San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-06
Continued from Page I6)


eyes to hers.
"The poor little thing has faint
ed" she said simply. 81 couldn't
let her lie here on the cold stones"
Fetch back that cloak, Kate" ~
The modulated voice of a young
shrew, unpleasant as a peacock's,
seemed to shock even the gargoyles
high above. Next moment Sylvane
blind to everything save the loss
of the mantle-broke out into the
open, her nostrils bloody, her
splendid hair scandal, and the
whites of her hard sapphire eyes
as bloodshot as a drunken mans.
Blue eye encountered blue eye
the one pair pale, forget-me-not
colored; the other, mineral-hued
hot and dangerous. Scattered au-
burn hair was matched by smooth
auburn hair gathered into a silver
net.
Under the calm, feline gaze of
Sabine. assured and sumptuous in
her velvet and cloth of silver. Syl-
vane wilted. Something in her as
pect suggested the outlawed ami
NAL Unexpectedly cornered. But
she had not lost her tongue.
THAT girls a witch-brat, lady!
Her mothers a witch! She tried
to tear my eyes out t. o minutes
ago. She's Lame Lisa's daughter.
"A witch" The word passed
like a winged breath from. mouth
to mouth. People fell back a step
or two. The Count, austere, sal
low, magnificent, came pace for
ward as if about to speak, but
Sabine stretched out her hand,
speaking first.
"You accuse this girl-this child
of grave things; but mercy is
greater than justice. This is a day
of thanksgiving for the victories
and health of my dear stepson,
your master. Therefore | will take
this wretched girl under my pro-
lection and help win her 20 a
Christian life"
It was well spoken, and with a
gentle and cultured intonation.
Sabine was always utterly sincere.
She was, at this moment, the gra-
cious benefactress. That was con-
sciously. Unconsciously her buried
self had said, quick. eff the girl
is a witch and the daughter of a
witch, she can procure love charms
that will bind Gervais and fire his
indifference. Keep her."
"The Countess will is my will.
Mercy is greater than justice, and
this should be for US a day of
mercy, for God has giv.n US tri-
umph."
The Counts utterance was meas
ured and resonant; it would have
graced bishop.
A tall young man-at-arms lifted
the lax body of the witch-girl, car
rying il like a baby. Sabine moved
serenely forward again, her inner
self purring softly, at peace with
all the world. The Count followed
her and Gervais. People pressed
forward to kiss the Counts hands
or to touch him furtively. Several
cried out that they were cured of
pains, or even of partial
deafness or blindness. 1t was COM
mon knowledge that beneath his
raiment he wore al
ways a hair-shirt. Handouts
of silver were scattered right and
left as a general largesse, occasion
ing yells, shrieks and wild scram-
bles.
But Gervais, walking like a per-
son in a dream, paid no attention.
He was considering how he should
absent himself in order to go to
the Street of the Martyrs.
Half a dozen PAGES behind him the
young man-at-arms, looking very
sheepish, carried the Countess
protege, whose nudity was wrapped
rather haphazardly in the blue vel
vet eloak sprinkled with silver
fleurs-de-lys. He half expected his
burden to change into black hare,
struggle with him, and leap to the
ground. and cold sensations ran up
MS spine.
Sidonia herself, returning to
iemi-consciousness, had confused
feeling that she was in the arms of
her angel