The Washington herald., 1907-09-15
CHAPTER xxx.
Stronger than Death.

Tap, tap, tap, Lady StOTmOnt heard
the sound as If in a dream. but il was
some time before she noticed it, or could
attach any meaning 10 it. Those written
words had reopened many an old wound
which smarted and blew anew as she
read
But wounded love and pride the very
power 10 remember or 70 think. had been
biotted out by that one overwhelming
horr0r-the nameless corpse, with its
long, light streaming hair cast up by the
cruel waters at last. as the waves crawl
ed back from the sandy flats, laid in a
uameless. unh0nOred grave amid the
dreary bents My cniid-my child
would 10 God I had died for thee; on. my
child-Iay chld'-the age-long cry Of the
bereaved heart rose up IN its bitter wall
and stnled all other voices-when, tap,
tap. came the summons again; and al
last Lady Stormont looked round her.
realized where she was; that that door
must be opened, and that, somehow, she
must face whoever stood without
Hastily she gathered the scattered pa
pers and huddled them into a blottng
book. and went Slowly toward the door.
with a vague wonder if she were the
same woman who bad locked lt-how
long ago-a lifetime? Basil Conyers stood
IN the passage. but she saw his face
dimly as through d mist. lie started at
sight Of her.
How could you hear?" he exclaimed
abruptly I made ali the haste I could,
fearing some one might rush in with the
news I did not think any one could have
got here before me; but don't despair.
dear Lady StormOnt: ii may not be the
very wOrst--he-he was still living"
What are you talking about she
asked in a hoarse. changed voice, which,
IL ne had rot seen her lips moving. he
could not have believed to be hers
She did not know then,
I was afraid some one had told you
too hastily" he said; "but-but.' look
ing down, Il am sure you will be brave
there has been an accident"
My husband" She gripped his arm.
and COnyers could not meet her eyes
You are trying 10 tell ne that he is
dead"
NO indeed, no" stammering; at
least he was still living-still breathing
when we found him"
"How-where?"
He went out very early this morn
ing" Lady StOrm0nt nodded speech
lessiy- when ! heard at breakfast that
he mad been seen taking the path above
the Corner Glacier I felt a bit uneasy.
for walking is risky to-day, ana l spoke
TO some Of the guides. They thought as
I did, and one or two of them followed
his traek-it was plain enough, and-and
the rest of US kept along the glacier"
But when was this?" broke in Lady
Stormont, like one bewildered. How
long have / been here-what time is Il
now?"
Conyers looked at her in bewilderment.
but he answered her last question.
1T is about o'clock" he said. gently.
What had happened? Isobel-Ashe-a
tumult OF vague surmises rushing
through his mind. but these must make
way for the tale he had to tell. I'VE had
not very far to co. he went on in a low
voice, when We found what we feared.
He must have slipped in the snow and
gone over the edge I don't think that
he was conscious or-or in any pain.
They-they are bringing him down-they
Till be here before very long"
Tell them to bring him here. and
and leavs me, please. in a quiet. level
voice, 'and let no one-no one" insist
emily, come TO me-"
When the doc: was shut upon them.
she came forward and gently lifted the
handkerchief from the face OF the dead
1t was utterly calm. utterly peaceful.
the lines that had Of late been so deeplv
grayed upon it were smothed out by the
hand Of the great Considerable great
Revealer-and behind the closed lids
there seemed to lie that look of satis-
faction which at times lights the face
OF the dead, and which seems 10 say
Now I see-nOw / know" Had he
gone forth seeking death? At least he
had gone hoping for it; and he had at
tanned his desire.
The wife hung over the dead faceA "Oh.
David. my husband, is this how we meet
again? There is nothing between US now;
you need no words now. Can you see
do you know?-do you understand"