Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-02
VIII.


fronted with his antagonist in the very mo-
ment that he has laid down his challenge;
and at best Milbanke was no hero Never
theless ne recovered his equanmity with
creditable speed, and exchanging a quick
glance with Clodagh, scrambled hastily
over the remaining powders and reached
the road.
AS he gained it, Asshlin pulled up sharply
and dismounted from his big, bony horse
with all the deXterity of a young man.
With loud laugh of greeting he slipped
the bride over one hand and linked the
other in Milbanke's arm.
"Hullo,' he cried. Now who'd have
dreamed that I'd meet you like this? I'm
ashamed of you, James. Pom my word l
am. Philandering across the strand In the
fall of the evening as If you were still In
the twenties! It's with me you should have
been. We had the deuce of fine run
He paused to push his hat from his hot
forehead and to rearrange the brldle,
Clodagh who had followed Milbanke
slowly, stepped eagerly forward as she
caught the last words.
''Oh, father" she cried, tell us about it?
Who was there? Was the sport good? Did
the bay carry you well?
In her suddenly awakened interest 1t was
clear to Mibanke that the vital question she
had been discussing with him-the opinions
he had expressed upon this very existence
even were obliterated from her mind, her
natural youthful exuberance responding to
the idea of any physical action as unfail-
ingly as the needle answers to the magnet
And again the family poignant sense Of
aloofness and age fell upon him, as he lis
tened uncomprehendingly to Asshln's ex-
cited flow of words, and watched the bright
ardent face of the girl glowing out OF the
dusk.
They made curious trio as they covered
the stretch of road that led to Orristown,
and passed between the heavy, moss-groWn
piers of the big gate, entering the deep
shade of the avenue. With an instructive
Ii, Grcf COW
tiously guiding the animal over the ruts
that time and the heavy rains had ploughed
in the soft ground. Behind him came Clo-
dagh, Milbanke and their following of dogs.
Once again the thought of what the even
ing held came unpleasantly to Milbankes
mind as the shadow of the gaunt beech
trees and the outline of the great square
house brought the position home to him
afreSh. Lack Imagination as he might, he
realized that it was no light task to thwart
a man whose faults had been cultivated and
whose peculiarities- racial and personal
had been accumulated by quarter of
century of comparative isolation. But in
stinctively as the thought came to him, he
turned to the girl, whose erect figure had
grown indistinct in the gathering gloom.
Miss Clodagh," he whispered, though
may not understand, are you satisfied to
trust me?"
There was pause; then, with one of the
sudden impulses that formed so large
part of her Individuality, Clodagh put out
her hand: and for an instant her fingers and
Milbanke's touched.
To every one but Asshln the dinner that
evening was a strain. But the silence or
the uneasineSs of the others was powerless
to damp his enthusiasm. His appetite was
tremendous; and as he ate plentifully and
swallowed glass after glass of sherry his
excitement and his spirits rose. With the
ardor of the born sportsman, he recounted
again and again the details of the days
hunt-dwelling lovingly on the behavior of
the dogs and the horses and on the Prov
of his own mount Finally, he rose
from the table with flushed face, though
a perfectly steady gait and, crossing the
room, pulled the long bell rope that hung
beside the fireplace.
Now for our night, james, he cried.
Now for my revenge! Clear the table,
in answer to the summons. Get out the
cards, and bring enough candles to light
us all to glory" He gave a boisterous
laugh, and, turning with a touch of bra
vado. stood facing the picture Of his great
grandfather.
Instinctively. as he turned his back upon
the party, little Nance drew nearer to her
sister. and Clodagh glanced at Milbanke.
AS their eyes met he involuntarily stiff
fened his small, spare figure, and with a
quick, nervous manner nodded toward the
door
for her fathers self-control dominated by
her native interest in an encounter; then
Nance decided the matter by plucking hur
riedly at her sleeve.
Don't stop Clo," she whispered, almost
inaudibly, her small, expressive face puck
cred with anxiety. Don't stop. I'm fright
ened.''
The appeal was instantly effective. Clo-
dagh rose at once, and with one arm passed
reassuringly round the child's shoulder,
slipped silently from the room.
For some moments after the two had de-
parted, Asshlin retained his position; and
Milbanke. intently watchful of his tall fig
ure. held himself nervously in hand for
the coming encounter At last when the
cloth had been removed, the candles re-
newed, and the cards placed upon the ia
BILE, Asshlin turned, his face flushed with
anticipation.
That's goodr' he exclaimed. That's
good, With a fire, bottle of port and
pack of cards man could be happy in
hades! Not that I'm forgetting the good
comrade that gives flavor to the combina-
ton, James. Not that I'm forgetting that"
His smile had all the charm, his voice all
the warmth that had marked them long
ago. as he drew his chair to the table and
picked up the cards.
Milbanke Strengthened himself in his seat.
Come along, man! Draw up! Draw up
to the table! What shall 1t be? Euchre
again? Are you agreeable to the same
stakes?" Asshlin talked on, needless of the
strangely unresponsive demeanor of his
guest.
took the plunge he had been contemplating
all day. In the silence of the room, broken
only by the faint, comfortable kissing of
the peat in the fireplace and the rustling of
the cards as Asshn mechanically shuffied
them, he pulled his chair forward and laid
his clasped hands on the table.
Denis" he said, in his thin, quiet voice,
II am sorry-very sorry to disappoint you,
but | cannot play"
Asshlin paused in the act of shuff1ing and
laid the cards down.
What in the name of fortune are you
talking about?' he asked. His tone was
ndulgent and amused; it was evident that
the meaning in the others words had not
definitely reached him.
at is not a joke" Milbanke interposed
quickly. Il cannot-I do not intend to
play
Then for the first time shadow of COM
prehension crossed Asshlin's face-but 1t
was only a shadow With a boisterous
laugh he leaned forward and filled the
empty glasses that stood upon the table,
pushing one across to Milbanke.
Have a drop of port man. he cried.
Twill give you courage to cut"
He lifted and drained his own glass, and
setting it back upon the table, refilled 1t.
But Milbanke remained immovable His
thin hands were still clasped, his pale face
looked anxious.
Go on, James. You're not afraid of a
drop of wine?'
Again he laughed, but this time there was
an unpleasant ring audible in his voice.
Mechanically Milbanke lifted his glass to