The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-03
CHAPTER ".
The First Day in Court.

glossy huddled TANKS and shoulders and
tossing heads Of the youngsters crowd !
ing together in the middle Of the inclos-
ure. ouiveSing with apprehension Of the
man approaching with his rope; until,
the man being unendurably near. one and
another would break and wheel, and
trot with high head, whinnying, around
the corral close TO the fence Then.
when PERI had one fast. one end Of his
rope around the glossy neck. and slowly
working toward him, hand over hand
/ finally touched the velvety head. how
the creature started. swerved, tried
\ 10 back. and felt the jerk Of
/ the halter 1t made me think Of the way
/ the prisoner had started when the po-
] liceman touched his arm. At first their
nervous, proud FESTIVE airs reminded me
constantly Of that strange person; and
not only the colts, but sometimes II was
some drifting shadow OF cloud, some
color, or some sound. that inexplicaOly
brought him up to mind; and would
plague myself with wondering what was
going on in the city, and what was 70
BECOME of him. But as the days passed
and no newspapers came from the city
81 least 1 saw nOne-and no letters 10
remind me Of what was happening there.
. 1 recalled him less and less distinctly
He remained in my mind but as a sort
Of dream things about me reminded me
only Of themselves. and 1 became alb
sorbed in picking out a new saddle-horse,
and searching the meadows to see II the
Mariposa lilies were coming up this year
in their accustomed places.
Splendid fields. in early spring filed
with wild flowers. stretched down to-
ward the bay. but close around the house
were the somber and, TO me. more beau
ufuI groves Of oaks. To wander away
until / had lost sight OF the house in
their olive glooms and saw nothing
around me but dark trunks. crooked ell
bows Of boughs. and sweeping leaves,
was my delight I loved 70 crown my
self with their white boards OF moss,
and fancy I was walking through a ca
thedral aisle. a princess going 10 be mar
ried But whereas 1 had never needed
20 imagine a bridegroom before-myself
and the crown had been enOugh-now
my Imagination insisteutly placed fig
ure walking beside me. or coming TO
meet me under the solemn roof OF branch
es I had to abandon my crown. and
run races with myself before I could
leave the figure behind.
on the whole II was safer ] found,
Just now not 10 imagine too much. but
instead. while father was there, 70 take
long rides with him into the san Mateo
. Hills: and. after he had gone. shorter
excursions in the vicinity Of the town
Tor else 10 walk with Abby in the morn
ing down the broad Embarcadero road
TO the little wharf on the bay 1t was
charming enough there, when all was
idle with white adobe huts. and dark
faces sleeping in the sun. and the LAP
OF the tide on the breakwater. But
when a ship was coming in. or was load
!, ing 20 get out, the Embarcadero SLED
the eye-carts backing up with vegeta-
bles; casks being rolled out on the wharf
with a hollow and reverberating sound
hallooings from the boat, and then round
she would swing, with a tremendous
swapping Of canvas. while the shadow
OF her brown sails, patched with red
foated over all.
The country. and especially the coun'
try in the spring. seems to have a way
: OF making the place where one has lived
before very unreal and far distant. two
weeks OF such dreamy living drlfted The
city. and the violent things that had
: been done there, so far behind me thai
could think OF them without tremor
I could even think Of my part in then
as II it had happened in a play.
Then. one evening, just before dark
boy on a heavily lathered horse rode
: up to the piazza steps, and, like a mes
= senger in a novel, handed me a letter
: It was from father. Have everything
in readiness TO start tomorrow morn
Z ing" he wrote. 7 shall expect you a
o the house at $50 tomorrow night with
O out fail" This letter through me int
i a futter Of excitement. was accus
toned TO short-notfce orders from father
5 orders that carried no explanations; bu
Il they had always been sent through III
= mails. A messenger meant great nee'
: Of haste. recognized him as father
q ofice-boy. Was my father ill7 I asked
; No, he was in excellent health.
Il I thought. Perhaps he has been sud
l. denly called out OF the city and want
> TO see me before he leaves home" I
= surely couldn't be that this summons ha
anything TO do with Johnny Montgom
ery's case. Having to rush of at sue
short notice was luckily too busy I
have time TO worry about II; comm
up through the valley Perez let me driv
= good deal, and the horses were s
spirited needed ell my wits TO kee
s. them from running away. But when W
began TO wind in and out among the tai
n round hills, to the south Of the city,
y nervousness came upon me. and I ker
. wondering what could be wanted Of m,
a. BY the time we reached the house o
d Washington street could scarcely 81
still
Father was standing in the door 70 we
come me. fairly flew up the step
What is the matter?7 I asked, almo:
n. before I Rugged him.
he by and by we viii talk about that.
n. he said. Now. come in and see whs
fine host am" But as I passed him
n I heard him saying to Perez "BefoI
you put up the horses want you (
% take this note out TO Mr.. James Dinl
ley, at his house. and wait for an al
swer.'
en- 1t was charming table. lit with cal
L. dies, and there was a delicious Dime
30 but was too excited to eat. The gia'
Of wine that father made me drink on
seemed to make. my thoughts spin taste
wondering what could be going on sine
by fathers manner, and the message
or had given Perez I felt sure It must I
30 something unusual When dessert Ia
haaD vvt IN apd Taa bod coma or,