vera, the medium-第7节

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smiled。

The　girl　did　not　answer　his　smile。　From　under　the　shadow　of　the
picture　hat　and　the　ostrich　feathers　her　eyes　regarded　him
searchingly；　watchfully。

For　the　first　time；　Winthrop　had　the　chance　to　observe　her。　He
saw　that　she　was　very　young；　that　her　clothes　cruelly　disguised
her；　that　she　was　only　a　child　masquerading　as　a　brigand；　that
her　face　was　distractingly　lovely。　Having　noted　this；　the　fact
that　she　had　driven　several　grown　men　to　abuse　and　vituperation
struck　him　as　being　extremely　humorous；　nor　did　he　try　to
conceal　his　amusement。　But　the　watchfulness　in　the　eyes　of　the
girl　did　not　relax。

〃I'm　afraid　I　interfered　with　your　seance；〃　said　the　District
Attorney。

The　girl　regarded　him　warily；　like　a　fencer　fixing　her　eyes　on
those　of　her　opponent。　There　was　a　pause　which　lasted　so　long
that　had　the　silence　continued　it　would　have　been　rude。　〃Well；〃
the　girl　returned　at　last；　timidly；　〃that's　what　the　city
expects　you　to　do；　is　it　not？〃

Winthrop　laughed。　〃How　did　you　know　who　I　was？〃　he　asked；　and
then　added　quickly；　〃Of　course；　you're　a　mind　reader。〃

For　the　first　time　the　girl　smiled。　Winthrop　found　it　a　charming
smile；　wistful　and　confiding。

〃I　don't　have　to　ask　the　spirit　world；〃　she　said；　〃to　tell　me
who　is　District　Attorney　of　New　York。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　District　Attorney；　〃yes；　I　suppose　you　have　to
be　pretty　well　acquainted　with　some　of　the　laws　　those　about
mediums？〃

〃If　you　knew　as　much　about　other　laws；〃　began　Vera；　〃as　I　do
about　the　law　　〃　She　broke　off　and　again　smiled　upon　him。

〃Then　you　probably　know；〃　said　Winthrop；　〃that　what　our　excited
friend　said　to　you　just　now　is　legally　quite　true？〃

The　smile　passed　from　the　face　of　the　girl。　She　looked　at　the
young　man　with　fine　disdain；　as　a　great　lady　might　reprove　with
a　glance　the　man　who　snapped　a　camera　at　her。　〃Yes？〃　she　asked。
〃Well；　what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it　　arrest　me？〃　Mocking
him；　in　a　burlesque　of　melodrama；　she　held　out　her　arms。　〃Don't
put　the　handcuffs　on　me；〃　she　begged。

Winthrop　found　her　impudence　amusing；　and；　with　the　charm　of　her
novelty；　he　was　conscious　of　a　growing　conviction　that；
somewhere；　they　had　met　before；　that　already　at　a　crisis　she　had
come　into　his　life。

〃I　won't　arrest　you；〃　he　said　with　a　puzzled　smile；　〃on　one
condition。〃

〃Ah！〃　mocked　Vera；　〃he　is　generous。〃

〃And　the　condition　is；〃　Winthrop　went　on　seriously；　〃that　you
tell　me　where　we　met　before？〃

The　girl's　expression　became　instantly　mask…like。　To　learn　if　he
suspected　where　it　was　that　they　had　met；　she　searched　his　face
quickly。　She　was　reassured　that　of　the　event　he　had　no　real
recollection。

〃That's　rather　difficult；　isn't　it；〃　she　continued　lightly；
〃when　you　consider　I've　been　giving　exhibitions　of　mind　readings
for　the　last　six　weeks　on　Broadway；　and　in　the　homes　of　people
you　probably　know？〃

〃No；〃　Winthrop　exclaimed　eagerly；　〃it　wasn't　in　a　theatre；　and
it　wasn't　in　a　private　house。　It　was　　〃　he　shook　his　head
helplessly；　and　looked　at　her　for　assistance。　〃You　don't　know；
do　you？〃

The　girl　regarded　him　steadily。　〃How　should　I？〃　she　said。　And
then；　as　though　decided　upon　a　course　of　action　of　the　wisdom　of
which　she　was　uncertain；　she　laughed　uneasily。

〃But　the　spirits　would　know；〃　she　said。　〃I　might　ask　them。〃

〃Do！〃　cried　Winthrop；　delightedly。　〃How　much　would　that　be？〃

As　though　to　reprove　his　flippancy；　the　girl　frowned。　With　a
nervous　tremor；　which　this　time　seemed　genuine　enough；　she　threw
back　her　head；　closed　her　eyes；　and　laid　her　arm　across　her
forehead。

Winthrop；　unobserved；　watched　her　with　a　smile；　partly　of
amusement；　partly　on　account　of　her　beauty；　of　admiration。

〃I　see　　a　court　room；〃　said　the　girl。　〃It　is　very　mean　and
bare。　It　is　somewhere　up　the　State；　in　a　small　town。　Outside；
there　are　trees；　and　the　sun　is　shining；　and　people　are　walking
in　a　public　park。　Inside；　in　the　prisoner's　dock；　there　is　a
girl。　She　has　been　arrested　　for　theft。　She　has　pleaded
guilty！　And　I　see　　that　she　has　been　very　ill　　that　she　is
faint　from　shame　　and　fear　　and　lack　of　food。　And　there　is　a
young　lawyer。　He　is　defending　her；　he　is　asking　the　judge　to　be
merciful；　because　this　is　her　first　offence；　because　she　stole
the　cloak　to　get　money　to　take　her　where　she　had　been　promised
work。　Because　this　is　his　first　case。〃

Winthrop　gave　a　gasp　of　disbelief。

〃You　don't　mean　to　tell　me　　〃　he　cried。

〃Hush！〃　commanded　the　girl。　〃And　he　persuades　the　judge　to　let
her　go；〃　she　continued　quickly；　her　voice　shaking；　〃and　he　and
the　girl　walk　out　of　the　court　house　together。　And　he　talks　to
her　kindly；　and　gives　her　money　to　pay　her　way　to　the　people　who
have　promised　her　work。〃

Vera　dropped　her　arm；　and　stepping　back；　faced　Winthrop。　Through
her　tears　her　eyes　were　flashing　proudly；　gratefully；　the
feeling　that　shook　her　made　her　voice　vibrate。　The　girl　seemed
proud　of　her　tears；　proud　of　her　debt　of　gratitude。

〃And　I've　never　forgotten　you；〃　she　said；　her　voice　eager　and
trembling；　〃and　what　you　did　for　me。　And　I've　watched　you　come
to　this　city；　and　fight　it；　and　fight　it；　until　you　made　them
put　you　where　you　are。〃　She　stopped　to　control　her　voice；　and
smiled　at　him。　〃And　that's　why　I　knew　you　were　District
Attorney；〃　she　said；　〃and　please　　〃　she　fumbled　in　the　mesh
purse　at　her　waist　and　taking　a　bill　from　it；　threw　it　upon　the
table。　〃And　please；　there's　the　money　I　owe　you；　and　　and　　I
thank　you　　and　goodbye。〃　She　turned　and　almost　ran　from　him
toward　the　door　to　the　hall。

〃Stop！〃　cried　Winthrop。

Poised　for　flight；　the　girl　halted；　and　looked　back。

〃When　can　I　see　you　again？〃　said　the　man。　The　tone　made　it　less
a　question　than　a　command。

In　a　manner　as　determined　as　his　own；　the　girl　shook　her　head。

〃No！〃　she　said。

〃I　must！〃　returned　the　man。

Again　the　girl　shook　her　head；　definitely；　finally。

〃It　won't　help　you　in　your　work；〃　she　pleaded；　〃to　come　to　see
me。〃

〃I　must！〃　repeated　Winthrop　simply。

The　eyes　of　the　girl　met　his；　appealingly；　defiantly。

〃You'll　be　sorry；〃　said　the　girl。

Winthrop　laughed　an　eager；　boyish　laugh。　When　he　spoke　the
tenseness　in　his　voice　had　gone。　His　tone　was　confident；
bantering。

〃Then　I　will　not　come　to　see　you；〃　he　said。

Uncertain；　puzzled；　Vera　looked　at　him　in　distress。　She　thought
he　was　mocking　her。

〃No？〃　she　questioned。

〃I'll　come　to　see　Vera；　the　medium；〃　he　explained。

Vera　frowned；　and　then；　in　happy　embarrassment；　smiled
wistfully。

〃Oh；　well；〃　she　stammered；　〃of　course；　if　you're　coming　to
consult　me　professionally　　my　hours　are　from　four　to　six。〃

〃I'll　be　there；〃　cried　the　District　Attorney。

Vera　leaned　forward　eagerly。

〃What　day　will　you　come？〃　she　demanded。

〃What　day！〃　exclaimed　the　young　man　indignantly。　〃Why；　this
day！〃

Vera　gave　a　guilty；　frightened　laugh。

〃Oh；　will　you？〃　she　exclaimed　delightedly。　She　clasped　her
fingers　in　a　gesture　of　dismay。　〃Oh；　I　hope　you　won't　be　sorry！〃
she　cried。

For　some　moments　the　District　Attorney　of　New　York　stood　looking
at　the　door　through　which　she　had　disappeared。

Part　II

The　home　of　the　Vances　was　in　Thirty…fifth　Street；　nearly
opposite　the　Garrick　Theatre。　It　was　one　of　a　row　of　old…
fashioned　brick　houses　with　high　steps。　As　the　seeker　after
truth　entered　the　front　hall；　he　saw　before　him　the　stairs　to
the　second　story；　on　his　right；　the　folding　doors　of　the　〃front
parlor；〃　and　at　the　far　end　of　the　hall；　a　single　door　that　led
to　what　was；　in　the　old　days；　before　this　row　of　houses　had　been
converted　into　offices；　the　family　dining　room。　To　Vera　the
Vances　had　given　the　use　of　this　room　as　a　〃reception　parlor。〃
The　visitor　first　entered　the　room　on　his　right；　from　it　passed
through　another　pair　of　folding　doors　to　the　reception　parlor；
and　then；　when　his　audience　was　at　an　end；　departed　by　the
single　door　to　the　hall；　and　so；　to　the　street。

The　reception　parlor　bore　but　little　likeness　to　a　cave　of
mystery。　There　were　no　shaded　lights；　no　stuffed　alligator；　no
Indian　draperies；　no　black　cat。　On　a　table；　in　the　centre；　under
a　heavy　and　hideous　chandelier　with　bronze　gas　jets；　was　a　green
velvet　cushion。　On　this　nestled　an　innocent　ball　of　crystal。
Beside　it　lay　the　ivory　knitting　needle　with　which　Vera　pointed
out；　in　the　hand　of　the　visitor；　those　lines　that　showed　he
would　be　twice　married；　was　of　an　ambitious　temperament；　and
would　make　a　success　upon　the　stage。　In　a　corner　stood　a　wooden
cabinet　that　resembled　a　sentry　box　on　wheels。　It　was　from　this；
on　certain　evenings；　before　a　select　circle　of　spiritualists；
that　Vera　projected　the　ghosts　of　the　departed。　Hanging　inside
the　cabinet　was　a　silver…gilt　crown　and　a　cloak　of　black　velvet；
lined　with　purple　silk　and　covered　in　gold　thread　with　signs　of
the　zodiac。

Save　that　these　stage　properties　illustrated　the　taste　of　Mabel
Vance；　the　room　was　of　no　interest。　It　held　a　rubber　plant；　a
red　velvet　rocking　chair；　across　the　back　of　which　Mrs。　Vance
had　draped　a　Neapolitan　scarf；　an　upright　piano；　upon　which
Emmanuel　Day；　or；　as　he　was　known　to　the　cross…roads　of　Broadway
and　Forty…second　street；　〃Mannie〃　Day；　provoked　the　most
marvelous　rag…time；　an　enlarge