Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-07

I after two hours of recklessly swift riding
| in the Row. lunched alone at her club
| After lunch she wrote two telegrams-ont
addressed to Deerehurst's London house
| the other to the club he most frequented
| these she handed in herself at a telegraph
office, and. having dispatched them, drove
| straight home.
| At o'clock Nance returned to the fat to
be met by the announcement that her sister
had bad headache and had gone to hel
| own room. Full of concern, she flew along
| the corridor and knocked on Clodagh's door
! In very low voice Clodagh gave her leave
| to enter She opened the door swiftly; then
| paused alarmed. The blinds were drawn
| and by the subdued light she saw Clodagh
| lying on a couch near one of the windows
"Why, Clio. what's the natter"
| She ran forward and dropped on her
knees by the couch
Clodagh extended two rather cold hands
| and took possession of Nance's warm ones
Nothing but wretched headache. 1t
| will go If 1 lie down all the afternoon and
| keep quiet tonight
Nance looked up.
But how can you-at the play?"
I'm not going to the play
Not gong?"
Clodagh drew her sister closer.
Now, darling, don't make fuss. If you
say one word of objection, my head will get
ten times worse than 1t is. You are just to
listen. and do what I tell you. You are to
telephone to Mrs. Estcoit and explain what
has happened. She will do the chaperoning
instead of me-"
But Walter" ..-.-...
Walter is to go with you You are to be
as nice to him as you possibly can be. Evenly
thing is to be exactly as We arranged-ex-
actly arranged :
She raised herself on her elbow to enforce
the words. ..--.--'--.. .-...--'
And what about Lord Deerehurst?
Clodagh did not answer Immediately;
then, sinking back among her pillows, she
spoke in a somewhat hurried voice
TI,,y ,,,;n hn oil rio T nnk
advice and sent him. two messages, one to
Carlton House Terrace and to his
club. He won't be at the theater.' >,
But If he doesn't get the message? II
he comes all the same?'
Then be polite to him. And now go, like
a good child Don't ask any more ques-
tons. Don't say anything. Let me see you
when you're dressed, and I'll give you a
letter for Walter. I'm afraid / can't dine
with you: I'll just have something sent in
here Then, as if in sudden remorse, she
put her arms about Nance's neck and drew
her close to her.
Darling, forgive me, if l seem impossi-
BILE" -.......
At half-past Nance left the house, hav-
ing shown herself to her sister, made last
loving inquiry as to her health and taken
possession of the note for Gore.
AS she passed out of the bed room Clo-
dagh threw off the fur rug that lay across
her feet and sat up with an expression OF
sharp attention. AS the sound or the CLOS
ing hall door reached her ears she drew a
little breath of excitement and rose from
the couch with no appearance of her recent
indisposition.
without calling in Simonetta she changed
from the white silk wrapper she was wear
ing into black walking dress, and cross
ing to of the wardrobes, took out
black hat and veil
She scarcely looked at herself as she
smoothed her hair and fastened on her hat.
Beneath the enforced repression OF the
afternoon there burned in her mind GER
tain sense of adventure-of enterprise-that
turned her hot and cold. For though the
Irish nature may procrastinate, 1t takes
action with a very keen Zest when once
circumstance has compelled a decisive
step. ..-.. lf-' -.
Having finished her dressing, she picked
up pair of gloves, switched off the cleo
trio light and left her room. In the corri-
dor outside she met one of the maids; but
without giving the woman time to show