The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-08-28

ters and shut out the mountain wind,
A fountain splashed in the center 80
the peristyle and cast it's Jet into o.
marble BASIN Touched with the fire,
rays of the morning sun the exquisite
tracery OF arch and pillar could not no
hidden even from the unobservant eve
Esther was like one carried sudderlv
into some scene Of the Moorish fables.
and when her guide drew the curtain
hack. and showed her the room FL,
which Arthur waited. she hesitated for
a moment upon the threshold az
though uncertain Of herself and Of The
truth. The hall itself had but the
scantiest furniture; a low couch served
for chair and bed; an Eastern table
showed a battered coffee-pot cheek bv
fowl with a common cup One great
rug spread out upon the floor lent the
color so sadly needed. Light streamed
dimly through the yelling cupOla n
fell upon the face Of a sleeping man.
whose cloak covered his tired limbs
whose hand rested knuckle downward
upon the pavement. He did not hear
the intruders, his sleep was dreamless.
but burning lips upon his own walked
Il.
little figure in his arms.
Esther IT is Esther! OF course Il
would be- And fell asleep-yes, have
been waking for thirty hours; and the
bed is soft. Say that I am a brute.
did not even dream!"
He laughed boyishly. and still hold
ing her hands he sprang up and drew
her to the light. She feared his gaze.
for she knew how greatly she was
changed. and hiding her face upon his
breast she would not look at him
Let me read your story!" he cried Z
raising her chin with a gentle hand.
yes, you have been doubling too lit
tie wife-you cannot hide II from me-
the eyes tell me sol You have been say
ing IT. You are changed. sweet-but q
gives you something which you never
had. Yes, I do not hatter you; there Is
life in your eyes now; once there was
only the dream!"
She hid her face from him again,
knowing not how to speak her mes
sage; but he led her out into the sun
light. and putting his arm about her
began to pace the courtyard as though
no secret lay between them and this
was a common day OF an uneventful
life.
Il expected that they would send
you-you are their natural messenger.
They would play upon your love for me
and use 1t for their own ends. OF
course they threaten me. Don't be
afraid to say so, Esther. Old Xavier
told you to come-he is waiting at the
palace for you to bring him an an
swer?"
She admitted that It was so.
He offers you your liberty n you
will leave Cadi, Arthur. I could not
answer for you-God knows I would
notl Have I not brought trouble
enough already upon you? Shall I let
your love for me cost you so much? Oh,
I cannot. dear husband. I cannot"
He silenced her with a new caress.
Il forbid you to speak Of it. little
wife. They are brave men to strike at
me through CONGRATULATIONS gentle
men, and will tell them so. II has ~
been a plot from the beginning. Thin.
Of it as that and say that we must
laugh at 1t. Oh, I have friends left yet
Il shall stin trouble them"
He appeared to be thinking deeply.
and comforting her with a lovers as
surance he began to recite their story
again like one who believed that recital
would supply the link IN that chain OF
thought he forged.
They sent hillmen to st. Girons and
then disowned them. You can hire
rufians in the mountains at sixpence
dozen and get some change OUT They
give IT out that my house was robbed
by a rowing band Of gypsies while their
own agents are really the agressOrs.
They pretend 10 rescue you, and pose
as knight Grants. Having got you IN
the city. they know that Will follow
and here I am, not at all alarmed, dear
wife. believe me! A man must have
very good cards when he plays for a
kingdom; he must be sure Of his fin
esse I do not think that old Xavier's
hand is as strong as he imagines #,
To-day will show US. I shall appeal
to my countrymen-I do not believe IN
vain. There Is only one man against
me- 1t is he or l. This Endymion -
a little tired OF the moonshine; ne
wakes up In a hurry and wants to
climb the hills. Tell me. Esther. how
have they treated you-what happened
to you on the road?"
He preached a new subject thus
quickly to forestaH her questions. A
clever actor, the peril Of the role he
played insisted upon a hearing; and
the changing expression Of his face the
puckered brow and the quick glances
to right and left in their turn betrayed
his reserva tions. Esther knew how
much they had to talk about and yet
the heart Of the subject defled her
Arthur fenced too adroitly for that.
He desired that she should speak chief
ly OF herself.
Tell me-" he persisted. what hap
pened upon the road-hOw did you
leave the castle-who brought you
here?"
She answered as directly.
When you left me in the bedroom, I
did not lock my door, was anxious
Some one cried out In the hall and ]
thought It was you. Then I went
down. The whole house was full Of
soldiers and they were quarrelng ]