Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-07

nocence: but we both know that such pretty
things are perishable.'
Clodagh sat perfectly still. She did not
attempt to withdraw her hand: she did not
attempt to rise. She sat watching him as
II fascinated. while hundred recollections
of looks, Of words, of insinuatons directed
Hope-by Rose Bathurst-by other women
of their set-strayed in nightmare fashion
across her mind.
Deerehurst sat watching her his hand
holding hers. his eyes steadily reading her
face. Then suddenly he gave a short laugh
! and leaned back in his chair.
Little actressI' he said.
The words, but more than the words. the
tone In which they. were spoken, reused
her. She rose incontnently to her feet, a
sudden memory of Serracauld and the card
room at Tuffnell sweeping across her mind.
Lord Deerehurst' she said. breathlessly,
there is some terrible mistake. You utter
ly, utterly misunderstood"
1t was DeerehurstS turn to show emo
ton. For the first time in her knowledge
of him the mask of impassivity dropped
from his face; his cold eyes cleaned I'M
pleasantly.
And how. little lady? 1 am not often
accused of misleading men-and women"
you think She paused unable to find
the word she needed. She felt like one who
has inadvertently stepped upon shifting
sands, where the ground had seemed most
secure.
You think she began again.
But she got no 1urtner- WIN a silent
movement Deerehurst laid his hand upon
her arm.
Don't you think we have fenced long
enough? Don't you think 1 have been eX-
traordinariy patient?"
Clodagh turned very cold.
PATIENT" she said, indistinctly.
He drew her suddenly closer to him; and,
before she could resist he had kissed her
hair, her lips, her neck.
Yes, patient, because I have never be-
fore asked for this. Because / have been
content to kiss your hand, when l might
long ago" He bent over her again. But
something in the white face and wild eyes
that confronted him arrested him. He
drew back and looked at her.
Come" he said. 1.-The play is over! Give
me kiss of your own accord
Clodagh said nothing. Terror mastered
her
Come, Give me a kiss!''
She lay almost passive in his embrace,
her lips parted. her eyes fixed on his.
He gave another short laugh, half indul-
gent. half triumphant
What a little SAINT Come, Show me
why you came to me tonight. Be human.
Be what you know you ara
Clodagh made no answer; but he felt her
sway a little in his arms.
What is it?" he asked, sharply. Selfish
annoyance was written his face, though
he asked the question solictously.
. II feel faint" she said; "a little faint,
for a moment Without ceremony he half
lifted her across the room to a couch that
stood between the fireplace and the door
Poor little girl. Don't be frightened 1t
will pass in minute. Is there anything
you would like?"
Clodagh opened her eyes.
"A little water, 1 think she said, in a
tremulouS voice.
His face cleared.
"Or some champagne? Nothing would
pick you up like a glass of champagne.
Why did I not think of it before? Lie per-
fectly STILL We will have some champagne
in one moment"
with the possibilities held out by the idea
he turned eagerly from the couch, and
crossed the room to the electric bell that
was placed beside his desk.
But quick as lightning the instant his
back was turned, Clodagh was on her feet.
With a movement SO swift and silent that
only fear could have inspired it, she slipped
to the door, opened it, and was speeding
down the long corridor to the stairs.
The house was silent. The upper portion
seemed darker than when she had arrived.
The hall alone lay brightly lighted-a place
of hope and promise figuring the world out
side-the good, wholesome world lying sud-
denly within her reach.
She ran down the broad stairs. Indifferent
to the fact that the servant who had adj
mitted her had risen from seat near the
door and was looking at her in frank sur
prise. Her ears We're strained to catch any
sound from upstairs, her eyes were on the
door.
AS she hurried across the hall the man
came forward.
do you require a cab, madam" he asked,
little doubtfully
mo. Just open the door,
Still with a shade of uncertainty he
obeyed, and at the same instant Deere
bursts voice sounded from the head of the
stairs.
What he said-whether he addressed her
or the servant-Clodagh never knew. At
the mere sound of his high, thin tones she
went blindly forward trough the open door.
AS she passed down the steps, cab
wheeled round the corner. of Carlton House
Terrace. Instinctively she looked toward
it, still animated by the desire for flight.
But the next instant she looked away
again, realizing that 1t already held fare
and that there was luggage on the roof
In the perturbation Of the moment she
failed to see. what was Infinitely more ma
terial, that the occupant of the cab was
Valentine Serracauld; that he had leaned
forward in sudden. eager curiosity as she
passed down the steps of the house to which
she was driving; and that, as she turned
her head in his direction, he had drawn
quickly back into the shadow Of his seat
Go be continued tomorrow
u ~ n