The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-05
The Spanish Necklace
BY BERTHA M CROKER Copyright 1908. by B M croker All Rights Reserved,

a pause, a slight cessation in tho pro- cession, and the courier whispered: Look, look! here are the grandees of Spainr'
 And then approached. in stately measure, a body of gentlemen in court suits-gold embroidered velvet coats. knee brooches and silk stockings. They wore many decorations and or- ders; each carried In his right hand long headed tortoisesheli cane young middle-aCcd, and old they were and most of them remarkably hand some, undoubtedly of the purest blue blood, with thin aquiline profiles. dark eyed and distinguished. The grandees bore themselves with impress s.ve dignity, and 1t was altogether grave and splendid pageant.
 Never in her life had Hester wit messed so proud and so patrician a procession, and as they moved by, four abreast, she gave a little gasp. Among them was a man of the same type. and extraordinary like Paul de Sara gin. Oh. undoubtedly she had Paul on the brain1 This nobleman wore the collar of some order, walked with his head erect, looking straight before him with an a5stracted and ,mpassive ex- pression. Slowly he passed with Aoth- CTS, and then came the tall young King alone, boyish, end yet dignifed, with quick. searching, smiling eyes. After him his sister and his aunt, wearing mantillas and trains. and accompanied by their suite. Another pause in the procession. No, it was not yet ended; the music contin led. end a crowd of courtiers and several prelates came into view-then the Queen Christina alone, tall and slender, wearing a long close fitting velvet gown. crown and mantilla. She looked truly regal, and. though not handsome, of a command ing, gracious presence-a Queen tn- deed.
 Her ladies followed her. also vari- ous members of the household, and the Capello Publico was over.
 Hester stood fmnovable, listening to the distant music, thrilled and agitated by the spectacle in a manner that amazed her. Why this queer catch in her throat? Were they not human be-
 "Ah. you enjoyed that" said the courier complacently; '.ou saw 1t well?"
 "Yes. thank vou."
 ''The grandees were in numbers, and there were the ministers; and he rat tied off the names of at least a dozen Duques and Counts.
 twas the Duque de San Telmo among them?" she brought herself to ask.
 q would not know-I have never seen him, but will inquire of my friends in the palace"
 "oh, no. mol" she said nervously: it Is of no consequence; 1t Goes not mat ter" ... -
 "Now. shall we so to the royal sta- bles?" he suggested, land see the And alusian horses and the State carriages --what do you say7'
 E 4'bsg@sha raRIfoa ka btu daan q have seen enough for today"
 But only the Almeria (the armory) and the procession" he cried. Why. that is nothing at all; and so much to do; we are losing good time!'
 And in spite of her reluctance. and desire to mediate over the great scene, and distinguish her impressions, the -.. eaeFgsttc.- courier carried Miss Academia de Bellies Artes
 The following fternoon Mrs. Tudor accompanied her young friend round the principal curiosity shops or "Anti- guedades" in 4ladrtd. beginning at the Calle Alcala, and ending with the rag market. They purchased lace and fans; pictures, tapestries and cabinets, the spoil of many ruined houses, tempted Hester sorely, for, like her chaperon. she loved old things; but what coul she do with these articles at Shalesmoor? The gold emblazoned banners and brocaded r.tests' robes. the tapestries and portieres would only be eaten by the mice, and she wished then a better fate. Needless to say, she took a keen interest in the display of jewels-roughly cut dia- monds. rubies and emeralds sparkling in collars, earrings. and stomachers. Such barbartc .settings-shick clusters of stones massed lavishly together; but among all the strange and valuable articles she turned over, Hester found nothing to compare with her own pur- chase. It had been, indeed, as Domin- guez had said, "just a chance"
 As Hester was dressing for a dinner party that evening, she casually asked Marietta what she had been seeing that day?'
 "oh. Mademolselle." she cried rap