San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-10
1HoWtch Maiden 87DuzCje Dea7uer

way. leaving the chained victim IN
full view. Her eyes We're closed |
now; her head, turned a little to
one side, leaned back against the
high, supporting post.
Unhindered, free of his assail-
ants, of whom he had crippled two,
the rush of the sleety rain laying
its fluid whips across his barred
chest and back and shoulders.
Gervais was at the foot of the
stake in a few strides. The
drenched,, fire-blackcned faggots
Kissed at him like nest of
serpents. He set his feet ON them.
scrambling upward. He trod fir,
fire that fought with rain. The
han-burned brands broke and
crumbled under him. but tho
smouldering billets. the co e of the
mound, held firm. lie grasped
the stake, swaying, level at last
with the condemncd. Her eyes We're
closed, her wet hair chung To cheek
and throat. and to the young.
bruised, rain-purgcd bosom. The
edges Of her smock were charrcd.
She appeared TO know nothing of
either heat or cold. GcrvaiS was
busy with the chain that had been
passed twice about the girls
meagre waist. The rain descended
upon them as though angels had
broken down the barriers of some
chill, celestial deep, the hailstones
leapt like white graSshoppcrs
about the ruined fire-heap. whose
expiring breath was acrid and
down-beaten smoke.
Again the thunder crashed, like
a loud, departing word. The cessa-
ton of the deluge was as sudden
as It's onset. The sky-vault, that
had resembled low roof of purple
slate, lifted, and a pale sword of
the sun struck downward. A transi-
ent rainbow spanned the town, and
a million water-drops flashed like
diamonds, amethyst and topaz.
In several quarters cocks crowcd.
The wet cobblcstones glistencd.
On the summit of the drenchcd
fire-heap a young man, half naked
like vagabond, caught in his arms
wretched, nerveless sirl whose
feet were heat-scorched, for the
chain had loosened at last, slipping
downward over her narrow loinS.
and she yielded with it, helpless as
baby.
"a miracle"
Who aised the cry? Some
rl...l ,-n.nA1 ,.r.,,,,,l,t
soaked to the skin, sun-blinded. II
was like the touch on a quick
nerve.
"a miraclew 1t went rom
mouth to mouth. 1t was a shout
The sodden crowd surged with a
unanimous movement. they did
not think; they were incapable of
it-they knew.
"a miracle! The white witch!
The saintn'
God has saved his saintw-It
was the woman who had first pro-
claimed the miracle. She ran for
ward, fell to her knees on the
stony, puddlcd ground, and raised
pair of thin and quivering arms.
Her face was lifted to the stake
that rose from the firc-heap as
though it were a Calvary.
"a saint" said Sylvane, clutch
ing GATHERINGS shoulder ant gaZ-
ing stupidity. The long-legged Jest
er had Topped to his knees as
though he were in church.
Down from the firc-heap came
GervaiS, carrying his Sidonia. He
was exhausted, and more than
trife dazed. No knight-errant,
surely ever bore such an appear
ance. He was pitiablc. He had
emerged, as it were, from the
seven Internal circles Of the neither
world triumphant.
Scores were hneeling now.
Tears ran down che faces of men
and women and many sobbed
openly and loudly. They pressed
round. and furtive. reverent hands
were extended to touch the death
smock. the hanging arm, the bis
tered feet of Sidonia. the child of
the hunted. Margaret was weep
ing Historically against the breast
of Hugh. The abbot was at that
moment descending from the
wheeled stage to set the seal of
his blessing upon the wonder that
had occurred, and Sabine. prepar-
ing with small, deliberate, prcen-
ing movements to follow his sod
den dignity, knew with a rush of
suave emotional certainty that
Heaven had summoned her to en-
ter a religious house and become
saint herself.
Cloaks and upper garments of
all sorts had been spread reckless
ly in a thick pile, and here the
young lord laid Sidonia down.
He kept her hand between his
palms. shivering himself, for he
was nearly bare and the reaction
had set in. Opposite to him Cath
crime knelt, chatting the girls other
hand. The whole town, it seemed.
hung upon Sidonia's rousing.
And Sidonia opened her strange
dark eyes, and they were happy,
for she had dreamed that lib, her
yellow cat, had returned as cats
will do, to the loft above the Street
of the Martyrs, and she knew that
she would presently find him there.
She had dreamed also of God. as
once before; and He was benevo-
lent, and had spoken kindly to her.
SO she drew her hand softly away