The Washington herald., 1907-08-11

hot. listening room. with its rows Of sleek
heads and st0lid faces. had returned 20
! her, bringing with it that strange con-
fusing sensation which seemed 10 blur
her very identity.
DO you want any tea?" she now asked
in a duty voice. If so, I'm afraid youn
have 10 ring for IT, We were so tired
and thirsty when We got home, We drank
it all up.
I don't mind. It doesn't matter" said
Conyers. hastily. He didn't want the
servants fussing about "Of course. you
were in Duncaird this afternoon. BY the
Jy, who were the 'we%
only mother and ] and Mr. Ashe. Ap-
parenIly he likes an occasional change
fromSkilling grouse. IL wasn't my fault
however. that he was around to-day,
plaintiyely. I believe he arranged 1t
with mother"
When one is feeling tired and vaguely
miserable for no apparent reason, the
temptation Is strong to administer such
a pin-pTick II Conyers WINGED, ne val
iantly hid *.
Il might have given the birds a hOli-
. day, toO-they've got uncommon wild
since Tuesdays stOrm-but 7 didn't know
II you'd want my long legs crowding up
8
new light though" he said. with would
be carelessness. I don't seem 10 see him
somehow as an amateur school inspector.
How did the poor little beggars comport
themselves Speeches are bad enough on
breaking-up day. but 20 jaw at them at
l the beginning OF term"
"Oh, they stared and stared TIL I think
/ they must have-I can't get the word
with her little perplexed frown.
"Hypnotized you. suggested Conyers.
Yes. ! suppose that's the word though
I am not sure If know what it means
exactly. Anyhow. they stared until
/ felt as If 7 was losing hold somehow. as
! if / wasn't quite sure who I was.
/ though with rather a flavorless laugh.
1 don't know If I'm ever very sure Of
that now"
/ As she spoke. she drew herself up from
the depths Of her chair. and stood erect.
stretching ont her arms with an aban-
don which was a little more frank than
/ convention prescribes.
/ What do you mean?' asked Conyers.
stirred by something In her tone
| II think you know what I mean" said
/ Isobel, mutinously; then flushing. as she
recOllected herself, and hastily let her
arms fail Her eyes followed the last
long. fading sun ray which touched her
portrait. showing the face, wan amid
the shadows. None of you can ever
think Of me without thinking Of her. I'll
| lay you're thinking just now; she would
not have done that just as she wOuldn [
/ say or do half the things which I do. "
No. l don't think she would" said
Conyers, smiling. his eyes following hers.
and then, passing from the pale, pictured
| face, to the brilliant living one before
him. Like the waning moon, fading to a
white cloud before the morning sun. his
memories Of the little cousin of these old
days seemed dwindling and paling fast in
the presence of the radiant young crea-
ture, whose every changing mood, even
/ her present somewhat thOrny one. had
its own freshness and delight.
You're honest. at least cried IsobeI.
drawing in a quick breath She took no
| account of the look or the tone in which
the words were spoken. The long ex-
citement of the day eliminated
| My father doesn't speak, but he keeps
looking at her, and then at me. till I
feel wild. l can't help it if I'm not like
| that white-faced thing any more I can't
believe / was ever such a boneless. spirit
! less creature: I feel too alive, and she
looks half-dead, or half-asleep: but I
wish, vehementIy, they'd put It away.
can't bear e; I'm growing to hate 1t:
| yes, it's true" facing round upon Basil.
who stood surprised by this outburst into
momentary silence AT times I feel as
| if I-could kill her" and she snatched I'D
a big, heavy paper-cutter. in shape like
Moorish scimitar. and made a passion
ate lunge toward the portrait.
| Shaken though she was by excitement.
| 10y emotions which she could not under
stands or control she would not have
| touched the canvas. but a tall figure sud
| denly stepped between her and it, Sir
David. who had just returned. had enter
| ed the room Unnoticed. He caught her
wrist and flung her back with such vio-
lence that Basil started forward with an
angry exclamation.
How dare your cried Sir David. his
eyes blazing fierce from a white. bag
gard face. you shall not touch nv
chiid-my Isobel-all that I have left of
I.