Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-01

her head-the riders were now within a
few yards their figures and horses sharp
~ silhouetted against glorious red sun
set. On the near side, an erect old man.
with piercing eyes and a snow-white
beard was talking emphatically to his
companion. who rode an excited black
horse. covered with fecks Of foam-a
handsome young cavalier. with kingly
presence. 1t was-Paul de Sarazin! Yes.
certainly it was Monsieur lie Marquis de
Sarazin. for rs his eyes met Hester's they
first expressed incredulity. then pleasure
He smiled. swept off his hat and refined
in his frantic steed. The moment was
critical and the charm OF surprise is po-
tent: for moment HeSter's heart cried
."Joy,1oy.joy'' In the next. she met
his look with an Icy gravity made an al
most imperceptible movement of the head
and then deliberately turned away and
resumed her interest in the fishing folk
How dared he smile at her as II nothing
had happened?' she asked herself. an
grily-"he who had recently fought a
duel for another woman"
Paul de Sarazin was far too practiced
d man Of the world to appear in the least
dseoncerted: only he-and the lady
him. Inwardly he was furious; why had
LA Rubia'' all but cut him? What was
she doing in Cordova alone with an Eng
lishman who looked like a soldier? With
I'm his brain. he managed to maintain an
impressive front and to ride proudly on.
Even his cousin. the old Condo de Trubia
was not aware that the irresistible Paul
Cordova end Of the bridge they encoun-
tered the two old ladies-whO were also
old friends-but the reception Mrs. Tudor
accorded the marquis was undeniably
frosty. In - instant he had flung HIM
self out of the saddle, and with the reins
over his arm impetuously accosted her:
while his cousin entered into animated
conversation win Dona Luisa. He be-
gan abruptly. speaking in English:
ut is plain that I have had the great
misfortune to offend you in some way.
also Miss Forde-she turned her back on
me Just now. Is 1t permitted to inquire
the reason?" The words were courteous.
but the tone was peremptory.
Il am sure you can guess, reJoined
Mrs. Tudor. combatively.
do you mean the duel?' he asked.
after pause. And that-that old IDIOT
Dubois has talked? Well?' and he drew
q long breath.
Mrs. Tudor made no answer. but her
blue eyes cleaned with look of steely
hardness.
And after the duel?" he persisted, with
his aceus' omed audacity.
"Oh!"-speaking at last-"after the
duel with little shrug. "of course the
reward of valor! You went to Paris with
the lady
The young man burst into sudden
angry laugh.
Santa Maria! what lies!'' he exclaimed.
"At any rate you can see for yourself
that 1 am neither in Paris nor with
lady" and he glanced at his white-haired
companion.
Mrs. Tudor nodded. her grim face re-
laxed she was beginning to thaw-as she
invariably did where this scapegrace was
concerned. After ALL the Paris story was.
on the face of it. impossible; she was
prepared to listen to reason
'Oh. yes. I grant that you are at this
moment not in Paris!" she admitted. and
her expression denoted len'ency.
mo. blu. AZ Las VerNldes. on my
fathers business. FL Duque has been i'll.
so I was obliged to come here In his place
Trubia'
Hearing his name. the Condo turned
about and addressed himself to Mrs.
Tudor.
pear lady" he said. what a pleasure
to see you! What happy fortune has
sent you to Spain?''
Mrs. Tudor. who could not tell him
the truth and say. Il have fled to escape
"Oh I wanted to SEE my dear Dona Luisa
Il came for ten days"
"And have Paul with me. also on a
flying visit. He returns to B'arrtz the
day after tomorrow. l wonder 4 he has
an attraction there?' and he smiled al
the young man. who. with his back to
them. was talking to Dona Luisa and
qu'et'ng bis horse.
"You will both dine with u.s." Dona
Tulsa was saying "of course that is
'No. no a million thanks" said the
count. I'VE dine with the Vallados. and
after that we GO to see thu dancers from
Seville. at the Cafe d'Orientc.'
"Oh. the dancers!" she excl lined. II
had forgotten them: I adore the Anda-
lusian dancing-wa will 20 also: SO we
shall meet again. sencres."
The ladies' had entered the waiting car
l,.,Sr
horses
"And -nademoiselle?' said Paul sud
denlv addressing her chap7ron. end ~lanc-
ing significantly at the two distant figures
on the bridge.
"Maaencisella prefers to walk replied
Mrs. Tudor. siffiy she arranged her
feather. boa. "Mademo'selle is quite
hapDy."
Paul. with an abrupt change of manner.
suddenly leant over and uttered several
rspid sentences in low voice.
The ccachman turned his head and
waited. Dora Lu;sa turned her head and
wondered: then all a once the marquis
drew back. with the gesture of one shak-
driver and suffered the greet carriage to
pass on. As il Numbered up the slope it
was sccompanied by TIE two gentlemen,
and the tail Of the plunging black stall
lion was the last object To he seen as the
little cortaen swept round the corner.
Hester had Jagged and lO'tered on pur-
pose: something implacable and hard
within her. some strange. inexor' BILE
force-of which she was a little afraid
forbade her to geek. or to speak to.
Paul. 1t stranded the soft and passion
ate imrulse that cried cut for one word
or even glance. 1t was his foolish i'm
pulse that invariably made excuses for
md pardoned all Paurs shortcomings:
hut on the present occasion an inward
opponent had held ii in an iron grip and
qu"lled it's struggles.
II see you know tha' fellow. the Mar
auis de Sarazin.'' said Cant Tudor. Il
surrose you met him at Biarrtz?''
Yes. we knew him there she an
swered. with an effort.
"A tremendous lady-killer. by all ac-
counts"
To this she made no reply beyond u
quick COMPRESSION of the liDs.
Upon my word. I canno. understand
any Englishwoman fancying that sort Of
chap: can your
"Oh. I'-and she observation-disclosures
know
His father. the Duaue de San Telmo.
has big estate near this / suppose he
is looking after it?''
II suppose soonest likely he is
1T is managed by the old boy with the
white beard-the Condo de Trubis. the
Duaues cousin. who lost every blessed
silver in Cuba. like many another Span
lard"
"Oh. did he?" she murmured
Yes he lives on. on the property. Las
Veraldes: a beautiful place. There is
capital boar and deer shooting in the
mountains behind it. Next time I come I
must ask Aunt Luisa 10 get me a few
de Trubias. Well. I will sound Aunt
Laura about Glib this very eyening-my