Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15

no engagement yet
us that his fault? Have 1 not the ring
in dressing case? He was willing
enough. but you held back. My dear.
stupid Hester, let me once again remind
you that BY the street of By-and-By
you come to the house of Never.
"A Spanish girl is naturally more at
tractive.' protested Hester, arguing
will return to Shalesmoor. to Jane and
Eliza. and''-with an hysterical laugh
the cats. My romance is ended"
What stuff protested Mrs. Tudor.
angrily. low listen and I will tell you
my plans. We return to Biarritz tomor-
and give Paul every opportunity of
seeking YOU and making explanations"
mo need. dear Mrs. Tudor; j under
stand everything perfectly. The explana-
ton is-Dolores''
What, Jealous of girl you've never
even seen? Hester YOU are a great fool.
So. for bit of idle gossip, you would
wreck your life?'
But
''Oh. pray, do let me speak, protested
Mrs. Tudor. in a peevish voice. I'VE will
attend the great fancy ball at. the casino
on Thursday. You must have a dress
YOU shall carry your head high. If. after
this big social event, nothing results.
The fine weather will be over in every
sense. You shall accompany me to Lon
don at once: then we will consult and
make plans for the future-nof in Biar-
IltZ. no. no, lile lIcTt Is iuuCil
too exciting. Now ring the bell. please,
before you go. l must set the maids to
pack at once.
That evening Hester took her last stroll
by the river. The primroses were gone.
the roses were blowing. graceful lilac
wistaria draped the walls of the bath
house.
Here 1 must brace myself" she said,
as She paced to and fro land be pre-
pared to face society, curiosity, pity and
Paul"
Arrived at Bellevue Mrs Tudor and
Miss Forde We're. hailed with pleasure by
those of their acquaintance who were
still its guests. They heard all about the
fancy ball for the good reason that peo-
pie could talk of nothing else. and what
every one was going to wear or was not
going to wear. GuSSie Bedford was to
appear the Black Prince, and Sir Ru-
pert Lovelace as Cardinal Richelieu: the
LOTUS girls as Spring and Summer, Capt.
Jarvis as cOachman, and Mrs. Mac
James-oh, they would never guess what
she was going to be. Such fun.
The White Cat?' suggested Mrs. Tu-
dor. promptly. Or perhaps Winter?-the
East Wind
NO indeed said Nancy Lotus. ''she
is going as The Press. Some satircal
person suggested that she should repre-
sent The News of the World and she
simply flung herself on the idea
And how will she carry it out?" in
qured Hester
"Oh. the names of the papers cut out
and sewn all over her black satin dress
Daily Telegraph. Morning Post Standard,
Daily Mail, Chronicle and the Times-as
a sort of fichu. She will have a pen in
one hand and an inkpot i'll the other, and
on her head"
"A quire of foolscapr' interrupted Mrs
Tudor.
NO indeed. but a stuffed owl, to rep
resent Minerva! That is to say. if in all
Biarritz stuffed owl is to be found"
Good gracious. How glad I am that
/ came back said the old lady. II
would rot have missed this for anything.
j declare the press should have her up
for libel. Now we have to go and fur
Dish up our own costumes, and there is
not much time
But do not go before YOU hear our
great piece of news urged Mrs. Lotus,
eagerly
Hester's heart almost stopped beating.
The admiral is engaged to Mrs. Brit
ten. They have gone off to London to-
gether to buy the rousseau
Mrs. Tudor merely threw up her hands
and moved toward the door. saying:
We'll. they will get no wedding present
from me-
It was with Hester not a question OF
what she would wear at the ball-a mat
ter of vital interest to her chaperon-but
would Paul come? And when?
Yes. he drove up the next afternoon in
his red motor and pressed the ladies to
accompany him to the golf links to wit
ness the finals of the Pau and Biarritz
match
They had no engagement and accepted
the invitation. There was perhaps a
slight constraint in Paurs manner yet,
as he assisted Hester to descend from the
motor. he whispered as he pressed her
hand:
Remember the time will be up in ten
davS"
What did he really mean? Was all she
had heard and feared a fable? She felt
as if a load of lead had suddenly been
lifted from her heart Alas. The load
was quickly replaced by the approach of
a gentleman and handsome dark Span
ish girl. wearing red motor cap on her
black locks. and veil tied coquettishly
under her chin-Dolores de las Candalles.
niece to the Duquesa. a glittering crea-
ture. all frivolity, extravaganza and self
ishness.
Where have You been?' she asked in
Spanish. as she poised her golf club on
her hands and gaZed up at Paul.
ITO fetch the ladies from the HOTEL
and in moment Mrs. Tudor and Hester
were making the acquaintance of la Con-
deSa Dolores
After a little conversation about the
weather. Paul and Mrs. Tudor moved on,
and Dolores. abandoning her own COM
panion. fell behind with Hester; her Eng
giant. not to say brusque.
so you know no one here" she re-
marked. Il mean in the best society,"
studying Hester with insolent GOODNESS.
Il know some English" she answered,
quietly.
DO vou?" and she shrugged her Shout
ders. THE English. They are in every
ones country nowadays!
And every one in theirS,' retOrted
Hester. with rising antagonism.
All so she could answer back again,
this red-haired prude. Well, she did not
care.
$50 YOU know Paul-my cousin?" con-
tinued the Spaniard. looking curiously
into her eyes.
Yes. / know him rather WELL
What in so short a time. No. I'M
possible to know him well. But he is
charming is he not? And my very good
me his confessOr-hiS what you call con-
fidante. Paul is a wild giddy fellow,
whose heart is in sixty pieces
Then he cannot be heartwhole, re-
marked Hester How could she jest with
this human panther!
mo. lie is butterfy-never constant
to any one for more than a week. Oh
he will never marry and she surveyed
her companion with hooking eyes. Are
you coming to the ball at the casino to-
morrow?
Yes. ] believe So
Really" in affected surprise. 'rhen
you don't think ii wicked? But l heard
YOU were so goody- good and faint
glmmer of sarcasm played about her red
lips.
''Oh. no. l am just like the rest of the
world
Here some old friends eagerly accosted