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

ing on the brink Of an abyss Of woe
which she had no pHmmet TO sound The
consciousness made her at least listen in
silence when Sir David turned to her
again, and said in a voice Quieter, because
SO hopeless:
Il have put it wholly out Of my power
ever TO do right again in this world. WIZ
YOU help me not to make bad worse?
That IS all that is left 10 me no, TO break
another wOman's heart-my wife's heart
/ have Acknowledged you: every one has
accepted you as my daughter. my only
child Though every one has remarked
upon the change in you. there is no one
has the faintest doubt that you are any
one but the girl who wandered away so
strangely, and was. they think, as
strangely restored" The effort Il cost
him to say these words quietly held him
silent for moment Ny wife has who'll
ly taken You . her heart. She, as you
must see, h, never had the faintest
shadow Of a Joubt Think what it would
be to tell her the truth. The first loss
the first blow would be merclful TO this
and she would not only lose her child
! twice over: she would lose her husband
as Well-find that the man with whom she
] y =
a base cheat; that he never even deserved
/ her respect, not TO speak OF the love
which, God bless her, she gave NE to the
full"
And so you ask me to be base cheat,
1 too" broke IN Isobel. in a low voice.
/ What can we do. my poor child2 DON
/ you see that we can't tell the truth? 1
/ don't think / would care much for NY
| self. Many n time I have felt il would
/ be a relief 10 cry it all out, to let men
know me as I am, and stand UP and face
/ the Kissing. but yOu can't denounce me
without brin ging the storm of shame and
/ scandal upon her head, though. after all.
/ that IS the least Of IT, You know that
you are her chief JOY in life VIII you
/ take il from her-wil you make her as
miserable as I amp The hunted eyes
| seemed TO devour IsObels face. But, no:
she could never be that, The pure in
heart shall see God, and see Him not
as the avengeT. Out OF the depths they
can cry to Him. that at least would be
left to her; but will you take all else that
makes life worth having away from her?
1t lies with you, and you only-her whole
future, her whole happiness are ia your
hands"
It was his one and only plea, and he
tering bats Of ease and luxury. name and
rank and station, those deadly lures for
souls-these would not move this girl
whose portion had been black poverty. 70
whom shame had been as a sword IN her
bones. So far. at least, he had under
stood her
Isobel stood stone-still. her hands SO
tightly locked together that hours after
ward she wondered vaguely at the marks
left by the pressure of her fingers but al
tie moment she was wholly unconscious
o. it, for she was feeling herself helpless
in deadlier grip-the grip Of the nevi-
table. Her mind was working with merci
less clearness. It did not need Sir Da.
vids words to put the situation before
her.
1t seems so dreadful" she said. in q
hard whisper. making a last despairing
unavaiing effort against the all-control
ling, all-compelling power of circum-
stance, which was forcing her on. inch
by inch. over the brink so dreadful t.
make ones whole life or set purpose z
deliberate lie. I would loathe myself: and
what good could come of il? Though
watch every word 7 say-sOme day I shall
betray myself, and then-oh. my God
what them"
one Of his swift alterations Of mood t
a sudden harsh peremptoriness. Nov
that you know, you win be on your guard
YOU can avoid these outbreaks that hav,
surprised people"
Isobel shook her head 'Oh. it's tina.
that makes it harder she said. miser
ably. They had always plenty to blam,
me for, but at least they could never
blame NE for telling lles-no, not even
to save myself"
/. But to save some one else" imploreC
Sir David Isn't her happiness WORT
the saCrifice7' he could say no more.
Through the falling autumn dusk. Lad,
. Stormonts eyes seemed to shine out upol
Isobel with that kindling light which
awoi1e only for her.
I'D give my life for her" she cried
r with gush of tears, the first which Ia,
: lrelieved the dry aching Of heart and eyes