Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-17
KATHERINE CECIL THURSTOIl,

Mr.. Serracauld have smiled when they
spoke of his meeting me?"
Barnard looked up in unfeigned astonish-
ment then he laughed
Upon my word Mrs. Milbanke" he
cried you are absolutely unique!'
Clodagh flushed. For one second she
waVered on the borderland of deep offense
then her mood-her sense OF the ridiculous
and the sunny atmosphere of the morning
CONQUERED She responded with a clear.
ringing laugh.
Il suppose I'm not like other neoDle she
said.
For which you should say grace every
nour or your life. Barnard turned and
looked into her glowing face But I'll sat
lsfy your curiosity. Gore is known In his
own set as man who obstinateiy-and
against all reason-refuses to believe in
well, for instance in the interesting young
married woman"
Clodagh's lips parted.
But what" she began. impetuously;
then she stopped.
Barnard continued to look at her
Isn't the inference of the smile some-
what obvous?'
Her glance fell
OH she said. "Oh. 1 SUPPOSE sup
pose | see"
Precisely"
But surely" she began afresh: then
again intuition interfered, though this time
10 different end. 1t not the moment
1t was not the atmosphere-in which to pa
rade ones sentiments. With the too ready
Facility of her countrywomen to adapt
suddeny and gayly at her own passing pru-
derry, and raised bright face to Barnard's.
And when he meets these interesting
young married women" she asked.
All. there he dubs himself Sir Galahad.'
He is never discourteous to exacting sirens
never bored--never unfriendly. He simply
declines to be affected by their singing.
Some people call him a saint fJr keeping
his eyes on the ground: others call him a
sinner for not picking up what he sees
there In reality he is neither sinner nor
saint. but just that enviable creation-a
man who is self-sufficing."
While he spoke, and for some time after
he had ceased to speak, Clodagh sat silent.
She was leaning over the side of the gon-
dola and looking down into the calm water.
her warm face set into a strange expression.
her hazel eyes half closed. At last she
spoke but without raising her head
And you are all waiting for the person
who will make him see the need of some
one else?"
She waited for Barnard's answer, but 1t
did not come. Sensitive to the silence she
raised her head Then her self-conscious-
ness left her, superseded by curiosity. AS
she looked up she saw her companion lean
forward and wave a cheerful greeting to
the occupant of a gondola approaching
them from the direction of the railway sta
ton. Involuntarily she changed her posi-
ton, and her glance followed his.
The passing of the two gondolas occupied
no more than couple of minutes. But the
incidents comprised i'm some minutes remain
with US all our lives. The approaching boat
was n large one rowed by two gondoliers,
for, though it had only one passenger, 1t
carried pile of luggage, much travel-worn.
Clodaghs eyes noted this, but they did
very briefly; for instantly the gondola drew
level with her own, her glance lifted itself
to the owner of the luggage-the man to
whom Barnard had waved his greeting.
She saw him with great distinctness, for
the early light in Italy is peculiarly PEN
etrating, and her first thought-a purely in
stinctive one-was that he possessed sail
Clean-cut
suggested a keen and intimate relationship
with natural elements: his healthly clear
skin was tanned by sun and wind. and his
eyes looked out upon the world with the
quiet reliance that seems n reflection of the
steadfast ocean. The first impression Of the
man was vaguely. daunting. There was
something self-contained, even cold, In the
erect pose of his tall, muscular figure. Then,
quite unexpectedly, his critic gained new
impression of him. AS the gondolas passed
each other he leaned forward in his seat.
his thin, clean-shaven lips parted In very
pleasant smile. f-t
"Ubiquitous as usual, Barnard" he called
In strong, fresh voice. II might have
known you would be the first man l should
run across"
He. raised his cap and Clodagh saw that
his hair was crisp, close-cut and very fair,
giving an agreeable touch of youthfulness
to his sunburned face. A---..
Barnard laughed, and responded with
some words of welcome.
The stranger smiled and nodded.
Come round and see me this afternoon
he cried, as the gondolas drew apart I'm
staying at the Franieli.''
"Who was that?" Clodagh asked, involun-
tarily, as the strangers boat glded out Of
sight Then she bushed suddenly. why
are you laughng? she demanded.
Barnard smiled
II am not laughing, Mrs. Mlbanke," he
murmured. Il assure you l am not laugh
ing. 1t is the merest smile at natures lit
tie bit of stage management. That inter-
estingly bronzed young Englishman is Sir
Walter Gore"
(To be continued tomorrow.)