The San Francisco call., 1910-09-04

which hung across one whole side OF
it. There was a sweet though rather
close odor. which wrought powerfully
upon my imagination Walking eau
tiously. since the floor seemed as slip
perry as glass, followed my conductor.
He drew the curtain aside a little
enough to let me slip through-said
something in Spanish. some zone mu-
sical word which l did not understand.
and the curtain closed behind me.
stood there feeling like a doll, absurd,
small and lost.
I was aware of a greater sense of
air and sun than I had had since
entersd the house. OF a farther extent
of that shining floor, broken by great
Opaque oblongs which absorbed light
and gave out cOlors beautiful and dim;
of uniform even interplay of color
upon all sides of me. as .f the walls
were hung with tapestry of one pat
tern; but all | was really intensely
conscious of was a seated figure She
was sitting almost profile TO me, with
her back to the light, which fell splen-
didly upon the full length OF her hair,
hanging quite TO the floor She was
wrapped in something silk, OF two
shifting colors, green and copper. un-
covering the neck and leaving most
beautiful arm bare to the shoulder.
A maid was brushing her hair. bend
ing low with each measured stroke Al
aDDedrdnce SnS
stopped, and stepped back. 1t looked
really as If she sank away into the
shadow; and the Spanish Woman rose
and came toward me. holding out her
hand. The cOlors in her gown seemed
fairly alive. and whether IL was really
a woven pattern of copper serpents
rushing through green water. or only
an accident of my fancy and the twist
ed lights. / couldn't determine. But,
looking I'm her face, | thought. On.
surely Mr.. Dingley is right. 1t isn't
that she is i'll, but only that she wants
to talk with me alone. Like her nand'
her voice was soft and warm.
You are very kind" she said. There
was hardly a trace of accent in her
speech, only a delicate precision that
made 1T delightful You see, l have
been sick, and am yet too weak to go
out upon the street. 1t is why | have
given you the trouble to come to me.
And still keeping my hand she led me
to chair and gently. prettily pushed
me into it. There was something per-
suasive in her very touch. Then. TAX
ing her seat again, Maria, pronto'
she cried; and the maid coming for
ward gathered up the mass OF hair
twisted 1T deftly into d sort of crown
around her head filing il with gold
colored hair pins, tucked into it's coil
a single tuberose; then collecting the
combs and brushes went softly out of
the room
The Spanish Woman sat there, rest
ing her chin in her hand. looking at
me with pleasant. rather smiling eN-
preston; and 1 thought she was
great deal less overwhelming than /
had expected. though she was even
more beautiful. You have seen Mr.
Montgomery" she began. I thought
it was only n question in form
said. "Oh. yes. I first saw him sew
eral years ago. dancing at ball
She gave me a keen glance. Yes,
and later than that?
Then, then, | stammered. for 1
was at loss to know whether she
knew what my evidence was to be.
then once or twice on the street, and
yesterday in court"
We'll, and what do you think of
him?'
why II don't know him.
She made an amused little sound in
her throat. yet you have seen him
three times. Once would have been
enough. Surely you can tell me at
least one thing-do you think he looks
like q murderer"
"Oh, no.' I murmured
Her eyes never left me- But you do
not think we'll of him; he is perhaps
repulsive to you?"
"Oh, MOI" / whispered. There was a
painful tightness around my heart and
my head felt on fire. 1t was not the
Spanish Woman but 1 who seemed to
be telling the story.
She gave a quick nod. as if my an
swers thus far had satisfied her you
do not believe him to be a murderer,
you do not even think him unpleasant.
and yet you will go into the court and
swear away his freedom-perhaps his
life?"
II said 1 Thought he did not look like
a murderer" 1 desperately insisted,
but 1 can't help
II know, my child. just what you are
going to say" she interrupted. You
are going to say the words they have
taught you-that it is your duty and
all that, And do you not know that
the law is just great machine of rules
and that this is one of them: that you
must tell whatever you have seen. no
matter how unjust. no matter what
harm it does? 1t is for that reason I
do not go to the law. / come to you,
who are woman like me. and have
compassion. You say you do not know
this man. but you have seen him. You
can not be quite blind to what he is.
He has been rash and foolish. and ii is
true that he has made angry some very
virtuous citiZens'-she rolled out the
last two words with a curl of her hand
some lip-"but he is a most lovable and
charming boy and the most brave.
Can't you see by his face that he could
not do an evil thing? He was dragged
into this affair as matter of honor.
the quarrel was a fair and open one
A joyful feeling went through me at
her words-the first really kind. saw
ing words / had heard spoken of him.
l almost loved her for them. and the
expectation that the next moment /
was to hear the explanation OF them
held me. leaning forward in my chair,
breathless
She made a little imploring move-
ment toward me. with her open hands
1t would be cruel. cruel for a gentle,
tender hearted girl like you to speak
such words against him" A faint color
was beginning to shine in her cheeks,
and her eyes had opened wide their
wonderful blacks.
But" l cried. eff you know some
thing in his favor why don't you go
into court and tell them about IT? If
only you would speak to them 1s you
do to me. / know they would believe
you, They couldn't help iti'
She shot quick glance at me, half
suspicious. half fierce; but Immediately
1t softened into a rather sad smile
That is very gracious of you. to spea k
so; but about the court do not make a
mistake, The words / have, the things