The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-01

silence, she had stepped back into the
shadow Of the palms. where the bars of
light and shadow were a more battling
screen than even the dusk
''Thistlethwaite. musingly. What a
funny. difficult name 10 say" lisping a
little over the final TIL" Have I ever
heard * before? Ought I TO remember
it, for, If so, please gnlighten me- for
though / tell people tin / am tired that
! can remember nothing nothing. they
somehow expect that ] will remember
them. / think they have every right to
be offended If I don't and he felt rather
than saw that she was looking straight
and dauntlessly NJ him. q was admir-
ably done but before he could take up
the glove she had fearlessiy cast down
Lady Stormont had appeared and Ashe
had noted the girls nervous grip Of her
arm as she had pressed Up to her side.
The two ladies had soon withdrawn, and
next morning the Stormonts were gone.
M. Sir St0rmont he find it too gal. and
after Scotland-perhaps ] have been there
-ah. 1t is triste' said the manager with
a shrug as he had delivered Sir David
and Lady Stormonts adieu,
But Ashe was not lightly to be turned
from his purpose. as If he were merely
aged. and a party travelling with maids
and courier is easily followed up.
Then your Joshua has not done his
work very thoroughly" replied Isobel,
lightly. FOR every day Is shorter than
another and when once the sun goes be
hind the Matterhorn II seems to be night
at once, and the paths here are certainly
not suitable for walking in the dark -
She rose as If to go.
NO, nor for talk, since two can't well
walk together" The faint smile van
ished as he decided upon immediate ac-
ton. You know that l have followed
you TO Zermatt TO have this talk, and
you know, too. I fancy. what I have TO
say. You cannot think. have forgotten
that afternoon by the river at StOrmont' %
In the clear afternoon light he could
read her face better than in the sun
set glimmer or the electric glare at Caux,
and the change could not escape these
eyes. which noted everything. Pain, pride,
anger, affront, trouble, a growing dread,
ali these had been In her look that day
amid the falling leaves by the river side,
and were now dawning again in her eyes,
but it was none of these which had
wrought the change. Since he had seen
her beside the Alder Pool something had
gone-something had come; but of all who
had noted the indefnable change, Ashe
alone had the true reason for it. She
knew. The old child-like Inconsistencies,
glad or sad by turns, was wholly gone
she was feeling her way IN a new world
no longer.
That afternoon at Storr,ont'' said
Isobel. Yes. I remember. I have not
'ost nv memory Il second time, though
have been I'll. You %eTe coOd enough,
remember very well, TO offer me your
help in some possible trouble. If that is
what you wish TO speak Of now, l can
only make you the same answer, that
know Of no trouble" steadily, ''and even
if there were. / should need no help but
that of my friends"
You would set me outside the pale.
them" said Ashe, sudden CLEAN IN his
eyes You are wrong Miss StOrmOnt;
it is as your friend ! speak; I am your
friend, believe me-"
"Oh. dear me- said Isobel, with sud
den change of tone ITO speak as ones
friend is almost as bad as to be spoken
to for ones good. / have learned that
already, but really the friendlest thing
you could do would be to let me say
good-by now. If 1 am much later my
father and mother will begin to imagine
that I have undertaken a glacier expe-
dition unguided You could speak to me
as a friend at our hotel, surely. which,
fancy, will be yours also, as 1t is the
only decent one Open" a CLINT Of mockery
in her eyes.
You have learned a great deal Of
late, 1 have no doubt" said Ashe grave
ly. 81 am distressed II I inconvenience
you, but 1 must ask you to hear what
I have to say. II is still quite early,
and it is better here than at the hotel.
We can go inside if you are finding the
air chilly. We are not likely to be dis
turbed: the pOpulace does not seem to
be distressingly devout."
Isobel shrugged her slight shoulders In
mock resignation.
Well, Mr.. Ashe, what have you to
say 10 me which cannot be said in or
binary circumstances? Needs must
when won't finish the proverb, how
ever-my latest requirement in my moth
er-tongue''
Your mother-tongue" said Ashe with
slow significance; and though the eyes
looking into his did not finch, the color
wavered UP and sank again in the deli
cate face
Eyes. my mother-tongue. in the same
hard. light, half-bantering tone. If you