The Washington herald., 1907-07-28

stating that he and Lady Stormont had
decided 10 build the long-sighed-for new
wing as a thanks-offering for their
daughters safety, II is 70 be questioned
! If the munidcent proposal awakened as
much widespread gratitude as the renewal
OF the OFFER Of the StorTnont park for the
annual fete.
Both suggestions had originated from
| Lady Stormont, and she had been sur
/ prised and good deal hurt that her hus-
band had been so slow to respond. He
was never ungenerOus in money matters,
and there had already been some talk be-
tween them Of giving the new building al
IsObers majority or on her wedding. but
why wait til then. she had urged, and
the more earnestly as Sir David seemed
| to have no definite reason against it
As TO the second proposal, he had plenty
TO say.
Why bring all the cackling crowd Of
old wives from Duncaird and miles around
/ to stare at Isobel and pull her and all
/ Of us to pieces at the club or over their
! teaeups afterward?" he had groaned. and
COnyers had seconded him with all the
! energy Of young man who sees himself
/ threatened with long afternoon Of in.
| discriminate sociability.
"Isobel need not appear unless she
/ likes, said Lady StOrmont: and since
/ 1t seems to give pleasure though. heaven
| knows. it's hard 10 realize il, don't ike
| TO refuse-nOW. Of all times"
| Not much fear OF IsObel's liking 20
| appear growled Conyers; but to his
/ amazement. when the great day came.
and Lady Stormont appeared upon the
! terrace, stately in her gray silk and lace
/ there was d tall, slim hgure beside her
/ in mOonbeam white
| You here2" he exclaimed. recalling how
lsobel would once have fed 10 the depths
/ Of the woods. 70 the top OF Ben Vair
| If she could. TO escape such a function
Why nOt?" she said. gaiIy I have
/ turned over a new leaf. and find peo-
/ pie immensely interesting Besides, please
remember this is my very first garden
/ party. and l think it is a very pretty
/ sight. loking down 10 the lower lawn.
/ where couple Of gaudiiy striped mar
quees were pitched and brightly dressed
groups were moving over the gem-Iike
! greenness Of the Old turf. with the silver
sickle OF the river and the dark pine-clad
/ slopes for a background.
Yes, It is pretty sight" assenteI
Conyers. mechanically: but then ne was
/ looking at the speaker, not at the SIR
roundings, and, again, as he had done
/ 50 often in these past few DAYS. ne had
naTveied anew at his former blindness.
/ and had chafed afresh at the promise
which Sir David had exacted from him.
l Why had lie done il, FOR was ever. man
IN more maddening, tantaiizing position
/ tnan ne, Basil Conyers. now was? There
was his promised wife in breathfr-.
/ beauty IN sweet Inconsistencies before
him, her every look and word hurrvinq
/ rrv,4v, 1,f
/ his blood, and yet his promise bound him
! 10 silence, and in that silence the FIRE
! burned but the hotter, for a consuming.
( Jealous rage came to add fuel 70 the
( lame. To him il seemed that every
man must be his rival, and as true love
/ ever ana seS as well as exalts man. he
! TOOK very humble view Of his own pre-
/ tensions, while who knew but before his
| lips were unsealed some other one might
/ find favor in IsObeI's eyes2
/ And 20 that favor there was at least
no lack Of pTetenders The girl was
soon surrounded by a little court. while
from distance the less privileged gazed
at her with devOuring curiosity and
interest only possible perhaps in stag
nant county town, where the sensations
\ OF life rarely scared above a choir squab-
BE or the misdoings Of maid servant.
/ Meantime new arrivals were coming
thick and fast, and presently the Rudge-
/ ley motor came tearing up the long.
straight avenue, famed far and near as
! the Chestnut walk. After an interval
spent in diyesting Miss Vi and the other
iaGles Of their oppressively gorgeous
/ wraps. more suggestive OF suffocation
! than Of comfort IN this tranquil. sunny
/ afternoon, the Balachallan party appeared
I on the terrace. II COnyers We're tor
/ mented at the thought OF these as Vet
/ hypothetical rivals. it was as well for
such peace Of mind as he was able In
I preserve that he had no remotest CON.
ception Of the ideas rapidly crystallizing
I in MI Evelyn Ashes brain as these
/ opaque gray eyes Of his rested upon the
/ tan white figure by Lady Stormonts s
/ side
With his usual tact. he managed 10
md an acquaintance in the shifting crowd
! and so escaped making his bow along
with the rest Of the "Balaehallan batch !"
/ and Of being swept of with them en-
masse toward the tents. to which moe
/ was now being made. Miss RudgaIey,
loudly declaiming. "Of course. we are ali
here to buy, so let's go and get II over.
II there's anything worth buying. that IS -
/ When the loud-voiced. loudly colored par
/ ty had gone a mOmentary luli seemed tn
ran, and so he took advantage Of it.
May 1 recall myself 10 your memory.
| Lady Stormont; ] trust I am not quite
/ IorgottenE he said, stepping forward, an
] ehectlVe hSure as ever, his pale, Well-cut
! race gaining added distinction from the
ruddy, commonplace type Of the country
| contingent
! OF course, 1 remember you. Mr.. Ashe. -
said Lady StOTmont, a trihe coldly. ''I
/ did not know that you were in the
North"
AT Balachallan," he said. with the
faintest hint OF a shrug and the ghost
of a smile, which, without showing too
marked disrespect for his hosts OF the
moment, served to differentiate him from
them and suggested a world Of polite en-
durance on his part. Then lowering his
voice little, seeing that all the world
Is rejoicing with you to-day. is 1t per-
Initted to mere acquaintance to offer his
congratulations? I had not the honor
when you were in town of being presented
to Miss StOrmont; there was no opnor-
tunity: but perhaps, now" with a Sig
/ nificant pause
That she vaguely disliked the man and
that he was a guest Of the Rudeelevs
were not reasons sufficient for Lady St6r-
mont to evade the request. The latter
was his own affair, and as to the former
there was no special reason why She
should distrust man who was practically
a stranger to her, though many OF his
I connections were nuntbered among her
! friends Next moment Ashe was holding
Isobels sloyed hand In his and the veiIed
slaty eyes met the bright fresh outlook
of the liInpid gray ones.
/ In another instant IsObel had with
drawn her hand, and her glance wavered
as il she were seeking escape from even
the few moments of talk which convention
| prescribed. Whatever experience she had
gathered in her short life had been wholly