the terrible tragedy that had filled so many hearts with consternation, the untimely and mysterious death of mark abrams, had long since been numbered with the events of the past. in the hebrew burial ground, in a suburb of the queen city, his mortal remains were at rest. months ago, the grass had sprung, and the flowers of affection blossomed above his pulseless bosom. upon the seventh day of every week since that dreadful january, the unhappy father and mother had turned their faces devoutly toward the city of their fathers, and offered their fervent prayers. yet no abatement of sorrow had time brought to the mother's wounded, bleeding heart. wearily, and often despairingly, she longed for that untried, unknown life beyond, where she dimly hoped for a reunion with her lost son.
sarah mordecai, young, thoughtless, volatile, in the death of her lover was disappointed, but not heartbroken. recovering from the shock of her sorrow with the buoyancy and elasticity of youth, her repinings scarcely reached beyond the period that brought blossoms to the resting-place of the dead. let no one censure this young heart that, by reason of its nature, could not sit enshrouded in gloom and sorrow, nor shudder at the thought that when the summer came, with warmth and brightness, she was as light of heart as the birds that carolled in the garden around her spacious home.
not such the mourning of her disappointed mother. from day to day, since the failure of her cherished hope, regret and disappointment had rankled in her bosom with consuming force. she despised the fate that foiled her plans and purposes, and left the object of her hatred still uncrushed. leah, with her beauty and unaffected grace, was again to be triumphed over. again she might not be so successful. rebecca was cold, cruel, and false-leah fearful, dispirited, and miserable. alas! poor leah mordecai. emile le grande's diary.
"august 15.-so sure as my name is emile, i believe i shall succeed in my endeavor to marry the jewess. she is beautiful! she receives my attentions more kindly now than she ever did before, and she confesses that she loves me truly. that's 'half the battle.' she seems very unhappy at times, yet only once did she ever hint to me that her life was aught but a summer's day for brightness. i once thought she loved mark abrams, and i hated him for it; but that's of no use now. 'dead men tell no tales.'
"august 20.-whew! how mother did rave to-day when i intimated that i might possibly marry leah mordecai! she asked indignantly what i 'designed to do with belle upton, a girl of eminent respectability and an equal of the le grande family?' i mildly suggested that i could not love such a 'scrap of a woman as belle upton was; and if she was in love with me, it was without a cause.' i have paid her some attention, but only to please mother and helen. she's too effeminate, if she is so very aristocratic-not half so handsome as 'ma belle juive.' oh! those dreamy eyes! they haunt me day and night. i believe i am sick with love!"
"august 30.-this has been a memorable month to me. last night, in the starlight, as i walked home with leah from the battery, she promised to marry me; yes, actually to marry me! said she was unhappy at home-i wonder why-and would marry me in self-defence, if from no other cause. a tear stood in her dark eyes as she said, with stern, hoarse voice, 'if you love me, emile, truly love me, and will be faithful to me, i will forsake all others and marry you.' then she made me swear it--swear it there, in the face of the blue heavens and the glittering stars. i tremble when i think of my parents' displeasure, but then i love the girl, and shall fulfil my vow, even unto death. in a month i shall be twenty-five years old, and before another birth-day rolls around, after this one, i shall be a married man-married to the girl i love, leah mordecai, the jewess. i wonder what the world will say. but i don't care; love knows no barriers. when my plans are a little more defined, i shall mention the matter seriously to my father. mother will not hear to it, i know. and then; if he is willing, all well; if he is not willing, all well still. i shall marry her."
