Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-30
THE GAMBLER
KATHERINE CECIL TFIURSTOll,
Author Of The Masque
by resrvedJ
THURSTOIl,
KATHERINE CECIL :
Author Of 1.-THE Masquerader," Etc.

feldt and Lord Deerehurst!' She looked
with graceful interest toward the men.
Deerehurst cut four, then the MIL
lionaire followed with a two.
Mrs. Bathurst's face flushed with pleasure
"How strange!" she murmured. DO you
mind having very stupid partner, MT:
Mansfeldt?' Her large brown eyes rested
on the rich mans face exactly as they nae
rested upon Deerehursts In the days at
Venice.
Observing and compromising this by the
light of recent knowledge. Clodagh gave q
sharp amused laugh. =
Il think every-o is satisfied. Rose" she
said. Now. about points! Lord Deere
hurst, what points?"
Deerehurst bowed complacently.
What you like. partner. Our usual forty
Shillings a hundred?'
"Or twenty shillings hundred?" sug-
gested Mrs. Bathurst with deprecating
smile at Mansfeldt.
Again Clodagh laughed.
You are getting very modest, Rose DO
| you remember the last time we were oppo-
| nents at bridge? But won't tell tales out
| Of school,
! Mrs. Bathurst looked annoyed.
would it be quite wise?" she asked,
| sharply
But Deerehurst interviewed.
well" he said, shall we decide on forty
shilling points? Mr.. Mansfeldt' do you
| agree?"
Mansfield, who was an intensely reserved
and silent man, looked UP internationally.
| Il am in your hands, he said; and, fOl-
| lowing the example already set by Clodagh
and Mrs Bathurst, he seated himself at the
! card table.
| Very well. Forty-shilling points" Deere
| hurst also seated himself and began to col
| lect the scattered cards.
But with a swift gesture Clodagh leaned
| across the table and placed a. OBTAINING
hand over his
'Waitr' she said. Lets make it eighty
| shilling a hundred!''
Deerehurst raised his eyebrows. and the
| Of a cnrfOuSlY
Mrs. Bathurst made little affected excla-
nation of dismay.
up!'
Once again Clodagh laughed shortly.
Then trust to luck You're more lucky
than I am" Her voice was high and
charged with excitement; her eyes looked
hard and very bright.
Deerehurst's cold glance rested for a mo-
ment on her face.
You really want excitement tonight" he
She threw up her head with a reckless
movement.
Yes: do want excitement. Rose. will
you agree to eighty-shiling points?'
Mrs Bathurst allowed her gaze to flutter
prettly from one face to another until 1t
finally rested upon Mansfeldts.
will you decide. partner" she said, in a
| confiding whisper.
Mansfield looked at her for an instant In
slight embarrassment; then he appeared to
regain his stolidity of bearing.
You may play" he said. decisively: and
| faint. indescribable smile fitted across
Mrs. Bathursts lips as she sank back into
her chair
| 1t was nearly two hours before the steady
progress Of their play was interrupted by
, any remark not directly connected with the
! game; then, at the conclusion Of the second
5 rubber. Clodagh looked across at Deere
hurst, as If obeying sudden impulse.
II bring you bad luck. partner" she said
e quickly.
Mrs. Bathurst laughed
''Unlucky at cards. lucky in love! HI
won't complain Clodagh.
z Deerehurst smiled calmly.
rs 1t well to aver that?" he said "Lool
y at your own score!
j She laughed again-a laugh of complete
: satisfaction.
r "Ah. but owe that to my partners play
d not to luck! Shall we lower the points, Clio
dagh? You are horrible loser
3 Clodagh's hot cheeks flushed a deepe
g red.
t Lower the points! 1 would rather rails
II them. But aren't we losing time? Deal. Mr.
d Mansfeldt. please! Her excitement wa
l. obvious. Her lips were obstinately set, ant
| her fingers tapped the table in nervous i'm
" patience.
g A third rubber was begun and finished
e then a fourth and fifth; and very grad
y ually. the play continued, the sound
e throughout the house became fainter an
It fewer At first the tones of Lady Diana
l. voice had floated up from the music room
and the usual hum of applause had sue
lie ceeded. to be followed in it's own turn b.
1t more music. Song after song had bee
70 sung: then had come the sound of talk an
ir laughter, as the party from the music roor
Ia evidently adjourned to the garden. Blu
N slowly these sounds had lessened. TIL
IN laughter had ceased: and the entertainment
lie out-of-doorS had died down to the murmuI
er ing of two mems voices and the slow pac
t. ing of a couple of pairs of feet up an
down the terrace beneath the card ROOF
p window. At last even this had ended wit
to the heavy shutting of a door. and save fo
the occasional distant sound of a closin
d. window silence reigned in the house.
The sixth rubber was drawing to It's clos
when the door of the card room opene
ell quietly and Lady Diana entered, lookin
slightly tired and pale.
She came forward to the table and stoo
LII looking at the players.
:" Don't STIR she said. L only came
mt see that you are all right. Who has bee
lie lucky?'
e. Mrs. Bathurst looked up seH-confidently
nd I'VE have-enormously. she said. Mr.
Milbanke was most daring, and double
g. our ordinary stakes. The results have bee
n wonderful-for u.s."
indeed" Lady Diana's voice sound'
cit unusually cold. and Clodagh was conscfo'
Is that her observant eyes had turned upt
her.
he But she played on without looking up.
I'd At last the final trick was won. the SEQ
reckoned up and the players rose.
,e- Deerehurst pushed back his chair al
looked about him speculatively.
nix 'It feels Later he said. What is t
ID time, Lady Diana? Ny conscience begi
to trouble me-.
Lady Diana smiled little conventional
dy II think 1t lis about half-past o. she a
lat swered
ty. "Oh, Lady Diana, how wicked Of us
lc- Mrs Bathurst affected a charming pei
we tence.
Mansfield looked genuinely uncomfol
zee able and distressed.
ok 1--WE owe you apology" he said. ~
er. have kept you from your rest"
But Lady Diana graciously waived
D apologies aside"
tly ut is nothing! Nothing" she assur
them. I'VE not so rustic as all tn;
rst Lord Deerehurst, you and Mr.. Mansfel
Is will find George in the smoking room" 8
"a gave the suggestion with her usual hi
re- pitable warmth: but the smile that acco
panied the words was not the smile she h
re- given to Clodagh the evening before
er. | that morning at breakfast
lat And Clodagh, keenly sensitive to this
re, tered bearing. stood silent. offering no ap
me ogy. At last, as though the tension of t
RS. | position compelled her to action, she h
he | out her hand in a half-dimdent, half-t
lid 6ant Gesture
Good night, Lady Diana. Good mig
re- Rose. Good night, Mr.. Mansfield &c
es- night" Last Of all her fingers touch
Deerehust's. and as his cold hand clos