Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-22
CHAPTER XXXVII.
The Great LOSS. j

The morning after the ball Paul de
Sarazn. who had slept till midday,
awoke-not with the traditional head
ache. but a sense of oppression and a
curious ache in his mind. What had hap
pened? He stretched himself lazily and
summoned memory. When memory re-
turned. bringing with her her cousin dis
quietude. he recalled the last evening
his wild abandonment to the pleasures
of the moment the music. the waltzing,
the spell of Dolores; he remembered the
wistful. furtive glances Of the gray
CARRIED Puritan. and the strangely white
face which she had worn at supper. Oh,
yes. undoubtedly he had neglected Hes
ter. but he had been swept from her side
by his uncomfortable rage for dancing
it was a passion, a national weakness.
and nothing else! The perfect floor, the
perfect partner-with her sympathetic
Spanish blood-had borne HIM along on a
current of mad delirium. He had had
his play. and now he must pay like a
gentleman. He would go down to the
Bellevue Immediately after dejeuner, Of
fer the ladies a motor ride and make
Hester the amende honorable. AS for
her cold delicate reserve, he would soon
transform and change it!
WHeI lie cutcIcu TIC courtyard Oh the
Bellevue the notable Marquis de Sarazin
was eagerly accosted and waylaid by
numerous acquantances-all Drumming
over with the ball. the costumes. the
piGuant little anecdotes and scathing
sketches incidental to such an occasion
At last he arrived in the hall of the
hotel and delivered his card to the heavy
browed concierge, man who spoke six
languages
Pour Madame Tudor?" removing his
"maiS ellie martha
Londres."
For a moment Paul stood transfixed:
then. with his air Of usual serenity he
inquired:
Mails mademoiselle auss celia va sans
dire! / have something for you, Mon
sieur lie Marquis" he added busting
over to his bureau; Il was just going to
send it up to the villa-here it is
AS he spoke he emerged with note
and small white parcel in his hand.
Paul knew instinctively what it con-
tanned: he was about to receive the ring.
Oh. he had certainly played the fool last
night: he had been seen, tried and con-
demned to Punishment.
Yes. it's all right.'' he said, pocketing
both with his unparalleled sangfroid.
and. throwing nod to the concierge, he
strolled down to the club where. in q re-
tired corner by the window, he broke the
seal of Mrs. Tudor's missve. 1t was an
everyday matter to see Paul de SaraZin
reading little notes in feminine hand
but surely some unpleasant and impor-
tant news was conveyed this occa-
sion. for his fine black browS were knit
ted together as he perused the contents
of the dainty sheet. Let us see what was
written in the little lilac note:
Dear Marquis de Sarazin: 7 am re-
turning the ring which you conf1ded to
my care. and know that you will not
be surprised to hear> that in consequence
OF your studied neglect OF the lady for
whom you designed it. she will never be
induced to accept either the ring or you.
Il remain, faithfully yours.
LAURA TUDOR
This is a nice business.' he muttered
to himself. when ne had read over the
note no less than three times. La Rubia
had warned him soemnly that she was
Jealous: ''All or none" was her motto:
and few dances with Dolores had cost
hin a girl who was fond Of him and ten
thousand year. Mrs. Tudor was evil
IDENTIFY furious; she could also be i'm
placable. The Marquis de Sarazin stood
staring out of the window, with his
hands in his pockets, in a rage with him.
self and fate. He was sensible that ne
he was receiving the punishment he rich
ly deserved: he had certainly been
piuued by the girls reluctance to seize
the brilliant position offered to her, not
merely as the wife of him, Paul de Sara
Yin. but alliance with one of the first
houses in Spain. Then there was Mrs.
Tudor's illness. which was unfortunate
for many reasons. Next came Dolores,
with her witcheries, her magnetic person
atty and her Overbearing determination
to bend every one to her will. 1t was hex