Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11

lather from head To tail: evidently they
had had about enough. And SO had poor
Mrs. Tudor. who was mora dead than
alive-her small face looked strangely
white and shrunken. Hester hastily
opened the carriage door and carefully
assisted her TO descend. which she did in
a feeble and lettering fashion.
What an escape" she exclaimed. "Oh
my dear. we cannot be too thankful: hut
L feel" and she caught her breath-'I
feel completely shattered. We shall have
TO walk back or go on a marker cart. I
believe We are miles from Biarritz," and
as she spoke her eyes wandered vaguely
over the undulating hills and the red tiled
farmhouses. which indicated the real
BASQUE country. At this moment the
coachman-who had flung himself off the
box. walked round and deliberately in
spected his painting horses-came for
ward hat in hand.
What! Paul de Sarazinw shrieked the
old lady. We'll. / might have guessed 1t!
Do You know that you have nearly killed
me? Not that you care."
Dear lady" he began. II am most
awfully sorry: 1t was these diables OF
horses: they belong TO my aunt"
What. the carriage and horses OF the
Duchesse de Soriana!' and Mrs. Tudor
looked at him incredulously.
Even so. Pardon me and I will make
you my confession. Really and truly on
my knees do I implore you and this
charming demoiselle to forgive me-"
II never will" cried the old lady. and
her voice rose excitedly-"no, never, as
long as my name is Laura Tudor. Let
me tell you that your soft speeches are
altogether wasted on an old womanl How
dared you do it?'
1T was for beta joke he replied.
with humility.
play to you and death to us!'
please listen: 1t was like this. Last
night at the club two or three men and
l made jokes and wagers. and they
wagered me I would not get a carriage.
go to an hotel incognito, take two ladies
or three-or anybody-for a drive. They
bet me one hundred louis and I said:
oh. yes 1 will do il with pleasure and
] did. you see. My aunt Mercedes has
Her coachman is my very good friend.
/ borrow his clothes. his horses and his
carriage: look quite all right" Here
he glanced down at his livery with a
hotel: no one recognizes me. except my
friends who await me there. Two ladies
get into the carriage and everything Is
correct until. unfortunately. these devils
Of horses being too well fed, they want
to gallop. Yes. We were nearly smashed
up on the railway-but for that excellent
woman-I shall give. her a five lous-if
she had not opened the gate-pouf.' and
he touched his lips with his fingers:
goodbye to Madame Tudor, goodbye to
Paul de Sarazin. goodbye to Mademoi-
Selle-.' he paused and looked inter-
negatively at Mrs. Tudor.
"Forde." supplemented the old lady. and
he bowed profoundly hat I'm one hand,
whip In the other. CThe farmers people
Were busily rubbing down the horses
while the driver was protesting and maxi
ing his excusesD
And now should be glad to know how
We are to get home" demanded Mrs.
Tudor. with a gesture OF despair.
why. in the carriage. of course" said
Paul. with incredible assurance. Celia
va ans dire"
ear uopdar x,o,, doro IN r,aptiop ffs
shall certainly tell your aunt Of the out
rageous liberties you take with her-and
other people"
mo. no. no! dear Mrs. Tudor. you are
good"-here he placed his slim brown
hands together in an attitude OF appeal
you are kind. you are charming. you
have known me since / was child:
have been wrong and very foolish"
You have. indeed" she assente0.
sharply: ''it is your normal state"
But you will never tell my aunt Mer.
cedes-oh. you could not do IT. Cosa que
no tiene remedio olydar la es 10 mejor"
(What cannot be remedied Is best for.
gotten) And you will come back in the
carriage with me. Yes, on the word or
honor of Spanish gentleman. will take
you home. and the young lady. as safely
as in-what you call it-a bath chair.
Mrs. Tudor degned no reply, but rising
stiffiy to her feet, turned her back upon
the insinuating culprit and moved toward
the farmhouse. followed by Hester. AZ
you will persuade her to pardon me.
mademoiselle. will you not?'
II will try" she murmured. family.
And will you, too. forgive met" he
dark eyes would have melted the heart
of a stone.
Hester colored and in low voice an
swered yes"
What has that impudent mailman been
saying to your" demanded her compan-
ion. who had remarkably sharp ears.
He was begging me to ask you to for
give him."
the victim of a practical joke and a bet.
and nearly frightening me to death! 1
shall do nothing Of the sort I shall tell
his aunt. and We will hear what she has
got to say. She is fond of Paul. I'm
aware: but no woman likes to have her
smart turnout hacked about on hire!
Yes I shall certainly tell the duchess"
and with this announcement on her lips
Mrs. Tudor entered the farmhouse.
This was a comfortable Basque abode
with a wide-eaved tiled roof In the
kitchen was quaint old dresser covered
with blue plates, also huge carved
press. and some solid chairs and tables.
A good-looking woman. wearing funny
little black silk cap on her black hair.
offered coffee. wine and bread. Butter
is scarce near the Pyrenees.l Coffee and
bread were acceptable, and the two ladies
sat dowp at the bare table ana began 10
ask one another how they were 10 reacn
home.
They were revived by the coffee. and
feeling considerably better when Paul de
SaraZin entered and like the coachman
he pretended to be, seated himself afar
Off with a lump of bread and glass or
sour wine.
Over Mrs Tudor's bonnet this auda-
cious fellow raised his eyebrows inter-
negatively and looked a question at Miss
Forde. In reply she shook her head and
was instantly pounced upon by her COM
panon.
"Oh. no! so you are making signs!"
Yes" she boldly confessed. He wants
to know whether you have forgiven him
and / signed to him no; that was all"
Possibly the proverbial contrariness or
feminine human nature had something
TO do with Mrs. Tudors next speech. for.
wheeling round in her chair. she called
across the kitchen to her supposed Co
cher
Paul de Sarazin. you know you are
wild and worthless young scamp, ana .
shocking example to Others.
Paul instantly put down his head. rose
to his feet and bowed with the courtesy
of his race.
"Oh. yes, you may bow. and bow and
bow! Now, 1 will inform you of what I
will do. will overlook this atrocity. and
/ will not tell your aunt Mercedes that
you hired out her carriage"
Paul was now radiant.
"Oh. you need not smile, for ! haven't
done with you yet! Listen! You must
hand me over that one hundred louis for
the poor of Biarritz: 1t was nearly being
the price of our lives"
Delightful lady" exclaimed he, COM