The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-01
CHAPTER XIV.

shaken himself by the relief, the unmis-
taxable gladness in her voice. He was
not altogether unwelcome then! You've
been out too long alone; you've
got scared by the cold and darkness. and
this Is what the Stormont folk would
call an 'unco place, with a glance round
the gorge, now a black pit Of laundering
noise. Your mother was getting anx-
ious about you, so I thought I'd better
take a look round Cor you. I'm afraid
startled you coming so suddenly on
you, but I thought you'd hear me on the
bridge, though the water does make a
row, he went on, to give IsobeI time TO
.recover-an unconscious Orpheus, had he
known it. who had brought his Eurydice
back from the very brink Of the shades.
To the girls disordered fancy she seemed
already to have oversteppeG the bound
airy. and the familiar tones striking
across the voice of many waters. the
sudden transition from the chill touch OF
Death to this warm human clasp was
for the moment too bewildering.
Has anything happened? Did any
one ver..,F.z to" began Conyers, a
sharper note In his voice. His cousins
agitation was somewhat excessive even
for the natural "eeriness" likely 10 beset
a girl alone in the falling dusk in such
creepy place, as he mentally styled it;
yet there seemed nothing else to account
for it.
No. no." said Isobel. mastering her
rr-I-
her Unless Ashe had returned TO the
village by the lower bridge. which was
not likely. it being the longer way, he
must be close behind them now. In the
first enormous relief Of finding that il was
not he. but Basil, who stood beside her,
she had been incapable of any other
thought or sensation; but now she be
gan 10 wonder what had Brought Con-
yers so suddenly upon the scene. and 10
realize how infinitely more difficult his
presence would render her position. True.
be would stand between her and Ashe.
but what would Ashe dO-hOw long would
he hold his hand? Till there was no
smallest chance OF gaining his desires
OF making some profit of his knowledge,
so long-but only so long. she was quite
keen enough 10 divine; but meantime the
young men from meeting Immediately.
Let US get back TO the hotel" she said
hurriedly. For once won't object TO
the electric light glaring among the queer
old chalets: / want light and plenty OF
1t, turning away with a shiver from the
loud water and the dim world beyond il.
10 which she seemed 10 have drawn 50
near.
And Basil wss quite inclined 70 follow
her lead as long as he could. He was
no more inclined TO wear his heart upon
his sleeve or 70 court another rebuff
than the average man. but while there
was nothing Of the cOxcOmb about him.
there lurked deep down in his heart, the
result perhaps of old association, the be-
lief that IsObel was not absolutely indif-
ferent that somehow she still belonged
TO him. Nor could he rid his mind of the
thought that If 1t were not for her
fathers morbid meddling." as he dis
respectfully styled II, he might even yet
win love for loke But whether such A
contamination oY earthly desire were pos
sibIe or no, IsObel would never lack help
if he could give it. Something in the
tone Of Lady Stormont's letters struck
him as unsatisfactory, and when he
heard OF Ashes appearance at Caux, the
natural man could stand no more.
well, l hope they won't be IN too
great a hurry shutting up shop, now that
I've come. There wasn't very much go
ing on at home One can't always be
shooting. and when I heard you were
coming UP here I thought I'd renew my
acquaintance with some OF these jolly
old chaps with a comprehensive nod
toward the majestic peaks far up among
the stars It's too late in the season,
know, but II this weather holds, one
might do some good work yet"
I'm afraid you won't be able 20 coax
or bride d guide TO so with you. Ny IA
Their has been trying it. He feels, like
ne. think. too much shut IN here. and
always wanting to climb up and out OF
the valley But the guides say there is
too much fresh snow; they are caution
itself. and | suppose it's better so" Iso-
bel was saying, catching at d safe sub
ject. when the click of a falling stone
caught Basil's ear and he glanced be-
hind
They had passed the first Of the cleo
trio lamps, considerably placed on the
outskirts Of the village. and in the cir
Gle Of a strong, blue-white light. which
deepened all the shadows beyond, Ashes
tdtAr 5liE4ll 10 NtNr tic easy AdA mage u
his handsome head, were at once rec
ognizable Basil paused.
DO you mean 10 say that that fellow
has had the cheek TO follow you herey''
he exclaimed.
He is here, at least said Isobel. in
voluntarily quickening her step a little.
a sudden thought struck Conyers.
Could the fellow have had anything to
do with Isobers extreme agitation on
the bridge? There had been more than
mere alarm in her sudden cry: Let me
go,' Could Ashe have met her-have
ventured? His hand closed very tightly on
his iron-shod stick.
Il know you think Ihave a prejudice
against Ashe.'' he said, although a for
mer experience warned kim TO leave the
subject alone. but then I know-some-
thing of him at least. hope-he hasn't
worried you to-day" For the moment
ne could hit on no other word to ex-
press his sudden fear, and its grotesque
inapprOpriateness to that encounter IN
der the chapel portico forced an odd, des-
perate laugh from Isobel They were
passing another lamp, and Conyers look
ed at her in uncomfortable surprise.
Worry newly should MI Ashe
worry me?'' she said. with her head "A
trifie higher BY the bye. we needen't
give him the impression that we are run
ming away from him." deliberately slack
ening her pace a little. Basil must not
imagine that she was afraid of the man
behind whose shadow elongated by the
glaring lamp. almost touched their path.
But Ashe made no effort to overtake
them. He had provided Miss StoTmOnt
with quite sufficient food for thought.
and. while at first he was somewhat sur
prised to see her with an escort, he was
by no means ill-pleased to recognize Basil
Conyers. The drama on which the cur
tain had now been fairly rung up would
be played with a fuller stage; that was
ali. His triumph would be the more COM
plete since it would be witnessed by the