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

shattered up for the winter. save those
still kept open for the last few lingering
visitors, whom the exceptionally mild
and lovely autumn had tempted up the
valley so late in the season. And these
had their reward, for not only had silence
descended upon the valley. but the first
SHOWS had fallen upon the mountains
/ and lay in dazzling whiteness down TO
/ the verge of the dark pinewoOds climb
| ing up their lower slopes, while the vir-
/ gin peaks above seemed to soar all the
/ higher into a sky OF a deeper, profounder
/ blue than summers.
] Does this satisfy you, Isobel?" said
Lady StOrmOnt, as they stood on the
rough wooden bridge which spans the
glacier torrent above the village, and
looked up from its headlong gray waters
/ and tossed powders beyond the living
! green of the pines to the overawing pres
/ ence of the MatterhoTn, its mighty pTeci-
pices softened by a thin, sparkling veil
| of white.
The girl turned round. her lips parted
/ IN a long sigh Of wonder, on her face and
/ In the beautiful eyes. lustered with start
/ ing tears. the look of one eager to ac-
knowledge some wonderful. undeserved
/ gift Her mother noticed the look, and
/ it touched her strangely, as did the over
/ flowing gratitude with which, since her
/ illness, IsobeI had received every little
word or token of kindness.
Alone with her daughter though Isobel
was almost .pathetically responsive to a
word or a look. she kept silence as to all
that had happened before they left home.
It was very sweet Of Isobel, but her own
child ought not TO be so grateful TO her.
the mother felt-she would fain have had
/ more of her cOnfidence-and now out of
the fullness Of her heart some sudden
/ impulse made her speak.
! "Isobel, 1 won't speak of it, IL it pains
you. but I cannot help suspecting what
happened before we left home I am
very sorry for it, dear, for I think it
would have been for your happiness-in-
deed, for the happiness Of US all, not to
speak Of Basils."
What did he tell you?" asked Isobel.
with sudden sharpness.
/ My dear, he told me no more than
you have done, with hint of reprOach.
/ But there are some things that don't
need to be told, and I guessed that he
/ had taken his chance, and for the time
at least had lost 1t. OF course. I want
nothing but your happiness. and if you
really feel that he cannot make you
happy now, then I have no more to say:
/ yet you seemed happy enough once with
/ him. dear. and he is the same dear,
good fellow that he always was"
Then I suppose We must conclude that
I it is I who have changed; indeed, that
seems generally agreed upon" and Isobel
with rather g sorry laugh, and crum-
/ bling the rotten wood Of the handrail with
her nervous fingers.
Il hope you did not let any feeling OF
pique influence you. Lady Stormont said
after a moment, though, perhaps it
would not have been unnatural if you
had but you know that Basil was not
to blame"
i know know" broke in Isobel has
tily. I was hurt and angry ut first. It
seemed as if he thought me not fit for
him; but that has nothing TO do with 1t
now. Since I have had time to think
now that I understands see that my
father is right. I cannot marry-as I
am at present"
But. my dear. after all, that is surely
a question for Basil, and he is more than
wiliing-eager-"
NO, it is not" said Isobel, hotly. Z
must be allowed to judge for myself be-
tween right and wrong. and the more
eager he Is, the more I feel it would be
wrong"
Then. If you care-oh, my dear, know
what marriage IS and even with a true
love the way is often rough enough: but
a marriage without iove-oh. IsobeI, think
well what you are doing before you put
love Ike Basi's from you"
Il have thought-thoUght- tin I car
think no more" facing round, face an5
eyes aglow. If I care for him, isn't that
the one reason why I ean't-do what ne
wants? Would you do harm TO the man
you loved, and just because he loved
your"
! But. my dear child. be reasonable.