Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15

Win ner-
You shall pay if you like. she said.
"You shall be paying guest and / will
charge you for Marietta and everything:
yes. the electric light. water rate and
taxes. if you will only be reasonable and
remain.
But even this bait proved of no avail.
Hester had so far maintained brave
front, though her heart was sore and her
pride was shattered: but it had been
terrible struggle; the fox of Jealousy
whom she had petted and cherished was
now eating her very heartstrings. and
she yearned and craved for sohtude ana
ShaleSmoor to a degree that almost
amounted to a fever, an agoniZed long
ing that a month ago would have seemed
to her preposterous and Impossible les,
she would return to her village III the
Clays. and there figuratively, inter her
self and her sorrows.
Late on a certain afternoon in May, ac-
companied by Marietta. Miss Forde ar
rived. bag and baggage the former was
small. the latter on large scaie), at
Clayborough station, which is WITHIN nve
miles of Shalesmoor and superior to Till
ford. in that it boasts of several musty
and rickety f1ys.
Hester had duly announced her arrival
to Jane. and was formally received at
the iron gate by the sisters Juber, In
their best black silk gowns.
How are you?' she said. Springlng out
of the conveyance and Offering them
her hand in turn. Il hope you are both
well?''
Thank you. Miss Hester" said Jane.
Eve are, but. Lord above' I'd never
have known you, 1 thought you We're
some grand. new-fangled madam that
had lost her way And she surveyed
her mistress from her French hat down
to her French shoes.
Really! Well. at any rate, Jane, L
should know you anywhere.
What lot of big boxes-trunks:
wherever shall we put them ALL. sad
lar in airin lyaN
In the house, of course; l know there
lots of ROOM said Hester. This is my
maid. Marietta Erguy: l hope you can
find room for her too?"
"A maid" echoed Jane, darting a sharp
glance at the trim and completely self
possessed Frenchwoman.
''Will she be Staying?
ooh. yes. certainly she will.
But" urged Jane in a lowered key;
'sure you never had no call to maid
before Miss Hester; and this is for
eigner woman and may cut our threats
they do"' she concluded. with tragic
conviction.
Il have what You call a call to num-
Der of things now, Jane This is an edu-
Gated woman. and as. to cutting our
throats." she laughed-she was about to
add Marietta is not bloodthirsty, but she
was. Hester had not forgotten the bull
ring. well. Jane. we must not stand
here talking she exclaimed please
tell the men to carry in the luggage:
Come. Marietta, you have my jewel
case?" and she turned toward the house,
Jane remained stationary. glazing after
the pair with an air of high displeasure.
MY! what grand clothes does! What
airs. and what way of speaking and
giving her orders she said, turning to
her sister, whose attitude was negative,
and who with folded arms resembled
a Burmese idol, with prominent teeth and
red face.
"Ah. it's only Miss Hessie after ALL
said Liza. Just cooked up in new clothes.
We know the length of her foot
But was ever the like seen? She is
totally changed l never saw such do
ings," cried Jane "A maid and jewel
case! I won't have the maid here and
that's sure: we want no black-faced for
eign women in Shalesmoor.' and with
few words TO the lyman she turned and
Stalked indoors.
Hester had already entered the old
house. as silent the grave, assembled to
her own room, where she removed her
hat and gloves She. might be changed.
but the room was unaltered. There were
the two china sheep on the mantelplece,
the faded pink pincuShion on the dressing
table. the great crack In the ceihng-aii
precisely as she had seen them last. She
walked over TO the window and looked
out on the gravel court, the elmS. the
church tower and the fields; faint per-
fume of the bean flowers came into the
room-it was almost a year since her
father had died. Gazing out with abb
stracted eyes, she thought of the past,
the poignant, suffering past with an us
burning sweetness. She saw BiarritZ
CordOva Cambo float before her mental
vision: she had quilted her cage and
spread her wings and here she was home
again. under the old roof tree as If 1t
had all been a dream. Her reflections
were Interrupted by Marietta. who en-
tered. hot and excited.
"Oh mademoisele.' she began. in
high, expostulating key. the old woman
SAYS that there is no room for me, no
place for your dresses and no afternoon
teal and she clasped her hands and
looked at Hester as she added: And
what are We to do?"
"Oh, you need not mind Jane. who is
only odd and old-fashioned and cannot
understand anything out of the way.
'Mais QUIZ agreed Marietta. 'Je lie
crois bien. but cup of tea is not old
fashioned-a bed is not out of the way.
Il will see about a bed. Marietta, and
wardrobe too. For once we must man
age without tea-we will make it up at
dinner
There will be no dinner. mademoiselle.
only a thing they call d meat tea. Ciel!
a meat tea.'
well. for once we must eat it,! SAID
Hester. good-humoredly.
This is not. then. the house OF made
moiselle?' inquired Marietta
.Yes. but Jane has always been house
keeper and had the keys and given
Orders! that animal, Mademoiselle
knows hat | love her; that l follow
her far from my own country-tirst to
Spain and then to England, but if l am
to take orders from that old woman,
please''-and she shrugged her shoulders
and threw out her hands, GO
please only have little patience and
do not think of deserving me- pleaded
her mistress. who, in spite of her bull
ring prostitutes, was fond of Marietta.
Il will do my best for you
You will not get much out of those
people: they say it is as much their home
as yours and they won't have sing RS
Hester colored wildly, but made no
reply.
But 1 will stand by mademoisele."
declared Marietta, fervently. She is the
mistress. and to please YOU mademoi-
selle. but not ces autres. l will sleep on
the very floor or even in the garden
II hope it won't come to that re-
joined Miss Forde with a smile; but she
clearly saw trouble ahead.
After an eXaSperating delay room
and bed We're found for Marietta,
dresses were unpacked and no. water
was grudgingly supplied.
At o'clock a meat tea was served in
the dining room. and Jane entered and
took her place, formerly, at the table.
very compressed about the lips and red
about the cheek bones
Hester had previously wandered round
the garden. 1t was as gloomy as ever,
but kept in good order: the jungle of
weeds had been dispersed and the dark
walk by the black currants was
longer impossible with moss and nettles.
She still had a lingering dread of the
child he had believed hat a