Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-11
the old Garnet at my feet.

the old carpet at my feet.
had distinguished dead looking
rose and some faded sunfowers when
1 heard the click OF the door, and q
wait Of perfume touched the stale air
and made It like q garden. looked up.
There she stood in the doorway, the
Spanish woman.
She was all in black, her face wax
like, a little black hat on her wonder
full golden-red hair, and in her breas.
a tuberose. It was the intoxicating
sweetness OF that which had breathed
upon me first, and now kept on breath
ing on me, while she watched me
through her eyelashes. From sheer
fright ! kept looking at her couldn't
help it-unttl 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.
heard the rustic of her dress. soft,
silky, indefinite sound. She had come
forward into the room. had taken one
of the chairs, I knew heard the sub
siding Of her draperies-and then |
felt her watching me. Her presence
was like great light in closet. It
was oppressive. began to breathe
quickly. and the odor Of her flower
was making my head ache.
/ heard the crackle Of fathers paper
as he rolled it; then his voice, low and
speaking close to me. "Mr. Dingley
said you were to called after Cora.
We would better 60 into the court now
so as not to be hurried"
Somehow had fancy he would not
have suggested our going into court SO
soon II the Spanish woman had not
come into the witness room. followed
him down the hall, not daring to turn
my head, though thought heard
the door open again after we had
closed it, and then the rustic OF her
dress; but it did not seem to be follow
ing us, but to grow fainter, as II she
had turned in another direction
We Joined the crowd Of people has.
itening toward the swinging door. As
we came up to 1t heard from within
high-lifted resonant voice that
thought recognized as Mr.. Dingleys
speaking with pauses and rising IN
Elections AS If addressing an audience
It ceased just as we entered the court
The room was large, though not
nearly as large rs had imagined ana
quite cheerful in color. had an I'm.
preston of yellowish pine walls and
plenty of light, continuous though not
loud murmur Of voices and the inces'
SAINT flutter of the movement OF q
crowd. There were no serried ranks OF
iudges and barristers in black gowns
indeed at first sight my confused eyes
saw nothing but the crowd. And such
awell-dressed, holiday looking gather
ing! / saw girls whom knew, their
gowns making bright spots OF color
among the mems dark coats. 1t looked
more like an afternoon concert than
trial. Every place seemed to be
taken, and men and women, standing
IN, lined the walls. But police officer
said seats had been reserved for us
and led us to two on the side aisle neal
the front, and quite under the shade"
Of the balcony. Once had sat doWI
among the crowd ceased to notice 4
and began to take in what was direct
ly before me.
At that end Of the room which W.
were facing was platform, rallied on
and on 1t great high desk, at Whicf
rather understood man sat, LEANING
his head on a beautiful white plump
hand, and looking up at the ceiling as
If he were thinking. His face was
round, fair and unlined, and had 1t no,
been for his mop of grizzled hair e
would have thought him quite young
"That is Judge Kelland. who tries
the case" father whispered.
felt wonder that he should seem
so uninterested in what was going on
In front Of his desk, but below the plat
form, q man was writing at nttie
table covered with papers; and ~
front Of this again was another taple
larger and quite long, at which mum
Der Of men were sitting. Nearest us
Mr. Dingley sat with another gentle
man, small, slim and very calm look
ing. They had their heads together
evidently talking; and next to them
was young man who seemed 10 De
making jottings in notebook Beyond
him could make out no more tnal
vague heads and elbows, on account OF
the movement of the crowd. To the
right Of this long table and on allne
with our places was something rec
ognized as the jury box, the heads OF
some Of the men in 1t showing quantity
over the high side.
From one thing to another my eyes
travelled hastily, taking them IN un
consciously, for the, one figure ! was
looking for-that had expected &c
see before all others, standing up IN
the prisoners dock, the centerlns
point for all eyes-I could not find. Tne
only thing that might have been prls
oner's dock, a small rallied Enclosure
on the right. hand Of the judges desk
was empty. But presently there was :
shift in the restless gathering, some
people. who had been standing up. sal
down; and saw little more of the
long table, first a space, where no one
was sitting, and then the broad back
of man. who had shifted in his chall
as if to face the person next to him
In moment he had turned back again
and leaned forward, and there, IN tne
little space through the crowd-a pro
file like picture in a frame-l sa"
Johnny Montgomery's face.
The start it gave me may have beer
Il