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

1
During the night that followed Clodagh's
| excited thoughts scarcely permitted her any
| sleep; but with that extraordinary reserve
of strength that springs from the combina-
ton of youth and health she rose next
morning as fresh and untred as though she
| had enjoyed unbroken rest.
Coming down stairs at half-past s. the
| first person she encountered was Mibanke
| entering the hotel from the terrace; and
| spurred by her own exuberant spirits,
| reused to a sense of general goodwill by
| her own rosy outlook upon life, she went
quickly forward to greet him.
Good morning, James, she said. Il
| hope you haven't been firing yourself?'
| 1t struck her as an after impression that
| he looked slightly worn and fatigued.
AS he took her hand he smiled, gratihed
I by her concern.
Not at all, my dear" he responded
mot at ALL have had an hours excur-
| sion with Mr. Tones. l assure you 1 had
| no idea that the byways of Venice were SO
| interesting. No idea whatever"
| "All Venice is heavenly"
| Clodaghs glance wandered across the ter
| race to the canal, radiant in the early light.
Milbanke raised his head arrested by the
fervor of her tone.
| Then you-you enjoyed yourself last
| night?" he ventured, with unusual pene-
! tration.
| "Oh, so muchr' She turned to him with
| glowing smile that betrayed a warm desire
| for universal confidence and sympathy. so
| much Mr.. Barnard and the tall, dark
| haired boy that you met last-eyening took
] me all round the canals in the most beauti-
full gondola belonging to Lord Deerehurst.
| We saw all the interesting people from the
hotels and heard the music, and afterward
| Mr.. Barnard brought to the Palazzo
| Ugochini and introduced me to Lady
| Frances Hope. She was charmingly kind
| and hospitable, and made me promise to go
in IN
| Milbankes face fell.
| But, my dear" he began, deprecatingly.
| "Oh, you must come! You must! Lady
Frances Hope feels sure she has met you
| before You must comet!
Milbanke looked distressed.
But, my dear
| Eyes, 1 know you hate society. But just
! this once-I-I wish you to come
She made the appeal with a sudden anx-
| ious gesture, born of a very subtle, very
| instructive motive-a motive that had for
| its basis an obscure and quite unacknowl-
| edged sense of self-protection.
Milbanke-materialist born-heard only
| the words, noting nothing of the under
meaning.
| But, my dear" he expostulated, "the
| things isis impossible. Mr.. Angelo Tones
! has promised to expound his theories to me
| after dinner tonight"
He looked at her nervousy.
She was silent for minute or two-sud-
denly and profoundly conscious that, in all
! the radiant glory of her surroundings, she
stood alone. At the painful consciousness
| she felt her throat swell, but, with a de-
| fant refusal to be conquered by her feel
| ings, she gave quick. high laugh.
"Oh very well!' she cried. Very well!
| And without looking at him again she
| turned and entered the coffee room of the
| hotel.
| Having partaken of her morning meal
| with a haste that betokened unruly emo
| lions, she returned to the terrace, where
among the other early loungers-she found
Barnard reading his English newspapers.
Seeing her, he threw the papers down,
jumped to his feet, and came forward with
evident pleasure.
Good morning. he said, cordially.
o%er aft oln iast NIGHTS o dissipato ns
She took his hand and met his suave smile
with sense of relief.
Good morning, she returned, softly.
"Have you seen James? He breakfasted
hours ago." -
yes he said "Oh, yes! was talking
to him just now. He has gone to write let
ters."
ITO write letters!"
There was no curiosity and very little in
terest audible in Clodagh's tone.
$50 he said. And you! What are you
She looked up and smiled again.
'To idle" she said. Il have hereditary
gift for idling."
terrace with an air of pretended secrecy.
take me into partnership" he said, in
a whisper MY clients don't know it, but
I'm constitutionally the LATEST beggar alive.
Do not let me idle in your company for
half an hour? The canals are delightful in
the early morning"
He indicated the flight of stone steps
lowering hover in expectation Of a fare.
Clodaghs glance followed his and her
face insensibly frightened.
II should love II" she said
"Truly?'
She nodded
fright! Then the thing is DONE"
He hurried forward, and with little
thrill of pleasurable anticipation Clodagh
saw one of the lettering gondolas glide up
to the steps.
For the first few moments after they had
entered the boat she was silent, for In the
iridescent morning light Venice made new
appeal; then NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the
charm of her surroundings began to soothe
her senses, the encounter with Miibanke
melted from her mind and the subtle en-
yironment bred of last nights adulation
rose again, turning the world golden.
AS they passed the Palazzo Ugochin she
looked up at the closed windows of the first
floor, then almost Immediately she turned
to her companion. --.-..
"Mr Barnard" she said suddenly, 81
want to ask you a question. I want you to
And Barnard closely studious of her de-
meanor, felt insensibly that her mood had
changed-that by a fine connection of sug-
gestions, she was not the same being who
had stepped into the gondoia from the hotel
steps With genial movement he bent his
head.
Command me-" he said.
Before replying she took another swift
glance at the closed windows, then she
turned again and met his eyes.
TELL me why Sir Walter Gore is called
Sir Galahad'
He smiled.
"Gore?' he said with slightly amused
surprise. II didn't know you were inter-
ested in Gore"
IT am not. But please tell me. I want
to know
His smile broadened.
1.-THE nickname surely explains itself"
Somebody with an ideal? Somebody
above temptation"
PRECISELY"
She pondered over this reply for a mo-
ment then she opened "a fresh attack.
..Then why should Lord DeerehIrSt and