Ainslee's Magazine, February 1913 — page 137: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SUB ROSA “You fiend, how dare you accuse me?” shrieked Inés. “Me, the most popular woman in town, and one who has had _ several loving husbands, whereas you, in your maddest mo- ments, boast of only one, and one that nobody remembers! This from you, an abandoned woman who has been in jail!” “Take care, you wretch!” cried Rosa violently. “You have made a mistake in mentioning that! You would have known me guiltless if you had seen me sitting among the rest, for I was the only woman of elegant appearance there, while all the others were low and tawdry, like yourself! Let me tell you that in my cell I was coupled with a corrupt unfortunate who swallowed the tails of her sardines, and resembled you in every other particular save her tongue, which was civil, and her teeth, which were present. This is how I found out that!” ‘‘Murderess,” screamed Inés, ‘“‘you will find mine present if you slap me again! You were guilty, and everybody knows it! Stop it! Guilty of assault, and that upon a poor young soldier less than half your years! Let go of me and get out of my house, or I will take my broom and sweep you out, all but your thumb!” And she sprang across to the corner. “Drop that broom!” cried Rosa. “Do you think I swept the soldier? I did no more to him than I have done to you, or I would be in jail yet! Do you wish to go there yourself? Drop it! Do you see I have your wine jug in my hand ?” “Set down my jug!” “Set-down the broom,” shouted Rosa, “and do the same thing to your spine on that stool, or I will lash you with your own tail from the statue! Though I suspected you from the start, it was not I who told the padre, but I know who did, for I overheard the conversa- tion !” “Who told him?’ gasped Inés, sink- ing onto the stool. “Look what you did to my shawl!” said Rosa, settling back in her chair sé ‘127 and displaying her lace. “I came here out of charity to tell you, and look at what you did!” “Who told him?” demanded Inés again, trembling all over. “The devil,” said Rosa calmly. “He came up last night through the chasm road, and called on the padre at his house, and told him how he had inspired you to do it.” “You lie! You are doing this to frighten me! The devil could never come up the chasm road!” “I saw it with my own eyes,” said Rosa. “I was going up to the padre’s in the moonlight, about ten o’clock, but I never got there, for I saw this dread- ful sight. He had a great brazier on his head, upside down like your taste- less bonnet. And he was making a ter- rifying noise, for in one hand -he car- ried a huge tin pan, and in the other a great, red-hot iron stick, with which he beat horrible music out of it. It was a fearful sight, I assure you, and if I had not been a virtuous woman, or had had such a conscience as yours must be, I would have fallen right down on my face in a fit. As it was, my knees cracked together so that I could scarcely totter up to the padre’s house and listen to the conversation through the win- dow. You will soon have a chance to tell him whether he can climb the chasm road or not, for he is coming to get you at precisely six o'clock. He arranged it last night with the padre. ‘That is what I came to tell you, but I shail tell you nothing more until you confess.” “T confess!” cried Inés, weeping and wringing her hands. “I confess! I confess!” “So, you awful woman!” exclaimed Rosa. “Of course, your confession is only a formality, because the four of us knew it—the padre and I, and the devil and you; but I am glad you have made it, for it proves that the devil himself is more truthful than you are. To think that a woman of your years would tell such wicked lies, and, after committing a vile crime, allow suspicion to rest upon two innocent little boys!” “T have confessed! I have con- fessed!” wept Inés. “Tell me more!” (C@ ANC NOOK (C@