Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25

shall never think the same of you again
never
MATS je suis faite CONNIE ca voila-'
declared Marietta. with a shrug. land I,
is the custom of the country"
1T is shocking. barbarous cruel.'' re-
piled Hester. in voice throbbing with
Indignation.
Every one goes. all the same" pro.
tested Marietta-'.the court. the prin.
cesses. ah-' she added. with a sagacious
shake of her head. and as IL speaking to
her own thoughts. no. no. no, no. One
sees that it would never do for made
CHAPTER XIII.
Cordova.
At dawn Mrs. Tudor and her companion
left Madrid for Cordova the city of the
Moors. 1t was long journey south: by
gradual degrees the barren plains of La
Mancha gave place to the fertile province
of Andalusia. Hester Gan eager and i'm
questionable traveler) sat motionless In
a window. gazing on the scenery. while
the older woman-who knew the route by
heart-read or. though she denied the
fact. slept.
Here. indeed. was Spain. Hester said
to herself Spain-his country. Natural
Nv. everything was his: Madrid, the pal
ace the pictures. the armory! Yes. and
all these sweeping stretches OF green
crops. olive groves and fields of beans
to boot.)
How eastern it seemed too: the dusty
cactus hedges which lined the railway.
the f1ocks of lean. dark sheep. so unlike
English sheep, the goats also in droves.
the shepherd, with his sombrero and
straw shoes.
Every mile brought some novelty to her
observant and delighted eyes-old towns.
castles bridges and aqueducts-the
farther they journeyed south the more In
teresting the scene became.
AT the infrequent stations were groups
of merry, dark girls. with red flowers IN
their hair: stout, leisurely Moors. wrin.
killed. beggars. guardias civiles. and, aias
lean and furnishing dogs. among whom
she distributed her lunch. Sometimes for
many miles no human figure was to be
seen. save a woman holding flag at a
crossing, or a child herding goats To-
ward shutdown they passed into the dell
cious land of orange groves and Whlte
acacias The air was laden with thelr
fragrance. and Mrs. Tudor began to rouse
herself from her siesta, peevishly protest
ing that "she had been awake all the
time. and merely resting her eyes.
Hester as they rolled out of station;
their faces seem to be Of an eastern
type"
"And pray, why not?" said her COM
panion. do you not know that the
Moors were eight hundred years In
now she grumbled; they understood
good roads. and irrigation and prosperity.
After all. it is country for an orlental
nation. and there is a good deal or the
east in it still. l dare say there are few
of the old families. especially round Cor,
dova without touch Of Moorish blood.
"Really!" exclaimed Hester. How
much should like to see them!'
mo doubt your wish will be gratifed,
said Mrs. Tudor Heavens! what jour
ney this is, Every time l make it de-
clare that it is positively for the last
time"
ITO me 1t has all been delightful" said
Hester. with enthusiasm. Il could spen0
days gazing out of the carriage Winaow-
it is all SO strange and so interesting
Oh do look at that little boy driving MS
pigs with a great bough of orange dos
son.
Eyes. orange blossom is cheap here.
and so Is sentiment! You are like child
and / am blase old woman. Well,
thank goodness. we have only two more
stations to Cordova." and once more the
old lady closed her eyes and INDUCED IN
forty winks.
tic memories; gleanings from history and
guide books filled her Imagination with
brilliant pictures of Cordova, the 'capltal
of the Moors, the mecca OF the west,
the home OF Romans and vfsigoths; Hei
reyerie was disturbed by flashing lights
and the expectation OF mosques ana pal
aces was brought down to the reality OF
a commonplace railway station, with por-
tiers. barrows and trucks. Here mrs
Tudor was received by dignified servant
in livery. who assisted her stiff limbs to
the platform. and then preceded her to
where a fine eQuipage was IN waiting.
After short delay the travellers were be-
ing rapidly carried over rough. ill-kept
Io ill.nQypf
streets of a brilliantly illuminated town;
for although it's thoroughfares were OF
the middle ages, COrdova boosted electric
light 1t was nearly o'clock, the shops
and cafes were open-all the Worid seeiheo
to be out of doors.
After Gathering over many cobblestones
the carriage drew up outside gateway
in the. outer wall of an imposing gray
mansion The ladies and their maids de-
scended and walked along a stone pas
Sage into great open courtyard. or
patio with a fountain, surrounded by
palms orange trees and pillars clustered
with climbing roses and passion MOVERS
above were tiers of galleries, reached by
a marble staircase. and at the foot OF
this. a dumpy little lady In a mantllla
threw herself upon Mrs. TUDOR ana KISSED
her rapturously.
"At last. Laura" she exclaimed. kiss
"At last!' (Kiss) 1T does me good TO
see your
AS soon as Laura had extrlcated her
self from the embrace of her demonstra-
tive kinswoman, she said:
"And here is my young friend. MISS
Forde Hester, this is Dona Luisa Mo-
lima
You are very welcome" said Dona
IIuisa. taking. her hand. Il do like to
see my own country people, otherwise l
become too Spanish" and she smiled.
She had a delightful smile and pretty
eyes 49,
Mrs. Tudor. What. do l see FREDDY
she exclaimed. as figure rapidly de-
scended the stairs.
Eyes. Is not this nice surprise Tor
yo,I?" said his aunt HE had a touch
of Rock fever and has come to me for a
change"
Capt Tudor. who appeared to be in ex-
cellent health, and looked remarkably
spruce we'll groomed and ready for sup
per- greeted the new arrivals with en-
pressement.
You are half an hour late" resumed
Dona Luisa. 1--WE have waited-such a
proof of affection! Freddy and l are SO
hungry-we could eat you.'
You'd find me rather tough" said the
old lady, laborously beginning to ascend
the stairs YOU'D better have slice off
Miss Forde. who is young and tender;
but she is starving. too. She threw all
her lunch out of the window to some
dogs."
Come. I'll show you your rooms, said
Dona Luisa. preceding Hester with the
activity of a girl of twenty. Laura, you
are in your old quarters. Miss Forde,
YOU are in here" and. opening tall door
off a corridor on the first gallery. she
ushered her guest into large and lofty