The Equinox (Volume I, Number I)

THE EQUINOX “This time I was under no illusions about the sanctity of womanhood. With a single blow I felled her to the ground, My signet-ring cut her lip, and the blood trickled over her cheek. I laughed. But the child never moved—it would seem she hardly comprehended. “T turned, bowed. ‘I could not bear to hear your cries,’ I said—rather obviously, one may admit. ‘I came—— adding under my breath, ‘I saw, I conquered.’ ‘Who is that?’ I added sternly, pointing to the prostrate hag. “¢Ah, sir’ (she began to cry), ‘it is my mother. The horror of it was tenfold multiplied. ‘She—she The child blushed, stammered, stopped. “«T heard, mademoiselle,’ I cried indignantly. “«T am here’ (she sobbed) ‘ for a month, starved, whipped— oh! By day the window barred with iron; by night, open, the more to mock my helplessness!’ Then, with a sudden cry, her little pink hand darting out and showing a faultless arm: ‘Look! look! she is on you.’ “ The mother had drawn herself away with infinite stealth, regained her feet, and, a thin stiletto in her hand, was crouched to spring. Indeed, as she leapt I was hard put to jt to avoid the lunge; the dagger-edge grazed my arm as I stepped aside. “T turned. She was on me, flinging me aside with the force of her rush as if I had been a straw. The snarl of her was like a wolf. “This time she cut me deep. Again awhirl,arush. I altered my tactics; I ran in to meet her. Hampered as she was by her furs, I was now quicker than she. I struck her dagger arm so strongly that the blade flew into the air, and 118