Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05

consult the soothsayer-we've brought
some money-three gold pieces-is that
enough?-but in the name OF our lady
Deg of thee not to make so much noise. .
Ilmldly she held up silken purse to-
ward the astonished wizard. Three, gold
pieces! why! twas a fortune the like OF
which the worthy Abra had never .beheld
in one sum in his life.
To ask him not to make noise was &c
demand the impossible. With one hand
he pushed his henchman vigorously TO one
side. The latter dropped his cymbals
! which ratified off the platform with ar
ear-splitting clash.
| All the while Abra. in stentorian tones
and holding back the folds of the tent
| was shouting at the top of his voice:
This way. ladies! for the great sooth-
saver Mirrab, the sale of ove-philtres
and charms and of the. true elixir OF
| life"
The die is cast. Margaret mine!' said
Ursula, trying vainly to steady her voice
| which was trembling, and her knees
which We're shaking beneath her. Arr
coming ?-Oh! IAI-feel a little nervous,
she admitted, in spite of herself, "ant
you oh! how your hand trembles-"
She was frankly terrified now The
| noise was SO awful. and though she die
not dare look to the right or left of hel
| she was conscious that she and her frient
! were no longer alone on the open place
! She could hear the murmur of voices. the
sound of idle folk gathering in every di
rection.
Her instinct suggested immediate flight
and the abandonment of this made ad
! venture while there was yet time, but
| her pride urged her to proceed. She grip
ped Margarets wrist with a resolute
hand, and made a quick rush for the
| steps.
Alas. she was just two seconds too late
! The next instant she felt her waist selZet
| firmly from behind, while a merry voice
| shouted:
| "Cornered at LAST
Wrenching herself free, with n sudder
| twist of her firm young shoulders, Ur.
sula contrived to liberate herself momen
tarily. She was dimly conscious of hav
| ing caught sight of Margaret in the like
plight as herself.
| Not so fast. fair one," whispered ar
| insinuating voice close to her; "a word il
| thy pretty ear
! Oh, the shame of this vulgar adventure
Pursued like some kitchen. wench out or
| a spree, by a gallant, eager for an idle
| kiss.
She felt her cheeks Jingle underneath
her mask; saw and guessed the shor
laugh, the shrug of the shoulders of the
| idlers round, far too accustomed to these
| spectacles to take more than passing
note of it.
Once more the firm grip had seized he1
waist This time she felt herself power
| less to struggle.
Nay! in the name of heaven, SIR she
entreated tearfully, Il pray you let me
60"
Not until have caught a nearer sigh
| of those bright eyes, that shine at me
| through that cruel mask
The soft gutteral tones revealed the
| identity of the speaker as Ursula. She
knew Don Miguel WE'LL knew his wild
| impudent spirit, his love of idle fiirtations
which had already made him the terror o.
| the prim queens court. She knew tina
| she would not be allowed to escape be
fore this ridiculous episode had beer
brought to it's usual conclusion.
| Oh! how she longed for the Duchess o.
| Lincoln's severe guardianship at this mo
ment. How bitterly she repented the
folly which had prompted her to dras
Margaret along into this wild adventure
| Poor Margaret she, too. was doing hel
best to evade the unwelcome attentions
of her gallant, and that magicianl anC
those louis! all grinning like so many
apes at the spectacle.
1t was maddening!
And she was helpless,
The next moment the young Spaniard':
| indiscreet hands had snatched the pro
| tecting mask from her face, and the
daintiest and most perfect picture nature
had ever fashioned stood revealed, blush
ing with shame and vexation, before his
delighted, slightly sarcastic gaze.
''Ah! luck favors me, indeed!' he muir
INJURED with avowed admiration, ''tht
newly risen star, nay! the brightest sur
| in the armament of beauty! The Lady
Ursula Glynde!'