The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-22

zOn tlCkIeQ raul lMKuGubtiys
 What will you give me If dance with The Press7" he demanded.
 she would not dance with you, for one thing" declared Hester; "and, for another. she Is too flimsy--she would tear!"
 Then, the Amazon? She is not him- sy. and there is not much to tear!" and be contemplated the nude and brawny figure with dancing eyes. Shall IT" and he laughed. Do you dare mel"
 No; If you do," she answered in the same vein, T will never speak to you again."
 Then. that settles It." As he led
 her back he said: You will spare me
 another later on, won't you, and go In
 to supper with me7" and he gave her hand an ardent pressure.
 "oh! yes. with pleasure" she mur- mured.
 With this prospect before her, He's ter was entirely happy. She brighten | ed, and began to enjoy herself amid thls gay and animated scene. She had | numerous partners. so had Paul; but she noticed with jealously that he waitzed twice with the Gitana. and | gradually the radiance died out of her | face.
 At twelve o'clock all the chairs were l arranged round close to the wall, and the room was cleared for the great |
 had not asked Hester for it; but then. as leader. he required a really first | rate partner; and he had it in Dona Dolores, who light as snowdrift, | gracefully as an antelope. swam round
 in his arms, to the strain of LES pana." Hester watched them with re- | luctant fascination. Once her eyes met
 those of the Spanish girl, and in them was look of indescribable exultation. as she made her a malicious little l signal.
 Many were the figures. for the two leaders were unusually efficient. To He's ter were tossed bells and flags, and | flowers and favours. She laughed in l spite of herself as six men on foot
 stools scrambled In a race their way
 across the room to where six girls were seated awaiting them--and of 1 these damsels for a partner the win | ner had the choice. Hester had been | prominent in several figures; the slim
 and graceful Puritan was admired and
 in request, and 1t was not pour les
 beaus year de so cassette.
 Mrs. Mac James. truly ludlcrous | object in the owl head-dress, sat hud-
 rled in a corner contemplating the
 scene. and suffered nothing to escape her vigilance. As 8 part of her outfit,
 she had q useful notebook in one hand. | and occasionally made entries; for in-
 stance. that Miss Talbot was wearing a Japanese kimono which belonged to | Mrs. Forbes (and yet she had heard that the Taibots and Forbes had quar- relled) There was the old Tudor wo-
 man. in her velvet and diamonds; she
 was sitting beside the Duchess of So-
 riano--well. much good might it do her! Paul de Sarazin had only danced
 once with the heiress. after all the l talk-there was a decided coolness | there; he was engrossed with the Qit-
 ana, a truly dazzling creature, and the good lady made note that he had
 waltsed with her three times--besldes l going up to the gallery!
 Among the other coti1lon figures,
 was the well-known one where a girl, seated between two cavaliers makes
 her selection; and a man has q similar opportunity with regard to two ladies' By an amazing concIdence, Paul found himself placed between Hester and his
 cousin Dolores. Of course. he would
 choose Hester, for after all, in his heart, she was his choice. despite her
 aloofness and reserve. Yes" said He's ter to herself, "ln the eyes of all Biar- ritz, he must decide between usi shall
 accept this as 6 sign; whatever he may do now will determins everything for me" (So declared that Inner voice --a strange, inexorable voice of judge mentl Her heart thumped wildly, her hands felt Ike ice; she dared not raise
 her eyes. As she sat with downcast
 gaze. she presented delightful pie
 ture of a pretty and demure Puritan, thrown into marked distinction by her picturesque and gorgeous compan- ions But If HeSter's gaze was on the floor, 1t was otherwise with Dolores; she suddenly raised her magnificent eyes and flashed a quick challenge to Paul. Yes. their glance met in a fel- lowship in which the English girl had no share
 well. why not7"' he said to himself; ''lt was only a waltz! Dolores, as a partner, was divinei'
 There was a brisk rustic beside He's ter, and when she looked up the two chairs were vacant. She sat alone in the middle of the great ballroom, whilst Paul and la Condesa gracefully fioated and circled round her. So he had made his choice. aad put her understand-all the world! Oh if she could only escape, and hide her humi- l llation, her sense of despair and utter defeat! but, luckily for appearance. a | partner now seized upon the pretty | Puritan, and she was whirled away l from the scene of her misfortune.
 Paul, the falthless. never approach ed her for another dance; evidently | she was forgotton, and he was in his | element. Indeed, the cotiIlon repre- 1 scented the end of all things, except | the excellent supper supplied by Ritz. | Not far from her, Hester noticed her | recreant lover and his fascinating com | panion eating, drinking. and making | merry together. They sat at q table | apart: as she glanced at the couple, | she caught Paul's rowing eye. He rais- l ed his glass to her and she bowed her l head in smileless acknowledgement
 It was, did he but know 1t, her fare we'll!