Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-01

AT IL o'clock on July Nance was TO ar
rive at TGfnelL Her boat reached Liver
pool on the Sd; but it had been arranged
that she was to spend the night on board
and take an early train to buckingham
shire the following morning.
At 10 O'Clock Clodagh. wearing hat and
veil. and drawing on her gloves. left her
bed room and descended the stairs. Taking
advantage of Lady Dfana's arrangement
that all the guests were at liberty to break
fast in their own rooms, she had elected te
avoid the family meal. at which her IN
stlnct told her Gore would be present. After
last nights mental crisis the idea OF en-
countertng his polite avoidance would have
been intoierable.
As she passed down stairs now. with slow
and sobered steps, she half paused as the
bury figure of George Tuffnell appeared al
the open hall door; but her hesitation was
not permitted TO last. for instantly her host
caught sight of her he came forward he's
pitably. And new shame woke in her as
she realized that Lady Diana 1uffnell had
preserved silence even to her husband upon
the subject OF last nights incident-or al
least upon her share in 1t.
''Halloo. Mrs. Milbanke"' he cried, cheer
fully. Has the London atmosphere got
imported with our guests? These are Lon
don hours. you know
lie strobe up to her. followed closely by
a couple of dogs. and seized her hand cor
daily.
Ciodagh gaze little, embarrassed iaHsh
and instant.J stopped to caress the dogs.
IL feel ashamed of myself she said hur-
riedly. You and Lady Diana must forgive
me But I was very tired last night
TuffneIl waived the matter good-na-
turedly.
Don't apologize, Don't mention it, But
you should be thinking about the train.
was just coming to tell you that the trap Is
ready whenever you are. 1t was DIS idea
to give YOU the trap: she said you'd hate
a big conveyance that would tempt people
to offer themselves as escorts He laughed
In his hearty, untroubled way. 'One of the
men will drive you over. but you can get
rid of him at the station. He'll come back
in the dog-cart with Miss ASShin'S lug
gage"
Again Clodagh bent to pat the dogs.
How kind of Lady Diana"' she muir
INJURED. I haven't seen my little sister for
years and years. You know.
you'll find her changed, I'll guarantee.
Children do spring up" He gave loud.
contented sigh. But shall 1 order the trap
round? Or do YOU want to see Di first?
II think IH-I'n see Lady Diana later
If IL will not seem ungracious-"
.'Ungracious? Not bit, I'll get the
trap" He turned and swung across the
sunny hall. whlstling to his dogs; and Clio
dagh. still quiet and subdued, walked slowly
after him to the door,
No one was about when the small trap
was brought round from the stables. fol-
lowed by Tuffnell and the dogs. And as
Clodagh came down the steps the two
animals pressed forward with upturned.
eager faces; and the friendly appeal in their
faithful eyes touched her to remembrance
of many gray and misty mornings, when
Denis Asshlin's high, old-f shioned trap
would sweep round from the Orristown sta
ble-yard, and dogs such as these would
plead passonately for share in the i'm
pending journey. A dry. painful sensation
seemed TO catch her throat
MAY they come with me?' she asked.
softly. Il love animals. | had to send my
own Irish terrier home to Ireland when I
gave UP my house in Italy-and nothing has
ever quite taken his place. Do let them
come. They would be so goodr'
The two dogs looked swiftly from her face
to their masters
But George Tusfnell pretended to be stern.
NOT he said. loudly. NO, Dick and
Tom can't go TO the station todayr'
Instantly the two tails dropped.
Come. Myers he called to the groom.
Mrs Milbanke has no time to spare Dick,
Clodagh as she stepped into the trap, and a
moment later the groom took his seat and
picked up the reins.
Then suddenly he broke into a shout of
genial laughter.
You vIlainsi' he cried. "Off with you,
Away with your And with yelp of wild
delight the dogs sped down the avenue
Clodagh scarcely noticed the details of
that swift drive, for n nervous sense of ex-
element and trepidation banished her DOW
ers of observation. And as she stepped
from the little trap and entered the small
country station she could scarcely COM
mand a steady voice in which to ask
whether the train was yet due.
The train proved TO be overdue by three
minutes. and the knowledge brought an
added qualm of apprehension.
What II little Nance were utterly
changed? What IL America had spoiled
her? But her thoughts and fears were
alike broken In upon by long. shrill whis-
tie: the expected train doomed round a curve
In hg inc nd ninm at rad re
way into the station.
There was a second of uncertainty; then
somewhere in the front of the train a door
was flung open, a small. slight figure in a
muslin dress sped down the platform, and
two warm arms were thrown about Clo-
dagh's neck. bridging In one moment the
gulf of years.
The sisters held and kissed each other
regardless of the one or two country pas
sengers who had alghted from the train
and the two grooms from Tuffnell who were
waiting for Nance's luggage Then at last
the younger girl drew away. and. still holx
ing Clodagh's hand. looked at her inteutly.
~'Oh. Clo!" she cried. How lovely you
arer'
At the old name. the old. candid admira-
tion, tears rushed suddenly to Clodagh s
eyes.
Tim not. Darlington not But you are
eweet-and the same. oh. the very same"
She laughed with break I'm her voice
then, as two porters came down the plat
bered the necessities of the moment.
us this yours?'
Yes: my American clothes. Do / look
very American"
''You look sweet. Myers she added tc
the groom. who had come forward, this is
Miss Asshlin's luggage. And will you
please go back in the dog-cart? 1 want Il
drive the pony home.
Myers touched his cap.
Very good. ma'am."
He turaed and passed out of the station
Nance pressed her sisters hand with one
OF her old. shy laughs that sounded In
finitely sweet from grown-up lips.
"Clo. 1 can never get used to your being
called 'ma'am.' Do you remember the peo-
pie at San Domenico, who would call you
'signorina,' when poor James
She stopped abruptly, coloring at her UNI
considered mention Of her brother-in-iaw.
"Clo, tell me all about Tuffneli Place."
she substituted, with another sympathetic
pressure OF her fingers. Tell me about
Lady Diana and Mr.. Tuffnelli 1 think
should hate to be plain mister If my wife
had tide. And all about Lady Frances