San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-06
CHAPTER XVII.

A 5 she knelt sobbing she tried
~ ineffectively to wipe her wet
face with the edge of the
velvet cloak. Something had brok-
en- do IN within her. She was no
longer OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES was
Sidonia, the daughter of Lame
Lisa.
The music triumphed and thun-
dered. seeming to tighten the dark
ness. The girl who had cast her.
self prom lifted herself painfully
up until she sat back on her heels,
her dim face raised. No one took
the least notice of Sidonia-there,
on the fringe of the obscure, hud-
died throng. She looked up
ward again to where a great, fret
ted rose of violet glass gloomed
like the night that is the holy inner
soul of light.
Below it was a row of inches,
in each of which a pictured figure
glowed in crimson and blue and
emerald and dusky orange. One
of these was a man in armor, with
surcoat and pennoned lance-St.
Michael or st. George. 1t instantly
brought back the memory of her
angel to the girl, and the quick
pain in her breast was so sharp
that she thought her breast was
breaking into two pieces.
She pictured him in heaven,
where the houses were built of
pure gold, the trees never lost their
leaves, the brooks ran wine and
honey. and it was always Summer.
Rat what of the angel! She
hated him, and loved him, and
would nave wallowed on the ground
before him and embraced his feet.
Her tears had ceased. She was
uneasily conscious of the glory of
her cloak, and of the manner in
which she had acquired it. How
was she going to reach her mothers
den wearing this mantle Of Won
der? People would naturally sup
pose that she had stolen it.
The tide of music sank. A
mans voice intoning three unin-
telligible words came faint and
small across the herd of kneelers.
Everyone was getting to Their
feet. There were groans and
grunts. The great doorway was
already choked with the first out
flow. All faces wore refreshed
look, as though they were turned
to the lusty world of the flesh with
renewed eagerness "a confident
and childish zest.
The outer light fell across Sid
onia's eyes, bright and keen. The
sounds and sights of life rushed up,
as il were, to meet her. They
frightened her. Her spirit was
shivering like a kitten that has
been worried by dogs. Every
thing was hostile. Her heart
cried out for the witch's loft, with
its makeshift hearth and her yell
low cat. She was so utterly
alone. =. ID.
She sidled, keeping close TO the
EMPOWERING stonework. Behind an
outiutting buttress was little
shadowed cul-de-sac. Refuging
there. one seemed half a hundred
miles from the mob that frothed
about the portal flanked by bland
saints.
at isl It's Lisa's grip
"No. | think not.
Never mind, anyway"
Never mindi Let her go as il
she'd never put a hand on me!
You may be half corpse already,
Catherine, but Pm not"
The tall, Authenticated woman
was at no pains to modulate her
voice. Beside her Catherine showed
slovenly and haggard by daylight.
The swarthy bear-leader was with
them, and GATHERINGS man. The
bold, projecting buttress screened
the aristocracy of the Thieves -.
Kitchen from the tOwnsfolk crowd I
ing to see the great people leave
the church, whose steps had been
strewn with spicy herbs and roses
Swallowed by the buttress, Sid
onia stood against the gray church
wall.
ooh. It's the witch's daughter,
all rightw
Sidonia caught back her breath
as though she Rad trodden on some
hing pointed or knocked the cor
ler Of her chow. There Vas no
rink in her now. She faced Syl- !
zane bleakly and little cold shivers
vent over her.
ooh" A sound from the wo-
nan that contained all the violence
If a dozen vile words. And then
he was upon the girl like VEN
,eance itself.
mo! No" gasped Catherine,
Who looked suddenly as deadly sick
IS though she were going to faint.
Stop her! Take her Off"
She turned her face, first, to the
Dear-leader, and then 10 the gam
'ler, twisting her hands together.
The bear-leader uttered a grunt
hat was a laugh. u
fCl n