Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-24


She gave little Sigh, then a little laugh,
and seated herself
Lady Frances looked up from the cigar
cite she was drawing from he case.
"1llusions! she said Why, life Is all
Illusions at your age!, She paused, th.n
after a moments silence went OH again.
but in lower, more considered vo.cs: You
thought l was jesting at dinner, when
asked you to come south with me- But
wasn't. meant IT, She struck a match
and lighted her cigarette. You don't ancw
how you would enjoy Nice. You lest your
left in the delights OF roulette at Venice
Think what Monte Carlo would be!'
With a sudden tumultuous confusion, Clo-
dagh flushed.
IL have ceased to care about things
like that she said, In hurried voice.
Lady Frances expression changed to one
Of deep interest, sharpened by surprise.
Ceased to carer she repeated, softly.
"Since when? And why?'
Since = Clodagh hesitated - ''oh, since
that time in Venice"
Her hostess fiicked the ash from her Gig
arctic.
Some new nfluence?'
Clodagh was taken unawares.
IL have got to know myself better since
that time in Venice" she said below her
breath. Some ne-something-has made
me see that 1t was not my true self that
showed then. l was foolish in those days
I was carried away"
A very faint smile fitted across Lady
Frances lips.
Hdt iuSd ucioUSS " the SOulc Ouc ciSS:
she said. in a quiet. cordial tone that in
vited confidence.
Moved by a sudden impulse, Clodagh
leaned forward in her seat and clasped her
hands. AS on the day In Florence-the day
when she had written her letter to Laurence
Asshlin-her soul thirsted for confession.
After two long years of silent thought the
temptation to open her heart in speech was
overmastering. The room was comfortable.
dimly lighted, almost homelike; the hour
was propitious; her hostess voice was ex-
traordinarily kind. She stole one half-shy,
half eager glance at the averted face.
Lady Frances she said, suddenly, II
was very childish, very foolish that time in
Venice I knew it even before I-before
left"
With extreme tact Lady Frances refrained
from looking at her. Smoking quietly, she
made her next remark in a low, reassuring
voice.
Then that was why you left so sud-
denly?"
That was why"
Walter Gore must have been very, elo-
Quentr'
Lady Frances spoke in the same even
tone; but, as she felt the thrill of surprise
with which Clodagh received her words, she
turned quickly and decisively and met her
startled eyes.
back with you to your hotel on that last
night" she said. II always knew that he
read you very moral lecture
Clodagh drew quick breath.
but how did you know?'
Lady Frances studied her face for a mo-
ment; then she gave direct answer to the
question put to her.
Walter himself told me- she said.s
After she had spoken there was silence
in the room On her part 1t was the silence
Of the experimenter who has taken a step
in a new direction and is waiting for re-
suits; on Clodagh's it was the silence Of in
credulity. of doubt, of dread That Gore
should have spoken Of that last night in
Venice to any third person was circum-
stance that, at very least, needed explana-
ton. She sat breathlessly waiting that ex-
PLANTATION.
During the moment Of fruitful silence
Lady Frances Hope remained very STILL
lingering her cigarette. drawing in fitful
puifs Of smoke. avoiding with elaborate
carelessness any observation of her com
panonS manner.
Then, as if some psychological crisis for
which she was waiting had been achieved,
she altered her position and her expression,
and. turning. laid her hand upon Clo-
dagh's.
Dear Mrs. Milbanke," she said II am
glad all this has happened; am glad we
have met. You at a moment in your
life when you need a friend-a friend who
understands"
Her fingers frightened upon Clodagh's in q
warm. sympathetic pressure.
You are young; you are free: you have
the whole world at your feet. Don't spoil
your life by taking 1t too seriously.
When l was your age or only a little
have been left; but l was unlike you in
one PARTICULAR had a very wise and far
seeing mother to help me with her advice
Do you know what her advice WASP"
Clodagh sat silent.
1T was comprised in one sentence: Avoid
scandal but fly from sentiment! Do you
see all the wisdom in that advice to a wom-
an who has just become her own mistress?"
Still Clodagh was silent, filled by a sense
OF uncertainty, of loneliness of fear She
waited for Lady Frances explanation with
the numb sense Of helplessness that is born
of ignorance.
''Of course, 1 may be wrong" the strong,
reliant voice went on; but 1 feel you are
In need of just such counsel You are emo
tional: you are an idealist; you are coming
out into life expecting it to be a fairy tale
and 1t Is not fairy tale. 1t is realistic
story-sometimes long one, sometimes q
short one but always realistic. Take my
advice Make the best Of 1t as it is. Don't
break your heart because there are no
dragons or castles or princes"
spoke. 49,
very kind-very good But I
don't see what it all has to do with me-"
With frank, almost an afrectionate ges-
ture, Lady Frances took both her hands,
and. looking into her face. spoke the words
for which she had so carefully prepared the
way:
"1f what am going to say hurts you
you must forgive me. l feel such centuries
older than you that 1 can risk q great deal
1
your pleasure. because of one moral lee
ture. 1t isn't worth while. 1 know what 1
am saying. People like Walter Gore are
reprehensible. They take themselves so Sc
riously that sometimes other people make
| the mistake Of taking them seriously, too;
and then things go wrong"
Clodagh's face became a shade paler.
IL am stupid" she said family ~
don't seem to understand"
my dear. lit Is SO hard to say 1t bluntly"
please say 1t bluntly.'
For an instant the older woman hesitated
before the GOODNESS of Clodaghs tone; but
the next she took the opening offered her.
You are deliberately turning away from
| the best in life because some one, in a mo-
ment Of enthusiasm. preached you SER
mon. You make the mistake of thinking
| that Walter Gore did something unusual
when he warned you against cards and
roulette-against Lord Deerehurst and Val
| Serracauld and me-whereas, Walter was
born to preach"
Clodagh's lips parted. Lady Frances had
| justified herself Gore had spoken of that
| last interview. But why? And how?
Lady Frances" she said, very quietly,
why did Sir Walter Gore tell you all these
| things?"
Lady Frances freed the hands she had
continued to hold.
"Oh, we are old friends. He tells me
many things. fought more than one bat
| tie for you while you were In Venice-and
| afterward."