Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-03

Action-decisive action-always brings re.
lief An hour after 1t had come into hel
possession Clodagh had dispatched Deere
bursts check to her bankers in London
and when. at O'Clock, she entered Names
room with the intention of dressing for the
nights festivities, she was carrying check
from her own book.
AS she came into the room Nance was
kneeling before her trunk, but at the SOUND
of the closing door she looked round and
then sprang to her feet with cry OF de-
light. ..,
''Clo!" she cried, running forward. "Clo
how lovely Of you to come! Shall we dress
together like long g., ago. Ihen nef e EYE
hand. What Is that?' she asked GU
riously
Clodagh looked down at the check.
with faint laugh. Here is your thou
sand pounds darling: May it be enough te
buy everything in life worth having!'
Her voice faltered on the last words, but
the touch of emotion was lost In a sudden
embrace from Nance, ~ ,o,
ooh, you Darlington love-! she cried
"a thousand pounds! l feel queen!
She drew back little, flushing with excite
almost reverently. "And can I really
really get thousand pounds by signing
my name on the back of this? l can't be-
lieve it, you know-I simply can't"
one raised ner SHINING eyes " SloudSA o
Clodaghs face softened.
"Oh. you child" she said. You child
1t makes me remember our weekly pennies
just to listen to you. How poor-and how
very happy-we were long ago! DO you
remember"
Nance gave little cry of recollection.
Remember, Clio! Could forget?'
Then followed another impulsive embrace
and a quarter of an hour had slipped away
before the entrance of Simonetta with Clo-
dagh's dress recalled them to the knowl-
edge of present things.
Five minutes before the dinner hour had
struck the sisters entered the hall. At the
foot Of the stairs Nance was detained by
George Tuffnell, while Clodagh, left alone
for the moment, was at once claimed by
Serracauld.
He came forward from one of the win
dows, moving with his usual graceful In
dolence, and, pausing beside her, looked
intently into her face.
You look radiant tonight" he said.
She laughed.
Can one ever look radiant in black?''
Serracauld's eyes passed slowly from her
face to her slim, white neck.
Yes he said in his COOL deliberate
voice.
She gave another laugh, slightly shorter
and more conscious than the last, but be-
fore she could speak again he moved a
trife nearer and laid his fingers lightly on
her fan.
And how many dances am I to have?"
Il told you l must not dance-yet."
And 1 told you that I would not make
you dance. How many may l have?"
He bent very close to her, then frowned
a little and drew away again as Lady
Frances Hope, followed by her special
coterie, came toward them across the hall.
you'll give me the dances?" he asked
quickly.
Clodagh glanced at the approaching
party, then bent her head in assent.
And which,
His tone was eager.
THE frst-at least she said.
With a faint, satisfied smile he turned
and moved away.
Dinner that night was very lively meal.
Everybody seemed imbued with the spirit
of the coming ball and anxious to display
a personal sense of anticipation. After the
company had risen from table Clodagh and
Nance met again in the hall by previous
arrangement and retired to their rooms
that Smonetta might put some finishing
touches to their hair and dresses and that
they might get the bouquets they were to
carry at the dance.
AS they mounted the staircase side by
side. Nance, after the custom of old days,
Slipped her arm through her sisters.
"Clo," she said softly, you are excited,
too! l can feel it,
Clodagh smiled little.
We'll it is my first dance
Nance halted and looked at her.
Why, of course it is! And you must feel
like did the night of Mrs. Estcoits ball.
i
ooh, darling" she added. fancy my not
realizing that you had never been to a
dance! 1t must feel lovely and strange to
your
Clodagh' drew her onward up the stairs.
Yes; it does feel different from anything
else. OF course, l sha'n't dance; but then
people may ask me toto sit OUT
May? I wonder who won't ask your
Nance's eyes spoke volumes they trav-
eled from her sisters face to the long lines
of her soft black dress.
Arrested by the look, Clodagh spoke again,
abruptly, and little anxiously.
Nance, why do you say that?'
Say what?"
THAT people would ask me for dances
that people would care?"
Again Nance paused and looked at her.
Il am nearly angry with you for asking
anything SO silly" she said, after second s
pause. But 1 won't be. I'll forgive you.
Though you know perfectly well that there
isn't man here who wouldn't sit out-or
dance-or do anything in the world with
you, from now till Doomsday.'
She looked up laughingly, but as she did
so her own expression fell.
"Clo, you're angry?"
Clodagh patted the hand that lay upon
her wrist
Angry, darling? No. Only thinking how
wrong you are.
'Wrong?"
Yves; 1 know one man who would not
dance with me. even Tiff were to offer
him a dance
She made the confession swiftly, in ODE
dence to a sudden impulse.
Nance looked at her afresh in involuntary
curiosity.
"Clo-"
But Clodagh raised her head in half
defiant return to reticence.
Don't mind me-" she said. After all
no one man should fill anybody's world
should he? Come along! It's half-past 8
and hear the first carriages
And without waiting for Nance to reply
she swept her down the corridor to the
door of her bed room.
The presence of Simonetta precluded the
possibility of further condolences; and ter
minutes later, as the sisters again emerged
upon the corridor, the appearance of Lad,
Frances Hope from the door of her owr
room deprived Nance of the moment fol
which she had been waiting.
Seeing them, Lady Frances came forward
smilingly.
How charming!" she said. "a study IL
black and white! Where did those won
derful roses come from, Clodagh? They
are nearly as dark as your dress?'
Clodagh looked down at the damask rose!
in her hand.
Yes. Aren't they nearly black?' she
said, easily. II was saying to Lord Deere
hurst the other day that there were ne
flowers one could wear in mourning. AnG
today l found these in my room. He hat
wired for them to Ambleigh. 1t was yer,