The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-02

group of San Telmos. Although some
 '. hat futtered at being the centre o the consideration she was receiving a'
 ths hands of Paul's family.
 Leon. an officer in the Spanish army resembled Paul, but was shorter and
 stouter: he had a swarthy face and q
 merry eye. AS he bowed himself oveI
 her hand. he murmered, Tt is 2
 P Lsure." and then niade room for his
 elder brother. who took seat beside
 his aunt with graceful delibcration | and said
 | ''I am glad to see you here. Made | moiselle. hope 1t is not too stupid T | Not at all. enjoy looking at the people"
 Our spanish functions are so dull
 and formal, as rule: the men herd
 at Ire other. Shall I tell you who they
 are? Do you see that man with the i fair hair and beard? He is the most ! accomplished sn sfdsman in all Spain. The tall lady next to him is the -aar- quesa Cathusparra. She Is unhappy
 so Jealous of her husbandw And If she has roason,--why notf' l asked nester quickly.
 | "Oh! and you. too would De jealous. Mademoiselle? and he smiled, as if | infinitely amused.
 "very---very jealousw and she smiled also. Ms8 wei. with a light laugh--"that is
 senc.hing to knowl The old man with ] the decorations was once Prime Minis. l ter at Madrid The stout lady In | spangles IS the Princess Cataluna: and | the little young man ia not her son "No--who then? Her Efandson9" Her third husband. And here come | the singers. Let me find you nDpd place in the corner" F | at.. sass~ s.4. | men with guitars and mandolins---gave | some capital music; Spanish songs and
 serenadcs. with the odd lilt in them. l One singer, with an expressive face | and rich mellow contralto voice, sang
 penetrating French chanson with such moving effect that Hoster, the l inapressionable. felt lump in her 1 throati her hands and lips were act-
 uaily trembling. 1t seemedd to her
 that this girl was striking tho very chords of her heart Did Paul guess at | her omotion2 Oh no; ho looked upon \ her as cold. English, and immovable, l and was wondering how he could steal ] away to enjoy q cigarette. 1 After the songs, and 6 stolen smoke, | the Marquis dc Sarazin returned, and escorted Hester to the refreshment. rooms. The refreshments were light merely coffee, lemonade. orangeade. chocolate, and cakes. according to Spanish custom.
 As Hester--who felt that she was
 expressing more than her share of the
 hosts attention--sipped her orangeade,
 he ieant against the wall watching her.
 They were alone In the room. and he
 presently said
 'Madomoiselle. would you not like to see Spain7"
 yes" she answered; "we have thought of going to San Sebastian for a week, and Bufsos-perhaps Madrid"
 "Oh, 1 don't mean globe -trotting. but the real country. and our people: none are so misunderstood as Span. tards. Of course they are drones-- some of them; they have a flair for pleasure and shows. You know the saying, '-Aey rest six days, and on the seventl. so to bull-fightI All they want is Pan y toros. Bread and bulls But the American blood in my veins rebels fiercely. Why live upon our past and our traditions? NOh. Spain ls still capable of great things if she would but try!"
 "Spaii. has fallen on evil days--and I am truly sorry" said Hester gently.
 Thank you. Mademoiselle, you are mu simpatica. Were you to see our ancient town and palace of Torillo--- once a great place, now dead without stir-you would say to yourself. There is the silence of the tomb. the solitude that attends misfortunes. and the calm of fate itself.'
 You speak quite poetically! Can nothing be done7 What does the coun- try want to rouse it?'
 Education. energy--and. above all. moneyl''
 And Spain was once so richI''
 But so extravagantl Still. there re- main possessions that cannot be car Tied away or sold. as some do their lands and jewels-Burgos Cathedral, the Alhambra--and. above all, Toledo. I should like to show you Toledo my s If. Toledo is a museum---the crown of Spain--buiit on high rock; and to see 1t from ...e Vega below at sunset Is a sight--the grandest ir the world"
 He spoke with such suppressed en- thusiasm that his listener was amazed. Here was another side to this volatile. handsome Lotharfo! He talked to her eagerly Of plans. undertakings, re- forms; 1t was plain that the subject interested him profoundly His thin brown hands, expressed nearly as much as his speech, as they pointed, clench- ed, shook. or explanded.
 ''Oh, I see you love Spain9 she ex. when he abruptly ceased.
 "So much that I would die. for her; but alas, what can do but talk! would act! Revolution after revoIu- ton has swept over her. Miserable l wretches have pilfered and betrayed | her: her glories are gone, her power | Is broken. And yet. even so she is the | aged queen Of nutions!"
 As he spoke his eyes burned; he | seemed transigured.
 What will happen when the young. | CT generation awakes?" she asked. Perhaps q revolution-perhaps a | knows? am. of course, a Royalist ol Royalists. like all nay | house. Well. this Is strange talk for | a young lady's ears; but 1t Is a sub- | ject near my heart, and therefore I | show 1t to you"
 Thank you" she murmured. But | w.y?"
 Because you are near my heart also" And he took the glass from her 1 hand with bow.
 HestG coloured faintIy. She was aware that such speech | meant less than nothing from Paul de 5arazin.
 "Ah, Lere you arep said Mrs. Tudor. IS she entered with la Duquesa. 'I nave been searching for you to take you | nome. my dear
 q hope we shall meet again. Miss Forde," said her hostess graclously. Pray do come soon to sec me-" A pause. You and I have hair the same colour. Do you notice?" The Du- luesa's hair was boldly dyed. and hor 'enark was audacious. We might"- and her smile was slginicant--sal- most be mother and daughterl have }. .dge on Sunday afternoon. Do you play cards?"
 "No. not at all"
 What. never little bacearatr' she