Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-08
XIV.

A1b.
1t may be surmised without fear of mis-
conception that never during the smooth
course of his uneyentful existence had Mil
banke been so rudely shaken into self-com-
prehension as by Hannah's unlocked for on
slaught. Left to the placid guidance of I'M
aided instinct it is almost certain that he
would have left Orristown whenever the
hour of departure arrived, innocently I'M
conscious that any parting pangs could be
attributed to a personal cause. 1t is pos
sible that with the passage of time he might
have acknowledged that somewhere In the
inner recesses of his mind there was
shrine where one face, more changeful and
aluring than any otner he had known,
reigned in solitary state; but beyond that
tardy acknowledgment he would not have
dared to venture. Later still, perhaps. II
circumstances had compelled him to resign
his guardianship over Clodagh in favor of
some possible husband, 1t Is within the
bounds of reason to conjecture that UNDER
standing of his feelings might have come
to him when. having said goodbye to the
young girl just crossing the threshold OF
life. he returned to his home, newly and Bit
terly alive to his age and loneliness. But
now. in the light of present events. all such
suppositions had become valueless. AS If
by some powerful outside pressure, his eyes
had been opened and he stood daZed and
elated before the new road that opened
upon his vision.
His brain felt light and unsteady, his
limbs were imbued with a sensation of I'M
accustomed buoyancy as he turned. i'm
PEELED by Hannah's words, and moved
across the yard toward the arched gate
way. a half-admtted, intoxicating sense
of imminent action possessed him; and as
he walked forward it seemed that he scarce
ly felt the ground beneath his feet.
Almost without volition he passed from
the stone-paved courtyard into the sweep
of graveled pathway that fronted the
house. For the first time in his existence
he was conscious of being borne forward on
the tide of his emotions and the knowledge
had an exhilarating. unbalanced daring that
suggested youth.
As though he feared the evaporation of
his mood he made no pause on gaining the
pathway. but went straight forward toward
the house with a haste and impetuosity
very foreign to his formal nature On his
second entry into the hall he paid no heed
TO the chill desolation of the place, but,
crossing the Intervening space, began inn
mediately to mount the stairs.
Scarcely had he reached the highest step,
however. than he halted incontinently. For,
as though in direct response to the thoughts
that were filling his mind, a door on the
corridor opened and Clodagh appeared upon
the scene.
Seeing him, she. too paused, and in the
moment of mutual hesitation he had oppOr-
tunty to study her.
In her new black dress she looked slighter
and more immature than he had expected;
and the pathetic effect of her appearance
was enhanced by the paleness of her face
and the heavy purple shadows that Sleep
lessness and tears had traced below her
eyes. As the impression obtruded itself
upon him. his own nervous excitement drop
ped from him suddenly.
My poor chldi he said, involuntarily.
At the words and the tone she turned to
him impulsively.
oh Mr. Milbanke-'' she began.
Then her loneliness, her sense of bereave-
ment and desolation inundated her mind
With a short sob she moved abruptly away
and. turning her face to the wall, broke
into passion of tears.
The action was the action of a child. and
without hesitation Milbanke responded to
It. Stepping across the corridor he put his