The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-23
The Spanish Necklace
BY BERTHA M. CROKER
sCopyrsht, 1908, by B. M croker An Rights Rsserved) muM uMumuuuuNWuHuMumugU gUKREu#mRuNmnHEuru

find a great differences: to feel well turned-out acts like a tonic and gives surprising confidence. A badly dressed woman. especially in a short skirt, will slink Into room to hold an important interview, with a sense of helpless in- feriority and uneasiness: whilst an- other in a fino toilette will sail in arm decision-and probably carry all before her. But I grant you that these soignes costumes run away with great deal of time and money. Besides frocks, you will require hats, parasols, wraps, frills and all sorts of things. What was good enough for Shalesmoor will never do for Biarritz."
 ''Yes. I know that" humblv assented her companion.
 For some moments there was dead silence, broken only by the clip-clop of the horses hoofs as they trotted along the road past Hester's favorite resort, the Falaise-ano out into the open country, with the sea on the right hand and the Pyrenees in the distance.
 Presently Mrs. Tudor continued her lecture: And besides being we'll dressed. you must begin to realize your position, and not live in hugger-mug- ger fashion, stealing about the hotel and the Page as if you were ashamed to be seen."
 "To tell the truth. am afraid to be noticed; I am so plain. so gauche and insiRnificant: I am indeed. I have no remarkable accomplishments; l cannot even talk amusingiy like other peo- ple."
 'It is not so easy to talk amusingly. as you suppose" rejoined Mrs. Tudor' but, at any rate. you can always hst- en; 1t Is a great accomptisnment to listen sympathetically--es 10
 
 about himself: 1t is to him an unfaii- ing source of interest: but as soon as YOU begin to talk of yourself-uniess he is in love with you-he immediateiy becomes bored"
 "Then. from what you tell me. con versation with men Is not very oim- cult"
 well, 1t depends good deal upon the man. Can you dancer
 "Yes I had lessons at school-that ,s len. wears ago; I loved waltzing. put I have never been to dance in all my life." Moe Tudor; then I shall take you to your first marty. and I'll introduce you to the Inftus girls at once. They offer dance of an evening in the little Sa- Ion. with half a dozen friends-they are really charming. .oo
 "Oh Mrs. Tudor, I am much too ataid for those pretty young things: am nothing but dull nonentityi heIieve you will be heartily sorry |. you bring me into prominence; l shall f,, do somethine shocking and un- contb and cover you with disgrace!
 "No no. you won't; am not afraid your affalrs will take me out or my self and keep me from dwelling on are and aches; they will give me fne stimulus: your career will interest me enormousIy--yes. and do me credit too, VIII you promise to place your. self unreservedly in my hands. ana not so to speak, interfere or kick?
 Hester laughed-quite a young. mer- ry laugh. ,,. first nlace-" resumed Mrs. Tudor. leaning back a little fur ther in the carriage, and clearing ner throat. thA girl. what are your commandsT'
 "You must abolish Mrs. BFdtten: she is doing you no good' get r'o oi "er
 .ob I'm afraid that will be impos- stble" retolned Hester. with an air Of
 .'Not at all. She will, unless I am greatly mistaken, soon find another
 DO you mean that she will marry some one?'
 "C,Iever girl! Well, another import ant step will be. to engage coineur to dress your hair every day. and make 1t look like what 1t really is- beautiful" ~
 "Beautiful-my hair beautiful! Now. Mrs. Tudor you are making fun or me. Why, my hair is red" !
 Tt is; and I promise that in one week you will scarcely know yourself that is. If you will give me carte blanche"
 T am sure you are only too kind to trouble yourself about me-"
 "Which means yes Very well, there is no time like the present. and she called out to the driver, who pulled up his horses while he receiv- ed her directions in fluent French, and in accordance with these, turned his steeds homewar5s. "I am always a woman of action" she explained, and we will merely drive round by the Bots de Boulogne, and get back In time to Interview Madame Guise and buy you a respectable hat-that thing on your head may be thrown away; not a lady's-maid in the hotel would be seen in ftp
 Madame Guise was delighted to re- ceive such a good old customer as Mrs. Tudor. She was small, spare, and voluble. and certainly expended none of her art on herself. Madame wore 8 scanty black gown. little woollen shawl, and her hair was scraped back in a nob no bigger than a golf-ball As far as appearances were concern ed the celebrated modiste might have been femme de menage; she was new ertheless a great artist. Several beau tiful confections were disposed on chairs and sofas In the salon. and as she talked to Mrs. Tudor. Madame | drew vivid word pictures of gowns of supreme elegance. Whilst she spoke