Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-10

trrevocable barrier between them in the
very dawning OF their renewed friendship.
So she had talked to him Of the craps,
while the boat carried them back acroso
the bay. And the sail hOmeward under
the scuddfng clouds. while the little boat
danced and dipped to the buffeting Of the
waves. had erased the passing gloom: and
now. as they climbed the steep pathway
and passed across the fields to the house.
Clodagh's heart was beating high in her
own egotistfcal JOY at the mere fact OF life.
,, She laughed out of sheer pleasure IS
they passed round the house and four or
FIVE dogs rushed forth from the hall to
greet them. and. STOPPING impulsively. she
rough head.
Larry. do you remember how you won
MIN from me long ago and how nobly you
gave him back? have never forgotten IT. y
She smiled affectionately at her tail young
cousin. and, freeing Mick, led the way into
the house.
On the shabby hall table where the silver
sconces stood as of old, lay small heap
of letters, and, with an exclamation of
pleasure, Clodagh ran forward and picked
them up. passing them hastily In review.
There was thick. important-looking one
from Nance. And-yes! the first letter
from Gore-the letter she had been waiting
for.
For an instant her face fell. 1t felt tiir
and disappointing, as she held the envelope
between her fingers. But almost at once
1t cleared After all. men had not as much
time as women for the writing of letters.
And this had been written on the day of
her. departure. She looked at the post
mark ondon-10:30." OF course he had
only had time to scribble line How good
and thoughtful of him even to have sent
that line! She turned and looked at Larry,
her face radiant once more.
Larry, she said, will you tell Burke
that we'll dine in half an hour. If Hannah
has everything ready? And tell them to
have candles in all the sconces 1t is to
hr inn - L. ~,
pleasant little laugh and turned towards
the stairs, closing her fingers over her
letters In a delightful, secret sense Of an
ticipatf0n and possession.
Her own room was filled with q cold
gray light as she entered tia peculiar
light drawn from the wind-swept sky anS
the pale, agftated waters-and she noticed.
as she crossed the threshold, that the wind
roared dFaughtfly down the wide chimney
in way that suggested autumn and
autumnal gales. But the circumstance
made little impression: she carried her own
Gore had written
In second impulse of love she laid the
others aside and opened Cores envelope.
Drawing out the letter, she held it for a
moment against her face. On this paper
ms hand had rested when he wrote to
her There WAS sense of personal contact
IN the mere thought. Then, at last. with
a smile at her own sentiment she opened
II SLOWLY and smoothed out the pages
Inc written lfnes-scarcely more than a
dozen IN number-danced for an instant
DeIore her eyes. then focused themselves
with terrible distinctness.
Ihere was no formal beginning to the
reuter- IL was merely a statement made In
shaIp, uneven characters, as though the
sender had written under great stress
great emotion or resolve It began:
I find that you have treated me with an
unpardonabie want of honor and want Of
truth on q matter that concerned me verv
oeepiy-the matter Of Deerehurst: and II
seems to me, under the circumstances. only
just and right that our engagement should
come TO an end. A marriage built upon
such basis could only have one termina-
ton II this seems hard or abrupt. I can
only say that the knowledge Of my mistake
mas come hardly to me. shall go abroad
again as soon as can make my plans I
am glad to think that, as no one but YOUR
sister knew OF our engagement my action
can cause no public comment or, unpieas-
antness Tor YOU WALTER GORE"
Ciodagh read the lines-read and reread
them For the first time In her life her
quick brain failed to respond to first sug-
gestion; then. at last, though the cloud
that ooscured her mind had been rent
asunder, conception of all that the letter
convened sp-ang to her understanding.
Walter had written this letter Walter
had given her up. Her face became very
white; she swayed a little, looking about
her vaguely, as If for some physical aid !:
then suddenly revolt took the place OF
panic. 1t was all some horrible mistake
she must go to hinl-rend the web of doubt
that had divided them-if need be, humble
herself, show him the greatness of her love.
until he must condone-must forgive-must
reinstate her in his heart.
Moving swiftly, she crossed the room to
the fireplace, drawing out her watch as she
went. With a good horse she might still
catch the last train from Muskeere-take
the night mail from Cork to Dubiin-cross
to Holyhead In the morning, and be back
in London tomorrow.
Size lifted her hand to the frayed and tas-
seized bell rope that hung from the ceiling;
then. by a strange impulse, her arm drop
ped to her side
When her journey was accomplished
when she met Gore-what had she to ex-