The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-08-28


It was a charming table, lit with
candles, and there was a delicious din
ner, but 1 was too excited to eat. The
glass of wine that father made me
drink only seemed to make my thoughts
spin faster, wondering what could b.
going on since by fathers manner and
the message he had given Perez I felt
sure 1t must be something unusual
When dessert had been put on and Lee
had gone out, leaving us alone there
opposite each other I thought, Now
it's coming"
Father had set down his coffee cup
untasted. 81 have had to send for you,
Ellie" he SAID because of a matter
connected with the trial"
My heart was beating quickly, and
in spite of myself my voice trembIed.
When does 1t begin?" asked.
"It began last week" father answer
ed, "but there has been no evidence of
any consequence yet"
He was silent for a moment, look
ing thoughtfully at the dancing flames
Of the candles. 81 suppose you know"
he went on. that in trials there is
usually plenty of circumstantial evil
dence, but eye witnesses are rare and
their testimony most valuable7"
I nodded. This feeling of suspense
was lntoierable.
Il very much hoped that yours would
not be necessary. Mr.. Dingley was of
that opinion. But a new development
has suddenly arisen, and now l am
afraid you win have to be states wit
ness-the most important one they will
have
There are no words to tell of the
panic 1 was in. Fathers face. wrinkled
with anxiety, was watching me. Il
would give anything to keep you. out
of it," he said.
1 tried to make my voice steadya
And will I have to tell them whether
or not I think him guilty?"
He put his hand over mine. God
bless the child no. You will have to
tell them only exactly what you saw,
all that you saw. and just how you
saw IT."
I could breathe again. After that
one awful moment. when the whole
weight of the trial seemed on my
shoulders, anything was relief But
father" 7 said; do you really think
that he is guilty?"
Father gave me an odd look. Aren't
you the one person in this city best
qualified to answer that question:"
I stared at him. I felt as if l had
been suddenly set up in a high tower,
above all other people in the world, and
that ] was going to fall. l had known
in a blind sort of way what I had
seen, and, also, that no one else had
seen it; but I had not realized the ter
rible isolation, the responsibility of
such knowledge. oh I cried, Il only
wish I had never gone near Dupont
street. I am SO sorry have made you
unhappy"
Well my dear child, this is no
time for regretting what has been done.
We must think of ourselves only as
two citizens Of the state. and be ready
to do all We can in that cause. You
know II will not be easy, it will be
made as difficult as possible for you to
answer straightly." He had hold of
both my hands now, was looking hard
into my face And a young cookbook
ing prisoner will make It harder yet"
His eyes seemed to go straight to my
thoughts. "Ellie, 7 can depend upon
you. can't II"
I was glad ! could say, in quite
steady voice. "Oh. yes. yes"
He smiled. of course 1 should have
known without asking, Now don't
fret about it. To bed, to bed, to bed!
We shall have to be up early tomor-
row If we are to be IN court by
o'clock"
He was smiling, as he said this, with
his old gayety, but I suspected he was
only putting II on to cheer me, as I
now understand Sonora Mendez had
done when she had taken me shopping.
After I got upstairs ] couldn't sleep
At about 10 o'clock I heard. the door
bell ring. then long heavy steps going
down the hall, and the shutting of a
door which I guessed to be the door Of
the study. That was odd; father sell
dom had visitors so late. I tossed
and tossed. 1 kept trying to picture
the courtroom. 1 saw it as a vast
place, with a cold chilly light, like
the hall Of the prison, filed with a
surging mob of people; serried rows
OF lawyers all in white wigs-the mem
DRY of some English pictures-and
terrible judge in a black gown, call
ing out my name. Suppose. even with
the best l could do I should make a
mistakel forget something, or, what
would be much worse, remember some
thing WRONGLY
I realized that ] was hearing voices
with remarkable clearness I was able
to recognize fathers and Mr.. Dingley's.
and they seemed to be talking Just be-
meath my window. Then It occurred TO
me that, since the evening was mild.
the window of the study, which was
just beneath my room, must be omen.
The sound of those voices worried me;
Mr.. Dingley's was louder than common.
and there were times when both
seemed to speak at once l got up
softly and going to my window very
noiselessly closed it. Then. so that
1 should not be quite stihed for air.
I set the door into the hall wide. 1t
opened outward. so that I had to stem
out of the landing. Just as l did so.
1 heard the study door flung open.
quick steps in the hall and there.
from that part of the hall directly be-
meath the landing, Mr.. Dingley's voice: