Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11
Kill
Miss Forde, the Heiress

MISS r OTO0 was no Hunger u De IOuHu
beside the deaf gentleman; she had dis
appeared at the same time as her chap
eron and. to speak candidly. had left no
lamentable void. But another Miss Forde
had risen upon the horizon-a girl who
sat at Mrs. Tudor's little table, and was
conspicuous for her elegant appearance
and her truly magnificent hair Soon 1t
began to be whispered that this young
lady was rich!-an orphan with thousands
and thousands a year-in short, great
heiress: and people were now prepared
to credit her with grace. brains, beauty
and every good quality as well.
Hester scarcely recognized herself under
the present circumstances. She had en-
gagged a smart maid by order of Mrs.
Tudor. who declared that for woman OF
her importance to dress herself, mend
sages was almost indecent. So Hester S
privacy was somewhat circumscribed by
the adroit and clever Marietta. who
turned out her young lady with admirable
finish three times a day. She had also,
in looking over her mistress boxes. made
a dazzling discovery-she had found the
Spanish necklace! This splendid posses
sion had raised mademoiselle to the level
of countess In her maids estimation,
and she had Immediately suggested that
her young lady should wear II one night
at the caSino--it would create sensation!
There was nothing like it in the whole of
BiarritZ. for Marietta was Basque born
and she knew the Jewels of most of the
great ladies' This was magnifique, vavis-
SAINT superbe; but mademoiselle had said
no. no. no! and after gazing al 1t af-
fectionately for about five minutes had
locked 1t away in drawer.
Miss Forde had made a number of
agreeable acquantances since she had
effected a new debut under the wing OF
the well known Mrs. Tudor. The Lotus
girls were her constant associates up at
the golf links, where she played croquet
and slipped tea-at games after dinner.
and now and then at an impromptu
dance. when half dozen men and a
dozen girls waltZed to the strains of a
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 LOTUS often waltzed to-
gether for half an hour. And she had
other partners as we'll as Ella-young men
ideas. rather liked the heiress. she was
so unaffected 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 in neighboring hotel. Hester
not Only saw IliNl, Out ACTUALLY Ildu tHc
overwhelming JOY of dancing about fifty
steps with her hero. The ball was a
brilliant affair; half OF Biarri,z was pres
.ent-that Is to say the dancing half-and
the whole thing was carried out with
great liberality and taste. The ballroom
and the floor were perfect, the band and
the cotillon favors correspondent. Hester
feeling certain that he would be present
had taken extraordinary pains, and spent
quite an hour over her toilet, which was
black chiffon and velvet-the velvet in
dazzling contrast to her snowy shoulders
In her hair glimmered a shining black
aigrette: in her hand she held q Spanish
fan ian exquisite old specimen painted on
chicken skim. Several lovely bouquets
had been left for No. so: but No 80 dared
not venture to make any invidious dis
tinctions. and Marietta had put them in
water, where. around Miss Forbes sitting
room ives, Mrs. Tudor had insisted on
this). the four neglected offerings, so to
speak. glowered at one another from
various jugs.
AS Hester flung off her beautiful fluffy
wrap and entered the social arena in the
wake Of a small upright figure in black
velvet. she felt a conviction that she was
looking her best, for she noticed that men
stared hard, and she encountered the
Mrs Tudor would only be kind and in
troduce Paul de SaraZin to her what ar
evening II would Remarked for life with
a white stone.
But Mrs. Tudor did nothing of the sort
she had her own ideAs. 1t is superfiuous
TO add that she was an enthusiastic
matchmaker. The kindly matron sincere
ly liked Hester and honestly wished fol
her welfare. The girl was straight, IN.