San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-29

ray OI mOrHlHS sunlight,
blurred by the lead-set lozenges
of crude glass through which it
struck, penetrated into the loft. 1t
lightened, yet itensified, the deep
brown dusk. Close at hand a
sweet-throated bell was ringing,
and all the bells of the city swung
with it. 1t was a feast day.
The gooseflesh was out all over
Sidonia's body. She was half para
lyzed with cold, and also with a
sort of bewilderment, and could
only sit and hug the warm and
strangely complaisant cat. Her
thighs ached, as might those Of
person who had gripped a bare
backed horse. Her shoulder
smarted, for there was a mark
upon it as if teeth had broken the
skin. She bore various bruises,
but whether gained during the day
or night she could not>have said.
Her memory only carried her
definitely to the midnight invoca-
ton, and amounting. But she had
a confused sense of subsequent
adventure, delight, horror and ex-
element. She felt both ashamed
and proud. And beneath both
emotions was the feeling of loss.
The celestial knight had left her
in the Street of Martyrs. He was
in Heaven, region higher than
twenty church steeples placed one
upon another. What was the use
of thinking of angels? She was
pledged to tie Master-the Mas
ter-it seemed TO her that she was
already his.
At some hour during the night
Lame Lisa must have partially
reused from her self-induced semi
hypnotic stupor, for she lay now
on the litter of rags, with the patch
work coverlet drawn over her-an
indistinguishable, mounded shape,
quite naturally asleep. -SheNhabit-
ually slept through the day, eating
only at sunset and then scarcely
enough to keep cat alive.
To all intents and purposes,
throughout the greater part of the
twenty-four hours, Sidonia was
alone.
Gravely, joyfully the many
church bells sounded-christened
bells, each bearing a name that
was holy and potent; each ade-
quate to Danish evil as far as its
voice might carry. Sidonia, the
unchristened child of an outcast,
huddled, as it were, at the feet of
these tall and gracious spirits of
the blessed chimes, grading the
lack cat. She liked the sound.
1t went over and past her like
water, leaving nothing.
Witchcraft or mo witchcraft.
night-flying or night-dreaming,
ones body must be clothed, and
food eaten, and more food bought.
SO Sidonia put the cat out of her
arms and lifted her stiff, shivering
self up. Her garments beg
CARS choice-lay where she had
abandoned them the night before. =
Presently she was combing out her
hair with a wooden comb, and
plating it. The yellow cat rubbed
against her ankles, uttering little
purring cries that were like mono
syllables. The black cat sat in the
sunbeam licking its fur. From be-
low came the stamp of horses and
the growing voices of men.
Sidonia dipped the corner of a
cloth in a pitcher of water and
cleansed her face. From under
the loose hearth brick she took one
of the silver pieces. 1t was her
intention to obtain drink of
warm milk from a neighbor, who
kept pair of mich goats. Then
she would break her fast with rye
bread, see the spectacle of the
Young Lords victorious entrance,
purchase further supply of food
and return to the loft. She threw
an ancient cloak around her shout
ders. 1t shrouded her, providing
an illusion of sombre decency.
Lifting the big yellow cat, she
kissed and Rugged him.
9Th shall have goats milk, and
a mouse of sleeps heart. His
mother will fetch it for him. lib
must be good BOY until MS
mother comes back"
lib was not a good boy, and
Sidonia knew it. When, at nights,
he vanished, she became anxious,
for where most folk saw only a
yellow tom-cat with dirty white
chest and torn ear, who uttered
sounds like dying child or lost
soul, and was, perhaps, satanic
messenger as well, Sidonia saw a
prodigal son.
She glanced into the dusk where
the witch, her mother, slept. 1t
never seemed to the girl that Lisa
was the mother of her flesh and
blood-still less of the self within
the flesh that felt and thought.
They were like strangers brought
together by circumstances and
bound by long mutual dependence,
for while Lisa earned the illicit
silver coins, Sidonia stood between
her and the world.
She would like to have plated a
colored ribbon into her hair, as it
was a festival day. But she had
nothing. They were poorer than
church mice.
Slowly, and rather stiffly, ST.
donia descended from the loft
that housed the witch, the witch's
cats and tho 1onelv Sunhaap,