Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-15
CHAPTER vI.-continued.) )


tered the house, of 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 If the walls
were hung with tapestry of one pat
tern; but all was really intensely
conscious of was 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, I'M
covering the neck and leaving most
beautiful arm bare to the shoulder. A
maid was brushing her hair, bending
low with every measured stroke. At
my appearance she Strengthened, stop
per, 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 it was really a woven pat.
tern of copper serpents rushing
through green water, or only an acct
dent of my fancy and the twisted
lights, couldn't determine. But look.
ing in her face, thought, "Oh, surely
Mr.. Dingley is right. It isn't that she is
i'll, but only that she wants to talk with
me alone Like her hand, her voice
was soft and warm.
"You are very kind" she said. There
was hardly trace of accent in her
speech, only a delicate precision that
made it delightful. you see, | 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 a chair and gently, prettily pushed
me into it. There was something per
suasive in her touch. Then, taking her
seat again, Marie, prondo!" she cried ;
and the maid coming forward gathered
up the mass of hair, twisted it deity
into crown around her head, filling 1t
with gold colored hairpins, tucked into
its coil a single tuberose; then col
lecting 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 express
sion; and l thought she was a great
deal less overwhelming than had ex-
pected though she was even more
beautiful. you have seen Mr.. Mont,
gomery?' she began. thought it was
only question in form.
said, ooh, yes, T first saw him sew
eral years ago, dancing at bal" ~
She gave me Keen glance. yes
and later than that? 2"
Then, them stammered. for
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"
well, and what do you think OF
him 2"
"Why IL 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
a murderer
ooh, MOI" / murmured.
Her eyes never left me. But you do
not think well of him; he is perhaps
repulsive to your
ooh, no." whispered. There was a
painful tightness around my heart and
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 think him unpleasant
and yet you will go into the court and
swear away his freedom perhaps his
life?"
Il said l thought he did not look like
a murderer l 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