The San Francisco call., 1910-09-25

glimpse of him-or only a picture on
the night?
leaned forward through the win
dow and called softly into the black
ness: rCome herer' I had the scared,
shamed, unreal feeling of child play
ing at conjurer who hopes. yet knows
no miracle can happen. The shock was
the greater then when, after mo-
ment's interval. a formless bulk shad-
owed my window. shrank back in
the surprise and JOY and fear of know
ing him there.
What can I do for you?" a voice
asked. proceeding from the SHADOW. IS
courteously. as formally. as Il it were
speaking In the lighted ballroom I
had just quilted.
"Oh, get in, get into the carriage I
cried for it seemed to me that all the
city was spying on him, and the risk
he ran was more than I could bear
He hesitated one more heart-brea king
instant. Then. I thought. he drew back.
I reached out blindly toward him and
clasped his wrist.
My fingers were astonished at the
great pulse that throbbed under them
like heart sending a thrilling
through my veins. Then I felt the
downward sway Of the carriage, and
the sweeping of serape over my feet;
and had released his wrist and knew
L
out of the still open door and spoke
to the cabmarf. Drive over TO Wash
ington square, and then around the
square,"
Extraordinary as this direction was
he made no demur only sort OF grunt
deep in his coat collar, and almost
before / was in my seat again the
wheels were turning, and I saw the
arm of my otherwise indistinguish-
oh GO
the paler square OF glass as he closed
the carriage door, and shut us up
alone altogether in the dark. He him
self was scarcely separable from it, but
/ seemed to know how hard he was
looking at me.
Where were you going?" I said.
Nowhere that you may go Tell me
quickly what you want OF me-"
Tt was strange that he, who so long
had been speechless figure--our only
communication by looks=now had be-
come a disembodied voice, like himself.
quick, strong and imperious. There
were dozen questions which. over and
over in imaginary interviews, l had
asked hin-an my anxieties and won
derS and terrors about him; why he
had said those first words of his to me
in the police station; why he had en-
couraged me so recklessly with my tes-
timony, and then fed. ard Of all those
other puzzling Inconsistencies in his
behavior. But now that my oppor-
tunity and he were both here there
boiled up in my brain my latest, most
bitter perplexity of all. the one that
had been presented to me tonight, not
a question, but a confession Before
I realized what I was saying I was
telling him. very incoherently, how ter
rfbly / felt about having had to give
my evidence. and why 1t had seemed
the only thing to do. But know you
do not think so.'' I said you think
1t strange and cruel of me that 1 did
not keep SILENT
His voice sounded very calm. almost
casual. II think nothing of the sort
You did quite right, and / am glad
there is one woman who can speak the
truth"
This was utterly different from any
thing that had ever expected, But
| stammered, iron, the way you looked
at me first when-when you ran out
at the door, and then again when
had to tell them who you werei I
thought"
I heard the sweep of his serape as he
leaned forward toward me- 'iI hated
for your own sake that YOU should see
anything so hideous. When I came
out of that door and saw you there
on the other side of the street. do YOU
hHoW WHAT you seemed to me? You
seemed to me like the reminder OF
everything good l had ever hoped for
or believed in, looking at me across
that distance, horrified at me- 1t was
that / could not bear His voice sound
ed harsh and uncertain. but 1t was bet
ter to hear than the even, offhand tone
he bad used at first.
I hated to see you have to go
through that sordid business in the po-
lice station" he said, hated to have
you dragged through the court. to
think you had to touch such things.
even to know that they exist 1 could
not forgive myself But what are you
doing here alone at this hour of the
night?" He broke off suddenly The
half stern. half protecting note made
my heart beat.
/ was at ball" 1 stammered "I
came away suddenly because-because
/ couldn't bear it, / heard them talk
ing behind the curtains. They said it
was l who had convicted you"
touch came on my hand as if it