WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.080 --> 00:00:04.759 Second five of the Best Ghost Stories. This is a 2 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:09.039 LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recording to a public domain. For 3 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:13.679 information or to volunteer, visit LibriVox dot org. Read by 4 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:18.920 Morphine Mollie The Best Ghost Stories. The Silent Woman by 5 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:23.800 Leopold Comfort VI. A borious merriment of a wedding beast 6 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:26.519 bridge forth into the night from a bringing elight house 7 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:29.320 in magoths Narrow Street. It was one of those nights 8 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:31.679 touched by the warmth of spring, but still dark and. 9 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:32.600 Full of soft mists. 10 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:35.840 Most fitting, it was for a celebration of the union 11 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:38.240 of two yearning hearts to hear the same lot, a 12 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:41.359 lot that may possibly drawn in semmy brightness, but also 13 00:00:41.399 --> 00:00:44.840 become clouded and sullen for a long long time. But 14 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:47.520 how merry and enjoyous they were over there, those people 15 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:51.320 of the olden times, they like us, have their troubles 16 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:54.520 and trials. And when misfortune visited them, it came to 17 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:57.280 them not with soft cushions and tender presses of the hand, 18 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:00.000 rough and hard, with clinched fist it was laid upon them. 19 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:02.679 But when they gave vent to their happy fieldings and 20 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:06.280 sought to enjoy themselves, they were like swimmers in cooling waters. 21 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:09.280 They struck out into the stream which freshness and courage, 22 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:12.120 except that themselves be borne along by the current webs, 23 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:16.040 whatever it took its course. This was the cause of suchitubilee, 24 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:19.000 such thoughtlessly noisy outbursts of all kinds of soul, possessing 25 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:23.959 gaiety from this house of nuptials. Had I known the 26 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.480 bride's father, the rich Reuben Caplender, had just said that, 27 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:29.560 it would have taken the last gulden from my pocket 28 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:32.599 out it would have come. In fact, it did appear 29 00:01:32.599 --> 00:01:35.400 as if the last gasheen really had taken flight and 30 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:37.400 was fluttering around the room in the form of platters 31 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:41.519 heaped with geese and pastry tarts. Since two o'clock, that is, 32 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:43.680 since the Mirosary Boy, they had been performed out in 33 00:01:43.719 --> 00:01:47.200 the open street. Until nearly midnight, the wedding feast had 34 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:51.079 been progressing, and even yet the savers or waivers were 35 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:53.879 hurrying from room to room. It was as if a 36 00:01:53.879 --> 00:01:56.799 twofold blessing had descended upon all this abundance of food 37 00:01:56.840 --> 00:01:59.719 and drink, For in the French place it had not 38 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:02.920 seen to diminish. And secondly it found ever a new 39 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:06.560 place your disposal. To be sure, this appetite was sharpened 40 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:09.280 by the presence of a little dwarf like, unimportant looking man. 41 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:12.680 He was esteemed, however, none the less highly by every 42 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:16.360 one They had specially ridden to engage the celebrate Lebinar 43 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:19.439 of Prague. And when was it ever in moods or 44 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:22.159 out of sorts a heart so embittered as not to 45 00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:24.960 thaw out and laugh if Lebinar plagued one of his pranks. Ah, 46 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:27.680 the ark now dead, good jool, Thy lips, once always 47 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:30.759 ready with wiby reply, are closed. Thy mouth they never 48 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:33.680 still now speaks no more, But when the harvey pearls 49 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:36.639 of laughter wandering forth at thy command and successors, as 50 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:39.319 it were in thy behalf, before the very thrim of God, 51 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:41.599 Thou hast nothing to fear, And the joy of that 52 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:44.639 other world was thine, that joy that ever belonged to 53 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:48.639 the most pious of country rabbis. In the meantime, the 54 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:51.039 young people had assembled in one of their rooms to dance. 55 00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:53.639 It was strained how the sound of the violins and 56 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:56.560 trumpets accorded with the doleries of the witch from Prague. 57 00:02:57.080 --> 00:02:59.439 In one part, the outburst of merriment was so boisterous 58 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:01.599 that the the very candles on the little table seemed 59 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:02.599 to flicker with terror. 60 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:04.159 And another, and. 61 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:06.960 When they conversation was in progress, which now and then 62 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:09.560 ran over into a loud tittering. When some old ladies 63 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:12.360 looked into the circle and heard a skill at a rettaua. 64 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:15.919 Then all together unknown to the young people, and the 65 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:18.439 very mist of the tangle of dancers was to be 66 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:22.719 seen the bribe in a heavy silk wedding gown. The 67 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:24.639 point of her going than hood hung down far over 68 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:28.520 her face. She danced continuously. He danced with everyone that 69 00:03:28.599 --> 00:03:31.240 asked her. Had one, however, observed the acting of the 70 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:34.759 young woman, though it certainly seemed to them hurried, agitated, 71 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:38.520 almost wild, He looked no one in the eye, that 72 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:41.520 even her own bridegrew. He stood for the most part 73 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:44.280 in the doorway, and evidently took more pleasure from the 74 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:47.520 witisms of the fool than the dance or the lady dancers. 75 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:49.719 But who ever thought for a moment why the young 76 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:52.719 woman's hand burned, why her breath was so hot when 77 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:55.719 one came near her lips? Who would have noticed so 78 00:03:55.840 --> 00:04:00.520 strange a thing a low whispering already passed through the company, 79 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:05.439 A stealthy smile stole across many a lip. A bevy 80 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:05.960 of ladies was. 81 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:06.800 Seen to enter the room. 82 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:09.719 The music dashed off into one of his loudest pieces, 83 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:13.439 and as if by enchantment, the newly made bride disappeared 84 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:17.360 behind the ladies. The bridegroom, with a stupid smiling mane, 85 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:20.240 was still left standing on the threshold, but it was 86 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:24.160 not long before he too vanished. One can hardly say 87 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:27.959 how it happened, but people understand the skillful movements by experience, 88 00:04:28.279 --> 00:04:30.240 and will continue to understand them as long as there 89 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:33.839 are bride and grooms in this world. This disappearance of 90 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:38.600 the chief personages little as it seemed to have been noticed, gave, However, 91 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:42.560 the signal for the general leave taking. The dancing became drowsy. 92 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:46.360 It stopped all at once, as if by appointment. That 93 00:04:46.439 --> 00:04:49.399 noisy confusion now began, which always attends so merry a 94 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:54.040 wedding party. Half drunken voices could still be heard, intermingling 95 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:56.240 with the last hearty laugh over a joke of the 96 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:59.959 fool from frog, echoing across the table. Here and there, 97 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:02.040 some one not quite suous his balance was fumbling for 98 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:04.120 the arm of a chair or the edge of the table. 99 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:06.680 This resulted in the overturning of a dish that had 100 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:09.920 been forgotten, of the spilling of a beer glass. While 101 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:12.920 this in turn set up a new hubbo, someone else, 102 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:14.920 in his eagerness to be taken some up of the scene, 103 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:18.360 fell flat into the very debris. But all this tumult 104 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:20.560 was really hushed the moment they all pressed to the door, 105 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:23.519 for at that very instant shrieks and cries of pain 106 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:27.160 were heard issuing from the interest below. In an instant, 107 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:31.079 the entire outpouring crowd, with all possible force, pushed back 108 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:33.519 into the room. But it was a long time before 109 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:36.839 the stream was pressed back again. Meanwhile, painful cries were 110 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:39.959 heard again from below, so painful indeed they restored even 111 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:43.040 the most drunken to his gave of consciousness by the 112 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:43.600 living God. 113 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:46.399 They cried to each other, what's the matter downe there 114 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:51.519 is a house on fire. He is gone, he is gone, shrieked. 115 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:55.160 A woman's voice from the angry below. Who who groaned 116 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:57.800 The wedding guests, seized as it were, by an icy horror. 117 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:01.920 Gone gone, cried. 118 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:04.360 The woman from the entry, and hurrying up stairs, came 119 00:06:04.439 --> 00:06:07.879 Salib Catlander, the mother of the bribe, pale as death, 120 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:12.319 her eyes dilated with the most awful fright, convulsively grasping 121 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:15.120 a candle in her hand. For God's sake, what has 122 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.959 happened was heard on every side of her. The sight 123 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.399 of so many people about her, and the confusion of 124 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:23.360 voices seemed to release the poor woman from some kind 125 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:26.600 of stupor. He glanced shyly about her then, as if 126 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:29.079 overcome by a sense of shame stronger than her terror, 127 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:31.079 and said, in a suppressed. 128 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:33.279 Tone, nothing, nothing. 129 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:35.519 Good people and cousin Dame, I ask him, what was 130 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:40.439 there to happen? Dissimulation, however, was to everyone to suffice 131 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:41.160 to deceive them. 132 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:42.920 Why then do you shriek? 133 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:45.399 So Salib caught out one of the guests to her, 134 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:50.800 if nothing has happened, Yes, she is gone, Celine moaned 135 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:57.240 in heart rending tone. She has certainly done herself some harm. 136 00:06:57.480 --> 00:07:00.000 The cause of the strange scene was now first discovered. 137 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:03.560 The bride disappeared from the wedding feast soon after he 138 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:06.519 had vanished in such a mysterious way. The bridegroom went 139 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:09.000 into the dimulated room to find her, but in vain. 140 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:11.920 At first thought, it seemed to him a sort of 141 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:16.360 bastful jest. But not finding her here, a mysterious foreboding 142 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:19.079 seized him, and he called for the mother of the bribe, 143 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:23.920 who is me? This woman is gone. Presently, this party 144 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:27.800 that had so admirably controlled itself was thrown again into commotion. 145 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:31.920 There's nothing to do, was said on all sides, but 146 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:35.720 to ranshac every look and corner. Remarkable instances of such 147 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:38.800 as appearances of Bryce has been known. Evil spirits are 148 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:41.120 wont to lurk about on these knights and inflict mankind 149 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:44.720 with all sorts of sorceries. Strange as his expedition may seem, 150 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:47.000 there were many who believed it at this very moment, 151 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:50.879 most of all Celeie Catlin to herself. But it was 152 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:54.519 only for a moment. For once he exclaimed, no, no, 153 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:56.959 my good people, he is gone. I know he is 154 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:00.480 gone now for the first time. Many of them, especially 155 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:04.399 the mothers, but particularly uneasy and anxiously called their daughters 156 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:08.480 to them. Only a few showed courage and urged them 157 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:11.160 a search and search. Even if they had terrified the 158 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:14.839 river Isier a hundred times, they urgently pressed on, called 159 00:08:14.839 --> 00:08:18.399 for torches and lanterns, and started forth. The cowardly ran 160 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:21.319 after them up and down the stairs, and before anyone 161 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:23.600 perceived it, the room was entirely forsaken. 162 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:27.120 Reuben Catlinder stood in the entry hall below. 163 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:29.959 And let people hurry past him without exchanging a word 164 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:34.480 to any bitter disappointment and fear had almost crazed him. 165 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:36.840 One of the lastes they in their room with Salid 166 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:41.279 was strange to say lebnar Pog. After all had departed, 167 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:44.600 he approached the miserable mother, and yet a tone least 168 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:51.000 becoming his general manner, inquired, tell me, no Celib, did. 169 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:52.039 She not wish to have him? 170 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:58.159 Whom whom cried Salid with a renewed alarm when she 171 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:02.799 found herself alone with the fool. I mean, said leb 172 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:05.960 in the most sympathetic manner, still approaching nearer to Salib. 173 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:09.840 But maybe you had to make your doctor marry him. 174 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:17.120 Make have we men, may hear, moan Salib, staring at 175 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:20.159 the fool with a look of uncertainty. Then nobody news 176 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:23.840 to search for her, replied the fool with a sympathetic laugh, 177 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:27.559 at the same time retrieving it's better to leave her 178 00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:30.720 where she is without saying thanks or good night, he 179 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:34.879 was gone. Meanwhile, the cause of all this disturbance had 180 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:37.440 arrived at the end of her flight. Close by the 181 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:41.639 synagogue was situated the house of the Rabbi. It was 182 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:44.600 built into the angle of a very narrow street, set 183 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:48.559 in the framework of tall shade trees. Even by daylight, 184 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:52.120 it was dismal enough. At night it was almost impossible 185 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:54.879 for a timid person to approach it. For people declared, 186 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:56.879 but the low supplications of the day we heard, and 187 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:59.360 the di indy house of guide when met night particular, 188 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:01.080 rolls from the law the ark to some of the 189 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:01.919 members by name. 190 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:04.440 Through this retired street passed, or. 191 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:07.279 Rather rand of this hour, a shy form arriving at 192 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:09.600 the dwelling of the Rabbi. He glanced backward to see 193 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:12.679 whether anyone was following her, but all was silent and gloomy. 194 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:15.240 Enough about her A pale light a heap in one 195 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:17.600 of the windows of the synagogue. It came from the 196 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:20.200 eternal lamp hanging in front of the ark of the Government. 197 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.879 But at this moment it seemed to her as if 198 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:24.799 a supernatural eye was gazing upon her. 199 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:26.879 Thoroughly and frightened, he. 200 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:29.080 Seized the little iron knocker from the door and struck 201 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:32.720 it gently, But the throb of her beating heart was 202 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:37.039 even louder and more violent than this blow. After a pause, 203 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:42.159 footstuss were heard passing slowly along the hallway. The rabbi 204 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:45.759 had not occupied his lonely house a long time. His predecessor, 205 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:48.759 almost a cincenarian in years, had been laid to rest 206 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:52.240 a few months before. The new Rabbi had been called 207 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:55.240 from a distant part of the country. He was unmarried 208 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:57.879 and in his prime of life. No one had known 209 00:10:57.960 --> 00:11:01.840 him before his coming, but personal nobility and profunded thee 210 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:05.000 of his scholarship made up for his efficiency in years. 211 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:08.480 An agent mother had accompanied him from his distant home, 212 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:11.799 and he took the place of wife and child. 213 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:14.960 Who is there, asked Rabbi. 214 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:17.679 He'd been busy at his desk even at this late hour, 215 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:24.120 and thus that mishearing the knocker, I The figure responded, 216 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:28.759 almost monawnably, speak louder if he wished me to hear you, 217 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:35.240 replied the Rabbi, is I Rubin Kdlnder's daughter. 218 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:37.840 He repeated. 219 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.559 The name seemed to sound strange to the Rabbi, for 220 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.200 he as yet knew too few of his congregation to 221 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:45.879 understand that the very day he performed a marror ceremony 222 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:50.240 for the person who disrepeated her name. Therefore, he called out, 223 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:54.399 after a moment's pause, what do you wish so late 224 00:11:54.440 --> 00:12:00.200 at night? Open the door, Rabbi, he answered, pleadingly, are 225 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:05.159 I shall die? At once? The boat was pushed back. 226 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:08.960 Something gleaming, rustling glided past the rabbi into the dusty hall. 227 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:12.240 The light of the candilemma's hand was not sufficient to 228 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:15.840 allow him to descry it. Before he had betime to 229 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:18.759 address her, he had vanished past him and disappeared at 230 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:21.879 the open door into the room, shaking his head, but 231 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:25.600 by by again bolted the door. Upon re entering the room, 232 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:28.200 he saw a woman's form sitting in a chair which 233 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:31.919 he usually occupied. He hardy back turned to him. Her 234 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:35.200 head was bent low over her breast, her golden wedding hood, 235 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:38.240 and the shaving lace was pulled down over her forehead. 236 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:41.360 Courageous and pious as the Rabbi was, he could not 237 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:45.519 rive himself of a feeling of terror. Who are you? 238 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:48.919 He demanded in a loud tone, as if sound alone 239 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:50.919 would banish the presence of this being that seemed to 240 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:52.799 him at this moment to be a production of all 241 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:57.080 the enchantments of evil spirits. She raised herself and crying 242 00:12:57.080 --> 00:12:58.840 in the voices seemed to come from the agony of 243 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:04.159 a human being. Do you not know me? Me whom 244 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:07.320 you married only a few hours earlier under the tupe 245 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:12.879 to a husband. Upon hearing this familiar voice, the rabbi 246 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:16.799 stood speechless. He gazed at the young woman. Now, indeed 247 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:18.759 he must regard her as the one bereft of reason 248 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:24.559 rather than a specter. Well, if you are, she, he 249 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:27.600 stammered out, after a pause, For it was with difficulty 250 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:31.360 he found the words to answer, why are you here 251 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:35.840 and not in the place where you belong? I know 252 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:39.320 no place where I belong more than where I now am, 253 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:43.399 he answered severely. And these words puzzled the Rabbi still more. 254 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:48.039 Was this really an insane woman before him? He must 255 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:49.679 have thought so. For now he addressed her in a 256 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:52.320 gantler tone of voice, as we do those suffering for 257 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:55.279 this kind of sickness, in order not to excite her, 258 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:59.240 and said, the place where you belong, my daughter, is 259 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.279 the house of your parent, Prence. 260 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:04.080 And since you have to day and made a bride. 261 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:08.360 Your place is your husband's house, the young woman muttered, 262 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:12.200 something which failed to reach her by his ear. Yet 263 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:14.720 he only continued to think what he saw before him 264 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:20.679 was a poor, unfortunate whose mind was deranged. After a pause, 265 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:24.639 he added, in a still gentler tone, what is your name, then, 266 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:30.000 my child? Good God, he moaned in the gravesh anguish. 267 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:34.919 He does not even know my name. How should I 268 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:38.679 know you, he continued apologetically, for I am a stranger 269 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.360 in this place. 270 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:41.240 This remark seemed to. 271 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:44.519 Have produce the desired to pict upon her excited mind. 272 00:14:45.559 --> 00:14:49.759 My name is Felee, he said quietly, after a pause. 273 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:53.720 Throughout I quickly perceived he had adopted the right tone 274 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:59.320 of voice towards this mysterious guest ville, he said, approaching 275 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:05.279 nearer her, what do you wish me? Rabbi? I have 276 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:10.639 a great sin pressing heavy upon my heart, he replied, despondently. 277 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:16.360 I do not know what to do. What can you 278 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:21.360 have done? Inquired Rabbi with a tender look. They cannot 279 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:26.440 be discussed at some other time than just now. Will 280 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:32.519 you let me advise you? Vile, No, no, he cried 281 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:37.879 again violently. I will not be advised. I see I 282 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:41.399 know what it restes me. Yes, I can grasp it 283 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:44.200 by your hand and ply some care before me. Is 284 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:46.159 that what you called to be advised? 285 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:47.679 Very well? 286 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:50.840 Returned the Rabbi, seeing that this was a very way 287 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:54.679 to get the woman to talk very well. I say, 288 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:57.840 you are not imagining anything. I believe that you have 289 00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:00.759 greatly sinned and have come here to confess to me 290 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:05.200 this sin. Do your parents or your husband know anything 291 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:05.679 about it? 292 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.759 Who is my husband? 293 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:12.399 He interrupted him impetuously. The thoughts welled up in the 294 00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:15.320 Rabbi's heart like a tumultuous sea at which oppose and 295 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:17.320 conjectures cross and recross each other. 296 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:20.759 He bespeaks to her as with an ordinary sinner. 297 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:23.639 Were you perhaps forced to be married? 298 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:27.759 He inquired, as quietly as possible. After a pause. 299 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:34.120 A suppressed sob, a strong inward struggle manifesting itself from 300 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:37.519 the whole trembling body, was the only answer to this question. 301 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:42.960 Tell me, my child, said the Rabbi encouragingly, in such 302 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:46.519 tones as the Rabbi had never before heard since. 303 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:49.360 Passing any human sound, the young woman began. 304 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:57.080 Yes, Srabbi, I will speak, even though I know I 305 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:59.720 shall never go from this place of life, to which 306 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:05.440 you the very best thing for me. No, Rabbi, I 307 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:09.240 was not forced to be married. My parents have never 308 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:13.319 once said to me you must. But my own will, 309 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:19.400 my own desire, rather has always been supreme. My husband 310 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:21.359 is the son of a rich man in the community. 311 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:24.640 To enter his family was to be made the first 312 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:28.640 lady in the Goths, to sit buried in gold and silver. 313 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:33.880 And that very thing, nothing else, was what infatuated me 314 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:37.640 with him. It was for that that I forced myself, 315 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:41.400 my heart and will to be married to him, hard 316 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:44.079 as it was for me. But they might hear in 317 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:49.079 most heart I detested him. The more he loved me, 318 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:53.839 the more I hated him. But the gold and the 319 00:17:53.880 --> 00:18:00.519 sover have an influence over me. More and more, they 320 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:05.119 cried to me, you will be the first lady in 321 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:10.359 the Gos, continue, said the rabbi when he ceased, Almost 322 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:13.839 exhausted by these words, what more you I tell you. 323 00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:19.079 Rabbi, he began again. I was never a liar when 324 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:20.680 a child or older. 325 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:24.880 Yet during my whole engagement it seemed to me as 326 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:29.480 if a big, gigantic lie followed me up step by step. 327 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:33.920 I have seen it on every side of me. But 328 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:37.680 to day when I stood under the tupey Rabbi, and 329 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:40.640 he took the ring from his finger and put it 330 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:43.960 on mine, and I had to dance at my own 331 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:48.160 wedding with him, whom I now recognized now for the 332 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:52.759 first time as a lie. And when they led me away, 333 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:57.480 this sincere confession escaping from the lips of the young woman, 334 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:00.480 he sobbed aloud and bowed her head, still deep over 335 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:04.799 her breast. The Rabbi gazed upon her in silence. No 336 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:09.319 insane woman ever spoke like that. Only a soul, conscious 337 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:12.680 of his own sin but captivated by mysterious power could 338 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:15.920 suffer like this. But it was not sympathy which he 339 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:19.440 felt with her. It was much more a living over 340 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:22.519 the sufferings of the woman. In spite of the confused story, 341 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:25.480 all was clear to the Rabbi. The cause of the 342 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:28.960 fight from the father's house at this hour required no explanation. 343 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:34.960 I know what you mean, he longed to say, but 344 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:40.880 he could only find the words to say, speak further feline. 345 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:43.599 The young woman turned towards him. He had not seen 346 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:46.640 her face, the golden hood with a shaving lace hung 347 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:52.119 deeply over it. I have told you everything, he said, 348 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:58.880 with a flush of scorn, everything, repeated the rabbi, inquiringly. 349 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:06.759 He only said this moreover through embarrassment. Don't tell me now, 350 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:12.160 he cried, at once, passionately and mildly. What am I 351 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.599 to do? 352 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.440 Vilis? 353 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:19.960 Exclaimed the Rabbi, entertaining now for the first time the 354 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:26.240 feeling of repugnance for this confidential interview. Tell me now, 355 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:30.839 he pleaded, and before the rabbit could prevented, the young 356 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:33.400 woman threw herself down at his feet and clasped his 357 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:36.799 knees in her arms. This hasty act had loosened the 358 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:40.079 golden wedding hood from her head, thus exposing her face 359 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.079 to view, a. 360 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:42.480 Face of remarkable beauty. 361 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:46.400 So overcome was the young rabbit by the sight that 362 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:48.519 he had to shave his eyes with his hands, as 363 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:52.640 if before a sudden flash of lightning. Tell me, now, 364 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.640 what shall I do? 365 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.519 He cried again. 366 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.920 Do you think I have come from my Paris home 367 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:02.960 merely to return? Can I help you alone in this world? 368 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:06.480 Tell me? Look at me. I have kept all my 369 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:09.920 hair jess as God gave it me. It has never 370 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:13.440 been touched by shares. Should I even do anything to 371 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:17.200 please my husband? Am I no wife? I will not 372 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:23.039 be a wife. Tell me what I am to do. Arise, arise, 373 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:28.599 bathe the rabbi, but his voice quivered, sounded almost painful. 374 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:33.000 Tell me first, she gasped. 375 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:39.000 I will not rise till then. How can I tell you? 376 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:41.319 He moaned, almost innomorably. 377 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.319 Not sally. 378 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:49.559 Shrieked the kneeling woman, But the Rabbi staggered backward. The 379 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:52.359 room seemed to blaze before him like a bright fire. 380 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:55.200 A sharp cry rang from his breast, as if one 381 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:58.400 suffering from a painful wound had been seized by a 382 00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:02.079 rough hand. In his hurried attempt to free himself from 383 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:04.880 the embrace of young woman that still clung to his knees, 384 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:07.839 it chanced, but her head struck heavily against the floor. 385 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:11.839 Not fuey, she cried. 386 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:17.880 Once again, Silence, Silence, groaned the Rabbi, pressing both hands 387 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:22.039 against his head, and still again she called out this name, 388 00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:27.079 but not with that agonizing cry. It sounded rather like 389 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:35.720 a commingling of excultation and lamentation. Again he demanded silence, silence, 390 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:40.680 this time so imperiously, so forcibly, that the young woman 391 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:43.200 lay on the floor as if conjured, not daring utter 392 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:47.000 a single word. There, I paced almost wildly up and. 393 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:48.079 Down the room. 394 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:51.519 There must have been a hard, terrible struggle in his breast. 395 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:54.319 It seemed to the one lying on the floor that 396 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:56.880 he heard him sigh from the depths of his soul. 397 00:22:57.880 --> 00:23:01.759 Then miss pacing became calmer, but it did not last long. 398 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:06.240 This fierce conflict again assailed him. His steps grew hurried 399 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:08.880 and echoed loudly through the awful stillness. 400 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:08.880 Of the room. 401 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:12.160