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a Christian, so sounded the rumors, which cast a dark shadow over the town and traveled with lightning rapi- ji' v to widow Deborah and to Estei- ka The Jewish quarter was steeped in excitement. The gossipers greedily devoured the news, then began spread ing it. These men and women who led the monotonous, idle life of the Ghetto, who had nothing to occupy their minds and for whom every day was alike, except such times when some excitement, something to gossip about happened, took a demoniac de light in this rumor. It made those who seemed to dreamily walk the streets, open their eyes. It gave fire tu those grown cold from inactivity. On meeting in the Ghetto streets, men and women would stop each other and talk in this vein: “Of all the things which happen in this world . ...” the one with pipe between his toothless jaws would ex claim. “Oh, no. 1 should never have ex pected that of Sigmund,” regretted the other. “I do not see why. To a German ized fellow like that a change of re ligion means nothing,’ insisted the first one. "And if a note exchangeable for good cash is handed in,” fell in the jester of the tow f n, ‘‘then the affair is transacted very easily. “No. I cannot believe the whole story,” milled the one who joined the group as they were talking. “I cannot believe it at all.” “Sigmund did not believe either, that’s why he became an apostate,” said the jester with a smile. In this way they spoke for hours at a time without becoming tired, and °nly the arrival of night reminded ’.hem that they had homes where they were expected. It goes without saying that Sig mund s mother and Esterka could not dose their eyes that night. The ru mor which furnished so much excite ment and even pleasure to the Ghetto, oppressed their hearts. They refused to believe a word of the rumor, but he fact that not a word had come di- rect ly from Sigmund for months caused anxiety. They woke every morning with the yearning for a let- m They wished to hear from him a . mJ at the same time put an end to t t gossip. But as the days passed, no letter came. )n e day a letter came to a men Jer of the community from a friend ( i U i 0dess< >- In this letter all tf e ai s of the Sigmund conversio e, e given. In the letter was recort o' he was baptized in the larg ■ • Michel Church, and that a fe' ayslater he was wed to the daughte church n Pl0yer in the . Very sa ™ f • . ‘ writer also informed hi bran l g hat Sigmund was given th ch he managed in Odessa as we s everal million rubles as dowry. The theatre ROYAL j CAROLINA THEATRE | The Southern Israelite Page 25 In the face of such proofs, even Sigmund’s best friends dared not doubt the rumor. Even his own moth er believed that her son had forsaken the faith of his father. Esterka was almost prostrated with sorrow. From time to time the thought came to her that a mistake must have been made somewhere. In a few days, however, she became convinced that Sigmund had actually become a convert. A let ter came to his mother saying that not only had Sigmund become a Chris tian, but he had sold the house which his father had left him to the church near which it stood. In the letter it was said that pehaps the house in which the family had lived for years past would be transformed into a church. Sigmund’s mother was in formed that her son was going to visit his little home town in a short time and she was reminded that it were best for her not to allow the black sheep of the family to enter her home. It so happened that some of the contents of the letter proved true. A few days after the letter was re ceived, an official of the church came to look at the house. The poor mother saw with her own eyes the letter written in Sigmund’s own handwrit ing offering the house for sale. The unfortunate woman, who was certain now that her son had become an apostate, fainted. When she nme to, she tore her garments and sank down on the floor to mourn her son as if he were dead. Esterka broke down in her sorrow, and her mother, sighing and weeping, ran from phy sician to physician begging them to save her daughter. Wherever a relative of Sigmund lived, there was sorrow and mourning. Young men and young women of his “mishpocha” mourned and bewailed their lot. For parents hastened to break off engagements, as they did not care to have a “meshumed” (con vert) in their families. The town resembled a huge kettle, under which burned a big fire — it boiled and boiled from morning until night. ‘‘Piety” whose hunch now rose so high that it towered over his head, put in an appearance everywhere. Ben jamin Hoeker was restless. He felt the necessity of injecting the poisons into the very heart of his opponent Itzik Hersh. Hundreds of times he traversed the streets where “Wisdom” was usually to be found, until at last he was face to face with the one whom he sought. “May G’od give you a good day,” said “Piety.” “May God open—” the other said, almost choking, “hell, that it may swallow you.” “You seem somewhat sad,” inter rupted “Piety,” with feigned sympa thy. “Sad? Who, I?” wondered the sec ond. “What cause have I to be sad?” “I thought, perhaps, because of — what’s his name?” ‘Whom do you mean?” “Well, that apostate.’ “What have I to do with him?” “I thought he was a cousin of yours.” The red bearded man bit his lips, but he looked for his usual back doov of escape. “I crossed his name from the fami ly register long ago,” he assured his opponent. “I can prove it that several months ago I warned Reb Benzion against him.” (Continued on Page 28 First in Wilmington to Show You "The Difference” The Grocerteria LEON 1\ ANDREWS WOOLVIN-ANDREWS COMPANY FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS 225 Princess Street WILMINGTON, N. C. Telephone 223; Residence 315 Friendly Cafeteria “77ie House by the Side of the Road” WILMINGTON, N. C. I I K. Broughton St., Savannah, Ga. E. T. TAILOR, l*r«alil«iil C. M. HU II.EH, Vice-President J. O. CARR. Attorney VI , A. EONVIEI.I.E, See’y-Tremt. W. D. JONES, A»»t. Sec’y-Trees. The Million Dollar CAROLINA BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION 201 PRINCESS STREET WILMINGTON, N. C. * * * *i* * * * •> * *> * * 4* * *> * * * * * * * * * * * * **5*++• * W. B. THORPE & juiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiimiiittii PURE CRYSTAL ! 1 1 COMPANY ICE COAL | “Ask Those Who Use It" | = s And Building Supplies I PLATE ICE CO. I WILMINGTON, N. C. t Phones 695-696 itiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiMimimiiimiiiiiimiiiiiiiinuiuHiuiuuHiuuiai;