The Washington herald., 1907-08-18

sci III distress, DuL he Vas certain tldt
he had heard a cry Of pain or terror. He,
too, knew the memories which hung thick
about this spot-was II possible that they
were awaking within her?
"A cry? II must have been fancy, sure
iy." said Isobel Il. at least, am in no
need OF rescuer to-day" forcing a smile
Il owe you quite enough already
You are in need Of a word of caution,
then, said Ashc. letting her last words
pass. Do you know that you are stanG-
Ing uncomfortably near the edge, and
these banks are very treacherous-they
are rotten-see. and as Isobel drew away
with a careless laugh, he stamped heavily
on the overhanging grassy edge, and then
stepped swiftly back.
A assure opened. widened. yawued. and
then. with a culver, a great clod long I'M
dermined by the tapping current slid
slowly down into the deep water, which
seemed 70 suck it under and then closed
silently over H. Ashe looked at Isobel.
She had paled Ii tie.
Promise me you viii be more care
fun he urged; and if the words were
cold, the voice thrilled. Then in light
er tone who knows-you might have
needed a rescuer. indeed. II you had stood
there much longer.
And you might not have been there,
said Isobel. gazing with "a sort OF fasci-
nation down into the dark all-cOnceal-
ing water And I might have disap-
peared-for good this time-and the Alder
Pool have deserved the bad reputation
II was gaining before l was found again.
She stood gazing a moment longer. as
he was watching her then she turned
away with q shiyer. Let US go; | don't
like this place. II gives me the ereeps.
II is strange. isn't IL, for / ought 70 Ike
II. I believe I used to haunt the Round
Wood ands this river path. I don't know
what brought me here to-day; perhaps !
hoped to find myself again. with dry
laugh
And have you? could fancy a place
Ike this would have "A strong pull on
ones thoughts and memory"
IsObel shook her head NO. that me
seems wholly gone now: ! only want 20
get away" quickening her steps up the
narrow path.
And yet when l first saw you stand
ing by the waters edge" said Ashe you
seemed so akin TO this brooding solitude
that you might have been the river spirit
but"-he paused a moment-"I am glad II
is not the you who used 10 love this
place whom I found here to-day"
"Why-do you dislike It, too?" quickly
NO; but If I had met your old self
dreaming by the river to-day-pardon me
for adopting your phrase. but il is very
descriptive should have met the Miss
StOTmont whom / saw in London. Mr..
Conyers' fiancee.' with slow elaboration.
NO. stop. let me speak: you think me
merely impertinent." as the girl faced
around on him on the narrow path with
naughty frozen eyes, and a sudden flame
in her cheeks. fire and ice at once Let
me speak--what harm can il do you to
hear what YOU would never have heard
II il had not been fOr"-then with swift
change of volce-''I saw YOU in town, Miss
StormOnt. Do you think ! forgot you?
I saw you again on the terrace / spoke
to you: ! held your hand-the chance was
given me TO do you a tri1ing service--it
meant much 20 me. that moment"
hOarsely and then that very night in
the drawing room after you had left"--a
certain hurry in the vibrating, searching
tones-'I heard from your cousin himself
that you were free"
My cousip-what did he say-what
right had you 10 talk OF me?" demanded
IsObel. hotly That night-the night OF the
fete-the night when she had joined in
Lord Dalguise's song-and Basil had
chosen that very night TO sever himself
openly from her. 1T does not matter!
II is quite true. though-we are not en-
gagged" she added, stifiy, and resuming
her rapid walk.
Stay. ] beg YOU said Ashe. stepping
before her. They had reached the grassy
circle again. In justice to Mr.. Conyers
I ought 10 cav fhaf aEts Carr.esb
ers who forced the statement from him.
He said that the matter was in Sir
David's hands. II was for him 10 decide
Il do not wish to hear any more. It
does not matter 10 me what Mr. Con-
yers may have thought NJ to say" said
Isobel. cutting short this revised version
Of Basirs chivalrous Outburst
No. but il matteTed 70 me. II opened
a new world to me-nOw I could venture
10 think OF you: now I might raise my
eyes to you" went on Ashe, with a steady
insiStence. with a proud humility Of look
and tone which stayed the girls steps.
though something within her shrank from
the glow kindling in the yelled eyes. like
a lamp burning behind a screen I ask
nothing-whO am l that I should? Even
though Stormont did not exist, when l
saw you Just now, standing white and
pure beside that dark water. I thought 1t
pictured the contrast between you and
the black stream of a mans life All
ask is that you win not send me away;
that you VIII not take from me what
have-the chance Of speaking to you. of
seeing YOU. Some pains are better than
ease. You will leave me that-you will
not bid me go?n He had her hands now.
His words rang with all the force of
truth-they were true, for no man is
wholly false. and every now and then
the white thread OF truth is thrown up
permOst in the web of life.
no. Why should you go? I-what have
to do with it," FILTERED Isobel. as the