The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-25

brary which had so evidently deepened
the breach between the two. and brought
this cloud over Isobei's life
Then you would not object II I turned
up somewhere on the way?" he asked, as
Isobel added nothing TO her last mono
syllable
4? Why should l." with rather forced
animation But ! fancy yOuH be bet
ter employed. You won't want to leave
the pheasants and the foxes to wander
about the picture galleries. You think !
am rather lack-luster about il all be-
fore Conyers could utter any disclaimer,
but IL is strange how sometimes thing
seems all that you want until you get IL
daresay ! shall get more excited about
il by and By. and ought 10, for when
remember-''
She stopped short, with quick indraw-
ing OF the breath.
you remember" exclaimed Copyers.
eagerly.
no. no" she said, hurriedly. Her face
was turned away. but Basil saw flush
rise IN what could be seen Of throat and
cheek between her furs and the dropping
brm OF her broad black hat.
But was there anything-even the
/ faintest hint?''
No, no." she repeated. with almost
needless emphasis "The word slipped
out somehow. One uses II by sort OF
( instinct. I suppose, though It means so
/ little for me. Ny ammo Domini begins
/ only few weeks back. with would
/ be laugh
! Basil was too much occupied with his
own thoughts 10 recall that never in all
these weeks had ne heard her use the
/ WORD rs she had done now
Don't go away" he said, abruptly, as
she began 10 move away long the terrace.
''1s0bel. there is something l must say
to you. something which should have
been said long ago. If I had had my will;
| ! must speak now-nOw that you are go
| ing away-I can't and VIII not let you go
until you hear me-"
This IS very serious. don't know
what there can be to say" she began,
hurriedly.
Il think you do know said Conyers:
and no woman could doubt what that
shaken voice meant. the tremOr Of the
| strong hand laid in imploring arrest upon
her arm.
'Isobel, I mayn't be much Of a fellow,
but I've never broken my word before
I'm going 10 do II now, though, for / be-
Iieva If your father had-had been him
self" lamely. he never would have ex-
acted it from me; but apart from that
I can't bear this any longer. You cant
know-you can't remember but do you
think I can forget that you and I were
promised husband and wife; and yet,
with a long-drawn breath, Il dare hardly
touch your arm as ! did just now. II
was my future wife. as I thought, whom
brought home in my arms through the
storm that night
Il think I know what you are going tC
say" she broke in, hurriedly. but if my
father did not wish 1t said. won't .yoJ
wait a little longer-till We come home
can do so little to please him-let us
let US try to please him in this, piteous
ly.
II won't" said Conyers, stubbornly %
can't-at least, 1 must set myself righ
in your eyes now, for what can you hav,
thought of me when you heard we haC
been engaged, and yet I never said z
word; I left II to others 10 explain my
silence I have been half mad at time.
thinking OF IT. Sir David exacted a prom
Use from ME that very first day when ",
met here. that 1 would say nothing (
y0u-nothing about our engagement, a
least till Christmas-some moonshin,
about not letting the marriage go on til
you could remember, as II l cared 70
that when I had you yourself again. Foo
that ] was. / did promise. for he was 81
strangely urgent I'm not excusing my
Z self. though, and I've been well punish
ed since"
} IL quite understaAd-now Need W,
say any moreg said Isobel, rather faint
~. She was leaning heavily against III
balustrade. her eyes fixed on the far hills
: vanishing now in a shroud Of gray.
But 1 must say more; we can't stol
} at this. Isobel, don't you care for me
cant you care for me now? You wer
to be my wife, dear; does that meal
nothing? I'll be quite honest. You wer
J always my dear little cousin. I though
/ loved you, and when you promised {
! marry me I thought 1 was quite happy
: and if nothing had happened, 1 Shouts
never all my life have known what tru
/ happiness was. / would have been con
tent with that pale shadow OF 1t. Blu
that night in the hall when you locke
: into my face. that day when we sEoo
here together-oh! my love, I knew wha
t love was. and since then-since then-oh
: Isobel. ! once had the right to take 20