The Washington herald., 1907-09-15


timidiy. for she knew the unspoken
dread which underlay the words. IF il
were uOt-nOt-What once nearly hap-
pened 10 me. ! owe Mr. Ashe thanks
for that, if for nothing else" She
could speak Of Ashe calmly enough
now. That hour in the cApel p0rtico
seemed an evil dream. 4 was stand
ing just as she may have stood on the
grassy brim, al the very edge OF the
water. and he warned me 10 come back.
for the banks were unsafe. and I had
hardly stepped back when a great piece
oI the turf slipped down into the water.
It-lt may have been so On that day;
she may have lOsp her footing. and
there was no one near 10 help" her
voice failed The pitiful tragedy of that
cherished young life so mysteriousIy cut
short, and cut short, as il sometimes
seemed, % make room for her. darkened
her heart
And now it was all over, Earth 70
earth. ashes % ashes, dust 70 dust
Inc Stormout vault was closed I'LL II
should claim another tenant, and tongues
were let loose at last. and the country
sat down 70 a feast Of gossip such as il
AaQ not had for years. and which each
discussed according to his or her kind.
There could never be any doubt that
the young lady was a StormOnt but
It's little wonder that she wasn't so
very Ike her stepsister's portrait
chuckled old Lady CarrutLers. We an
guessed that Marian wasn't the first. but
what allied the woman 70 make il uubIfc
and set Stormont in a white sheet before
the country? She might have kept a
calm sough.' and no one would ever
have got beyond wondering AT the change
in little Is0beL L shows what a little
fresh blood viii do, though-the Stor-
monts VIII make a fresh start in tits
young lady mark my words though I
won't have the chance Of seeing IT,"
Privately, the old lady wondered what
Evelyn Ashes game had been. which
had apparently 50 completely miscar-
-ied
But Mr.. Ashe was not likely 10 give
her any chance OF discussing 'the Stor-
mont romance" as the weekly papers
called it, with him. The memory OF that
last night az Zermatt, when his card
castle had collapsed. Stiu ranked too
freshly. and his humniatlng failure was
pointed by the practical regret that lie
had elected 10 consider his terms til the
morning. Eow Lady Stormonts brave
avowal Of the truth had rendered lis
knowledge valueless, save that Il Sc
g
country houses. notably At the Rudee-
leys' place. where Mss Wis guests were
now Dp-JiIg pleGsauJs instead u shoot
ing grouse
1T is wise 20 make a virtue Of ne
cessity," he would say with a shrug. If
Lady Storm0nts courage in making
known the truth were referred 20. and
his Techauffe Of The Tlistlethwaite dis
closures, with deiicately malicious word
portraits Of the worthy pair. so COM
mended him % his hostess that bets were
freely exchanged IL the smoking room as
10 his chances Of pulling of "the ItIdge-
lev stakes after all
But only faint echoes OF this strife
Of tongues penetrated 10 the great grav
home in the broad valley. though LADY
StormOnt would have Needed bur little.
though she had had 10 face the full
bruuJ OF the storm To one who has
been through deep waters the pel-iug OF
a hail shower matters bat little For The
two women there Il was a very quiet
winter though the Duncaird tea parties
and many dinner table had never been
so lively. Lady Stormont found her in
tereSt in helping Isobel 20 prepare for
taking her place worthily in her new
life- There was no one now 10 forbid
books 10 Isobel. all the treasures Of the
library lay open 70 her. and the girls
fresh mind and quick intelligence made
her progress q wonder often and a de-
night 20 the elder woman. though the
contrast sometimes forced a sigh.
But as the crocuses began 10 hold I'D
rheir gold and purple chaIices 10 the
March sunlight. as The grass grew creener
again in the little kirkvard. and once
more The world aWoke, Lady Stormont be-
gan 70 note that IsobeTs interest was
tagging somewhat in her books. and her
studies. and her singing. for her voice.
which had once startled the Stormout
urawlng-room. was being cultivated and
was sweet and round as the blackbirds
mellow note in sle lulls OF the March
wind Though there had been no words
spoken, Lady Stormont had understood
the sacrifice that IsObel was making. and
IN her heart she thanked her for it. That
her daughter could never have awakened
such love as Basil's for Isobel she knew
only too well, bur the prospect Of that
wedding. where Basil Conyers would az
ter all take Isobel StOrmont for his wife.
was one from which she was glad to turn
her eyes for IIttle. The bridegroom
would. indeed. be the one she had chosen:
but alas for her-the little bride Law
shrouded-the only white robes she would
ever wear.
But Lady StormOnt was too sane. too
sound, as well as too sweet-hearted. 10
indulge her own grief too long. Life
could not be all memory and thought, the
best Of her own might lie behind her; II
was different with the two young hearts
with which she had TO do. When the
March winds had blown themselves out.
and ushered in soft and genial April,
and stu lsobel made no sign, but vaguely
attributed any little token of languOr TO
the spring weather" Lady Storm0nt
thought it time 10 take matters into her
own hands. and wrote and dispatched a
brief note. Its answer came next day
in the shape of Basil Conyers, eager
and yet somewhat abashed.
Dear Lady Stormont," he said. 1T
was like you ~ write 70 me as YOU did.
but-bUt can yOu bear it-wheu 1 think
what it means to you"-faltering at the
sight of her facets it's it not too
soon2f
When think what it means to you.
Basil, I feel that It can't be too soon.
The spring can't linger for the sake OF
autumn. It's spring now" with q glance
at the unstained azure above. AT the mist
Of green overspreading field and tree.
eAaN tAi4AA4Af sF+ wa tt+iA ANNtIL Nll Ll4c
garden terrace, with a smile which said
all the rest.
The young man caught her hands and
kissed them. uttered something inar;icu-
late, and disappeared: Lady StOrmont
stood for moment looking after him.
and then she slowly turned away. and
took the path which led TO the Round
Wood.
tTHE END.l
Shall We Forbid ImmigratiOnt