The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-27

back upon her pillow with a grOan; and
in spite Of her great extremity, the familiar
glistenlng of tears came into her eyes and
a wistful, helpless, despairing expression
settled upon her face. She sighed deeply,
and as she did so a Jet of blood leaped
forth from a small black hole in her
breast.
The physician wiped away the blood
with a sponge, while Rosa lay perfectly
still and silent, holding my left hand
tightly cIutched in both of hers, my free
hand stroking her forehead. Her chin
quivered and tears came trickling from the
corners of her eyes. When the blood had
been removed from her chest and arms
and face | saw what q fearful wreck she
had become within the year.
THE bullet has passed through the
lung" the doctor bluntly said. "She may
live an hour or two
L shot "a swift angry glance at him and
be felt it. He looked me over and his face
showed great surprise.
You seem to be friends" he ventured.
eve are very good friends" l said;
whereupon the thin fingers which ciutched
mine pressed the harder.
That's none of my business" he re-
case OF suicide like this
"Sir! !" l exclaimed, checking him; then,
turning TO Rosa, asked "How did the
accident happen, Rosa?"
The look of gratitude which lighted
her wan face is a precious memory to me
now.
dropped it and it fell and-and it went
off,"
That is the truth, sir" said to the
physician, "and you need worry no fur
Their" [ gave him my card, and added:
eff you can make her more comfortable
please do SO, and send your collector to
that address"
He was an uncouth man, but not incor-
rigible, as was proved by subsequent hap
penings. AS he said he would have to
fetch some remedies begged him to sum-
mon the parish priest on his way, and he
assented. The girl was about to rebel at
that, but laid my hand upon her mouth,
and she was passive again.
The moment he left the room one of her
thin arms stole round my neck and she
drew my cheek down till it touched hers.
You don't mind now that l am dying,
do you?'' she sobbingly whispered, lest
she be overheard in the adjoining room.
A slight caress was my answer. 81 knew
you wouldn't" she said You know
everything. You know did it,
Certainly, but never mind"
son purpose"
ooh, yes, but We'll not let your mother
or anybody else but the priest know that,
and he will give you dissolution"
She held me frmer then, in simple graft
tude.
And" she resumed, "you won't let her
know what Tve been? She knew I was
her. She-she thought l was head clerk
in-in fine millinery-shop."
"She shall still believe it, Rosa
With that [ left her and entered the
outer room. The standing women were
staring in helpless awe at the door and the
wretched mother sat numb and whimper-
| ing. When she was restored to reason and
| self-command led her in to her daughter
After all possible things had been done
and the physician and then the priest had
left US, Rosa and her mother and waited
patiently and in silence, I holding one of
her hands, her mother the other, as we sat
at opposite sides of the bed. I stroked her
luxuriant brown HAIR and watched the
light slowly fade from her still beautiful
deep gray eyes. She was happy and con-
tent and this brought back the girlish look
that had seen year before.
The next day but one loose bunch of
La France roses were the only flowers that
rested on a closed coffin in the Latin Quar-
ter. I think Rosa liked La France best of
all roses.