Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-02-01
CHAPTER II.

how she'll twist old Owen round her fin
gers by and BY" chuckled Jim to himself
as he thought of it.
CHAPTER II.
AN INDIsCRETION.
Mrs. Seton was the wife Of the senior
major of the Blankshire regiment. 4
pretty little woman who had been brought
up in gay London set. half society and
half bohemian. She was very much in
love with her slow and stolid lord and
master, and stood by him through many
dull and dreary time when her natural
inclination would have prompted her to
pack up her things and HE herself back to
her mothers pleasant house in South
Kensington.
1T is awful" she said to Beautiful jim,
one day when they were first in Blank.
hampton. II never was in such hoie in
my life. went out with Tom this morn
ing, just for the sake of walking along the
streets with some one, and every one
looked at me from under their eyelashcs
as if they weren't sure whether it was
quite proper to be seen with man in uni.
form or not. And then this afternoon
some people came and called, all women of
course. / asked one If the theatre here
was pretty good, and she said she didn't
KNOWN her position it didn't do to be
seen in such places. Iasked her when her
day was, but she said she didn't have q
day-if she was in the house she was
always pleased to see her friends if they
would take her as they found her; so !
suppose if she happened to be in bed with
an influenza cold she would receive in her
bedroom. only hope" the little woman
went on, that may be lucky enough to
call on that good lady when she is not in
the house."
"Oh, go when you know she is out"
suggested Jim, coolly.
Trust me for that II can," returned
Mrs. Seton. nodding her head knowingly
Still, must confess it puzzles me to
think why she wanted to know mo at all
She never goes to balls; they're like the
theatres. they wouldn't do In our posi-
ton
What is our position?" inquired Jim
with interest.
Il don't know at all; very uncomfort
able one. should think" Mrs. Seton re
piled.
However, the months had gone by, and
the Blankshire regiment had settled down
very comfortably, and had come. as other
regiments had done before them. to look
upon Blankhampton as an unusually de.
sirable station.
But FIRST and foremost in oil schemes
and plans for enjoyment was little
Mrs. Seton, who loved the world
dearly and paid herself In liberal coin of
pleasure every day for sticking &C faith
fully to her gallant II stolid Tom, the
major. Nothing Of u pleasuring kind
could be organized without her. and moth
ers and daughters alike regarded her as
an unmitigated blessing-a sort of<sociai
fairy godnother.
houses In E,ankhampton, and seemed
never SO happy as when it was full of
people. unless indeed you took exception
to such times as she made one Of crush
elsewhere She was Q dirt, of course
for she tiirted with al the men. youn5
and old alike, and with her Tom the hard
est Of all; but she monopolized none, and
the girls knew TINT il any Of them should
get engaged to one Of Mrs. Seton's men
there would be no awkwardness on her
part, but that the very heartiest congrat-
ulations would come from her.
"She's such good little soul" said ono
Oxford-after she had wished him Joy of
his engagement with Madge Trafford and
had told him If he made Madge half as
good husband as her Tom made her she
would be happy woman-'sople women
are 80 nasty to fellow when he wants to
get married. But she's not that sort. by
JoveI she told me the whole duty of hus.
bands today, as If she had been my sweet
hearts mother and hadn't ut all the best
Of characters at the back of ME. l like
the little woman, she's SO genuine" And
good many other men and women be-
sides Marcus Oxford had the same opinion
Of Maj. Seton's gay little wife, so that she
was on the whole one of the most popular
women In the garrison
When the two men reached the house
they found the party in full swing-Mrs.
Seton herself standing in the hall with q
merry crowd around her. music going on
In the drawing room. and in the rooms at
the back of the house the clinking Of ice
plates and of tea cups.
As they presented themselves before
her, Mrs. Seton began to scold them for
their tardy arrival II was SO afraid you
were not coming What? You've only
just got in from town."
Didn't know till twenty minutes ago
that you had . party" Beautiful Jim
broke In; IF had known, Mrs. Seton, /
should have come back by an earlier train;
yes, assure you should. How do you
do. Mrs. Trafford?" bowling to little Mrs.
Traford a. she passed on her way to the
tea room.
Il wanted you to talk to girl who has
been brought by Lady Margaret" said
Mrs. Seton in an UNDERGONE. 'Miss Adair
is not well-headache or something-and
this girl has never stirred from Lady
Margaret's side, and must be simply bored
to death. Not"-with . gay laugh
that wish to cast reflections ON Lady
Margaret; only you know what lot Of
Kow-tow deans wife has to get through,
and really could not introduce any men
there arc SO few here today, somehow"
Beautiful Jim laughed. I'm trot her
around, Mrs. Seton. VIII you take NC
to her. or must ask Lady Margaret
"oh. I'll take yon. What good boy
you are, Mr.. Beresford: one can always
Sepend on YOU"
"Oh, hope so. We oil depend on you
for good deal of our pleasure. Mrs. Sc
ton, he said.
So Mrs. Seton struggled into the
crowded drawing room, and Beautiful
Jim faithfully followed. not little to
the disgust of more than one young dam
sci, who would fain have detained him
beside her. But jim was true to his
trust and followed closely at his hostess
heels, and In time was formally presented
to Miss Earle.
Pretty eyes," he said to himself rs she
returned his bow.
May take you to have an ice or some
tear he asked. Then he looked deprecat-
ingly at Lady Margaret as if to say, How
can ! take you both? I've been told off to
this girl, and
But Lady Margaret saw and understood
the look. Eyes, take Miss Earle" she
said kindly. Il have promised to 60 with
Maj. Seton for a cup Of tea in few min
utes; but this poor thing has been sitting
by me all the time, and must be not only
bored but fainting."
Miss Earle, however, disclaimed any
such feeling. though she took Jim's arm
With ahcrity when he suggested that
they should 60 of and get something to
eat at once. "Do you know, Miss Earle"
he said. I'm SO fearfully hungry can
hardly stand up at all. haven't had
anything to eat since | had breakfast at
the club this morning."
Tho club here?" she asked.
"Oh, no; the Army and Navy"
'Oh, in town. You have come from
town today?"
''Yes, I've had few days leave. Now,
what will you have-tea, coffee, cup or
ice? Mrs. Seton's cup is excellent"