The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-13

E0nftuuf0. s,nca Hester had come to Biarritz she had read many books. chiefiy novels and poetry; modern and aosorp- ing love-tales were responsible TOT tne planning and building of several me castles in the air--Hester the silent, tne dowdy. the demure. naa ,.e sSeus.,s ha's begun to think of lover! Sne nau caught no breath of his coming, put her heart was awaiting him. rms girl with the frost-bitten, stunted ilte now walked Into her own room' tns smaller of the two apartments. U was exQuisltely neat not to say oa maidtsh, in appearances; no smart frocks, hats or silver toilet things were here to be seen only vases chammeo with flowers. piles of new books ana magazines, and on the chimmey-piece the framed photographs of two peopie "a handsome. distingulshed-looking woman in an old-fashioned gown. and stern. elderly man. with clever tace and beetling brows.
 Hester started at herself in the looking glass before she removed her ugly black hat, trimmed with Jumps of black satin ribbon. If some people endeavour to make the best of their appearance, she seemed to have deter to make the worst of hers. An expen- slve but ill-cut coat gave her the effect of being high-shouldered, she wore no touch of white at her neck,
 
 and hid them-the best feature in her face. Her hair, deep mahogany, was drawn away tightly behind her cara and screwed into one thick knob at the nape of her neck, precisely as if it were ashamed to be seen. And there was truth in this suspicion, for Hester was extremely sensitive with regard to its colour. 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 particular colour the most expensive shade of all!
 When she had removed her topue- and jacket she still stood staring at herself for a moment. and then ex- claimed aloud. ''Oh. why am l 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 goUd-looking. A little colour, a lady's-maid, some smart froclxs, and assurance. would soon transform her into beauty. She was a tall. slight girl with regular features and expressive eyes. As we know, the eyes were sunken, the face was thin. and the compexion pallid- he result of years spent in the un- wholesome atmosphere of a sickroom; but if Hester had led the normal life pf a girl of her age, her face would
 
 wan and colourless. merely the face to t'pRss in a crowd" Oh, these nar- row escapes!-these pitiless little sbuts."
 After her astonishing outbreak Hes- ter seemed to pull herself together, bnd was presently walking downstairs , meek, insignificant person, the picture of demure. selfpossessed pro- briety.
 Out side the salle-a manager Mrs. Brttten awaited her companion with angry impatience; the girl had made but one stipulation, and it was this: that she need never enter that im- mense dining-room and walk It's for nddable length alone No; sooner khan that she would starve! To-day she was a moment late, and received what was not very far from A scoldinr sre she followed Mrs. Britten into the Fast apartment. It was a magnificent boom, capable of holding i've hundred people--beautifully decorated, hung with great oh; ndeliers, and at present srowsd with guests. Some sat at the centre tables, others at smaller snes for families or for couples; all were gay with flowers. and the light 5louses and dresses of the ladies' the the chatter of forks and knives, the babble of. many voices, combined TO furnish most animated scene.
 -Ars. Britten's place was towards the
 
 and her own special friend Mrs Cox "a rowing matron, into whose ears she poured all her schemes. her triumphs and her sorrows). She also carried pn an animated conversation with the people who sat opposite. but rarely poke to Hester-except to ask her to bass the menu or the salt--and as q Hester other neighbour was stone aeaf old gentleman, she was rarely Salled upon to open her lip. Once a hdy, her vis-a-vis. haG addressed ger ind said, Tt Is a fine day." and she had stammered, "Yes:" Have you been bp to the golf -links?" and she had ealtered, ''No;" and there all conver- Dation across the table had ended for lverl Hester was too timid to fol- pw up the opening. and had thereby Iost an opportunity, and perhaps a rtend.
 Mrs. Tudor was one of the annual habitues of Biarritz and the Bellevue.