The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-04-19


most before l was in my seat again the
wheels were turning. and l saw the
arm of my otherwise indistinguishable
companion move darkly against the
paler square of glass as he closed the
carriage door and shut us up alone to-
gether in the dark. He himself vas
scarcely separable from it, but l SEEM
ed to know how hard he was looking
at me.
Where were you going?" | said.
Nowhere that you may go. Tell me
quickly what you want of me-"
1t was strange that he, who so long
had been a speeches. ~tigure-our only
communication by looks-now had be-
come a disembodied voice like himself,
quick, strong and imperious. There
were a dozen questions which, over
and over In imaginary interviews. I
had asked him. all my anxieties and
wonders and terrors about him. why
he had said those first words of his to
me in the police station; why he had
encouraged me so recklessly with my
testimony and then fled, and 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 | realized what | was saying
! was telling him. very incoherently.
how terribly | felt about having had
to give my evidence and why it had
seemed the only thing to do. But I
know you do not think So" l said.
you think it strange and. cruel of me
that | did moi keep silent"
His voice sounded very calm. almost
casual. Il 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 I had ever expected. But"
! stammered. from the way you look
ed at me first when-when YOU ran
out at the door and then again when
l had to tell them who you were. l
thought
| heard the sweep of his serape as
he leaned forward toward me. II hat
ed. for your wv sake, that you should
see anything so hideous. When | came
out of that door and saw you there on
the other side of the street. do YOU
know what you seemed to me? You
seemed to me like the reminder of
everything good | had ever hoped for
or believed in. looking at me across
that distance. Mortified at me. 1t was
that l could not bear" His voice
sounded harsh and uncertain, but it
was better TO hear than the even off
hand tone he had used at first.
II hated to see you have to 90
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. | 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.
II was at IA ball" | stammered. II
came away suddenly because-because
| couldn't bear it. | heard them talk
ing behind the curtains. They said it
was | who had convicted YOU"
\ touch came ON my hand as if it
had been the point of a finger. BE
lieve me. that is nonsense. 1t was |
who convicted myself
| turned toward him. | would have
given anything in that moment for a
glimpse of his face.
IF you did anything ut all toward
that end he went on steadily. re
member YOU only helped me toward
what | really wanted to do"
kept my eyes fixed on that space of
darkness from which his voice came.
IF you wanted TO convict yourself
then why did you try to escape?"
There was quite an interval while l