The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-25
CHAPTER XXI.
And the Chndren's Teeth Are Set on
EDGE

And the ChiIdFen's Teeth Are Set on
Edge"
Here you are. at last: I've been hunt
ing for you everywhere. So the great
question Is settled. exclaimed Basil Con-
yers, as he came upon Isobel leaning on
the balustrade Of the garden terrace, her
eyes wandering listlessly over the formal
Italian garden-a changed scene now, for
the lingering summer had fled before the
autumn frosts, which had laid its glories
low.
The brilliant many-hued mosaic Of flow
er beds lay waste Of shriveled blooms
and blackened stalks. while the statues OF
nymph or goddess. or frolicsOme fawn.
laughing Hebe, rose-garlanded Flora, or
/ bountiful Ceres-alien shapes under that
cold overloaded slSy-seemed gazing IN
forlorn wonder over the desolation around.
/ And Isobers gaze was as forlorn as
theirs. while over her young beauty an In
dehnabIe change had passed. as real II
not as outwardly devastating. as the
/ frost blight over the garden. With her
proud. delicate face set in the rudy glory
of her hair. she must always be beauti-
! full but something was gone from face
and eyes. something which could never be
restored-the something perhaps which
/ Tndine lost when to her sorrow and her
salvation she found her soul The sheer,
unquestlonlng JOY Of youth which had
made the girls whole personality so rad
liant was quenched-that zest in mere life
which makes of common food a feast, OF
each returning day a new beginning full
Of fresh promise, and which gives edge
and point to all existence-the first
sparkle and effervescence Of the cup-thai
was gone, and what had taken its place?
CNyers could no more have answered
that question than he could have ana
lived the change which, ike Lady Stor-
mont. who had been quick TO notice II, he
was ready to attribute TO the effects OF
Isobels illness It would soon pass away
he tried to assure himself; but when she
turned toward him shere sprang up before
him. in sharp contrast with her altered
look and the dreary autumn scene. that
glowing day when the garden was in al
its glory. and when for the first time
with open eyes. he had looked into his
loves face. After all, was it only that
brief illness which had wrought the
change. he was wondering doubtfully-
wrathfully, as Isobel answered indiffer-
emily:
Yes. believe we are to start mex
week"
The sooner the better; you'll be glad e
get away from here now, should
think" looking over the sullen river e
the half-seen hills, dim under rainy cloud
fringes.
Il shall, indeed" she answered witt
such sudden emphasis and fervor tha
Conyers was somewhat surprised
We'll. you've great time before you,
lbe said. heartily. 'Switzerland-Italy-
Venice-Rome; that's the programme, ism
it?"
Yes; but. of course, they are on!l
names to me yet"
The reality will seem all the NOR
wonderful then, and you'll be able to lal
in again a whole new stock of first i'm
pressions. am TO come and try If
couldn't see things again through you
eyes. I might serve as escort sometime
when Sir David wants q day OF. He ha!
decided 70 go, too
Yes" answered Isobel
Conyers was silent Was this the rea
son why the girls joyous expectation
seemed so wholly quenched? He hai
been surprised to hear that Sir Davi'
was to be of the party. though since he
Illness he had shown a careful, scrupu
: lous courtesy toward his daughter. sucl
as is never needed where there is rea
! understanding and affection. and to whicl
Isobel had responded with only too evi
L. dent effort Now Basil wondered afresh
! as he had done often enough before, wha
, icould have been said that day in the Il