thought, "I'll begin to live. Who can blame me?"
Almost at the gates of the college, it occurred to him, "Why not go to Rosinsky at once and have the thing off my mind?" Apparently, his mathematical genius did not avail here to show that this was not the way to get the matter off his mind.
"Hey, Feldman, aren't you coming in?" a student called on to him.
He walked on rapidly without replying.
II.
When he entered the little jewelry store Mr. Rosinsky beamed. At first, they conversed a while in polite Russian, as was their custom, and Mr. Rosinsky dilated on the political situation in Russia and elsewhere, considerately refraining, however, from broaching on Jewish themes, as was his custom with young people.
Becky suddenly entered from a room in the rear of the store. She looked at Feldman with some embarrassment and hastily withdrew again.
"Ah! she knows," he thought resentfully.
Mr, Rosinsky suddenly came out from behind the counter, “Zoll es sein mit gluck! Afit gluck! Mit gluck!” he kept repeating, heartily shaking Feldman’s hand. “T want nothing but your word—your word is enough. Other people might ask more, but I will be satished with a mere word. Yes! Yes!” he continued, hastily stifling his own sloubts, "1 know you are an honorable young man or I would not want you to marry my daughter, at all.”
Then, he called out, "Becky! Becky, come here and bring the decanter of schnapps and some glasses."
"All right, papa," Feldman heard her answer cheerfully and he also heard her excited movements within.
She came in, bringing the decanter and two small goblets.
She was a slender girl of about ninc- teen, with a pate, delicate face and brown hair. Her brown eyes were mild and she smiled whenever she spoke or was spoken to, with a shy, pleasing smile.
Becky Rosinsky's admiration for Feldman was already boundless. In fact, without being conscious of it as yet, she was in love with him. Everything said or did in her presence lingered in her memory like a charm.
"What! What! Only two glasses?" ex-
claimed Mr. Rosinsky. "What nonsense. Bring another, Becky."
Harry Feldman gazed down at the floor. Becky opened her eyes wide. Nevertheless, she went to do as she was bidden. When she returned there was a slight flush upon her face.
Mr. Rosinsky zestfully filled the three small goblets. "Becky," he announced in the meantime, "this is your affianced." He turned and handed each of the "affianced" a glass. "Join hands!" he shouted. "Nu, children —drink! With luck! With luck!"
They did not “join hands,” but Harry Feldman drank, while Becky stood with the untouched Jiquor and blushed nainfiudly.
Becky could not quite understand it all, but her heart beat with a wonderful joy. She now knew that she loved and was loved.
ance ‘ae , “Children, you are engaged,” announced Mr. Rosinsky. Then the ran behind the counter, opened the wooden 111, which rang as he did so, took something out and hurried to Harry’s side. He handed him something wrapped in white tissue paper, whispering, 1 saved this one for you.” He chuckled aloud and slapped the young man Jjoy- ously on the back, saying, “I'm going in to have a bite. I leave you both to watch the store.” He winked good humoredly, rubbea his stubby fingers, chuckled, kissed his daughter fondly as he passed her, and chuckling still, entered the rooms in the rear of the store.
So they were left together. Both kept silent and looked away from one another. A minute passed. Becky slowly slid her finger up and down the polished surface of the glass show-case, leaving aimless marks. Harry mechanically fingered the tissue paper, undoing it with one hand. It contained a ring. He looked at it morosely. There was a long, long pause. Becky’s head sank lower and lower. Her fingers still moved up and down the glass. Harry moved slowly up to her and, 3 last, clumsily slipped the engagement ring on her finger.
"We are engaged," he said to her, just as Mr. Rosinsky reappeared.
III.
"Some young people," said Mr. Rosinsky, speaking reflectively in the parlor in the rear of his store, almost two years later. "Some young people make the bad mistake of being too much in each other's company."