Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-08

put you mean something else. w nat Ii
Hannah stolidly continued to rake out the
remnants of the fire.
4 know nothin'," she said, obstinately.
Ask Mrs. Lawrence
But you do. l know by your voice.
What is it?''
An alert, unconscious note of apprehen-
sion had crept into Clodagh's tone. Her
wide
What is it, Hannah?'' she exclaimed.
What's the reason he wants to marry me?"
Sure no rason at ALL"
''Ohr
Clodagh made gesture of anger and dis
gust. Then she made fresh appeal.
Hannah, please
But Hannah went on with her work
Years of shrewd observation had taught her
the power of silence.
Then you won't tell me?
There was as, no response.
At last the old servant turned as though
pressed beyond endurance.
We'll" she said, with seeming reluctance,
maybe he'd be thinkin' 'twould be aisier
for wan of the Asshlins to be DRAWN out
of her husbands pocket than to be
But Clodagh interrupted. She turned sud
denly, her cheeks burning. her eyes ablaze.
Hannah" she cried, in sharp, panied
alarm.
But Hannah had said her say. With her
old, imperturbable gesture she turned once
more to her task.
II know nothin'," she murmured, obsti-
nately. IF you're wantin' more, ask Mrs.
Laurence
For while Clodagh stood transfixed by
the idea presented to her mind. Then, ac-
ton and certainty becoming suddenly indis-
pensabe, she turned on her heel.
Very well!' she said, tersely. Very
well! / will ask Aunt Fan"
And with Scant ceremony as she had
entered it, she swept out of the kitchen.
AS the door banged Hannah glanced over
her shoulder, her red face trimming with
tenderness.
''Wisha. tits all for the best" she muir
mured aloud. TITS all for the best. But
God forgive me for hurtin' hair Of her
headH e.
With feet that scarcely felt the ground
beneath Them Clodagh sped along the stone
passages that led to the hall, and from
thence assembled to the bed rooms. Her
senses were acutely alive, her mind alert
with an unbearable apprehension. A new
dread that. by the power Of intuition. had
almost become certainty, impelled her
forward without the conscious action of her
will. Without any hesitancy or indecision,
she traversed the long corridor, and. paus-
Ing before the room occupied by her aunt,
knocked peremptorily upon the door.
After a moments wait Mrs. Asshlin's
querulous voice was raised in response.
''Well?" she asked. what is it? Who's
there?"
"Cloda gh'
There was audible sigh. And the usual
Come in!' followed somewhat tardily.
opened the door.
In this room the blinds had not yet been
drawn up, and only a yellowish light filter
ed in from outside; in the crate a fire
burned unevenly and close beside it sat
Mrs. Asshlin, cup of tea in her hand,
black wooden shawl wrapped about her
shoulders. AS her niece entered, she
glanced round irritably, drawing the wrap
more closely round her.
Shut the door, Clodagh." she said. II
hate these big, draughty houses
Clodagh obeyed in silence, then, walking
deliberately across the room, paused by her
aunts chair Her face was still burning
and her heart beat unpleasantly fast.
Aunt Fam, she said. Il want to ask you
something. Why should Mr.. Milbanke
Mrs. Asshlin, startled by the suddenness
of the unlooked-for attack, turned in her
seat and peered through the yellow twilight
into her niece's excited face.
What on earth is the matter with you,
chi1d?' she demanded
Nothing. But I want to know
Mrs. Asshlin made gesture tantamount
to Struggling her shoulders.
1T is quite natural that Mr.. Milbanke
should be interested in you. He was your
fathers oldest friend 49,.
Yes. yes" Clodagh bent forward uncon-
trollably. And. Aunt Fan, has father died
poor? Has-has he left debts? That's what
want to know
Mrs. Asshlin moved nervously in her
chair.
MY GEAR Child she began, weakly.
HAS he? Oh, Aunt Fan, has he left
debts?"
She clasped her hands invoIuntarily.
Mrs. Asshlin was taken at q disadvan-
tage.
well" she stammered. "Well-"
He has left debts?'
well, yes. If you must know-he has
Clodagh caught her breath.
"Of course, as l often said Mrs. Asshlln
continued, poor Denis was terribly i'm
provident man.
But Clodagh checked her.
DON'T she said, family. II couldn't
bear it-just today. Are the debts big?'
Immense"
Mrs. Asshlin made the reply sharply. She
was not ill-natured woman but her
sense of dignity had been hurt.
AS the word was spoken. Clodagh swayed
a little The black cloud of vague liabilities
that hangs over so many Irish houses had
suddenly descended upon her. And in the
consequent shock it seemed that the ground
literally rocked under her feet. After
moment she steadied herself.
Must the place go?' she asked, in an in
tensely quiet voice.
Yes At least"
'.What?"
1T would have had to go, only
"Only for what?" In her keen anxiety,
Clodagh stopped forward and laid her hand
on her aunt's shoulder. only for what,
Aunt FAM"
Shaken and unneryed at the interroga-
ton, Mrs. Asshlin sat up with a start.
why do you do that Clodagh?" she
cried ''Why do you do that? You gave me
a palpitation of the heart"
But Clodaghs eyes still burned with in
quiry. "Why won't the place have to go?"
she demanded. How will the debts be
paid?'
Mrs. Asshlin freed herself nervously from
her niece's hand
MIR. Milbanke will pay Them" she said,
impulsively; then instantly she checked her.
SELF "Oh. what have 1 said!' she ex-
claimed. Don't pretend that l told you,
Clodagh. He is SO particular that you
shouldn't know
But Clodagh scarcely heard Her hand
had dropped to her side. and she stood star
ing blankly at her aunt.
You mean to say that he's going to pay
fathers debts-our debts?'
Yes. He even wants to put thej place
into good repair. Poor Denis seems to have
cast perfect spell over him.
Then We'll owe him something we can
never possibly repay!
Mrs. Asshlin drew herself up.
mot exactly owe she corrected. TT is
an--an act of friendship. The Asshlins have
never been indebted to any one for favor.
OF course, Mr.: Milbanke is a wealthy man:
and it's easy to be generous when you have