Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-29

and private reason. she was always de-
lighted to see them. cherishing faint
hone that one of them might mention
him and give her news for which her
soul was starving
But not breath respecting Paul de
Sarazin escaped these kind good people;
there was general yet indehnabe Inn
preston that the fascinating marquis had
not behaved we'll to the red-haired
heiress.
One evening i'm the middle of July. Mrs.
Tudor and Hester were sitting In the park
near Stanhope Gate: 1t was an agreeable
resort: a relief from noise and dust and
almost every chair was occupied. Among
the slowly moving crowd which ehbed and
flowed In front Of them were two men
strolling together: the nearest. In spite OF
his unfamiliar Rarb of tall hat and long
coat. strongly resembled Ell Marquis de
Sarazin: his quick eyes were evidently
roaming about in search Of some one.
Suddenly he caught sight OF Mrs. Tudor.
stepped over the low iron border and
bowed himself before her. hat In hand.
Certainly. Paul de Saraxin was man
Of extraordinary courage-none had ever
disputed that fact. Surprising Mrs Tudor
refused to see him. to recognize him
what then?
plastic frame OF mind and she said, in a
tone of frigid politeness:
Dear me. Monsieur lie Marquis what
brings you to London?'
Business for my father and he
glanced at Hester, who accorded him q
grave inclination. She looked remarkably
handsome--that soft mauve gown suited
her coloring: but her face seemed a lit
tie stern-yes. and worn. Had she cared?
Had she taken his detection so much to
heart?
1T is odd to hear Of you in connection
with the word business remarked Mrs.
Tudor--"you who are so emphatically a
man Of pleasurer
There is such g. thing as duty" he
said: then. after a moments hesitation.
he added: Il was coming to call on you,
Mrs. Tudor
Indeed! with raised brows 1T is fiat
tering to be remembered. but will alb
solve YOU from that ceremony"
dress" he continued. with superb cour-
age.
How is la Luquest?' and then. point
edly. Il always liked her"
Il am aware Of that" and. eooliy draw
ing a chair ia front Of her and seating
himself. he added. with uncomfortable au-
dacity. and once you liked met
"Ah. that was twenty years ago. when
you were in jackets"'
II will wear jacket tomorrow II 1t
will make you like me once more.
Nothing will ever make me do that,
she answered, in Spanish; 1.-The truth is
best-and you never hear it-you are in
corrigibie! I have done with your
sonora. YOU are very CIuCI. NC uut.
INJURED. In his own tongue.
And you are a very humbug!" she re-
torted. bitterly.
During this colloquy Miss Forde had
sat apart. silent and mottonless. and the
nervous aloofness Of her attitude was not
lost on Paul.
''well. we must be going" said Mrs.
Tudor. rising: 'it is late and We are
dining out Good-bye"' and she swept
No. he dared not offer to escort the
ladies': but. standing where they had
abandoned him. he watched them step
into splendid equipage. which rapidly
whirled them out OF the park.
Then he sat down again. drew out his
cigarette case and began to SMOKE. He
was not much nearer to the necklack
The girl's face had looked proud ant
rigid-she might refuse to sell II. Afte'
all. 1t was her own property! At frst h
decided to watch Mrs. Tudors house. her
comines and goings. to wayiay her and
see If the old lady would remain imp!ac-
able and the young lady dumb-or II they
would relent.
But. no. Marquis de sarazin. with an
exalted sense OF honor. could never be-
come a private detective! He must look
UP his London friends. attend parties and
the theaters: in this way he was bound
to come across them once more-and his
presentiment was justified.
At the production Of Monsieur Beau
caire" At the Imperial Theater he hap
pened. after the curtain had risen. to
slip into the very stall next TO Hester
Forde. here was. indeed. the Luck OF
the .Sarazins'!
The young lady was 50 deeply engrossed
in the play that she never glanced at her
neighbor until the end Of the act. when
the darkened house was once more tllu-
minated. Mrs. TudeFs sharp eyes had
been busy; she bent over and nodded and
then said to herself: Here again Is
fate"
For one tumultuous moment Hester be-
came alternately white and red; almost
before she was aware OF 1t she had put
out her hand.
"Will you ever speak to me?' he muir
INJURED. and there was curious accent
In his voice. 1T is moro than I deserve,
yet have come all the way from Madrid
to see you
But why?' she protested. What is the
good Of it, A great deal Of good would
accrue to him IL she would be persuaded
to restore the heirloom!
II know l seem to have sinned past
forgiveness" he resumed. speaking with
difficulty will you be friends-even half
friends?"
The lady made no answer. but looked
down at her fan; and it seemed to him
that resoIute negative breathed through
her silence.
But Paul was determined: he had
marvellous skill in adapting himself to
delicate conditions.
When as the curtain rose on the second
act the lights were low and they sat
once more In semi-darkness. he leant to-
ward her and whispered:
AT least, you might have answered my
letter.
Letter she repeated. also in a
whisper. What letter.:
II wrote it the morning after the fancy
ball and inclosed it in one to Mrs: Tudor
''Ah. we'll. ! never received it, then,
with an effort. Il suppose she put 1t IN
the fire. and-I believe she did what she
thought was best for me-
And what about me. mademoiselle:
and his voice was seduction itself.
"Oh! you can take excellent care OF
yourself Monsieur ie Marquis"
80 you are still jealous!-aiways, al
ways jealous?"
"oh. noy' throwing back her head.
mot now
After this there was a long silence: the
attention Of both was presumably con-
centrated on the action Of the piece
Under cover OF that plaintive melody
Chant des Voyageurs." he presently
murmured:
"Mademoiselle. is the error of one hour
TO be the sorrow OF a life:
During the succeeding interval Mrs
Tudor noticed the couple talking to-
gether with ease and animation. Paul
had exercised all his charm OF voice and
eve and gesture. Undoubtedly his fasci-
nation was wonderfui!-she had exper-
fenced 1t herself.
And he was SO daring. too! Here was
the girl whom he had almost Tilted and
publicly sighted accepting the loan OF his
glasses with a radiant smile and listening