Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04
CHAPTER TX.
chester Sees Life. F"


AS Miss Forde entered her companion
who was studying the effect of a new
touue in a hand glass. turned her head
and stared at her steadily. What a. dowdy
object she looked in her country-made
black gown-of excellent material, but
vilainous cut: the only touch of color
to enliven the toilet was a rather shriv-
eled pink camellia.
Pray how did you scrape acquaintance
with old mother Tudor was her sole
answer to the girls question.
Il picked up her ball of wool and she
spoke to me-
Dear me. how dramatic, and so she
picked you up" remarked Mrs. Britten.
still gravely contemplating back view
of her head. do you think the lady has
her ideas and has taken a fancy to you
for yourself. or for les beauX yeux de
vOtre cassette? Has any one been talk
ing, do you suppcse?" and she suddenly
put down the hand glass and confronted
her companion.
Hester remembered the little bird who
had flown into Spain and blushed wildly.
1t was terrible to have such tell-tale
and treacherous complexion!
"Ah. ha! l see they have" exclaimed
Mrs Britten. in tone of suppressed pas
sion. Now you have broken your prom
Use to mel!
w men crossing the cnannel ana 1eellnS
miserably ill-in fact, almost at the point
of death-HeSters CHEEKY and robust es-
cort had implored her favor, to keep
her heiress-shp a secret, otherwise it
will be SO unpleasant for you and me-
declared this bold Sapphra: you will be
beset by the most awful people. and
with a helpless gesture, who am to de-
fend you?'
Hester the seasick. the ignorant. the
provincial. meekly gave a promise. and
Mrs. Britten from that moment invested
herself in the lions robe. the peacock
feather. or whatever may indicate the
role of a superior condition.
II assure you that 1 have never opened
my lips about the money!-indeed. Mrs.
Tudor is actually paying for the tickets
and carriage pleaded the supposed cul-
prit.
II am glad she does not know" ex-
claimed Mrs Britten who was evidently
relieved by this intelligence. Il should
hate to be taken for the heiress' bear
leader (The ruder she had hithert o
been, the meeker and meeker her charge
had become-it paid to be insolent)
Il do not think there is much of the
bear about me-" said Hester. stifiy.
The manners only
You mean that L forbear?"
How witty. What a blaze! l declare
you'll extinguish the electric light"
Here there was knock at the door.
Madame Tudor is awaiting made
moiselle."
her paid companion: "And the boa?"
(The boa would be just the thin end of
the wedge. similar to this visit to the
theater. Hester's social tendencies called
for immediate suppression.)
mo. I'm really sorry 1 can't adorn
you" said Mrs. Britten. with a sheer;
its at the cleaners. Anyway. you can
not be too quietly dressed at the casino
60 considering all things. You should
he more consistent! Tell me, what would
your father have said?"
MY father was not subject to his
parentS-he ordered his life as he pleased
Now that he is dead 1 intend to do the
same with mine, and having made this
bold and staggering avowal. Miss Forde
went out and shut the door.
ers and chiffon, awaited her in the car
rage. and five minutes later they were
at the casino.
The casino was brilliantly illuminated;
crowds of we'll dressed visitors were
f1ocking in; the sount of delicious string
band was audible. After passing the
vestibule the two ladies entered the sale
de Jeu. en- route to the theater. Here were
tables dedicated to les petits chevaux,
and about these a crowd had gathered.
Hester noticed various familiar faces as
the horses SKINNED round and round and
very gradually came to standstill.
Money was raked in by the croupiers, or
paid out, and then began the usual cry:
"Messieurs. faites vos jeux!' Many
francs and solid five-franc pieces were
put down on the numbers here and there,
and Mrs. Tudor. pushing into an empty
seat. said:
I'VE are ten minutes too early. I am
going to play little-see." and she put
a franc on numbers 2, 6. 8. IF one of
those numbers turns up. double my
money If / put on a single number. as
I now do on :, / get five times my stake"
AS she spoke she leant across and de-
liberatey placed several francs and one
five-franc piece.
lie ieu est fat. messieurs. rien ne va
plus" and again the little horses careered
round and round.
Il declare l shall win on the fve-the
gray is first and he is stOpping!" cried
Testers chaperon. with juvenile eager
ness
"Numero cinq" bawled the croupier,
and directly afterward five five-franc
pieces were hastily showered toward Mrs.
Tudor.
How lucky" and she laughed she
said II shall not risk my winnings
they will pay for our amusement. NOW
you must put on a franc. Come. don
be so narrow minded. II you Win drop
1t in the poor box.
But 1 have nothing but a ten-franc
piece protested her companion.
Very well, put that on eight-lt Is my
lucky number"
Hester. feeling convinced that every
eve at the table was steadily fixed on her,
leant over and placed the bit OF gold on
eight. but her fingers were shaking and II
rolled away to three.
Leave it, leave it, urged Mrs. Tudor.
excitedly: lit may be the right number.
Again the horses whirled round and
as Hester's eyes followed them her heart
actually beat fast and gave violent
lurch when the croupier's sonorous and
cultural "Numero trois!' announced her
first success.
Ultimately her gains in the form of five
franc pieces were so considerable that she
was obliged to tie them up in her hand
kerchief. her purse being too small TO
contain her good fortune.
II declare we have done splendidly.
cried her chaperon. eXultingly. You have
brought me luck. Now let us go and
take our places for the play
The pretty little theater was full as the
two ladies ~assed to their seats in the
balcony and here again Hester recognized
many familiar faces, known to her by
sight in the hotel and on the PLACE. Such
Drettv toilets such smart hats and. above
all such Jewels. She had secret pas
sion for precious StoneS-no doubt the
legacy of some bySone ancestress-and
knew most of the ornaments in the shop
windows by heart: vet EC- cautious York
shire nature held her back; when she
would have entered to buy her heart
failed her.
The play was, of course. musical, and
exceedingly gay and animated. hester
could not make out half the plot. but her
good-natured chaperon explained it to
her. The actors acted and sang with a
spirit and gaiety that were infectious.
and Hester. shaking off prejudices along