The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-08

and putting some trife in a wrong light
and frightening her into trying 10 induce
you to hold your tongue. You're an
adept at that little gam, but you shan't
play it here. I won't have my cousin
bullied or blackmailed II you'll under
take 10 leave Zermatt to-day Til hold
my tongue. and that's more than you
deserve"
Conyers' words were purposeIy as in
sulting as a blow. but Ashe only an
swered easily TT would be a bad thing
for most Of us If we got what some OF
our friends think we deserve
It's no question Of friends" said
Basil holly. But what could the cur
have got hold of that made him take a
threat which held such consequences So
lightly? He dared not think He would
not thi-L I've played the game square, %
be went on. I'd have let you alone. but
If there's any more of this won't spare
you. There are some things a man can
do. and more things he can't # he's to
keep his name on al his clubs. Isobel. "
turning suddenly 70 her with a change
of voice. you've had enough OF this The
people here are afraid Of a storm. Sir
David and your mother have started for
and Mr.. Ashe and I VIII have our little
talk out"
The primitive man was let loose for the
moment in Conyers. Il hope the cad
Will show cheek enough 10 justify me
in pounding him." was the uppermost de-
sire; the rest Of the tanEle might be dealt
with after that one supreme satisfaction.
1t is for Miss StOrmOnt 70 decide. /
think. Her champion has perhaps shown
more zeal than discretion. Miss Stor-
mont, do you bid me leave Zermatt to-
day?" said Ashe coolly. Face and eyes
by nature and by training usually served
as an admirable mask, but no effort now
could keep the triumph out Of the look
he fixed upon IsObel.
COnyers resolutely averted his eyes. II
( seemed the one thing left he could do for
Isobel As for Ashe. If he looked al him
he might kin him.
Isobcl had maintained a cold silence
/ Her face was as white as the dead blank
of the wall behind her, against which her
/ hair showed Ike the glory encircling the
( head of the saint throned above the altar
/ Her eyes did not finch before Ashes
/ look. but the position was horrible Was
1 ever woman IN a sorer strait between
the man she loved and the man she
/ loathed? What could Basil be thinking
/ OF her-if only she could see his face,
/ but he was staring hard at the square
1 Of cold gray light framed in the open
/ doorway. She must speak; already the
silence seemed TO have lasted beyond al
thought the triumph in Ashe'T eyes was
/ unconcealed.
Tt does not depend on NJ, Mr.. Ashe
/ You must do what you think best" she
~, ofr I'D
ent tone.
! Ashe looked at her.
''You mean that?"
Il do"
And that IS your last word? I have
been very patient, but may not give
You another chance to change your
mind"
/ It might be sheer rashness on her part
or some lingering hope that even yet the
worst might not come; but if the girls
attitude enraged Ashe, he had at least
the satisfaction that each word spoken
was gall and W0rmwOod-the very bit
! terness of death to the young man stand
/ ing still and impressive between them
| Il have nothing more 10 say" said
Isobel.
Then I shall have to go to Sir David
after ALL" said Ashe with the outward
| cOoness he had preserved all through
! but I think he viii expect, as fathers
have a way Of doing, that his daughter
viii play Iphigenia to his Agamemnon
| There's been enough Of this" broke
/ in COnyers with some rOughness-a mar
on the rack does not use courtly phrases
Have you anything more you wish t.
say TO this-tO MI Asher 10 Isobel. mo
| Very well, then; It is time we were get
/ ting back to shelter" and without an.
other look at Ashe he drew her in front
of him, and followed her out of tht
chapel.
They had threaded their way through
the village, and We're DESCENDING
! the rocky track before IsObel was fairly
! conscious of her surroundings again. Sh,
/ had dared the lightning; indeed, now
when would the thuaderbolt fall.
Whether she had right TO 1t or no. she
/ had surely established some claim 70 the
| stanch old motto of her house. Il dare.
/ she may have thought as with leader
| feet she trOd the stony path, with tn,
! frozen mountains around. the boding SIX,
above, and Conyers' footballs behind
ringing out through the silence. Eacf
one seemed planted on her fainting heart
Would she ever be able TO set herself
right in his eyes? ever be able to ex
plain how she had become involved il
this hopeless coil? He did not seem In
clined TO afford her any opportunity. Fo,
a time they walked steadily on in silence
now and then a snowflake fieated SLOWLY
down from the iron sky, and the foot
step behind her would quicken a little, q!
If urging her to hasten-hasten.
Suddenly, as the path turned the shout