The San Francisco call., 1910-09-04

speak again I beg you, In human
mercy, not that you plead for him, not
that you tell false story. but only as
you are a woman. Keep silence. keep ST.
lencer'
I listened with increasing dismay. as
the hot words poured from her lips;
and. with the end. revulsiOn OF feeling
took me. a lost and bewiljered sense
of being completely astray. 1t
called me hither-oh, quite the oppo-,
site,-it was to try to close my lips. IL
I hadn't been so blinded by my obsti-
nate hopes I might have thought of this
before I might have saved myself tho
ordeal; for had felt the very hearGn
me weaken at the picture Of him Ter
words called up.
'If I could make myself believe as.
YOU do" I said that what have 10
tell will condemn him, even though ne
is innocent. l should want, myself, to
die. But I can't believe. can't think.
that God can be so unjust as to let him
be condemned when he Is Innocent.
She let her head drop back. and
laughed a little You will find my
child, that il is men who control, the
affairs of the earth; and if you believe
any such fine things of them you Will .
be disappointed 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 evidence against him. Do not ex-
pect any miraculous Intervention on
his behalf"
II don't" I cried stoutly. But some
one must know the truth of what has
really happened: and that person sure
lv will come forward and tell what he
knows before he will let Mr.. MontgOm-
cry be condemned. oh, II only knew
nothing should keep me from say
ing it,
She had drawn herself upright in her
chair. her face whittier than her flower.
her cIenched hands resting on either
arm: and now she slowly rose 10 heF
feet. Standing there she seemed 1afrly
to tower above me, and looking GOWN
with her eyes glimmering upon me
through her lashes. What IL ne Is
guiIty?' she said slowly
The room around me grew dreamy.
NV head felt light. All the things
had ever believed seemed to have FALLEN
far. far below me. tiny and incoP
sequent. / closed my hands
around the arms of my chair 1 clNNg
to it as if it had been my last prime !.
Dle of faith Il have given my word
7 said. "and even if I had not, should
have 10 tell the truth 1t is question
of honor
She stood a moment longer with,
her hands still clenched and sHSnIl%
raised. as If she were going 70 STRIKE
a blow-n1yself or her own breast
Then she let them fall limp. and, Hft7
ing her shoulders with superb little
scOrnfllI motion. "Ah. 7 thought you
were only fool" she said I see
you are cold :.
She turned sharply about and crossed
the room TO where something when
looked like a large bench stood against
the wall. covered with gold covered
velvet I saw her fling back the COW
erine and kneel beside IL, funlhling
with the lid. 1 heard the clicking OF
what seemed series of locks. At last
she turned her head and spoke. Come
herer'
rose and went slowly over TO Where
she kneIt in the shadow.
'Sit down.
1 seemed voluntarily TO obey those
imperiOus words. 1 took the seat she
indicated. a carved stool, drawn near
the chest. and saw her just lifting
Out a long string of blue flashing stars.
1t was like a toy, like one Of those
strings you hang upon Christmas
tree. only hundred times more bril-
liant 'See how prettyY' she said, and
ran ii through her fingers in little
blue stream; then. with an easy motion
of her wrist she tossed il around my
shoulders. She put her hand down into
the chest and brought out a long, long
string of pearls-if pearls had k~er
been so large-long as the rOSaries
I used 20 string Of oak balls. and
dropped it over my head. 1 felt the
great weight OF it upon my neck.
Look she said, and taking up a
velvet case. opened IT. and showed me.
lying on the crimson satin bed. a neck
lace like a wreath of light. There was no
misunderstanding the preciousness of
that. The shock of the realization OF
what they were sent the blood into my
face. Her eyes laughed at me with a
CLEAN that seemed devilish. She threw
the box into my lap; she took out rings
and covered my fingers with them.
drops Of blood. red and brilliant green
and rainbow colors. I couldn't seem TO
speak or move. I thought she must be
mad.
Here" she said. and leaning toward
me deftly pulled out the pins and took
off my hat. Then in both her hands
she lifted something from the chest.
and before I could stop her she had
pressed 1t down upon my head. Then
she rose. Her face was flushed: her
lips parted eagerly on her cleaning
teeth. She caught my hand and pulled
me in front of a great mirror that hung
upon the wall.
saw reflected there a small. shrink
ing figure. with a white face. in a white
dress. crowned with a circlet OF gold
and hung with necklaces that made
brightness In the shadow. I heard the
Spanish Womans voice speaking ex-
citedly close beside my cheek
There Is not their like in this state
in this country. Some OF those have
come out of the greatest houses in
Spain. They will make you ric tpthev
will make you beautiful Th&y are
nothing to me; will give them to you
every one, to keep foreveri Take them
take them ALL And go away! Just
for three little days-untiI the trial Is
over.r
/ shrank from her in mere amaze
ment. In the first moment I did nor
take in what she meant
mo. but listen" she cried, CATCHING
at me. II can make II easy for Won ~
go. have influence will helm Won
/ will hide you! We will arrange the
story"
| raised my hands to my head. Nov
/ was choking with anger, with teas
DO you think I would do for thee
z what would not do for him?'' Ifftsd
the circlet Off my head. but nv hands
shock so that it fell and rolled on a.
floor between US. and believe we hC.,
forgot IL. do you suppose don't cars = :
much as you do? I would do anvtbtrr.
In the world TO clear him oe -