The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-03

M the fianninr wing of her cloak. and
caught II. But the strain was too mucn
for the cheap metal clasp. which proke.
and Mariposa slipped out of 1T and new
into the fury of the rain, leaving the
cloak in his hand.
The roar of many waters and the
shouting of the wind obliterated the
sound of her flying feet. The darkness,
shot through with the blurred faces OF
lamps or the long rays from an occa-
sional uncurtained pane, in moment
absorbed her black figure. Essex stood
n1otionless stunned at the suddenness
of her escape, the sodden cloak trailing
from HIS hand. Then shaken out OF all
reason By rage, not knowing what ne IN
She feared this and her burst Of brav-
cry was exhausted. AS she ran up the
steep street having only the darkness to
hide her, her heart seemed shriveled
with the fear Of him.
Suddenly she heard the thud of his
feet behind her. An agony OF trlght
least two blocks farther on, and she
knew he would overtake her before then.
A black doorway with huddle of little
trees formless and dark now, doomed
crouching down among the small wet
trunks of the shrubs and parting the fol-
iage with shaking hands.
There was lamp not far off and In It's
rays she saw him running up, still hold
ing the cloak in a black bunch over his
arm He stopped just beyond where she
covered. and looked irresolutely up and
down. The lamplight fell on his face,
and in certain angles she saw 1t plainly.
pale and glistening with moisture, all
keen and alert with look of attentive
cunning. He moved his head this way
and that. evidently trusting more to
hearing than to sight His eyes. no
longer half veiled in cold indifference
swept her hiding-place with the preoccu-
patton Of one who listens intently. he
looked 70 her like some thwarted animal
hardening for the steps Of his prey. Her
terror grew with the sight of him. She
thought II he had approached the bushes
she would have swooned before he
Presently he turned and went down
the hill In the pause his reason had re-
asserted itself. and he felt that TO hound
her down with more threats and re-
proaches was useless folly
-Eet with her, reason and judgment
V>-e hopelessly submerged by terror.
she crept out from among the shrubs
with white face and trembling limbs
and fed UP the hill in Wild, GREATNESS
race, hearing Essex In every sound. The
rain had dripped on her through the
bushes. and these last two blocks under
Her haunting fear did not leave her
tn she had rushed UP the stairs and
opened the door Of the glass porch. She
was fumbling In her pocket for the
latchkey when the inner door was OPP
ened and Barron stood In the aperture,
What on earth has delayed your he
said sharply. They're all at supper. 1
was just going down TO Mrs. Willers 20
see what was keeping you"
She stumbled IN at the door. and stood
IN the revealing light Of the hall. for the
moment unable TO answer, painting ana
drenched.
What's the natter" he said sudden
~ IN q different tone and quickly step
ping back be shut the door Into the din
ing-room. Has anything happened?'
sTm-only-only = frightened" she
gasped between broken breaths- Some
She reeled and caught against the
srm ali wet" she whispered with
white lips; don't let. them know. I
He put his arm around her and drew
her toward the stairs. he could feel her
her saturated clothes left rillets along
the stairs.
When they were half way UP he said:
How did you get so wet1 Have you
been out in this storm without an UNI
7 lost it," she whispered.
Lost it?" he replied where's your
Somewhere" she said vaguely.
somewhere in the street. / lost that,
too"
They were at the top Of the stairs. She
suddenly turned toward him and pressed
-
Srm frightened" she whispered.
Don't tell them downstairs. I'll tell you
tomorrow. Don't ask me anything to-
He took her into her room and placed
her in an armchair by the fireplace. He
lit the gas and drew the curtains, and
then knelt by the hearth TO kindle the
fire, saying nothing and apparently tax
ing little notice OF her. She sat duly
watching him. her hands in her lap, the
water running OF her skirts along the
When he had lit the fire he said:
Now. I'll go, and you take on your
things. I'll bring you UP some supper In
half an hour. Be quick, you're soaking.
I'll tell them downstairs you're too tired
to come down"
He went out, softly closing the door,
She sat on in her wet clothes. feeling the
growing warmth of the flames on her
face and hands. She seemed to fall into
a lethargy Of exhaustion and sat thus
motionless, the water running unheeded
on the carpet. PRISONS Of cold occasion
ally shaking her, TIL knock at the door
reused her. Then she suddenly remem-
bered Barron and his command TO take
of her wet clothes. She had them on
still and he would be angry.
Put II down on the chair outside"
She called thrd6gh the door; I'm not
ready"
won't you open the door and take
this whisky and drink at once?" came
MS answer
She opened the door a crack and. put
ting her hand through the aperture, took
the glass with the whisky.
Are you warm and dry?' he said; all
she could see of him was his big hand
clasped round the glass.
Yes, quite" she answered, though she
felt her skin ouivering with cold against
the damp garments that seemed glued TO
IL.
Well, drink this now, right of. And
listen" as the door began TO close-'if
you get nervous or anything Just come
TO your door and call me. I'll leave mine
open. and I'm a very light sleeper"
Then before she could answer she felt
the door-handle pulled from, the outside
and the door was shut.
She hastily took of her things and put
on dry ones, and then shrugged herself
into the thick wrapper Of black and
white that had been her mothers. Even
her hair was wet she found out as she
undressed. and she mechanically undid
it. and shook the damp locks loose on
her shoulders. She felt penetrated with
cold, and still overmastered by fear. Ev-
cry gust that made the long limb of the
pepper-tree CRATE against the balcony
roof caused her heart to leap. When she
opened the door to get her supper, the
glow of light that fell from Barron's
room across the hallway. came TO her
with a hail OF friendship and life. She
stood listening, and heard the creak of
HIS rocking -chair, then smelt the Whit of
q cigar. He was close to her. She shut
the door. feeling her terrors a1layed.