The Washington herald., 1907-08-18

passion-charged voice broke. and the
glowing eyes seemed to hang on her an
swer She was half-bewildered. half
frightened, and in her inexperience per-
haps q little fattered. even at this
strange. sudden outburst, and for the mo-
ment Ashe looked for no more
Then I ask one thing more-al I ask
yet" he said. with unconscious empha-
sis on the last word "Wnl you believe
that If you need help-I cannot explain,
bat ere long you may need It sorely-I
am ready II others fail. before God. /
will not You do not understand me-you
cannot remember
What do you mean-what is there TO
remember" exclaimed Isobel. impatient
". and snatching her hands away. l.
the iimpid clearness Of her gray eyes
there was no hint Of consciousness, as
Ashe perceived. why should I need help
Up her slight figure uncOnsciOusly erect
ing itself Il must knOw-yOu must tell
me,' imperiously.
I cannot" said Ashe. with absolute
truth.
'"Then who CAM" in fash. My ia
ther?" with a swift pang OF premonition.
Sir David can tell yOu--if he viii. saiG
Ashe slowIy 1t is not for me, of course,
20 say whether he ought TO or not"
NO. I do not think that It Is, said
Isobel. coldly. recovering herself some
what from the strange excitement into
which Ashes words had thrown her. and
realizing with whom she was discussing
the inmost things OF her life. III there
4 T. I I
doubt my father will tell NE. and though
I cannot imagine how I should need any
help but his. l am sure that you mean il
kindly. and ! thank you all the same, ;"
and with slight inclination of her grace
ful head she was moving away, as if their
talk was now at an end
The girl had in her all the making of
a grand dame" Ashe thought as he
stood for a second swiftly calculating
chances. He would risk it. In one
stride he was at her side again. Their
talk was not over yet.
Perhaps I am offending again. but
have you heard that a little Testament
was the only thing in your possession on
your return homer
Isobel stared. What had this TO do with
the matter?
'Of course I heard of It" with look
and tone of naughty offense. She had
been told Of It by Justine, but when she
had asked to see it, her mother. she re-
membered now, had put the matter aside
with a Don't trouble your father about
it; let us forget II rather darling"
Have you seen il? Has Sir David
shown 1t your went on Ashe For him
self. since ne had heard Of the Testament
from Justine. he would have given a
year of his life to have the handling of
1t. IF not" significantly
Really, aren't We getting rather melo-
dramatic?'' broke in IsObel-a word which
she had heard her mother USE and she
was very quick in assimilatlng new words
or new ideas What is all this mystery
about? You speak as II that poor little
Testament We're some talisman-perhaps
it is" with a smile. Il shall tell you
when see it" and she turned away. and
this time Ashe made no attempt to fol-
low her. He had shot his bolt; he could
only wait.
With swift, unhesitating steps Isobei
walked back to the house, and through
the hall. and without giving herself time
to think, went straight to the library
What she meant to say or do she did not
know, but somehow the spell OF her ignor-
ance must be broken. The library was
strange ground to her. and as she entered
the great unfamiliar room there was a
dimness before her eyes and her young
limbs trembled. But no harsh voice chal-
lenged her entrance; she looked around
and found. whether to her relief or her
disappointment she hardly knew, that the
room was empty.
\ Then the blood, which had been running
cold and low, leaped up in a choking re-
pound, as her eyes. rowing around. met
those of her portrait gazing down upon
her from above the high chimney piece
She might have known it, That-with a
passionate gesture toward the picture
had place In her fathers room, In her
fathers heart, while there was none for
her. She would know why. She should
be kept in the dark no longer. He must
tell her, and since he was not here to an
swer-perhaps that Testament was.
With her breath sobbing in her throat.
Wild glitter in her beautiful eyes. she
went straight to the big writing table and
with trembling hands began in fierce and
desperate haste TO pull the drawers open.
She had no thought Of dishonor, she
never questioned what she was doing. she
was driven by the devOuring need-to
know. Letters, papers, deeds, she reck-
lessly turned over and threw aside, then
as she slammed drawer to, whether
she unknowingsy touched the spring, or
in his haste IN the morning Sir David had