The Washington herald., 1907-07-28

know yet what / think OF myself Some
times the wonder Of it overwhelms me,
but then, again" and she shook her
head with a little wistful smile.
"Ah. but think-how often one has
longed for ito pass the sponge over the
slate-to begin life anew. with no regrets.
no shame, no bitter memories OF lost
hopes, lost friends or lost self maybe
Forgive me. Miss StormOnt," with swift
change from the brOoding intrOspective
tone, Il was thinking OF the average man,
which, Of course. means myself" with
a smile which Gid not reach the cpaous
eyes fixed steadily on her face For who
could couple such thoughts with your
white past, but to forget-utterly TO for
get'-slogly, while these strange, -unre-
vealing eyes became even more intent
Yes, if we were honest, a good many OF
US would envy you"
Under that steady gaze her clear pallor
warmed 70 a faint blush rose, but thers
was no consciousness in the gray eyes.
Come, IsObel. we must show our friends
the way" broke in her mothers voice;
and as Lady Stormont led the way down
the terrace to the great dining-rOom Iso-
bel pressed little nearer to her side. sha
was interested and yet not unwilling to
escape from this talk, which had become
so suddenly and so strangely intimate II
only her Cousin Basil would come he
could tell her who all these people were
who met her glances with such ready
smiles, but COnyers was engaged three
deep with Duncaird's dowag gers, who, hav-
ing taken the long. hot drive and bought
a six-penny pincushiOn each, were now de-
| termined to indemnify themselves for
their sacrifices BY very hearty tea. He
X nd ha~
across mountainous black shoulder. and
meantime NJ. Ashe insisted on getting
tea for her. He noted as rather curious
her somewhat awkward handling Of the
dainty cup and saucer, for he kept his
place by her side, till at last her attention
was claimed by no less d parsonage than
the tutelary deity Of the county. his gracs
himself. Then, at last Ashe sauntered
across the room 10 Miss Rudgeley. who
had been vainly signaling him for some
time.
Our guinea doll has awakened I'd
amazingly she said. looking I'D from her
second ice. Il would give YOU the credit
OF being what d'yOu call him, the man
who brought his statue % life? but 7
find that this is not the first time, and
that every one IS talking of it. That old
witch, Lady Carruthers, was saying
but here she comes herself-do you know
herr"
"Oh. yes. said Ashe. easily. She's a
sort OF connection OF mine. In fact. I be-
/ lieve that through her I might claim
kinship with the Stormonts. but il would
take the Heralds' College 10 trace it
out"
Miss Rudgeley laughed. TO cover her an
noyance. She never could remember
/ these inJriCacies OF relationship
i know nothing about botany" she
said, and, least Of all, about family trees
and all their twigs and branches,
| especially when they are so far spread;
but don't suppose / have hurt your
| family feelings seriously"
They'll survive ii. When I was a boy
used TO think that she was the wicked
+ fajiy who came unlimited 20 the christen-
ing She looks the part. doesn't she2''
said Ashe. as very old lady approached,
hobbling along by their hosts side with
the aid of a long ebony stick
Her parchment-white face was scanned
by an infinity OF tiny wrinkles. like the
'crackle'' on old japanese porcelain, but
from amid the network of lines her dark
/ eyes looked out undimmed, an3 Aere liz
/ by somewhat malicious mirth Her
companion was listening to her with A
/ distrait air. which suggested that he was
/ looking about for the first decent chance
I OF escape.
Yes, If 7 didn't know she was herself.
I would say she must be somebody. else
I she was saying in her high. penetrating,
/ cracked treble. THAT sounds absurd,
/ know, but It expresses the case have
/ just TeColleCted Of whom she reminds
me-oh Evelyn," sticking out two
/ heavily Tinged wTinkled fingers. what
/ are you doing here-nO good. as usual,
! I suppose? As 1 was SAYING. David.
/ turning TO her host again, but Sir David.
with a mutteTed word, had fed, and
found refuge in a group OF local mag
mates.
/ The old lady looked after him with
a smile, or rather. to use that expressive
/ but untranslatahle Scotch word, "a girn."
These good folk are in q terrible TAX
/ ing because their own chick seems not
unlikely TO turn out a duCkling in their
! hands. II it's her true cOlOrs she's com
/ ing out in at last. they are a great I'M
provement on the old ones. But there's
/ something about her which has puzzled
me all day, and I was telling David lust
now it must be her likeness to one OF the
/ Raeburns. I want TO refresh my memory
+ of il; come and give me your opinion"
! Hooking her little withered hand
/ through ashes arm-not that she had
any special desire for his company. but
! it seemed TO her that Miss Rudgeley had,
! and returning that young lady's disap-
/ proving stare with an amused twinkle, she
| carried Ashe. nothing lOath, away with
/ her.
Now, my dear boy, my -bowing ac-
quaintance is quite large enough already.
/ especially as I am getting so short
/ sighted. The words came back dis
| tinctly 10 vi. who tossed her head in
I would-be disdain; as if she wanted an
/ introduction TO that old hag,
/ Now, wasn't I right?' exclaimed Lady
CaEuthers. triumphantly. when she had
piloted her companion TO the tapestry
room; she's far liker her grand
aunt, Bonnie Jean Stormont, than she
/ is to herself-to her own portrait l
mean Why. she might have sat for
that" waving her ebony stick to a half
/ length portrait over the high. carved
mantelpiece-the portrait Of a woman, 4
girl rather, though somewhat older than
Isobel. in a shOrt-waisted white frOck.
She had the StormOnt features and the
| Stormont hair. and the face had that
character and vivaeity which the great
portrait painter knew so we'll how to give
/ 10 his sisters. and which here suggested
charm and capacity as well.
| From il both turned and looked at
/ the great Sargent, at the timid. wistful
/ face with the suggestion of shrinking re-
coil in the shadowy eyes There was
no question which more closely .resembled
the girl whom they had just seen looking
/ out upon a new world, and shyly, vets
gladly. prepared to take her place IN IT,
/ It's really very curious" murmured
| the old woman, as she stood, a little
shriveled figure, in the center Of the great
room, and glanced from the one fair
young pictured face to the other. I sup
] nose n must be hlncd shnr-inc. at least