Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-10

as the carriage stopped: and when her aunt
came forward to greet them her first ques-
ton concerned IL.
Where's Larry. Aunt FAM" she asked.
My dear child. that's just what have
been asking myself. But come in, Come
into the bouse,"
Mrs. Asshlin was fustered by the -respon-
sibilitles of the moment
why wasn't he in church," Clodagh
asked as she followed her into the long,
narrow hall.
Mrs. Asshlin threw out her hands in a
gesture of perplexity.
How can | teli?' she said. Boys are
incomprehensible things. I'm sure err
James is not old enough to have forgotten
that?'
She glanced archly over her shoulder
Milbanke looked intensely embarrassed,
and Clodagh colored
Wen, we'd better not wait for Larry"
she interposed. hastily. You know what a
time II takes to get round to CloghSl with
that big barouche."
Mrs. Asshiin became all assiduity
Certainly! Certainly. my dear child! Mr.
Curry and his brother are already waiting.
Won't you come imp
With hospitabe excitement she mars led
them into the dining room and seated them
at table spread with good things
The room into which they We're ushered
though small. was bright and cheerful. and.
notwithstanding the season, there were
| flowers upon the table and mantelpiece But
even under these favorable conditions the
| lunch was scarcely a success. Mrs. Asshlin
was genuine enough In her efforts at enter
tainment; but the guests were not in con-
dition to be entertained. Ablbanke was in
| tensely nervous: Clodagh sat straight and
rigid In her chair. uncomfortably conscious
OF nsuDoroinate emotions that crowded up
at every added suggestion of departure.
Even the rector's brother-a BLUFF and
nearly parsonage who, out of old friend
snip for the Asshlin family. had consented
10 act as best man at the hurriedly ar
ranged wedding-felt his spirits damned.
while little Nance, who sat close to her sis
ter, made no pretense whatever at hiding
the tears that kept yelling into her eyes
Ii was with universal relief that at length
they rose from the table and filed out into
the hall. There, however. a new Interrupt
ton awaited. them. In the shadow of a
doorway they caught sight of Hannah. ar
rayed in her Sunday bonnet and shawl and
still breathless from the walk from orris-
town.
At sight of the little party she came -o, .;
ward with certain ungainly shyn; pGt,
catching a glimpse of Clodagh love con-
Quered every lesser feeling.
Let me have wan last look at her.' she
exclaimed, softly. That's all I'm wantin'"
And as Clodagh turned impulsively to-
ward her. she held out her arms
Sure l knew her before any wan OF ye
ever sat eyes on herr she explained the
tears running down her cheeks. go on,
now. miss-ma' am" she added brokenly.
pushing Clodagh forward toward the door,
and turning to Milbanke with an outstretch-
ed hand Goodbye. sir! And God bless
hard hand frightened over his. Take care
of her." she added. And don't be forget
| tin that she's nothn' but child still. for
all her fine height and her good looks"
She spoke with crude. rough earnestness.
but at the last words her feelings overcame
her. With another spasmodic pressure, she
released his fingers and, turning inconti-
nently, disappeared into the back regions
of the cottage.
For a moment Milbanke remained where
she had left him. moved and yet perplexed
by Ter hurried words; then, suddenly re-
membering his duties. he crossed the hall
and punctiiously offered his arm to Clio
dagh. ~.
THE carriage is waiting" he said, gently
But Clodagh shook her head.
please take Nance first" she murmured
| in a low. constrained voice.
He acquiesced silently. and as he moved
away from her she turned to Mrs. Asshlin
Goodbye. Aunt Fam she said And
tell Larry that I'm-that I'm sorry. He'll
know what it means
Her carefully controlled voice shook sud-
denly. as pride struggled with affection and
association. Suddenly putting her arms
round Mrs. Asshlin's neck she kissed her
thin cheek. and. turning quickly walked
forward to the waiting carriage.
There was a moment of excitement, q
spasmodic waving of handkerc1iefs the
sound of stified sob and the tardy throw
Ing of a slipper: then. with swish of the
long driving-whip the horses bounded for
ward, and the great, numbering carriage
swung down the hill that led to the Cloghal
road.
AS they bowled through the village street,
Ciodagh shrank back into her corner. re-
fusing to look her last on the scene that
for nearly eighteen years had formed a por-
ton of her life's horizon. The instructive
clinging to familiar things that forms SO in
tegral part of the Celtic nature was
swelling in her throat and tightening about
her heart. She resolutely refused to be
conquered by her emotion: but the emo
tion-strOnger for her obstinate suppression
f 0d fCfr "a nv,,tr 20 h4r II
moment she was unconscious of Milbanke
sitting opposite to her anxious and depre-
eating. and she dared not permit herself to
press the small, warm fingers that Nance
had insinuated into her own.
With lurch, the carriage swept round
the curve Of the street and emerged upon
the Cloghal road. But scarcely had Burke
gathered the reins securely into his hands
scarcely had the horses settled into a swing
ing trot. than the little party became sud-
denly aware that a check had been placed
upon their progress. There was an exclam-
alton from Burke. a clatter of hoofs as the
horses were hastily pulled up, and the
barouche came to a halt.
With a movement of surprise, ClodaRh
turned to the open window. But on the In
slant there was scuffie Of paws, the sharp
eager zap of a dog, and something rough
and warm thrust itself against her face.
"Mick!' she cried. in breathless. incredu-
lous rapture. Then she glanced quickly
over the dogs red head to the hands that
had lifted him to the carriage window.
Larry she said, below her breath.
Young Asshlin was standing in the middle
Of the road-red shy. and excited.
Il want you to take him. Clo." he said,
awkwa rdly, for a-for a wedding present"
For one instant Clodagh sat overwhelmed
by the suggestion. and next her eyes UNI
consciously sought Milbanke's.
May II" she said. hesita tingly It was
her first faltering acknowledgment that her
actions We're no longer quite her own
Milbanke started.
''Oh. assuredly.' he said. "Assuredly" =
And ClOdagh opened the carriage door and
took Mick into her arms.
For one moment the joy of reunion SUBJ
merged every other feeling; then she raised
glowing, grateful face to her cousin.
Larry" she began. softly
But old Burke leaned down from his seat.
We'll be late for the thrain," he an.
nounced. imperturbably.
Again Milbanke started nervousIy
Perhaps. Clodagh-" he began.
Clodagh bent her head.
shut the door. Larry" she said. And
and you were darling to think of itr'
Asshlip closed the door,
Goodbye. Nance! Goodbye. sir! Good