The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-24
The Spanish Necklace
BY BERTHA M. CROKER
Copyright 1sos by B. H Croker. All Rights
 M MH HN NH MH MMM WmnMh m MmE EMM MMMMMM MlMNwEWTw

was magnifidue, vaNissant superbe: but Mademoiselle had said no, no. no! and after gazing at 1t affectionately for about five minutes had locked 1t away in a drawer.
 Miss Forde had made a number of agreeable acquaintances since she had enected a new debut under the wing of the well-known Mrs. Tudor. The Loft us girls were her constant associates up at the goif-links. where she played croquet and slipped tea--at games after dinner, and now and then at an im- promptu dance, when half a dozen men and dozen girls waltzed to the strains of wandering band which visited each hotel in turns. Hester found, with private practice, that she could dance -she was straight graceful, and light on her feet-and she and Ella Loftus often waltzed together for half an hour. And she had other partners as we'll as Ella--young men in the hotel who. without any ulterior ideas, rath- CT liked the hetress, she was so un- affected, and put on no side-or frills.
 Mrs. Tudor frequently accompanied her charge for a drive into the country or to receptions at villas, joined her at tea on the golf-links introduced her to various smart people and not a few eligibles: but alas, alas! not to Paul de Sarazin! Once, at a ball to a neigh bour- ing hotel. Hester not only saw him. but actually had the overwhelming Joy of dancing about fifty steps with her hero. The ball was brilliant affair {: half of Biarritz was present--that Is to say. the dancing half-and the whole thing was carried out with great lib- erality and taste. The ballroom and the floor were perfect, the band and the cotillion faUours corresponded. Hester. feeling certain that he would be present, had taken extraordinary pains. and spent quite an hour over her toilette, which was black chiffon and velvet-the velvet in dazzling contrast to her snowy shoulders. In her hair glimmered shining black aigrette: in her hand she held q Spanish fan Gan exquisite old specimen painted on chicken skim. Several lovely bouquets had been left for No. 52 but No. 52 dared notWenture to make any invidious dis tinctfons. and Marietta had put them in water where around Miss Forde's sitting-room (yes, Mrs. Tudor had in- sisted on this). the four neglected off another from various jugs
 As Hester flung off her beautiful fluffy wrap, and entered the social arena in the wake of a small upwright figure in black velvet, she felt a con- viction that she was looking her best.
  and she encountered the astonishe ed eyes of several women. Oh, if Mrs. Tudor would only be kind and intro duce Paul de Sarazin to her, what an evening it would be-marked for life with white stone!
 But Mrs Tudor did nothing of the sort; she had her own ideas. It Is superflous to add that she was an en- thusiastic matchmaker. The kindly matron sincerely liked Hester. and honestly wished for her welfare. The girl was straight, unselfish, and a lady undoubtedly. There was good old blood in her veins. despite the Calvinistic turn of her head and her small taper hands. Now, here was a chance for some impecuminous younger. or indeed elder, son! This 10000 pounds a year must not be thrown away or wasted in underserving channels. Mrs. Tudor's Keen blue eyes were searching all over Biarritz in quest of a suitable suitOr for her protegee. It was essential that he should be of good family. with a good record: also he must be youngish agreeable, and not iIl-looking. No she would have nothing to do with the foreign element, such as the Count de Cassecou. Baron Borrodino, or. above all Paul de Sarazin!
 When Paul sauntered up and &C., costed the old lady, Hester. who sat beside her felt a little tremor of self comscfousness creeping over her. She studied her fan closely, then stole a swift glance. How 1.-the and distin guished he looked in his evening dress, the scarlet hunt-coat we'll became his dark Spanish face: and with what grace ne stopped and kissed the hand of her emperor! In Hester's eyes he was A preux chevalier of the olden times coma once more to revisit the glimpses of inc moon. Callous hard-hearted Mrs. Tudor did not present this enchanting ac- quaintance to her companion and he scarcely glanced at her as he moved away.
 HOW graceful he isl" observed a iady who sat within earshot.
 (COntinued TO-MOrrow.)