BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 35
officers of a merciful Emperor and Father of his people, be they Jew or Gentile, Turk or Persian, thou art released. Betake thee to thy home."
The rabbi lingered for a moment and then advanced towards Anna.
" Begone, I say."
Anna raised her eyes full of appeal and tears.
" This woman is my betrothed," said Losinski ; " per- mit me to remain."
- Ill-mannered cur ! " said Petronovitch, " out of my
sight ! '
Then turning to the officer, he said, " Thrust him forth."
And forthwith the rabbi was hustled into the street, where the sun was finding its way into the dark corners of the Ghetto, and a wild song-bird, straying from the mea- dows by the river, was singing somewhere in the blue sky.
With what a heavy heart did Losinski turn towards his home ! As he appeared in the midst of the Jewish dwell- ings, men and women came out of their houses, and many were trooping in from their pleasant homes outside the Ghetto. They were making their way to the Synagogue in response to the triple knock upon their doors the usual call to prayer at this time both a surprise and a warning.
" We need thy counsel," said one of the foremost of his flock ; " we need mutual advice."
" And prayer," said the rabbi.
They pressed on their way, encompassing the burial ground of their race, and more than one of the aged people remembered the martyred dead who lay there. Czarovna had a history of cruel rule and bitter persecution ; and in more than one breast of those who followed the rabbi arose the fear that the peace and happiness of the past ten years was but a passing ray of light in the gloom of their ancient records, and that once more they were about to enter upon a period of misery and tribulation,
