The Washington herald., 1910-08-07

upon my imagination. Walking cauti-
ously. since the floor seemed as slippery
as glass. 1 followed my conductor. He
drew the curtain aside a little-enough
TO let me slip through-said something
in Spanish, some one musical word which
did not understand. and the curtain
closed behind me I stood there feeling
like a doll. absurd. small. and lost.
was aware Of a greater sense If air
and sun than ] had had since I entered
the house, Of a farther extent OF that
shining floor. broken by great Opaque
oblongs which absorbed light and gave
out colors beautiful and dim. of a uni
form even interplay OF color upon all
sides of me. as n the walls were
hung with tapestry Of one pattern; but
ali I was really intensely conscious Of
was a seated figure. She was sitting
almost profile 10 me, with her back
TO the light, which fell splendldly
upon the full length Of her hair hang
ing quite to the floor She was wrapped
something in silk. OF two shifting col
Ors, green and copper. uncovering the
neck and leaving a most beautiful arm
bare TO the shoulder. maid was brush
ing her hair, bending low with each
measured stroke. At my appearance she
Strengthened. stopped and stepped back.
II looked really as If she sank away in
to 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 1t was really a
woven pattern OF copper serpents rush
ing through green water. or only an &C
cident of my fancy and the twisted lights,
couldn't determine. But looking in her
face, ! thought. Oh, surely Mr. Dingley
is right 1t isn't that she is in, but only
that she wants to talk with me alone q"
Like her hand, her voice was soft and
warm.
You are very kind" she said. There
was hardly a trace Of accent in her
speech, only a delicate precision that
made IT delightful You see, I have
been sick, and am yet too weak to go
out upon the street. 1t is why I have
given you the trouble to come to me-"
And still keeping my hand she led me
TO a chair and gently, prettily pushes
me into IT. There was something per-
suasive in her very touch. Then. taking
her seat again. Maria prondo!" she
cried: and the maid coming forward
gathered up the mass of hair twisted
1t deftly into a sort of crown around
her head. filing It with gold-colored hair
pins. tucked into its coil a single
.rbaroeo. t1,ov oo1roctf,r, sto ,c...L. 81
brushes went softly out of the room.
The Spanish woman sat there. resting
her chin in her hand, looking at me with
a pleasant. rather smiling expression; and
1 thought she was great deal less over
whelming than 1 had expected. though
she was even more beautiful You have
seen Mr.. Montgomery" she began I
thought it was only question In form.
I said, "Oh, yes, 1 first saw him sew
eral years ago. dancing at a ball"
She gave me a keen glance. Yes. and
later than thatg'
Then. then" l stammered, for I was
at a 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?''
why II 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 ne looks like
murderer"
ssOh nofff I r,,,irY,,rtrad
Her eyes never left me. But you do