The Washington herald., 1907-07-28

could not doubt the emotion in Sir Da-
vids voice, but why was he taking things
in this killjoy fashion?
Have you heard anything about-about
where she was?' he asked. rather awk-
wardly after the pause had again length
ened. Not that. after all. it matters
so much now. but If any one was kind
20 her. I'd give a good deal to know
/ The gypsies at least seemed to have Moth
ing more to tell. ard ! don't think there
was any reason 20 doubt the woman $
story
And here It may be stated that Con-
yers had shown his gratitude in somewhat
/ reckless fashion. as the Duncaird police
records showed, till at last the camp had
/ been forcibly moved on.
/ IT'S that ] must speak to you about,
/ said Sir David, with an effort.
by the by. did that little Testament
, lead 10 anything broke in Conyers Il,
was an odd sort Of thing that she should
/ have had that in her possession, and abb
solutely nothing else. That bit Of hair,
too-it suggested a story of some kind
somebody must have set store by it once
upon a day"
/ Sir Iavid's eyes had shifted from the
! flames iazily licking round the fresh wood
/ TO the Stormont cOat-of-aIms. carved in
the center Of the chimneypiece.
I No" he said. while his finger slowly
traced the outline Of the branching oak.
/ 1t has led to n0thing-as yet. / have
/ been making inquiries, Of course, but
/ quietly. In fact, my wife Is not very
anxious
/ Quite right" said Conyers, heartily.
i think the whole thing should be drop
/ ped now, and we should try TO forget It,
as Isobel has done. We've got her back
again. her own sweet self. and more
/ NO. there are some things We can't
| fOTget-there are honor and duty, Your
father was AT school with me. Basil, '
with sudden apparent irrelevance. I'VE
were friends till his death. l should be
I false TO my old friend, to you his son, II
| nOw-uow-"
He looked up and met the wonder in
| the young mans face and eyes. ald dis
Jress Rared out in sudden futile anger
You know what 1 mean. Do you think
/ il easy for me 70 say this? ! am trying
/ to act by your fathers son as l believe
/ he would have acted toward me. Those
past days have altered everything; we
can't shut our eyes to it, and if you see
| ii in that light. if-if you don't see your
way to starting things on the old footing
again" he kicked at a smolderng log,
! sending a flight Of orange sparks dane
| ing up the wide chimney, well. with a
gulp, L shall have no blame for you"
! Basil Conyers' pleasant young face had
/ hl- l.
now Reality plUcked him down from the
! high sunny world of dream-joys and
/ dream-hOpes, and bade him look at life
as it appears TO myriad eyes. He knew
well enough what would be said sand
thought by men and women by no means
specially disposed 70 evil thoughts. Had
not his former guardian, VINO had been so
| keen upon the marriage, written to him,
! ostensibly TO congratulate him on the
safety of his fiancee, but really to coun-
/ sci delay, 'till matters were cleared up
a bit" He had flung the letter aside.
and the advice, too, with an angry flush
and an angrier word. Gen. Cotterell did
not know Isobel; that must be his ex-
cuse. ne had said to himself. And now
her own father
| Il am sorry you should think so poor
/ lv of me, Sir David, and so poorly of my
word and Of my honor" the words all the
colder for the hot flame of anger within.
| Unless you have some fault to find with
me things are I hope, on the same foot
! ing as they were q month ago. l would
| have held myself bound TO keep my word
surely I needn't say that; but now
/ his voice breaking from hurt cOnstraint-
/ well, your consideration comes a little
too late. since I have seen IsObel."
I might have known this would be
your feeling, Basil It does you honor,
but I can't see II that way" said Sir
David. But, until she remembers
words came with a sort of gasp-"we
must wait till then-it would not be fair
to you"
Does me honor" broke in Conyers,
with a fine scOrn. Does me honor to
seek my one desire, Why should we wait
! till she remembers? If there's any risk,
I'm ready and willing TO take il, and
/ if IsObel Will have me now-if she cares
/ for me noW-I believe there's a brighter
prospect before US than ever there could
have been before. And as for anything
/ else" (his face eloudins)-"w it seems
a shame even to speak of it, but the
surest way to silence silly tattle is to
give no more occasion for IT. We were
to have been married before Christmas
| (his face lit up; it was not with calm
! acquiescence he would look forward now.
/ Give me my chance with Isobel. and
/ if she consents let it be as soon as may
be-" He paused. and then said, in a low.
moved voice: II feel that whatever she
has gone through she has been protected