Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Between the Two.


Between the Two.
Meanwhile Hester remained at Cambo,
ostensibly attending Mrs. Tudor. but
secretly nursing a frantic desire to get
away TO Biarritz and learn her fate. Paul
had ceased to visit her: but one day he
would send her bouquet. another note
about nothing written with his character
istic charm.
These occasions afforded Pedro the
Mercury an opportunity of talking TO his
old friend Marietta
One afternoon she met him as he was
crossing the fields on his return to the
little station. en- route for BiarritZ.
''Ah. so YOU have brought good news.
Pedro mio!' she exclaimed. you sing.
He had been humming in d deep. bum
ble-bee tone ga. gypsy love song.
"Whv do YOU sing? she repeated. as
they came face to face.
THE day is fine he replied. Il have
met Marietta. | sing now while l have
the wish. as YOU say, in case it should
happen that l may cry tomorrow
And what fine new clothes. Uncle
Pedro, Look. I will walk back with
you to the station. ] have just been up
to ST Jean Pied du Port to visit my
mother. One would say Pedro Iotti was
going to a wedding.
Il would l were and he took off his
thou We're to be my bride.
Marietta flung him scornful glance
and threw up ner chin.
LAS to clothes" he resumed what
does an old mule with new trappings =?
These were gift from Don Pablo.
ITO be worn at his marriage. eh? Why
does he not come here himself, Pedro
mio?" and Marietta halted and gravely
confronted him. with her hands on her
hips
Pedro slowly shook his head and
shrugged his square shoulders, bat made
no answer
The pair stood on the pathway for some
seconds gazing at one another in ST.
lence. At last Marietta burst out:
From a dog who does not bark and a
man who does not talk, deliver me! See,
i give YOU back one of your own miser-
able sayings. Pedro mic. You have lost
your TONGUE.
mo. only my heart. he interrupted.
BAH" she cried. with a passionate
gesture. 1T is easy to see that all is
ended. Why trouble to bring flowers and
notes and foolish lies. Uncle Pedro? My
poor lady is a child in worldly wisdom
she should never have trusted that vau-
rien out of her sight till they were mar
red''
And It would he too late to mend mat
ters, oh. no. So that is your wisdom
Marietta. for d clever woman YOU now
and then say foolish things. Listen to
me: 1t is all the Duquesa and Dona
Dolores-Dona Dolores. who sits in the
veranda of night. singing love songs
to my master. and fooling him like one of
those evil witches with fishes tails that
swim in foreign seas Well Man is fire.
woman is tow-then comes the devil with
the bellows" And Pedro raised his
shoulders until they almost touched his
ears.
''Ah. but la Duquesa-is she not all for
the rich daughter
La DuQuesa has destroyed us. She
hates the English senorta, the saints
alone know why. for we want money
badly. La DuqueSa gives out that la
Rubia is unlucky-child's talk, bona Do
lores cannot marry ell Marques herself,
God be thanked. but she will not suffer
him To wed another. The gardener s
dog neither eats greens nor suffers any
one else 10 eat them. Yet l swear that,
for all his galantries with Dolores. my
master likes y ur senorita Truly. there
is something at the back of things that
puzzles even ord Pedro Yotti.'
well. Uncle Pedro. when you have
found out the riddle. you will come and
tell mech? Soon we shall be going into
BiarritZ ourselves-the sooner the better"
But what is the use of going now"
objected Pedro. with melancholy shake
of his head. when the house is burnt
you bring water!
We may save something yet rejoined
Marietta. who knows
Pedro heaved a sigh and shook his head
as they reached the entrance to the little
station.
You will keep all this talk to yourself
my good little Marietta? Here is the
train coming"
Truly. yes-I would not shame my
young lady. who is so silent and 80 proud
and you. Ito Pedro?
oh. as for me-" he answered. with a
gesture. II am always silent-as still as
a pig in a bean field. 'Tis only to you.
my Marietta that | open my heart. and
and. waving his hand to his late COM
panion and confidantc, was presently
trundled away
so it was true what people said of
PAUL, Hester reflected. In one day he
forgot
The dull ache of misery and suspense
at last melted her reserve. flesh and
blood could endure no longer. and she
shared her news and fears with Mrs.
Tudor. That lady. now convalescent was
sitting at the window of their little salon
overlooking the river and gazing across
al the opposite side with eyes of drowSy
satisfaction. Testers information had a
startling effect-it acted as an immediate
tonic and restorative.
Pray, II " long is it since you have
heard this she demanded turning
sharply round.
1t was the last time he was here-a
week ago" said Hester family.
And you held your tongue ill now?
Why. the Spartan boy and the foy was
nothing to this, Well. ! am not going to
permit YOU TO sacrifice your prospects for
me. | am Iii tn travel and there is not an
hour To be lost. Go down AT once and
telephone to the hotel that we return to-
morrow and order carriage with three
horses for IL o'clock. Go now" she
added. impatiently: too much precious
time has been wasted il is.
But do listen. Mrs. Tudor. for one
moment" pleaded Hester; you are not
III to travel
Il am. and will and must she argued,
forcibly.
IF Paul de SaraZin is already tired of
me why should ! return at alp" urged
the girl. please let me STAY here until
] can arrange some other plan. AT first
| was miserable. and ] VII confess that
every carriage and motor from Biarritz
made my heart jump. ! was so wretched
that | could not rest. | walked the river
bank fer miles and miles: but now there
is an end of hat. and | should like to get
away to England as quickly as possible.
Nonsense, nonsense, L never heard
such madness" cried Mrs. Tudor petu-
lantly Permit me to enlighten you in
direction. When chaperon IS not
active duty Il Spanish gentleman does
not visi. his young lady-it is not ETH
uuettc. ! know that we'll and Paul knows
il too.
l..