Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
CHAPTER v.
A Little Bird Tells Tales.

COTTluOr. nuNlDly conscious OF ner DAY
tered appearance. she encountered a
number of people whom the weather had
compelled to remain indoors-pretty girls
walking arm in arm discussing a dance,
chattering children. disappointed golfers
talking golf or politics., friendly matrons
exchanging condolences; but not one OF
these cast her a nod and but few a
glance. Miss Forde had no acquaint-
anceS-no. not even an hotel acquaint-
ance-for she was painfully shy, and un-
luckily her shyness was interpreted for
stiffness $50 few people are shy nova
days). and as she was silent and APP
parently fond of her own company, the
little world of the Bellevue abandoned
her to its undiluted enjoyment. Besides,
she was not girl who did anything:
she could not make up foursome at
golf or take a hand at bridge. and
seemed to possess but one accomplish
ment-the faculty of being able to hold
her tongue!
Society is ever ready to smile on those
who endeavor to win it's good graces;
but if folk withdraw within themselves,
who can blame society if it streams gaily
by without glance salutaton?
Hester was relieved to gain the refuge
of the lift for every one in the hotel
seemed to be about today, and was soon
waited up to the first floor. where she
and Mrs. Britten occupied adjoining
apartments. Undoubtedly Mrs. Britten
looked like first-floor lady: but, judging
by her appearance and air of shrinking
humility, judging by her hat. her gloves
and her ill-titting black tailor-made cos
tune. Miss Forbes proper place was a
small north room on the fifth etage. She
opened the door of her chaperon's apart
ment. put down her load and gazed about
her. The occupant had evidently left it
in haste. A blouse lay on chair, two
hats were on the bed. feather boa and
pair of slippers-these apparently
kicked off-were in the middle of the
room. The dressing table was tangle
of brushes. powder puffs, scent bottles,
wells and hairpins.
Hester stopped to pick up the boa. she
the blouse when. struck by a sudden
thought, she threw it down and said.
aloud. as if addressing some one-and
her tone was distinctly defiant-"After
all. why should To- No answer. mental
or verbal. was Forthcoming. Two months
at Biarritz were beginning to tell; ozone
was producing its vitalizng effect. Mrs.
Brittens meek provincial companion
had sounded fo herself only the first
blast on the trumpet of revolt! 1t was
perfectly true that she found her present
surroundings a delightful change from
her former narrow existence. The sea
itself was a novelty, an ever-delshtful.
endless interest She liked the black-eyed
and the fact of residing in a foreign coun-
try. of witnessing the, to her. amazing
life in a great cosmopolitan hote1-all this
had more than filled her shallow cup of
enjoyment.
Up to the present Hester had been a si-
lent spectator of other peoples lives. of
SeaScapeS and landscapes and scenes;
she had amasSed a store of mental pho
tographs. sufficient to brighten and speed
many a dull and solitary hour. Now Miss
Forde was beginning to wish to be some
thing more than a useful companion, a
mere locker on. and was consumed with
burning desire to take hand in the
great game, Yet she was so pitiably
shy so humble minded. that she strove
hard to crush and stifle this audaciOus
craving: assuring herself that she. Hester
Forde. who had lived nearly all her days
in ShaleSmoor village. had already seen
and done ten times more than many of
her contemporaries. Why was she not
contented? She could not answer this
question. A new life. a penetrating sense
of daring and liberty had crept into her
heart and refused to be either smothered
or slenced. This bold inmate said,
Hester. you are your own mistress. an
swerable to no one. Snatch some pleas
ure out of your youth before 1t passes
away; dare to enjoy Yourself as you see
others do. Open the door of your per-
sonality and allow the unhappy craven
creature to be seen and known
Since Hester had come to Biarritz she
ndU READ many DOCKS, cUltHS IoNtlS eAAA
poetry: modern and absorbing love tales
were responsible for the planning and
building of several fine castles in the air
Hester the silent, the dowdy, the demure.
had actually begun to think of lover!
She had caught no breath of his coming
but her heart was awaiting him. This
girl with the frost-bitten. stunted life.
now walked into her own room. the
smaller of the two apartments. 1t was
eXuuiSitely neat. not to say Old-mdIdlSh
in N M
silver toilet things were here TO be seen
only vases crammed with flowers. piles
of new books and magazines, and on the
chimney piece the framed photographs OF
two people-a handsome. distinguished
looking woman in an old-fashioned gown
and stern. elderly man. with clever
face and beetling broWs.
Hester stared at herself in the looking
glass before she removed her ugly black
hat trimmed with Jumps of black satin
ribbon. If some people endeavor to make
the best of their appearance, she seemed
to have determined to make the worst or
hers. An expensive but ill-cut coat gave
her the effect of being high shouldered
she wore no touch of white at her neck
her hat came down far over her eyes and
hid them-the best feature in her face.
Her hair, deep mahogany, was drawn
aWav tightly behind her ears and screwed
into one thick knob at the nape of her
neck. recisely as if it were ashamed to
be seen. And there was truth in this sus-
picion for Hester was extremely SenSi-
tive with regard to it's color Shalesmoor
was so far out of the world. so much be-
hind the times that the unfortunate girl
had never heard that red hair was the
height of the fashion. and her own par
ticular color the most expensive shade or
all,
When she had removed her toque and
Jacket she still stood staring at herself
for moment. and then exclaimed, aloud.
oh why am I so ugly?' and she actually
shook her fist at her reflection in the
mirror. But Miss FOrde was not really
ugly indeed, for an heiress she was good
looking 4 little color, ladyS maid,
some smart frocks and assurance would
soon transform her into beauty. She
was a tall, slight girl, with regular fea-
lures and expressive eyes AS We know,
the eyes We're sunken. the face was thin
and the complexion pallid-the result OF
years spent in the unwhOleSome atmoS-
phere of sick room, but if Hester had
led the normal life of a girl of her age
her face would have been beautiful; at
present it was wan and colorless. merely
the face to pass in a crowd" oh, these
narrow escapes-these pitiless little
butts.
After her astonishing outbreak Hester
seemed to pull herself together, and was
presently walking downstairs. meek.
insignificant person, the picture OF de-
mure Self-pOSSeSSed propriety.
Outside the salle-a-mangcr Mrs. Brit
ten awaited her companion with angry
impatience; the girl had made but one
stipulation. and il was this-that she need
never enter that immense dining room
and walk its formidable length alone. No.
sooner than that she would starVe! To-