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

tongue in his head and knows how to
use it."
Esther thanked him for his devotion,
though she could not share his faith.
When he brought her an exceuant
breakfast. she tried to eat with appe-
lite, but 1t was a mere pretense. The
intolerable day dragged out its de-
pressing hours. 1t would never end,
she thought.
The court pronounced its Judgment
at five o'clock IN the afternoon. and Ave
minutes later a thunder Of sounds in
the great square winged a message to
the lonely prisoner. at first Esther
understood those triumphant cries OF
Joy to be the heralds Of acquittal. and.
rising with beating heart, she went to
the window and looked out once more
upon the turbulent scene. 1t was full
dark by this time, and lights twinkled
in all the windows of the square. Mon
strOus arc lamps cast their pale glow
upon the swaying nlultitudes, and from
the hotel itself there poured forth an
unbrOken human stream OF soldiers
and citizens and the audience Of trial
BY every corner. in all the doorways.
even at the windows OF the houses. men
mendous news; while troopers backed
their horses through the serried ranks
and began to drive the people 10 their
homes. Passion dominated the scene
and even claimed it's dead, but no one
spoke that word which had been as a
gift Of love or death to the figure at the
window. Though she pressed her burn
ing eye close to the nisted glass and
listened tntently to that babel Of voices.
the torture Of the doubt remained. Was
Arthur guilty or innocent, a free man
or a prisoner, condemned or ap-
plauded? Vain hopei For every hun
dred voices that cried his name five
hundred acclaimed the Duke OF Mon
talvan and babe him show himself
Carriage after carriage drove at a gal
lop through those shifting ranks: but
IN none Of them was there any face
which told the story. And 50 there
came TO her reluctantly the dread
thought, HE Is cOndemned-ArthUr is
condemned" and from that moment
she shut the sights from her eyes. and.
falling upon her knees, she prayed for
her lovers life.
The hours found her attitude IN
changed. She was unconscious OF time
or place, obliviOus Of self An excited
imagination painted for her anew the
terrible story OF the day and corrected
the brighter picture. She beheld the
crowded court. the set faces Of the
judges. the beloved figure at the bar;
she heard the music OF a voice. the
monotone of counsel. the judgment.
He is guilty." And then her prayer
would be raised anew and she would
say, Folly, folly! it is not true-he Is
free-he will come to me-"
The crowd without dispersed quickly
when judgment had been pronounced
the women to their homes, the men to
the cafes. If an unwonted restlessness
stirred the city. but little expression OF
1t was permitted in the streets. By
nine o'clock the square before tho HO-
tel de Vile had resumed its normal as
pect save for the patrol OF the guard
and the vigilant gendarmes. Night
came down in the mantle Of spring; a
gentle breeze waited the music OF bells:
the moonbeams fathomed the Grabbed
streets and shone gloriOusly in the open
squares. Within the prison there was
no sound save that Of the chapel bell
and the sentry's foot. As the night
wore on and none visited her. Esther's
anguish passed all words. Would they
never tell her-would none take pity
on her? This torturing question was
answered all unexpectedly by mono
other than Francisco Xavier himself,
who came to the palace ct ten o'clock,
carrying a lantern and unheralded. Es-
Their said that he entered her cell like a
figure Of some evil dream, but she did
not shrink from him; he found her the
mistress of herself and OF her dignity.
And his first word was characteristic
b calIy apologize.
Madame" he said. II am very sorry
to find you in this place"
She bowed her head and waited for
him to go on. When the trooper had
brought a pair OF candles and set them
one at each side Of his lantern, the
Duke babe her seat herself.
THE ministry compels It." he said,
folding his hands behind his back and
pacing the stone floor like one think
ing deeply. II have protested, but they
will not hear me. Evil tongues have
been at work. madame; they pay you
the compliment OF calling you q SPY
She laughed a little bitterly.
IT am hattered." she said. 7 aid noa
know that I possessed the brains for
that"
Then you are singularly modest,
madame. I should say that you have
too much brains to be any such thing
and am a judge Of brains"
The assumption OF a new virtue hat-
tered him and he stood before hsr to
repeat It
Yes" he continued, like one convfnc-
ing himself Of a pleasant attrfbuta. "a
!, Judge Of brains, madame. I know wise
q men and know wise women. Knowl-
u edge brings me here to-night-a plain
man of business to make a business
bargain"
He fell to the measured step again,
regarding her with half-closed eyes
: which told him how greatly she SUI
r fered. She would have given years OF
5 her life to have had her question an