--_Isaiah._

CARMEN ARIZA

CHAPTER 1

The chill winds of another autumn swirled through the masonry-lined
canons of the metropolis and sighed among the stark trees of its
deserted parks. They caught up the tinted leaves that dropped from
quivering branches and tossed them high, as Fate wantons with human
hopes before she blows her icy breath upon them. They shrieked among
the naked spars of the _Cossack_, drifting with her restless master
far out upon the white-capped waves. They moaned in low-toned agony
among the marble pillars of the Crowles mausoleum, where lay in
pitying sleep the misguided woman whose gods of gold and tinsel had
betrayed her.

On the outskirts of the Bronx, in a newly opened suburb, a slender
girl, with books and papers under her arm, walked slowly against the
sharp wind, holding her hat with her free hand, and talking rapidly to
a young man who accompanied her. Toward them came an old negro,
leaning upon a cane. As he stepped humbly aside to make room, the girl
looked up. Then, without stopping, she slipped a few coins into his
coat pocket as she passed.

The negro stood in dumb amazement. He was poor--his clothes were thin
and worn--but he was not a beggar--he had asked nothing. The girl
turned and threw back a smile to him. Then of a sudden there came into
the old man's wrinkled, care-lined face such a look, such a
comprehension of that love which knows neither Jew nor Gentile, Greek
nor Barbarian, as would have caused even the Rabbis, at the cost of
defilement, to pause and seek its heavenly meaning.

A few blocks farther on the strong wind sternly disputed the girl's
right to proceed, and she turned with a merry laugh to her companion.
But as she stood, the wind fell, leaving a heap of dead leaves about
her feet. Glancing down, something caught her eye. She stooped and
took up a two-dollar bill.

Her companion threw her a wondering look; but the girl made no
comment. In silence they went on, until a few minutes more of brisk
walking brought them to a newly built, stucco-coated bungalow. Running
rapidly up the steps, the girl threw wide the door and called, "Mother
dear!"

The Beaubien rose from her sewing to receive the hearty embrace.
"Well, dearie?" she said, devouring the sparkling creature with eager
eyes. "What luck?"

"We're registered! Lewis begins his law course at once, and I may take
what I wish. And Mr. H