Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-12
XVIII.

kindled sense of anticipation. There was
nc particular reason why the idea OF
journey to Venice, for the purpose OF seeing
stock broker-even though that stock
broker was a personal friend Of Milbanke'
should be instinct with any promise; yet
the idea excited her. With the exception
of the journey to England with Nance. 1t
was the first time in four years that her
husband had seriously contemplated any
move not ostensibly connected with his
hobby. And the thought of Venice, the
suggestion of encountering any one whose
power to elate her. AS she left the break
fast table her steps unconsciously quick
eped; and Mick, attentively sensitive to her
altered gait, wagged his short tall, gave one
sharp, incisive bark of question, and looked
up at her with ears inquisitively pricked.
She paused and looked down at him.
mick. darling she whispered. "Imag-
inc Venice at night-the music and the
water and the romance! And just think" e.
her voice dropped still lower-"just think
what 1t would be to meet some one-any
one at all-who might happen to notice that
ones clothes were new and that ones hair
was properly done upi'
She bent down in a sudden impulse of ex-
citment and kissed his appraised head; then,
with quick laugh at her own impetuosity,
she turned and ran down the first flight OF
time-worn marble steps.
That was her private and personal recep-
ton Of the news. Later, returning with her
arms full of the roses that ran riot in the
garden, she was able to meet Milbanke
with a demeanor of dignifed calm, and to
answer his questions as to whether her
boxes could be packed in two days in q
voice that was dutifully submissive and I'M
moved.
But the two days of preparation were i'm
bued with a secret joy. There was new
and unending delight in selecting the most
beautiful of the dresses in her elaborate
wardrobe and In feeling that at last they
were to be seen by eyes that would under
stand their value For Milbanke, while
never restraining her craving for costly
clothes. had, since the day of their mar
rage. been totally unobservant and indif-
ferent as to whether she wore silk or home
spun: and on the occasions when outside
opinions might have been brought to bear
upon the matter-namely, the moments
when the archaeological excursions were
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of season or ex-
pediency had invariably limited her supply
of garments to the clothes that would not
show the dust or the clothes that would
keep out the rain But now the prospect
was different. 1t was still the season in
Venice; she would be justified in bringing
the best and most attractive clothes she
possessed. The thought was eXhtlarating;
life became thing of hustle and interest
Two and three times a day she drove into
Florence to make totally unnecessary pur-
chases; she wrote more than one long letter
to Nance; and INDUCED In many a protract-
ed and confidential talk with Mick as they
sat together on the edge of the old marble
fountain that dripped and dozed in the SUM-
BY hundred actions, obvious or obscure,
she made it plain in those days Of prepara-
ton that. despite the fact that her child
hood lay behind her, and that she had
known none Of the intermediate pleasures
of ordinary girlhood, she was a woman
whose heart. whose capacity for enjoyment
whose comprehension Of life was extraord-
inarily-even dangerously-young.
At last the day dawned upon which they
left the villa on the sunny hill-said good
bye to the wide. slow river. the riotous
roses and the STORYTELLING bells Of Florence
and took train for the north.
Through the hours of that railway Jour-
ney Clodagh sat almost silent. To her
eager mind. already springing forward to-
ward the enchanted CITY, there was no need
for speech; and the quiet. prim husband
seated opposite to her made no call upon
her imagination. He was essential to the
journey-as the padded cushion behind her
head or the English books and magazines
by her side were essential to it-and for
all positions, the position of an accepted,
familiar accessory. The early days of their
marriage when in her eyes he had taken
on new and dreaded aspect, were entirely
past. With his supersensitiveness and con.
stitutional self-distrust. he had withdrawn
somewhat hastily from the position of lover
to shelter behind the cloak of his former
guardianship. And Clodagh had hailed the
change of attitude with obvious relief.
Now, as she sat eagerly alert to gain her
first glimpse of Venice, she had almost for
gotten that those early days had ever ex-
listed. For the moment Milbanke was q
cipher. and she an ardent appreciative in
dividual undergoing new sensation.
Such was her precise mental position
broke upon her view. Rising straight out
OF the water, Venice seemed to her ardent
eyes even more the product of visionary
world than her dreams had made 1t. The
hour was Z. and from the many spires
and domes of the city warm CLEANS of
bronze or gold shot forth at the touch Of
the setting sun. But the prevailing note
of color that cleaned through the mauve
twilight was white-the wonderful, semi
transparent white of ancient marble back
grounded by sea and sky.
The effect made upon Clodagh's mind by
this white city wrapped in it's evening veil
was instantaneous and deep. With the ex-
ception of Florence, her knowledge OF the
beauties of Italy was very limited: and her
first glimpse of Florence had been gained
under such unproptious circumstances that
Its sheltered loneliness had never subse-
Quently appealed to her as 1t might other
wise have done. Now. however, her condi-
ton of mind was tranquil, II not happy;
and as the train sped forward she gazed
spellbound at this beauty at once so tangi-
Bile and so unreal.
To every traveller it must come with the
sense of dissertation that this most magical
OF cities Is approached by nothing less
prosaic than an ordinary railway terminus
And Clodagh gave a little involuntary gasp
OF disappointment as the train swerved sud-
world for a noisy station that might have
belonged to any town; and as she rose from
her seat. arranged her hat and collected
her books she wondered for one moment
whether the vision just hidden from her
view was in reality the handiwork of man
and not some mirage conjured up by her
own imagination. So strong was the feel
ing that she remained silent as she de-
scended from the train, and waited while
Milbanke saw to the collecting of the lug
gage: then. still without speaking she fol-
lowed him down the flight of steps that led
to the water. But there. as the prosaic
station vanished from consideration, and
Venice broke once more upon her view.
her emotions dominated her With a quick.
unconscious gesture she laid her hand on
her husbands arm.
''Oh. isn't 1t wonderful she said, in
hushed voice.
Milbanke turned to her uncertainty.
Yes, my dear" he said, absently Eyes
But" He shifted critically. But do YOU
not detect a distinctly unhealthy odor?''
Clodagh's hand dropped suddenly and ex-
pressively to her side. and she wheeled
round with unnecessary haste toward the
gondola into which the luggage was being
piled
But even this Earring incident could not
mar that first journey in the stately black
boat. Every portion Of the way was instinct
with Its own special charm From the wide