The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-26
The Spanish Necklace
BY BERTHA M. CROKER
tcopyrsht. 1908. hs s M creker. An Rshts Reserved,

say replied Hester; 1t seems rather rude. does 1t ont?"
 | Tt seems as If you would SO very | much rather have her room than her
 company. eh? Look here, my dear.
 am not bad hand at writing notes, | agreeable and otherwise. I fatter my self that can scribble dtsagreeabie- agreeable note with any old woman in | biarritzl Come. see you have writing table here" pointing to the sittinE room, "and will just make YOU
 nice little copy: then you uan send 1 It on at onde. May I?"
 | Certainly you may It Is very kind | or you to undertake rather difficult composition. You will find everything in there. Please make yourself quite | at home"
 Whiist Hester. busy at the glass. ! pinned on her hat. the old lady entered
 .ne adjoining sitting-room opened the
 oLotter. selected a half sheet of paper sne was economical in little things
 and sat down to write. Just as she had indicted Dear Mrs" she discovered
 something uncomfortable under the oiotting paper. and. turning over to see what 1t was. discovered. with cu- rioysiy miged feelings the wished-for truth. Here was a photograph group. bought no doubt out of a shop window.
 It represented three young Spaniards
 Tn fancy dress. Tho middle and most prominent figure was Jaunty repro- | auction of Paul de Sarazin nthe garb
 Of matador, with his hand on his hip and daredevil smile on his good- looking face. So that was 1t!
 Alas, hapIess Hester was another of Paui's victinlsl Her case was proba- ply hopeless. and she hersel fhad so pointedfy avoided Paul and all his be- longfngs-to what good? The discom- iited old lady hurriediy turned back the leaf. and sot the copy of an ultimatum to Mrs. Britten, saying to herself
 "If this girl to whom l have taken fancy, has taken a fancy to Paul de Sarazin. of what good will all my plans avail me7"
 Presently Hester entered, gloves and paralso in band. and while she copied the note, Mrs. Tudor stood behind her, staring round the room, possibly seek sing for. further signs of the miserable exceedingly neat. There were quanti- ties 0 fffowers and books a few or naments, and on the chimney-piece, in the place of honor, the bah program and the cap of Foily---a fatal and mel ancholy token of the owners condition. When her protegee had driven away. Mrs. Tudor retired to her own apart ment and sat for long time osten- sibly reading the newspaper, but In re- a1ity she scarcely glanced at 1t. The active minded old person was meditat- ing fresh schemes. and preparing to in- augurate new plan of campaign.
 After ell. if Hester were seriously interested in this hare-brained Span iard, why should she not marry him? He would not be always feather-brain- ed and wild. If he could be separated from his reckless associates s.~from Shis mother and her entourage& he might become. like his father. one of the first and finest gentlemen at the Spanish Court. Hester Forde of nowhere in particular, would be one day the Duch- esse de San Telmo The old lady grinned to herself as her active imag- ination sketched in the picture. Hes- ter, the shy, at the formal Court of Madrid. closely surrounded with state and ceremoniesl Was 1t not the hered- itary privilege of the Duchesse de San Telmo to hold the Queens fan.
 Well. perhaps the affair might work satisfactorily; the arrangements and pourparlers would afford her an i'm. merse amount of interest, excitement and gfatification.
 If Hester was deeply in love with Paul. and Paul would only consent to be lured Into matrimony. and to steady down, all would be well. "Yes. un- doubtedly t,is these warm interests in other peoples lives which keep one young" said the old lady, as she ex- tended her hand and rang the bell for tea.
 .
 The eable-aRreeable" little note had the effect of bringing. Mrs. Britten over from Pau the very next day. As she drove up to the hotel she passed Hester on foot walking with an- other girl. and could scarcely believe the evidence of her own eSes. What a farvellous change in a little more than a fortnight! That dainty figure, with slken frills. hfgh-heeled shoes. and an obviously French frock!
 r"weli so I've come back. you see" she began the moment Hester entered the hail. "on revient touiours. etc.''