The Washington herald., 1907-08-04
CHAPTER XII.
Justine's story.

"Old witch" muttered Conyers to HIM
self, in angry disgust, as Lady Stormont.
seizing on the Dretext which his words
had offered, hurried IsobeI away. amid
the murmur Of conventional sympathy
with which her guests decentIy draped
their amazed curiosity, until-but as she
was quite aware, only until-she would
be out OF hearing. Basil repeated his IN
fattering epithet. with even more empha-
SIS, as Lady Carruthers. the chief object
OF interest being now withdrawn. came
ho5bling toward him. her eyes a-twinkleIi
"Confound her, she looks SO chirpy she
must be going to say something uncom-
mon nasty, thought the young man, but
she'd better let IsObel alone"
Well Basil, there's been no time for
word with you to-day, and even vet
I'm not quite certain whether its condo
lence or cOngTatulatiOn I should offer
you
i don't see that I'm in any special
need OF either, but thanks sH-th same
said COnyers his head very erect. his
eyes gazing straight over the trifie Of lace
perched on the top Of the old lady's pal
pable wig.
It's thank you for nothing, so far.
Wait till 1 make up my mind. A broken
ngagement-well.' musingly, that is
usually a reason for regrets, in words at
least; but call il by some other name
how would a lucky escape do, Ell? and
that rather alters the case"
Conyers' eyes fell instantly to the level
OF the old woman's.
My engagement is not broken, so far
as 7 am concerned, at least" he said.
trifle more loudly than was absolutely
needed. for Lady Carruthers was only
very slightly deaf. Sir David has taken
up needlessly quixotic position about
it. as II seems 70 me. bat the matter is in
his hands and above all, in my cousins.
II is for her to decide"
The last words seemed spoken. not so
much to the old lady. as 10 the pricked
and listening ears around, in the silence
which had suddenly fallen.
Then I'd better keep an open mind"
said Lady Carruthers, with her thin
crackle Of laughter, surely the very dry
bones Of laughter. Don't you prOphe-
sy unless you know is the only safe at
titude at present where that young lady
is concerned. But I don't think that Sir
David is the only Quixote in the case
with a not unfriendly glance at the tail
figure held erect as if on parade at the
hitherto not more specially noticeable
than that OF the average welI-born. we'll
bed, well-loOking young Englishman. bur
through which character was now show
ing in the lines and set of the mouth and
jaw, in the more certain outlook Of the
deep-set eyes
The company broke up early. They
could discuss the piquant little scene of
the evening and all the sUTmises and
theories which were thickening around
It with more freedom in the smoking room
OF around bedroom fires. As Ashe. who
had gone to his room 10 change his coat
for a smoking jacket, came down one Of
the broad softly lighted upper corridors.
a trim little figure appeared, the prim
neatness Of whose attire. and a prefer
natural occurrences marking an inher-
ent coquetry, proclaimed the soubrette.
He paused;
Are you Miss Stormont's maid?" he
inquired. Why not hear "the odd thing
which VI Rudgeley was TO have told him
at first hand?
f'CeTtainement, 1 am Justine" with a
flicker Of her fine eyes toward him; for
one may be perfectly modest, perfectly,
even Britishly. respectable, and yet per
NIT ones self few minutes diversion.
Ashe bowed gravely.
Then Mile. Justine, you can tell me
how Miss StOrmont is now. I am afraid
the shock she had this afternoon has
really been too much for her.
"Ah. no. no. reassuringiy. You are
the monsieur who was so brave. to whom
we owe so much" clasping her hands
'Mademoiselle is only little-what you
call it?-upset. Once such a shock, such
a terror. would even have killed her; but
Dieu merci, she is not as she was"
And has she really forgotten every
with a lazily skepti-
cal smile.
To BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY Z
copyrighted. 1901, By the North American Col