Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15

considered to be one of the stars OF the
night.
Hester and her chaperon were early ar
rivals and secured seats near the door.
in order to watch the entree of the other
costumes. and they sat these focked
in. amid much laughter and applause
Leon de SaraZn. polar bear with
his keeper: la Duquesa. his mother. as
Moorish lady of the fifteenth century; la
DuqueSa de Soriana, her Sister-ln-iaW,
splendid as Isabella the Catholic, WIN
jewels of the period; there was Tan
stout dame. processing to be an
Amazon > wearing an immense name OIL
coarse red hair. and some scanty leopard
skins and still more scanty pettlcoalS.
She was the sensation Of the evening and
as q partner in enormous request VI
course. there was the inevitable Sancho
PanZa. several cooks. jockeys and goi1
caddeS: America, extremely smart IN
stars and stripes; Henry w conducting d
beautiful decollete lady. soldiers, nuns
cred skirts and gay manila shawls, with
punches of flowers in their hair. Among
the last to enter was Paul in the dress OF
a matador. with his cloak over his Shoul-
der. He was accompanied by dolores, a
brilliant Gitana. with castanets. scarf and
embroidered skirts. Their joint appear
ance was exceedingly effective; 10"
murmur greeted them. and If the Amazon
was the sensation, the Marquis de sara
Yin and his partner were the admiration
of the ballroom.
Then dancing began: band and moor
were alike perfect. and the scene was
both brilliant and inspiriting. PAU came
over Immediately to Hester and claimed
a waltz. Strange 10 relate. it happened
to be "Quand ramour meurt.' He danced
with the grace and verve OF the true
born Spaniard and the Puritan lady man
aged to acquit herself credltably; but
she had not the abandon or the practice
of others. There was but little time for
conversational few GREATNESS sentences
about Cambo and his flowers and crit1-
cism of some of the other characters
The Press and the Amazon tckled Paul
immensely, 49,
What will YOU give me if dance with
The Press?'' he demanded.
"She would not dance with you. for
one thing" declared Hester, land for an
other she is too f1msy-she would tear"
Then the Amazon? She is not f1lmsy
and there is not much to tear!' and he
contemplated the nude and brawny figure
with dancing eyes. "Shall II" and he
laughed. do you dare me?'
same vein, Il will never speak tto you
again
"Then that settles it, AS he led her
back he said: You will spare me an
other later on, won't you. and go into
supper with me?' and he gave her hand
an ardent pressure.
"Oh. yes, with pleasure" she muir
INJURED.
With This prospect before her, Hester
was entirely happy. She frightened and
animated scene She had numerous
partners. so had Paul; but she noticed
with jealousy that he waltzed twice with
the Gitana and gradually the radiance
died out of her face.
At - o'clock all the chairs We're arr
ranged round close to the wall. and the
room was cleared for the great feature of
the night. the cotillon. Paul had not
asked Hester for it: but then. as leader,
he required a really firSt-rate partner,
and he had it in Dona Dolores. who,
light as a snowdrft, graceful as an ante
lope swan round in his arms TO the
strains of "LEspana.' Hester watched
them with reluctant fascination. once
and in them was look of indescribable
eXultation as she made her malicious
little signal.
Many were the figures, for the two
leaders were unusually efficient. 10 hes
ter were tossed bells and flags. and flow
ers and favors She laughed in spite OF
herself as six men on footStools scram-
bled in race their way across the room
to where six girls were seated awaiting
them-and of these damsels for partner
the winner had the choice. Hester had
been prominent in several figures; the
slim and graceful Puritan was admired
and in request, and it was not pour les
beauX yeux de sa cassette
Mrs. MacJaHeS, Il tIUly luulSi ooS OpJSNS
in the owl headdress. sat huddled in a
corner contemplating the scene. and SUI
fered nothing to escape her vigilance AS
a part of her outfit she had uSeful note
book in one hand and occasionally MADE
entries: for instance. that Miss Talbot
was wearing a Japanese kimono which
belonged to Mrs. Forbes land yet she had
heard that the Talbots and Forbes had
uuarreledD There was the old Tudor
woman. in her velvet and diamonds; she
10
well much good might it do her. Paul
de Sarazin had only danced once with the
heiress. after all the talk-thefe was
decided GOODNESS there; he was engrosseo
ture. and the good lady made note that
he had waltzed with her three tlmeS-pe-
sides going up to the gallery!
Among the other cotillon figures was
the we'll known one where a girl. seated
between two cavaliers. makes her selec-
ton. and a man has a similar opportu-
nifty with regard to two ladies. BY an
amazing coincidence Paul found himself
placed between Hester and his cousin
Dolores. OF course. he would choose hes
ter. for after all. in his heart she was his
choice despite her aloofness and reserve
yes said Hester to herself. in the
eyes of all BiarritZ he must DECIDE De
tween u.s. l shall accept this as a sign:
whatever he may DO now VIII aelerm NM
everything for me- $50 declared that
inner voice-a strange, memorable voice
Of i1dementD Her heart thumped wildly
her hands felt like ice; she dared not
raise her eyes AS she sat with downcast
gaze she presented a delightful picture OF
a pretty and demure Puritan, thrown into
marked distinction by her picturesque
and gorgeous companions. But IL hes
ter's gaze was on the floor it was other
wise with Dolores: she suddenly raised
her magnificent eyes and flashed a quick
challenge to Paul. Yes. their glance met
in a fellowship in which the English girl
had no share. .
well. why not?'' he said to himself:
sit was only a waltz! Dolores as part
ner was divine!
There was a brisk rustic beside Hester,
and when she looked up the two chairs
were vacant She sat alone in the middle
of the great ballroom. while Paul and la
Condesa gracefully floated and crcled
round her. So he had made his choice
and nut her aside! All the world would
know and understandable the world! On,
if she could only escape and hide her
humiliation, her sense of despair and
utter defeat: but luckily for appear
ances a partner now seized upon the
nretty Puritan and she was whirled away
from the scene of her misfortune.
Paul. the faithless, never approached
her for another dance: evidently she was
forgotten and he was in his element. In.
deed. the cotillon represented the end of
ali things. except the excellent supper
supplied by Ritz. Not far from her Hes
ter noticed her recreant lover and his
Fascinating companion eating. drinking
and making merry together. They sat at
a little table apart: as she glanced at the
coupie she caught Paul'S rowing eye. He
raised his glass to her and she bowed
her head in smileless acknowledgment