Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-29
| THE GAMBLER
KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON,
Author Of Masqu
by Kaherin hursn-

at her plate then. with a quick. winning
movement. she lifted her head, glancing
from one of her entertainers to the otnsr:
Then give me horse" she said. quickly,
land let me ride by myself till lunch time"
Lady Diana looked distressed.
"What-alone?" she asked.
But her husband laughed cheerily.
Why not If she wishes? Tuffnell is LIB
erty Hall. Mrs. Milbanke. You shall have
the best horse in the stables"
Lady Diana smiled indul2ently.
II hope we are doing right! Four hours
by ones self in the saddle is rather lonely
thing
"Oh, but I won't be alone!' Clolagh
cried. "A good horse is the best company
in the world
At the conclusion of breakfast she rose to
go upstairs and change into her habit AS
she passed her hostess she paused.
"Shall run in and see Lady Frances?'
she asked.
Lady Diana looked up at her.
II think not. Frances called through the
door this morning that no one was to go
near her before II o'clock. I'd walt till
then. If were you"
And Clodagh nodded comprehendingly
Half an hour later she rode down a long
avenue of chestnuts, mounted on a splendid
bay horse of Lady Diana's. and emerged
upon the road that skirted the park wall.
TuffneH place was situated in one OF the
richest corners of Buckinghamshire; and
as she drew rein for a moment outside the
large gates and surveyed the surrounding
country, 1t seemed to her that, as far as the
eye could reach. the land stretched away in
one great tract of prosperous, well-tilled
fields and sweeping meadow-land, broken
by high hedges and low, wooded hills.
The day was one to revel in; the scene one
to bring complete repose. And as she gath
cred up her reins and allowed the bay
horse to sweep down the gently sloping
road into this land of plenty. she permitted
the atmosphere to take full possession of
ber a thOnQhf Of Tnn-
don, of her fellow-beings, even of herself
fell away from her conscious consideration,
and she dreamed-as an Irishwoman can
always dream-with her eyes open and her
senses alert to her horses slightest move
ment. yet wrapped in a world of her own.
created from the warm blue haze of sum-
mer that lay over the rich country-from
the summer sun that warmed her blood
from the close instructive comprehension
of nature that no artificiality has power to
eradicate.
1t was more than three hours later when
she rode back to the gates of Tunnel, hav-
ing covered many miles of country and
reveled for a long, delicious stretch of time
in her own musings. The air and the hot
sun had warmed her face to splendid.
healthy color, her lips were parted eagerly,
and across her saddle she was carrying
spray of honeysuckle. plucked from the tall
hedgerows. Her mood was generous, plia-
BILE. trimming with high impulses; If, In
that moment, one loving hand had been
stretched forth to hers, one honest soul
come out of the sunlight to meet her own.
many things might have been different.
But the moment came-and the moment
passed.
Riding quickly up the avenue, she drew
reign at the hall door, and at the same in
stance Lady Frances Hope crossed the
wide sunny hail.
Clodagh say her at once and a shade of
disappointment touched her face. Lady
Frances was so intenSively suggestive of
the world she had been trying to forget.
Her impulses of a minute ago shrank In
stinctively; the habit of indifference came
back to her by suggestion. She suddenly
felt ashamed of her sunburned face and of
the spray of honeysuckle.
But Lady Frances came forward to the
hall door. and at the same moment groom
hurried round from the stables.
Clodagh slipped easily from her horse,
took her flowers from the saddle and then
turned to greet her friend.
How are your" she said. 81 was so
sorry not to have seen you this morning.
have had glorious ride"
Lady Frances did not respond to the
words with her habitual smile. And
closer scrutiny Clodagh observed that de-
spite very careful toilet she looked tired
and annoyed.
you've been away an age!" she said,
irritaby. Its after 12!'
Then perhaps I'd better change. The
coach Is to be back from the station at
half-past -"
mo. Never mind Diana isn't conven-
tional. You can meet the people-and
lunch, too-in your habit. 1 want to talk to
you
Clodagh's eyes opened. 1t was new to
find Lady Frances manner either hasty or
perturbed.