Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-05
KATHERINE CECIL THURSTOll
Author Of "Ths Masquerade" Etc.

| came forward into the room she was draw
| ing off a pair of channels gloves.
He hasn't come she asked, quickly
last gallop might have made me late. How
| lovely life isl She came quickly across the
| room, and, linking her arm in Nances,
! buried her face in the heliotrope. How
| lovely life is! And summer! And flowers!
| Do You know the sun today made me long
| for Orristown! Think of it ALL Nance!
dogs. Oh, we must all go there together
you and 1 and Pierce and Waiter" She
paused suddenly and looked at her sister
! Nance! You're cross"
| Nance refused to look up.
| Nance, you're cross!' Her voice. was
| less sure-less confident.
! Nance caught the tone of hesitancy and
| turned quickly round.
| Il wish Walter had driven through the
park ten minutes ago. she said. Il dol
| really, really do
| away from her sister.
| And l wish she began, hotly. Then
| she paused.
The door of the drawing room was thrown
open and Gore was announced.
| For one instant Clodagh stood hesitating,
| with II new and charming diffidence; the
next. all thoughts of self were blotted out
| by the consciousness of his presence-his
bright, strong presence, typified by his
| frank eyes, his clear, healthy skin, his
| close-cropped. fair hair. With a little eX-
|
! him.
In quick warm response he took both her
| hands.
! we'll" he said. well, It's good to see
you. How splendid you look! And Nance.
| tool He turned to the window with quiet
| cordially.
Can Nance find time to shake hands
| with a mere Englishman?"
| Nance laid down the bunch of heliotrope
| she was still holding.
And at the same moment Clodagh looked
! round impulsively.
Nance and 1 were quarreling," she said
| "Quarreling! What on earth about?"
Gore looked amusedly from one to the other
But Nance interrupted by stepping quick
| ly forward.
About nothing" she said. hastily. How
are you, Walter? I'm glad to see you!
E, But 1 must wash my hands before 1 even
| try to talk. Heliotrope is much stickier
than you'd think She looked down at her
| fingers, then laughed and moved across the
room: But as Gore hurried forward to open
| the door for her. she glanced up into his
| face with almost serious look.
I'm SO glad you have come back" she
whispered. Make up to her for the time
| you've been away
| Cores feelings were very pleasant very
| protective as he closed the door and turned
| back into the room. He was too essentially
! an Englshman to be demonstrative. but the
| leaven of sentiment that so often lies in the
| English character had always held a place
| In his nature In confessing his love to
| Clodagh, in acknowledging that love to
| himself he had indisputably swept aside
i some Observation-Disclosures born of inner
| ent prejudice. of certain stiff-necked dis
| trust of what he had begun by criticising.
| But they had been thrust aside. He had
| acknowledged himself stirred to the depths
i of nature by something brilliant and vivid
in her personality. He had made his choice.
| His whole expression, his whole bearing
was attractive as he came toward her; he
| seemed to carry about him a breath of the
| country-the clean, open spaces of the
! country. And her heart gave a throb of
pride and satisfaction, of complete, I'M
| grudging admiration. he took her hands
| again and drew her to him.
| ''Well!' he said. fondly. well! Have
you really missed me as much as your let
! tiers said?''
| ing in the joy of his presence.
| Wont you tell me-
| I'm a moment In one moment. Oh, Wal
| ter, the heavenly rest of knowing that you
care!"
Then suddenly shaking off her serious
| ness, she drew away from him. looking up
into his face with eyes that shone strangely.
| I'm not crying, Walter" she exclaimed.
| I'm only-frantically happy" She gave
little gasp. followed by little laugh.
| And Gore, carried away by her charm,
| by the unconscious f1attery of her words,
| caught her suddenly in his arms, and,
| bending his face to hers, kissed her pas
| sionately.
At last they drew. apart, laughing and
|
window and sat down upon the low Sill
second or two later he followed her
| "Well! And the fiance is perfection?'
| he said, smilingly. Little Nance looks very
| happy" He seated himself on the edge of
| the table strewn with the debris of the
F., heliotrope.
Clodagh glanced up, pleased and inter-
| ested.
Yes, Pierce is charming" she said, eager
| ly. and so are his mother and sister. 1
| told you, didn't 1 %
| Yes"
! 1--WE dined with them at the Carlton last
night, and they're coming here to tea this
afternoon l know you'll love them. Mrs
EstcOit has the most fascina ting
| But Gore made a rueful face.
| "Today!' he said. "Oh, you might have
| given me the first day.
Clodagh laughed happily.
"How greedy of you! This is to be a
family party
| Gore smiled
| "And Nance was decorating the room for
| the Sacrifice?' He idly gathered the stalks
| and leaves of the heliotrope into little
| heap.
The action was purely mechanical, purely
inadvertent. But he drew the broken
stems together small object, hitherto hid
den under the scattered leaves, was sud-
denly brought to light.
1t was very trivial, very undressing
sideration he picked it up and looked at It,
| Then with an extremely quiet gesture he
laid it down again.
| 1t bore the name of the Earl of Deere
hurst, and across it Clodagh's name and ad-
dress had been scrubbed in pencil
Go be continued tomorrow