that both were, first of all, Jewish. And then it was not very difficult to discover also the fact that both were probably very intelligent. For are not the ardent gleaming of the fire in a young man's beaming eyes, and the eager, sympathetic response of a young woman, signs of the divine light that animates both? Shall we not give heed to these clear manifestations of the spirit, these open secrets of the soul?
Splash—splash—splash! The soft andtender breeze was awakening to the latenessof the hour. It gathered itself together;in its might it was just strong enough tobring a slight but welcome relief to thepoor denizens of the earth, who had suffered so much that day from the pitilessonsets of the sun, now sinking in all hisglory in the Golden West.
The little wind, glad that he was free atlast to bring comfort to the mortals below,swept down in anxious haste. With compassionate embraces he laved the feverishforeheads of the suffering men—it was always his great delight to be of some service to humanity.
Then a star arises, and the night is holy.
“Where, where?”
"There in the East! And oh, how brilliant, how celestial! Look, look; let youreyes behold this jewel of the firmament!"
The gloomy surface of the lake reflected the faint lustre of the hidden moon, now sunk behind heavy clouds. The clustered