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All that was best and brightest in his soul was aroused when he thought of Recha. It was she that inspired him, and his mind appeared more active when he thought of her. She was the beacon that guided his steps through the difficult paths of learning. Nor was his love unrequited.
One evening Mendel entered the Rabbi's house in unusual haste, his face wearing an expression of mingled doubt and hope. The Rabbi and his wife were absent. Recha observing his perturbation, asked eagerly: "Has anything happened?" "Here, Recha, read this letter." Recha read the missive which Mendel handed to her. It was a flattering invitation from the congregation of Odessa.
Let us trust that those who have suffered losses through the merciless hand of death may find some consolation in the greater happiness and prosperity of the community." Mendel was interrupted by a knock at the door, and Recha upon opening it gave admittance to a soldier, whose uniform proclaimed him one of the Governor's body guard. "I seek Mendel Winenki," said the man, with military precision.
Despite the honors showered upon him he remained the modest, unassuming, amiable young man, whom flattery could not affect nor pleasure lure from the course of strict duty. When at the end of a year Recha presented him with a little girl-baby, which they called Kathinka, he was the happiest man on the face of the earth. A new danger threatened our friends.
It had pleased the Lord to deprive her of her three sons and the mother's love and devotion was now lavished upon her sole remaining child, her daughter Recha. "My sons would be a great comfort to me," she often sighed, and then added, with resignation: "the Lord's will be done."
With a shriek she threw herself upon his prostrate body. When her friends attempted to move her after the danger had passed, they found that terror and grief had done their work. Recha had lost her reason. On his entrance into the room, Loris gazed about him, and soon singled out Kathinka, standing among her friends, silently praying.
The rattan which the Rabbi held in his hand, the better to guide his pupils, was never used for corporal punishment, for a glance or a whispered admonition from the beloved teacher was more potent than were blows from another. At his side sat his little daughter Recha, scarcely nine years of age, whose features gave promise of great oriental beauty.
"I have a request to make," said the student to the Rabbi, a few days before the all-important event took place. "Name it, my son," replied the Rabbi. "I do not wish Recha to have her hair cut off. Her tresses are her crowning beauty, and it would grieve me to the heart to see her shorn of them." The Rabbi shrugged his shoulders and uttered a short ejaculation of surprise.
His only ambition was to improve the mental and physical condition of our people. He would have taken the greatest interest in your undertaking, and would have been the most zealous of your helpers." Mendel sighed. "I feel, Recha," he said, "that all this work was inspired by his death.
Recha became pale as death; a terrible suspicion flashed through her mind. Mendel, too, was ill at ease. "What do you want of me?" he asked. "His excellency, the Governor, has instructed me to conduct you into his presence," answered the soldier. "For what purpose?" asked the Rabbi, anxiously. "I do not know. I am simply to take you with me."
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