The Washington herald., 1910-08-07


my head felt on fire. It was not the
Spanish woman but l 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 shink him unpleasant,
and yet you viii go into the court and
swear away lis freedom-perhaps his
life?"
Il said ! thought he did not look ike
a murderer" 1 desperately insisted. but
can't help"
Il know, my child, just what you are
going TO say" she interrupted. You
are going TO say the words they have
taught you-that II is your duty and all
that, And do YOU not know that the
/ law is just a 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
II does? II IS for that reason I do not
go 10 the law. I come 10 you, who are
a woman Ike me, and have compassion.
You say you do not know this man.
but YOU have seen him You cannot
be quite blind 20 what he Is he has
been rash and foolish, and it is true that
he has made angry some very virtu-
Gus citizeus''-she rolled out the last two
words with a curl OF her handsome lip
but he Is a most lovable and charming
boy and the most brave Can't you sec
by his face that he could not do an evil
thing? lie was dragged into this az
fair as a matter OF honor; the quarrel
was fair and open one"
joyful feeling went through me at
her words-the first really kind, saving
words had heard spoken OF him.
almost loved her for them; and the ex-
pectation that the next moment I was to
hear the explanation OF them held me.
leaning forward in my chair breathless.
She made a little implorinng move
ment toward me with her open hands.
1t would be cruel. cruel for a gentle,
| tender-hearted girl like you 10 speak
| such words against HIM" A faint color
was beginning 20 shine in her cheeks. and
her eyes had opened wide their wonder
ful blacks.
But" / cried. II you know some
thing in his favor why don't you 90 in
10 court and tell them about il? II only
you would speak to them as you do to
me- know they would believe you.
They couldn't help H."
( She shot a quick glance al me. half
suspicious half fierce; but Immediately
it softened into a rather sad smile That
! is very gracious of you. 10 speak so: but
about the court do not make a mistake,
/ The words 1 have, the things / know,
are not those that speak 10 the mind
but to the heart All that the lawyers take
| count OF are the facts; and for the jury.
they would be more swayed by one word
! a little innocent-eyed girl would say. than
by the most eloquent plea I could offer II
Is you who will sway this balance OF
/ justice. DO not try 10 escape from that
responsibility. Think. think. Of how
when you saw him come out Of the door
he looked at you. and with his eyes i'm
plored you 20 be silent!"
! stared at her. terribly wrought upon
by the memory she had called up OF that
look. astoUnded that she had known Of
it, had even been able 10 translate its
meaning for me.
I Yes she said. smiling, I know all
about IL. And then you ran home and
told them" Her voice grew very caress-
ing. But that was in the moment when
you had lost your head. Now that you
have had time 20 think it all over. now
that you know how much il means-oh.
surely you will not speak again. I beg
you. in human mercy. not that you
plead for him. not that you tell a false
story, but only as you are a woman,
keep silence, keep silencei'
| / listened with increasing dismay. as
the hot words poured from her lips: and.
with the end. a revulslon OF feeling
took me, lost and bewildered sense Of
being completely astray. It was not to
tell anything she had called me hither-
Oh quite the opposite,-it was to try to
close my lips. If hadn't been so blind
ed by my obstinate hopes 1 might have
thought OF this before, might have
saved myself the ordeal; for had felt
the very heart in me weaken at the pic
ture of him hes words called up.
1T I could make myself believe as you
do I said. that what have TO tell will
condemn him. even though he is inno-
cent, l should want, myself, 20 die But
can't believe. 1 can't think. that God
can be so unjust as 70 let him be con-
demned when he is Innocent"
She let her head drop back. and laughed
a little You Will find, my child. that
II is men who control the affairs OF the
earth; and that II you believe any such
fine things OF them you VIII be disap-
pointed. As for the lawyers they will
convict an innocent man as merrily as
they will eat their dinner, if only the
popular cry is loud enough, and they can
get enough Of what they call their evil
dence against him. Do not expect any
| miraculous intervention on his behalf
I don't" I cried stoutly. But some
one must know the truth OF what has
really happened; and that person surely
will come forward and tell what ne
knows before he win let Mr.. Montgomery
| be condemned. Oh, if only I knew.
nothing should keep me from saying it,"
She had drawn herself upright in her
chair. her face whittier than her flowers,
her clenched hands resting on either arm;
and now she slowly rose to her feet.
Standing there she seemed fairly to tower
above me, and looking down with her
| eyes glimmering upon me through her
lashes. What II he is guilty?" she said
| Slowly.
The room around me grew dreamy.
My head felt light All the things ]
had ever believed in seemed to have
fallen far, far below me, tiny and in
consequent. I closed my hands hard
around the arms Of my chair ]
chung to It as If 1t had been my last
principle OF faith. Il have given my
| word" l said and even II I had not I