Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

II / i
k~ truth, Dolores is
married: she married a rich old man: ne
died and did not leave her great fortune
That was a surprse-a sorrow; still she
has enough. She is in Tangiers at pres
ent may she never return.
Then she has been here. ] suppose!
Yes. often as a girl l wonder II half
the summer houses have not been conse-
Grated to her memory BY and she
laughed.
BY whom asked Hester. and she
caught her breath painfully.
oh some one. Ay. but he was only
a boy and she jeered at him. They have
long long forgotten those days
AS Casilda talked she led the way
down steps into the grounds. maze OF
dim walks. marble-lined ponds. grottoes.
rockeries and forest trees from the
Rrazils embarked in ferns or Jungies or
brilliant geraniums.
.This''-pointing to a fiat grass glade,
surrounded by magnolias and myrtles-
is the stage. AT one time la Duquesa had
a mania for acting and Dolores was ner
prima donna. Oh, she can act! Ell Come
de las Candaies. funny OLD mummy
was also very experienced ABOUT the
atricals He came here. and it was In
that grotto-which looks as If 1t would
be a nice place for a murder!-that ne
proposed for Dolores-or rather. tnat sne
caught him. You see. he was OF the best
family and rich
$50 he is dead and she is a widow
There was faint note of Interrogation
in Hester's remark.
Yes and a thousand times more dan
gerous than ever She always was so
clever. and took out the sardine with
some one else's hand-that is our saying.
Now she boasts that she can make any
man adore her. and carry on girIs lover
-yes-under her very eyes
May I ask where are you two WANDER
ing?" inquired Paul, suddenly emerging
from a side pathway. Il have been
searching for you. We are all going to
sit on the terrace. 1t is delightful there
all orange blossoms. moonshine and right
ingales. Send for your guitar, Caslida.
and put them to shame"
VERY WE'LL" she said. I'VE shall have
a concert-a cafe chantant. ! will bring
yours. too''-and she ran on.
THE terrace is this way said Paul.
walking beside Hester What do you
think Of Las Veraldes:
1T might be place seen in some won
derful glowing dream" she replied; Il
imagine it is like the Garden of the Hes
perides."
"Only here we have no dragon!
wish he paused. looked at her for an
instant and hastily turned away. As not
this a lovely view?' and he pointed to a
vista between two great trees.
Eyes. 1t was most beautiful. But what
were YOU going to wish?'' she asked.
gayly. For the dragon?'
.'Mademoiselle / will tell you another
time" he answered with faint, inscru-
table smile. ''See. they have all arranged
themselves on the terrace; Is IL not PIC
turesuue?"
The terrace was Of white marble. with
a long, low balustrade. 1t overlooked the
silent garden and the distant plains now
bathed in moonlight Behind It was as, q
Eainvillae. heliotrope. yellow roses and
passion flowers, which made becoming
background to the company already as
sembled in rustic chairs around coffee
table. Everywhere there were roses
showers OF roses; but dominating above
all was the fragrant orange blossom-the
flower Of the south.
quite a Vatican group. ! declare, :
said Paul as he and his companion Joined
them.
Yes. it only wants some one to pipe
and dance" added Mrs. Tudor.
Il can't promise about dancing. but
Casilda will sing SO will Aunt Theresa. :
announced Paul, with an air of bland
confidence.
And so will Paul" she said. tapping
him on the arm with her fan.
well. as for that. we will see. 1t is
too soon vet. and Miss Forde has had no
coffee He brought her a chair and
seated himself beside her.
Every one but Hester was smoking Gig
arettes and cigarettes appeared to pro-
mote conversation. which ranged over
many topics, and presently was swelled
by visitor-Senor Valdollana, who, in
Spanish fashion. had driven out in the
cool Of the evening to wait upon la Con-
desa and take leave Of his friend ell
Marques.
The subjects touched upon were vari-
GUS The Condo spoke English and
talt Al Az
those who expressed as much with his
hands as another man with his tongue
as much with his eyes as the speech OF
any two people. Politics. foreign affairs.
local news. the court had each been
dealt with. and at last the subject settled
down on bull fights. and into this topic
every one rushed headlong. ladies and all.
In Spain. / suppose, one must not say
much" said Hester. as discussion RACED
but think a great deal, and l am sur
prised at you.'
mo doubt. senorita." assented the
Condo valdollana: land we are surprised
at your sport-fox-hunting-o wretched
little creature like red dog. and all the
countryside after it-men. women and
children. Oh. l have been in England.
! know what ] am talking about"
Il cannot argue-at least. only in a
lame. impo;ent fashion" she answered.
II know that it is cruel. but the fox has
had his own hunting. and good hunting,
in his day. and he very often escapes.
Now I ask you. does one of your horses
or bulls once doomed. ever escape?" and
she faced him with eyes eloquent OF
tragedy.
The senorita is earnest. But she has
never seen Los Toros. Many people are
indignant like her: then they go-yes.
EnRlishmen-they go again and again;
they love it,
Well broke in Dona Luisa. Il can
answer for one who does not love It, /
have been to the bull lights when my
husband was alive; he wished me TO &C
company him. but | always sat with my
back to the ring. No''--with a little ges-
ture Of her hand-"I would never look!'
Il went once i-dded Mrs. Tudor. "and
I have a horses scream In my ears still. =
Hester turned white and shivered. As
she met Paurs glance he said. playfully:
NO. no. Miss Forde. you must not
shudder at me. ! never go to bull fights.
although my fathers bulls are famous
we breed them here. you know OF
drid. Seville and San Sebastian. but not
for wears"
"valga me Dios. You astonish me. Pablo
mio. exclaimed the Condo Valdollana.
why so?''
Because il is all so one-sided: we
know what will happen. 1t Is not sport.
The horses have no chance
Nor the bulls either, muttered Dona
Luisa.
"Ah. Dona Luisa English to the back
boner' exclaimed the Condo de Trubia.
with a smile.
The bulls have good life on the
sierras for five years-we never sell them
younger. and a bull has to be eaten some
day"
what price does he fetch?'' inquired
Mrs. Tudor. the ever practical.
rOpa thousan nd more. IL iS "A