Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-20
XVI

The next day Clodagh made one Of party
! to Lido, and the same night accompanied
| Lady Frances Hope, Deerehurst, and Ser
racauld to q theater. but on neither occa-
sion did she meet or even see. Sir Walter
| Gore.
| On the afternoon Of the second day. how
| over. he again appeared upon the scene Ok
her interests. and in an unexpected manner.
The hour was 8, and she. with Barnard
and Milbanke was seated on the hotel ter
| race chatting desultorily in the warmth Of
the early evening
While they talked a gondola glided up to
the hotel steps, and in the glow of the wan
ing sun they saw Gore step from the boat
pause to give some order to the gondolier.
and then mount the stone steps.
| They all three saw him simultaneously.
Clodagh to her own annoyance, colored.
and Barnard smiled in his observant quiz
1zfcal fashion.
to see me this afternoon. Mrs. Milbanke- .
| he said. in an undertone. II had fancy
+ that you might run away.
t The flush on Clodagh's face deepened.
Run away! she exclaimed, in angry
haste.
| But Barnard rose without replying and
! went forward to meet his visitor.
Having greeted his host, Gore turned to
Clodagh.
How d you do, Mrs. Milbanke?" he said,
| raising his hat. Then he looked interroga-
| lively at Milbanke.
Barnard made a sweeping gesture.
I my old friend. Mr.. James Milbanke." he
! said. James, Sir Walter Gore"
Milbanke looked up quickly, and the
younger man held out his hand with a
pleasant touch of cordially.
"How d you do. sir?' he said. "Are you
making a long stay in Venice?"
! With a friendly movement he pulled for
ward one of the wicker chairs and seated
himself beside Milbanke.
! Clodagh, leaning far back In her own long,
low seat. looked at him curiously. Uncon-
sciously the remembrance of Serracauld' s
| first Introduction required to her mind.
coupled with the knowledge of Barnard
contemptuous idea of her husband-his
| fads and his peculiarities. What could this
man see to attract him in dry archaeolo-
| gist of twice his age? She found herself
waiting intently for his next remark-his
next action.
| "Are you making a long stay?" he re-
peated, settling himself in his chair.
Milbanke, surprised and pleased at the
| unexpected attention. sat up stiffly in his
seat.
"Oh no." he said. mo. We are leaving
| in three or four days. II am interested in
antiquity, and should, properly speaking, be
| in Sicily at the present moment Perhaps
you have heard of the very remarkable re-
searches that are being carried on there?"
Gore smiled.
mo, I'm afraid must confess ignorance
know disgracefully little about the past"
banke, interrupted with laugh.
I'm afraid most Of US find the present
| more alluring."
He cast swift glance at Clodagh.
But Clodagh, still annoyed with him and
| with herself-still puzzled by Cores atti-
| tude-Mfted her head sharply.
''At least" she said, I'VE can be sure that
| the present Is genuine"
| Gore turned and looked at her.
Are you quite ur,eos sure Of that: Mrs MI.
think there Is trickery and deception in the
| manufacture of many things besides the
antQue?
Her glance faltered.
II have seen lot of unauthentic relics
she said, with touch of obstinacy.
"And a lot Of unauthentic life"
He looked at her with a slight smile.
The smile stung her unreasonably.
Some people can never become connois-
seurs,' she retorted, quickly.
Gore laughed, but without offense.
mot of treasures, perhaps. but with ex-
perience and observation surely any one
| can become a Judge of men-and women"
Clodagh forced herself to SMILE
You disapprove Of women?"
"Disapprove! Indeed, no.
But here Barnard interposed with one Of
| his suave gestures.
HE only disapproves of the modern
| woman, Mrs. Milbanke!''
Gore turned to him good humoredly.
| the modern woman-the truly modern
| woman. 1t is the society woman-of any
period-that lose patience with
Barnard smiled.
her complex life," he said smoothly, her
| big card debts and her little intrigues."
| Cores healthy face turned a shade red
| der.
II know" he said tersely But to me a
woman with no higher ambition than the
playing of cards, winter and summer aft
ernoon after afternoon. isis pitiable."
Clodagh leaned forward.
Perhaps they play cards because they
have no real interests"
| He looked at her quickly.
| "And why have they no real interests,
| Mrs. Milbanke? Isn't 1t because they re-
| ject all simple natural. wholesome things?
| Such women do not know the meaning of
| the word home They do not want a
| home-or home lfe-as the women Of the
| last generation understood it,
"Ah, there you touch bottom, my dear
| Gore! There you are in your depth" Again
| Barnard gave one of his smooth, tactful
laughs. This young man has a great pull
| over US, Mrs. Milbanke, when he compares
| the present generation with the past"
| At the suave words Gore made slightly
| embarrassed gesture, and looked tnstinc-
| lively toward Milbanke.
| Forgive my TRADE, SIR he said, little
| confusedly. Mr. Barnard Is right. have
rather high ideal of womanhood. I am
| possessed OF IA very remarkable mother"
| "a motherp' Clodagh looked round inn
pulsively. "Oh, tell me what she is liker'
With certain spontaneity Gore turned
| to respond to her question: but before his
| eyes met hers their glance was intercepted
| by shrewd, amused, inquiring look from
| Barnard. The effect of the look was
! strange. His emotions; suddenly aroused.
| died suddenly. His face became passive.
| even little cold. He Strengthened his
| shoulders and gave the restrained, self
| conscious laugh that the Englishman re-
| sorts to when he feels that his sentiments
| have entrapped him.
4 ooh, you must not ask me what my
mother is like, Mrs. Milbanke,' he said. 81
! could not give you an unbiased opinion. AS
| 1t is, have been wasting your time un-
| pardonably. Barnard. do you think Mrs.
Milbanke will excuse you for ten minutes?''
l Barnard rose slowly.
| do not put me to the pain of saying
4 yes" he exclaimed. Let me imagine
that am tearing myself away against
| Mrs. Milbanke's express desire. Au revoir
| Mrs. Milbanke Au revoir. James,"
l. He nodded and sauntered of In the direc-
ton Of the hotel door.
/ A moment later Gore shook hands silently
/ with Clodagh and her husband, and moved
| away in the same direction.
l AS he disappeared into the hotel Milbanke
l folded his newspaper with interested haste.
1 what q well-mannered young man.
| he said. who Is he? What is his Manner
| Clodagh was sitting very still, her hands
clasped In her lap. her eyes fixed upon some