The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-01

again be hers. AIasi sine, with gooC
 reason. mistrusts me--but I sweai here on this jewel. so sacred to us 1 that while T live no woman shall weai
 1t but Hester Forde. for l will marry | none else"
 As he concluded. he stopped ana
 reverently put his lips to the little ! cross of brilliants.
 T do not ask for an <S Swer now
 raising his head. "bgsei may perhaps | venture to write?s~
 Not more than once a weekF' pro- tested Mrs. Tudor.
 "Ahl cruel friend" turning to her
 :" and so you put my poor little letter | in the fire, Tn three months time ' l will return if I may. and"-he paus- l ed. glanced at Hester. and added with I low significance my fate!" I Then he suddenly saluted the aston
 ished chaperon on the cheek, raised Hester's fingers to his lips. and with
 valedicfory gesture. clasping his precious parcel. ran downstairs and SC
 vanished.
 .,IEeavensl what a fellowr' cried Mrs | Tudor q declare, feel In a state of utter collapse. And to think of you | of all people buying the great sara gin neclxlacei We'll. well, welll won | ders will never cease" | GGs Afn kihu itdu IL Aii ihJ PVWNh I to restore it to them" said the heiress who had become very white.
 "Oh yes. for a time-it will be yours | stilIri And now. Miss Hester, don't l contradict me: Paul has had lesson, | as he says So have you--you and | your probation, indeed' Strike whilst 1 the iron Is hot, is my motto. and tt saves trouble; if I'd kept Montagu shiily -shailying for four weeks. I'd never have been Mrs. Tudor. Certain iy. Paul made an idiot of himself with l Dolores; he has done with her, I be- | lieVe She and he quarreled about | yoai; and, anyway. she Is going to mar ry a papersheaded young Condo. who Is five years her junior. but enormous | ly rich!'
 It was a mild evening late in octo- Der. Mrs. Tudor and her companion. who had recently returned from so- | journ in the Highlands, were sitting | in the warm. flower-scented drawing | room: the soft. rose-shaded lamps re- | vealed quantities of chrysanthemums scattered in high vases; the old lady busy with her piece of woolen knit ting (for the fishermen) and Hester l reclining in & low chair. her pretty | feet crossed before her. a white Per l stan cat in her lap. her thoughts far away, possibly in a castle Tn Spain. | Upstairs in her jewel-box were a mum | Der of paper treasures. Yes. and in- side the bodice of her low black tea gown were two delightful letters sign- | ed Paul"
 How long is it since you last heard | from Madrid?'' inquired Mrs Tudor. who was patiently hunting for a drop ped stitch.
 A week yesterday" said the girl. half turning. Dear! let me do that" -upsetting the dignified and reluc- | tant cat, and taking the knitting in sinking. fear, and Paul is with him all day. for he cannot bear him out of his sight"
 You don't wonder at that do your said Mrs. Tudor. with a sharp upward glance "Eh-do you remember that 1t Is just this day three months-July the 24th--that he came here. and you gave him the necklace? He said he would come back"
 And so he will" declared Hester with decision,
 "Ah, you trust him now" said the old lady, "and when he is out of sight. too?''
 'of course I do! And if he does not come, even if weeks elapse, I shall be patient; would never be so horribly selfish as to appropriate him and take Il wrote and said so."
 "oh, we'll, his father by ali ac- counts, may not be with him long, and he will have you always"
 T hope sol" she answered with fer -N vor: but I trust el Duque may rally; and. after all. he is only s."
 Nothing in these days, is 1t? Good graeIousi there is a ring at the door!" exclaimed Mrs. Tudor fretfuiIy. "Tf it's the Lechharts come in for a game Of hridgesI Ipl too sleepy;tI should re- yoke or go DO tFumps' on. a spade-hand and ruin my reputation. I wonder If there is time to run and tell BeIton I've gone to bed?"
 "Oh he, you naughty old lady! Why should poor Belton have to tell such a shocking fiction, when you are as wide awake as I am? See. here Is your knitting" and she resumed her seat.
 There was a sound of. steps coming through the anteroofn. and suddenly Belton announced in loud. Mustered voice: ''Ths Duke of San Telmo."
 Hester sprang to her feet. The old Duquel--what could have brought him. and he so illi But the individual who quickly entered was not the fath- CT, but his son Paul--Paul in deep mourning. Hester hurried towards him with outstretched hands; he took them bCIh m ms ana pressed them.
 '.Paulgr she said breathlessly. "Oh, Paul. what is itT"
 My father died six days ago" he replied. T came away immediately after the funeral to keep my tryst, and to bring you this!" and from the breast pocket of his great coat he has tily produced the weil-known case. which she had handed to him in that room three months previously.
 He opened 1t carefully, took out the necklace. and looked at her with GUS rlous intensity as she stood before him.
 Here is my pledge" he continued. Allow me to put 1t on its future wearer."
 And round her white throat his delft brown fingers snapped the clasp; then. in the presence of Mrs. Tudor and the cat. he kissed her.
 Thus in the end. as Pedro remarked to Marietto. The Gloria was chant ed!"
 And although. at one time. there was supposed to be a hftch-a diffi- culty ell Duque married the English heiress after all! It is said that the gay Paul has fulfilled the old pro- verb, and proved an admirable and de- voted husband. Also that endowed with her wonderful hair. complexion and jewels. there is no more striking