Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

IF the topic makes the senor1ta snlveI
surely we must change 1t" said Ell Conde
de Valdollana, with grave poiiteness; the
senorita is. it is seen, fond of animals
"a great dog was resting with MS neao
against her knee).
Yes. for they have sense and affection
and conStancy.'
Some dogs. no doubt. are the friends
Of man: but as for other animals. what
have you to say lowell. ptgs?
What can I say? ] know nothing.
have never yet cultivated the friendship
of pig: but I've no doubt there are pos
sbilities.''
II heard a story of monkey the other
day. said Casilda, who had been unusu-
ally silent. Shall tell it to you or not
or course you will all laugh"
Then let US laugh. my dear, said
Dona Luisa. Let us laugh, by all
means"
We'll at least it is short" she said
and began without further preamble.
"A friend Of fathers brought home from
Rio a monkey and dog. They were
young; they suffered in concert and en-
dured horrors at sea; sympathy is in
friendship a great tie"
Yes, yes, yes." assented several
voices.
Then they lived in Spain so happily
together for three years. till the dog ate
poison accidentally-waS very Ill. He
fingered for some time. nursed by his
comrade and eventually expired in his
arms"
"Ah.' exclaimed Paul. with sroan OF
simulated anguish.
"Well. kind people," she resumed. 81
need not assure you that the monkey was
disconsolate. his grief human, but ex-
pressionless. The dog was buried. the
survivor left alone. Some hours later one
went to the stable to see poor Jacko and
console him: but. behold! he, too. was
dead. In a transport of grief he had
hanged himself" and with this last pero-
ration Casilda flung the end of her cigar
cite among the orange trees and turned
you say?'
II say. my dear Casilda, that you re-
lated your little tragedy very nicely"
said Dona Luisa.
Eyes. Casilda mio." added Paul. Il be-
lieve you would have a career in a
menagerie."
''Oh. you laugh, of course! Well. it
was true. Tell me. what man would do
as muc.i for friend?"
There you are right" said Paul Il
know no man for whom / would hang
myself: but I will not deny that under
desperate provocation l might do so for
one Of your enchanting sex"
Il do not wish to cast any doubt upon
your admirable story. senorita." said Ell
Condo de Valdollana, but it is my opin-
ion that the devoted monkey-unemployed
was fooling with the rope and had an
accident
Casilda gave a little stamp and made
a gesture of mock fury.
Come. Gomez exclaimed la Condesa.
do not let us quarrel. What do you say
to some music. my friends?"
And you will sing. Condesa?" urged
Dona Luisa. "Oh, what pleasure. dear
friend: do let me again hear La Cuban
ita',"
La Condesa once a famous singer, and
even now a delightful artist. took up a
guitar without further hesitation. struck
a few chords and sang in her rich.. soft
contralto. the well known song.
When the murmur of applause had died
away she said:
Now Casilda child. let us hear YOU"
Casilda received her beribboned guitar
and. after a few preliminary bars, her
sweet young soprano broke into a mel
odious sequidilla Of exquisite plaintive-
ness. the chorus Of which was taken up
by la Condesa and all the men. The eff
feet Of their voices in the soft, still night
in that enchanted garden seemed to Hes
ter like the earthly echo of some heaven
iy strains. =
Now, Paul. your turn" said Casilda.
There is your own guitar" and she
handed 1t 10 him with empressement.
Paul. with q careless shrug OF his Shout
ders. seated himself on the balustrade-
where his figure was thrown into pic
turesaue distinctiveness by the moon
and in a delicious tenor gave a melting
Brazilian love song.
Hester. listening eagerly. her pulse
beating time to the romantic air. felt the
voice and the spell of his dark face.
When the last note had faded away, dis
solved. as ii were. among the flowers and
moonbeams. she said. almost under her
breath:
"Oh. I'm sorry could not follow all
the words"
Then mademoiselle, it is only fair that
you should hear one little English
ballad" said Paul-"one that can be un-
derstood by YOU / will attempt a sere-
another key, and with a glance Of flash
ing significance. he nodded to her and
began:
The wind is falling on the lonely sea.
And daylight dies in magic clouds Of gold:
The birds no longer sing upon the tree
And summer flowers their many petals fold
But in the garden mid the sleeping roses
Still must wander In the evening light.
And meath the window where my love reposeS
Sing to her gently with the winds OF night.
Sleep. love. sleep. NO danger shall betide thee,
Long though the night. and thronsed with doubt
Sleep on, sleep for I will stay beside thee.
The wind is falling DER the lonely sea:
A thousand stars look down all silently.
Like heavenly guards that watch till night is
sleep love- sleep no danger shall betide thee.
Long though the night, and thronged with doubt
Sleep on sleep. for l will stay beside thee,
Singing Il love thee till morn is near.
In the air was Tilt which stirred the
blood. and il would be difficult to de-
scribe the exquisite expression of the
music and the voice. with its rich. haunt
ing sweetness. Here. indeed. was the
typical lover Of romance. endowed with a
golden tongue!
When the song ceased and the singer
had thrown aside his guitar there was a
silence. a murmur and a faint clapping.
Swift thoughts came to the audience.
Had ell MARQUES sung this serenade espe-
cially for the English senorta. or was
1t just his ordinary nonsense? At any
rate. It was the swan song OF the enter
tainment. bona Luisa and Mrs. Tudor
seemed suddenly to awake from their re-
spective reveries. and began to chatter
to declare that although they had never
spent SO delightful or romantic an even
ing. they must bring their pleasure to a
close and depart forthwith.
Every one now stood up and began to
talk at once. A gradual move was made
toward the villa: chairs and guitars were
abandoned and the company trooped up
the steps.
For some reason which she could not
explain to herself, Hester did not wish
TO talk to Paul: she hung back and
walked beside Casilda.
What voice you have!" she said.
What pleasure you can give! How l
enyy-and thank you"
"Ah.' rejoined the Spanish girl. ut Is
so good of you to praise me. and you are
three times nice. as We say here; but you
should hear Dolores