Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-13

Clodagh looked up. coloring afresh. and
the young man bowed quickly and eagerly.
He belonged to a type new to her but ia
miliar to every social Londoner. The type
OF young Englishman who. gifted with UNI
usual height and fine possibilities of muscu-
lar development, saunters through life
physically and notwithstanding his energy
and his strength in one direction only-the
eternal, aimless, enervaing search after
personal pleasure.
To be explicit, the Honorable Valentine
Serracaald was suffering from that most
modern of comprehensive lack of sur
mountable obstacles. The nephew of one
of the richest peers in England. he had
started life heavily handicapped. A suf-
ficiency Of money had rendered work I'M
necessary; good looks and naturally in
gratating manner had precluded the need
for mental equipment; while his social po-
sition had unfairly protected him from any
share In the rough-and-tumble existence
that molds and hardens mans character.
At fifteen he had been an average healthy
public school boy; at Internationally he was
a fashionable young aristocrat. whose only
business in life was the aiding and abetting
of his uncle in the absorbing pursuit of
killing time.
He bowed now to Clodagh with the ex-
treme impressiveness that men of his type
bestow upon a new and promising intro
duction.
Charmed to meet you Mrs. Milbanke."
he said. Are you a resident here-or
bird of passage like ourselves?' He indi-
Gated Barnard.
Clodagh met his intent gaze with a re-
newed thrill of speculative pleasure.
my husband and live at Florence" she
explained. I'VE are only here on business
which sounds a dissertation
Serracauid continued to watch her
mot if you have any share in it, he said,
in a low voice.
She laughed and blushed.
I'm afraid you speak from inexperience,"
she said. ITO the people who know me, 1
am a very prosaic person"
She looked involuntarily at MHbanke.
But Milbankes eyes were on the groups
of hotel guests already moving toward the
dining room.
Don't you think we might-might make
a move" he haZarded. vaguely.
There was a very slight pause. then Ser
racauld responded to the suggestion.
you are quite right he said, easily. Il
expect my uncle is looking for me; he
usually gets fidgety about feeding time. VIII
you excuse me, Mrs. Milbanke? Perhaps
later on l shall have the chance of correct
ing that inexperience you accuse me Of
He laughed pleasantly, and. with a cour-
teous gesture, disappeared into the crowd
that was fast filing out of the hall.
AS he disappeared. Clodagh turned toward
the dining room, leaving MilbankF and Bar
nard to follow; but she had scarcely crossed
well, Mrs. Milbanke,'' he said. genially.
what do you think of our young friend? L
believe he usually finds favor in ladies'
eyes"
Il think him very charming" she said
candldly. ''Who is he? Do you know him
well?"
Barnard smiled.
81 know him since he was boy at Elton.
He is nephew of the famous Lord Deere
hurst, who, according to rumor. spends
three hundred year on silk socks and
battles every morning in scented milk"
Clodagh made an exclamation of disgust
What abominable person.
Again Barnard smiled.
well, 1 don't quite know" he said, toler-
antly "Rumor is generally a yard of two
in front of reality. Perhaps Deerehurst is
rather mummified old roue; but then, you
know. embalming is clean process, Mrs.
Milbanke, before as well as after death. 1
sometimes wonder whether our friend Val
entine will put the family money to such
harmless use, if he ever succeeds to the
title. He is next in the succession, but for
one feeble life"
Clodaghs eyes widened.
Really" she said. II should never have
connected him with SO much response
bility."
Barnard looked down at her.
"Responsiblity!" he said. Where have
you been hiding yourself that you should
couple a modern peer with responsibilities?
1 assure you IL a duke or an earl is an all
trouble to inquire further But what has
become of your husband?'
He paused and glanced round the fast
emptying hall.
AS he did SO Milbanke hurried up, his
manner newly interested, his thin face
flushed.
"Who do you think 1 have just seen.
Clodagh?" he asked. excitedly. Mr.. An
gelo Tomes-that interesting scientist who
Joined our party at Pisa last year.
Clodagh looked around.
WHAT" she said. in surprise. 1.-The big,
untidy-looking man with face like a
goat who had written a book on some
thing terribly unpronounceable?"
Milbanke nodded gravely.
"Yes," he said. "A most interesting and
exhaustive work. I shall make point of
congra tulating him upon it directly we have
finished dinner"
and what about me?" Barnard eyed
him Quizzically.
"You! Oh, you must wait David You
will understand that man like Mr.. Tones
is not to be met with every day."
They were entering the dining room as
Milbanke spoke. and involuntarily Barnard
glanced from the precise, formal figure of
his friend to the youthful, attractive form
of his friends wife.
'And you, Mrs. Milbanke?" he asked in
enthusiast? Does the antique appeal very
forcibly to your"
AS he put the question he was conscious
of its irony, but an irrepressible curiosity
under an intense surprise at Milbanke's
choice of a wife. and the desire to probe
the nature Of this strange relationship was
strong within him.
Are you like the man in the eastern
story?" he added. would you barter new
lamps for old?"
Clodagh was walking in front Of him as
he put the question, and Milbanke was left
momentarily behind. For a second she
made no reply; then suddenly she turned
and cast bright glance over her shoulder
IF you had asked me that question this
morning, Mr.. Barnard" she said, II don't
believe l could have answered it, But now
l can. l would not part with one new,
bright, comfortable lamp for hundred old
ones-nO matter how rare. Am / great
vandal?"
Her eyes were shining with the excitement
of the moment, and her face looked beauti-
fully and eagerly alive.
Am l a great vandal?" she repeated
softly
There was an instant's pause, then Bar
nard stepped closer to her side.
mo, Mrs. Milbanke,' he said. ''But you
are a very unmistakable child of Eve"
The dinner that night was a feast to Clo-
dagh. She sat between Milbanke and Bar
nard; and though the former was silently
engrossed in the thought Of his coming in
terview, and, for the time being, the latter
confined his talk to impersonal subjects
she felt as she had never felt before in the