Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-28

porarily distracted from Its study of the
| nearer pictures. was attracted and arrested
by one portrait that hung in partial shadow
above the carved chimney piece. It was the
picture of tall, slight boy of sixteen or
seventeen years, dressed in the black satin
knee breeches. the diamond shoe buckles
and powdered queue of past generation.
Something in the pose Of this painted fig
ure. something in the youthful face caught
and held his attention. In unconscious
scrutiny he leaned forward to study the
Swallowed features; then Asshlin, suddenly
aware of his interest, leaned across the
table. -,.-
"'That was what 1 meant, James. by say
| ing one of them should have been a boy"
| he said, sharply. Haven't l justifca tion?"
| He nodded half earnestly. half in malicious
humor toward the picture above the fire.
then all a once he comprehended his hosts
| meaning. His gaze dropped from the pic
| ture to Clodagh sitting below it. Above
| the dark riding-habit and above the satin
| coat it seemed that the same olive skin,
| the same level eyebrows and clear, hazel
eyes confronted him.
81 see." he said, quietly. IT see. A very
peculiar case of family likeness
| He spoke affably, casually, in all inno-
| cence; but scarcely had the words left his
lips than he precpitately wished them back.
| With loud laugh, Asshlin struck the ia
| BILE with his hand
"Ah, good!' he exclaimed Good! Now,
| Clio. what have you got to say?"
But with a gesture quite as vehement as
IL.
| Il say that it's not true she said. "It
isn't true. I'm not like him." She glanced
! from her father to Milbanke with suddenly
| kindling eyes.
I'm not like him. she repeated. 81
| won't be like him.
Asshlin leaned back quickly in his chair
| He was still laughing. but shade of tenn
per was audible In the laugh.
| DO you hear that. james, he said. I'VE
| of the present generation are altogether too
! good for the past. A slip of a girl now
| great-great-grandfathe who was the finest
| horseman and the most open-handed man
| In Munster. That's the attitude of today"
| He moved aside as Burke re-entered the
room and laid a decanter of port and two
| glasses on the shining mahogany table.
My great-grandfather Anthony Asshlin,"
he went on. deliberately was as fine
specimen Of the Irish gentleman as ever
lived-I don't care who denies 1t. Have
| glass of port. James? We inherit his taste
| in wine.'
There was an awkward silence while he
filled the two gases and pushed one to-
ward his guest.
But Mnbanke's ease of mind had already
been upset. He held no key to the discon-
| certing situation. and 1t puzzled and per-
picked him his first impression Of his old
friend had done. Both possessed elements
that he vaguely knew to be hidden from his
| sight-out of focus from his present point
of view. For a space he sat warily finger
| ing his glass, but making no attempt to
drink Without openly seeming to observe
| it. he was conscious of Asshlin's half-hu-
morous, half aggressive mood, of the ner-
vous attitude of the younger girl, and of
Clodagh's flushed face.
To newly arrived guest the position was
strained. With growing embarrassment he
glanced from the rich, dark wine In his
glass to its reflection in the polished sur
| face of the table. Finally the awkward
ness of the prolonged silence moved him to
speech.
"A great-grandfather who was Judge of
| wine is always worthy of consideration"
he murmured, amiably as he lifted the
glass to his lips. I'm afraid mine was
But his feeble attempt at humor was not
destined to be successful. 1t drew a laugh
from his host, but it was a laugh that
You're right, Jamesr' Asshlin cried by
Jupiter, you're right! Anthony Asshin was
| the finest man in the county-and I'm proud
| of him."
He was the worst man In the county
and the greatest fool!
The words, SO sudden and unexpected,
came from Clodagh. For several seconds
now she lifted her head again. her flushed
| face glowing. her bright eyes alight with
the quick enthusiasm, the hot temper that
che had inherited from her race. With q
swift movement she turned from her father
| to Milbanke.
do you think It great to be fool-and a
gambler she demanded.
Asshlin set down his glass noisly.
Anthony Asshlin Yves no gambler" he
said. "He was q sport sman."
Clodagh's lip curled.
"A sportsman she exclaimed. as 1t
sport to keep gamecocks to play cards
| and throw dice? To squander money that
| belongs to other people? To mortgage your
property and to-to-to kill your brother?"
/ The last words burst from her impetuously,
| impulsiyely; then suddenly she paused,
shocked by her own daring.
The silence that followed was short. With
| an equal impetuesity Asshlin pushed back
| his chair and rose.
by CAD Clio. that's going too fart he