The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-02

Sonora Mendez IS such a great. grand
sort OF lady that usually one is little in
awe OF her, but to-day she made me
feel very much at home. as we
drove down the street In her big open
carriage. She never once mentioned
the shooting. and I didn't have courage
/ 10 speak OF it myself But we heard OF
II all around us In the first shop we
went into woman Just behind me said
day. bringing Sonora Mendez with him.
He looked worried and tired. but I had
never seen her so sweet. and so very gay.
She said I had been In the house too
much. looked pale, and that she was GO
ing TO take me shopping, As We got up
from the table, she fingered a moment.
saying something to father about taking
some ones mind of something. And
father said yes until We can tell which
way II Will 30. I supposed they were
IN a loud voice, DO the rebels think they
can shoot Us all down as Wilkes Booth
shot the President" And then. AGAIN.
at another shop where we were looking
al lace. the clerk said, This is a terrible
thing for the city. madam. the loss OF
such valuable citizen" But Sonora
Mendez seemed not 10 hear him. and went
on explaining TO me the difference be-
tween hOniton and thread. and showing
me how beautiful embroidered net looked
over pale blue silk, until 1 felt quite
cheerful just through listening TO her and
looking at the pretty things. She wound
up by buying me a lovely pair OF thread
lace sleeves. and swept me out in the
wake OF her train feeling almost happy
again
Just as we had got into the carriage
two gentlemen with silk hats very ele-
CANT indeed, came up and talked over
the carriage door with her. The one with
yellow gloves said; This is a bad bust
ness It's a good thing poor old lady
Montgomery never lived 10 see this day"
And the other said I wonder what the
effect on the city will be-"
Sonora Mendez said she hoped the ef-
feet would be a law requiring our young
men to settle disputes with their fists in
stead of firearms, and that II was a
shame nice boys would ,brawl in gambling
houses. She smiled and looked most easy
and pleasant over it. and ali the way up
the street she chatted right along as IL
nothing serious had ever happened But
when we stopped at the house. just as I
was leaving the carriage. she quickly
took my face between her hands and
kissed me hard on the forehead. You
poor little motherless duck" she said
and left me with the impression there
had been tears In her eyes
I wondered why she should feel so sud
denly sorry for me; nevertheless, I felt
cheered and consoled-hadn't she spoken
kindly Of Johnny Montgomery as a nice
boy? But It was the last good word I
was to hear Of him for a week. I needed
the memory Of that cheer and consolation
through the next hard days.
For now that was recovered from the
shock OF the first day I began 20 realize
not at all an ordinary shooting II had
stirred up great excitement Only one
month had passed since the Presidents
assassination; the feeling against the
Southerners was still very bitter. and not
only were all the Montgomerys dyed-in-
the-wool Alabamians, but some OF the
relatives had fought on the Southern
side. Rumors few about the city of
mob attacking the prison There was a
guard Of soldiers around It the first night.
and when they took him from there to
the jail on Broadway. II was in the mid
die Of an armed escort. All sorts OF
stories as 10 what had caused the shoot
ing were abroad. but the one thing the
reports agreed upon was the fact that