Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

by the ioy-seekng impulses of recovered
vigor. she mentally declared, Il shall be-
gin to amuse myself. l shall commence
new life from today: at any rate. 1 shall
spend money: and the first thing l will do
will be to buy myself beautiful birthday
present-yes. a necklace. l intend to
have it'-and with this decision burning
in her mind. she rose brskly from her
seat. hurried down the Falaise by the
short cut and into the town. The evening
was fine. and the streets were full of lit
tie victorias. of motors. of people strolling
or standing in groups; boys were selling
lie Gironde'' women were crying 'Sar-
dines.' the flower girls were doing brisk
trade.
Miss Forde walked in a businesslike
manner by them all. and directed her
steps to certain curio shop which was
famous for its stock Of Spanish antique
dades." Here were the fruitful results OF
many toisome expeditions over the Dor
der and into the far south. Journeys to
old towns. villages and castles aloof from
the beaten track: pilgrimages undertaken
in search of articles which poverty and
dire necessity forced many proud. inn
poverished owner to dispose of secretly.
class. was suffering from the disastrous
effects of the late war. Here in this shop
was displayed the harvest OF the enter
prising collector-pictures lace. ancient
brasiers and bureauX, beautiful tapestries.
fans. silk draperies. crucifixes. statues,
chairs in stamped leather and jewelry.
This was exhibited on velvet in cases
in the window. and before certain case
Hester came to a halt. To impart Sc
cret. she visited this particular treasure
every day. and never passed the shop
without admirng a certain necklace,
which. If 1t could have been really de-
voured by her eyes. would have disap-
peared long ago. This ornament was dis
played on a board covered with black
velvet. and was composed of four chains
of pearls caught in festoons by diamond
and enameled clasps; in the center was a
pendant eXquisitely executed in diamonds
and enamel. When Hester first noticed
this necklace she had entered the estab-
lishment and, in faltering French, had
timidy inquired the price.
dix mile francs.' was the prompt
reply. About four hundred pounds, and
not less-it was q great OCCASION.
But the would-be customer had with
drawn startled out of her wits: those
were early days. She had never yet ven
tured to expend a large sum of money
the habit Of years of economy had eaten
into her bones.
Juan Dominguez. the Spanish pro-
prietor. and his daughter were now we'll
accustomed to the pale English face which
gazed into particular window at least
and bought a trifiing article-a pearl
headed hatpn. little old china figure a
bit of blonde lace-but never the necklace.
ooh. she will buy it yet" declared
COnCna 10 neF 1atner, IL Has Sot UPON
her mind-she will never leave it behind
her"
Bah. what talk is that?" he declared
"She has not the money"
There you are wrong. padre milo. l
believe she is rich. These Englishwomen
have many strange habits
How do you know that she is rich?'
Never mind she replied. with a shake
of her head, but it is true. Paciencia-y
barraiar.' Patience and shuttle the
cards..
Once Hester had introduced the neck
lace to Mrs. Britten and timidly invited
her opinion, and that lady had brusquely
declared that "she did not admire it in
the least and the price was too utterly
Ridiculous
Il grant that it is quaint she admit
ted. but no show for the money. Now.
/ always like show for my money, and
those Paris imitation diamonds in shop
higher up look far more real and impOs-
ing. Don't be so idiotic as to buy it! Be-
sides. if you had it, what would you do
with it? You know you would never
wear ito
well think it is beautiful-so old and
so Spanish" rejoined Hester.
That sort of beauty doesn't appeal to
me- sneered Mrs. Britten; las for being
SO old and so Spanish the same descrip-
ton applies to that ancient hawker at the
corner who is selling SKINS and Hester
felt crushed and silenced.
All the same, she never failed each day
to visit the object of her alteration. and
was painfully making up her mind to its
purchase. Why, 1t was not more than a
fortnight's income, and she did not pos
sess a jewel in the world. Today she
descended from the Fala1Se resolved TO
take the immense step, but, finding the
shop crowded with customers, was much
too shy to enter and passed on to flower
stall. Here she bought herself guam
tity of the choicest blooms; the selection
afforded her a real and almost childish
delight; it was her birthday treat, and,
with huge bouquet in her hand, she at
last turned toward the Bellevue.
Suddenly, at the corner of a street. she
came into violent collision with young
man in a desperate hurry, who dashed
her beautiful noSegay out of her hand
and all her precious flowers were scat
tered about the footpath. The gentleman
with a uluttered apology, Immediately
stopped and began to gather them. AS he
held out a handful Hester glanced at him
and saw that he was extraordinarily Il
Spaniard-and extraordinarily handsome.
His was a truly beautiful face. somehow
recalling the days of chivalry and knight
hood: olive skinned. With black hair and
a small mustache; the expression of pro-
found melancholy in the dark eyes, and
the thin. delicately cut features, We're
preserved from effeminacy by an exceed
ingly firm chin. His movements were
grace itself as he collected the remnants
of the birthday bouquet and. having pre-
scented them with a low bow, lifted his
cap and was gone.
Hester walked slowly onward as one in
a dream: still in a dream, she regained
her own room and flung herself into d
chair. How she was haunted by that
handsome dark face! That vision OF
chivalrOus perfection was new and soul
awakening experience. Poor Hester, al
ready she was wondering whether she
should ever see him again. Her heart
leapt at the thought and urged her to
find out his name. But she was far too
reserved to ask questions. No doubt Mrs
Britten would know; and yet, how dare
she venture to open such subject? The
flowers he had gathered must not be left
to wither. Hester rose with nervous
haste and began to arrange them in
various glasses The foolish. frendless
creature took an immense time over this
labor of love: had not his fingers touched
them? She specially remembered a Ger
tain pink camellia; it had blown across
the road and he had gathered 1t separ-
ately Oh. happy flower! She resolved to
wear it that same evening, and she (whO
never adorned HERSELF arranged it with
hot and tremulouS fingers in the front of
her dowdy black gown. Miss Forde actu-
ally felt as If she were taking some Won
derful step. a bold step, and that possibly
all the world might guess she was wear
ing a flower that the handsome Spaniard
had offered her in the street The mind
has q powerful effect on the body. and
Hester really looked different. and almost
animated as she stole into her place be-
side Mrs. Britten, who exclaimed with
wide-open eyes:
"Why what have you been doing to
yourself? I declare, you are quite SMART!
IL, fA11 hn oov IN