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

I took one OF the six chairs. The
room was a dreary little place, with
high dingy ceiling. one small window,
placed far up the wall. and a small
atr-tight stove with no fire in it. /
looked ct the one other occupant with a
greater interest now that l know
that he must be a witness. He was
dark, slick. Mexican looking man, who
dangled his hat nervously from his fin
gers. and kept glancing at the door.
Presently 1t opened, a policeman put
his head in and said WITNESS Manuel
Cora" The Mexican jumped and
shuffied hastily out. Father took the
Alta California from his coat pocket.
and l sat trying to make out the pat
tern in the old carpet at my feet.
l had distinguished a dead looking
rose and some faded out sunflowers
when I heard the click of the door,
and watt OF perfume touched the
stale air. and made 1t like a garden
looked up. There she stood in the door
way. the Spanish Woman.
She was all in black, her face wax
white, little black hat on her wonder
full golden-red hair, and in her breast
a tuberose. 1t was the Intoxicating
sweetness of that which had breathed
upon me first, and now kept on breath
ing upon me, while she watched me
fright 1 kept looking at her-I couldn't
help it--until / felt fathers hand touch
mine. That seemed to break the SPELL
l looked down at the carpet again
and felt the color rushing to my face.
l heard the rustic of her dress, a soft
silky, indefinite sound. She had come
forward into the room. had taken one
of the chairs, / knew heard the sub
siding Of her draperies-and then 1
felt her watching me. Her presence
was like a great light in closet 1t
was oppressive. I began to breathe
quickly, and the odor of her flower
was making my head ache.
l heard the crackle OF fathers paper
as he rolled it; then his voice, low and
speaking close to me, MFR Dingley
said you We're to be called after Cora.
We would better go into the court now,
so as not to be hurried"
Somehow l had fancy he.would not
have sug Sested our going into court so
soon IL the Spanish Woman had not
come into the witness room. | fol-
lowed him into the hall. not daring to
turn my head, though I thought I heard
the door open again after we had
closed it, and then the rustic of her
dress; but II did not seem to be fol-
lowing us, but to grow fainter, as if
she had turned In another direction.
We joined the crowd of people hasten
ing toward the SWlnSllS uOOT. AS we
came up to it | heard from within a
high-lifted resonant voice that I
thought | recognized as Mr.. Dingley's
speaking with pauses and rising infiec-
lions, as If addressing the audience. It
ceased just as we entered the court.
The room was large. though not
nearly so large as + had ina gined, and
quite cheerful in color. 1 had an I'M
preston of yellowish pine walls and
plenty of light, a continuous though
not loud murmur of voices and the in
cessant f1utter of the movement of a
crowd. There were no serried ranks
of Judges and barristers in black
gowns, indeed at first sight my con-
fused eyes saw nothing but the crowd
And such well dressed, holiday look
ing gathering. I saw girls whom /
knew. their gowns making bright spots
of color among the mems dark coats.
1t looked more like an afternoon con-
cert than trial Every place seemed
to be taken. and men and women,
standing up, lined the walls. But a
police officer said seats had been re-
served for us, and led US to two on the
side aisle near the front, and quite UNI
der the shadow of the balcony. Once
had sat down among the crowd
ceased to notice 1t, and began to take
in what was directly before me.