The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-06
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 ssFzut nerhaps Juan Dominguez never draampt that I should come here- l never supposed 1t either"
 ..Ah, possibly not;sand if you were to be prevented from wearing the neck lace in half the countries or Europe' 1t would not be much good to you' would it7"
 Mrs. Tudor surveyed 1t critically; never in her long life had she seen such truly royal jewel, and on hes- terss white neck (which the pearls matched so admirably) the great deep emeralds shone. and the flashing dia- monds sparkled, as if things or me conscious of their own importance. ssWell, my dear, we cannot waste our time gaping at your necklace, e%- claimed the old lady; we must pc OH at once. or we shall be late.'
 AS they drove to the Castejar Palace Mrs Tudor remarked; ssThIs will not be large parry only the Marquis and Marguesa de Castelar,, their son. Don Fernando. and his wife: possibly the old Duquesa de Balenga and one or two more. None of them speak a word of English, so you must air your French.
 aOh. but I really dare not" said Hester. "It is altogether too atro- cious."
 .AlI you want is practice-practice' said Mrs. Tudor; eff you don't talk, I'm afraid yon will find 1t stupid. How ever, I can promise you good dinner. and you will .see an historical spanish family and S Spanish interior, such A quaint rambling old place-mi1es Of rooms. and the stables under the din- ing room. These Castejars are of the bluest of blue blood, and lead-the women, anyway--such terribly dull. formal lives, for CasteJar must i've up to a famous past.
 sThat, at least, is one disagreeabie that is spared me-" said Hester. am. in a way. my own ancestor. I Know nothing Of my forebears or their past. v
 'sYour forebears were gentlefolk. said Mrs. Tudor-'your mother a Boutwell, of Burnley! Oh, you, cannot shuffle off your ancestors so easily. and pretend to be a nobody. and anyway. If you did, no one would believe you. "
 Especially when I am wearing my splendid necklace" rejoined Hester. with a laugh.
 There was no courtyard to the Pal ace de Castejar. merely an immense studded door opening to the street, and above 1t an Imposing coat of arms. Within a circular hall the ladies were received by several men-servants. usi1ered up a winding stone staircase. through an impressive suite of gloomy apartments, hung with ancient and ugly blue and green tapestry. and lined with strange old cabinets, bu-- reaux, and high carved chairs. At last the family was discovered, in a modern chamber at the end of the sufte-the Castejars, their son, Don Fernando, and his wife. all dark, stately, and Spanish, also several other guests. including the Duquesa de Ba- lenga, a stout old lady with wonder ful black eyes. said in-her day to have been the most beautiful woman in Spain.
 Mrs. Tudor. the latest arrival. was well-known to most of the party; this was by no means her first visit to Madrid Presently she ente ed a little upright figure, followed by her com panion, tall, slight girl. in black with a wonderful skin--it looked lik, white marble--and on her neck, Dios what a magnificent necklace! Tn company stared-they were so amaze Tthat they almost forgot their fine for mai manners, and felt, at least tn 6 Gas tejars and the Duquesa, absolutely stu peied, for this English senorita, un conscious of her dignity, was actual! wearing that famous Spanish heirloom "The Luck of the Sarazins!"
 Hester could not fail to notice tn immediate attention her ornament wa accorded When people addressed her their gaze seemed riveted, not on he face, but on her necklace. We'll. sh honestly preferred that her necklac should receive more admiration thai herself.
 As dinner was announced, the com pany formed a solemn procession through the ante-rooms, and proceede below stairs. again passing through long suite. The meal was served | a room hung with full-length DOT traits of the Castejars' ancestors, whic included two notable Velasquez.
 The table was decorated with flow CTS and some wonderful ancient gol candlesticks, and the dinner was mos recherche; the only dish that scene at all peculiar was one of "caracoles pr edible snails (served with a kin of salad) they were something lik sllrimps, and greatly appreciated by tn Spanish people. as well as by MT Tudor.
 By degrees Hester ventured int French, and talked little to he supporters on either side, men wh were agreeable and fluent. and admire the English senorita, but their eye