The Press., 1894-10-04


 this scandal, there might be some awk- ward hours for Frank Armour's wife at Greyhope, but more than that there would be a very hard hearted young lady to play her part in the deceitful world She would be as merciless as she could be. Naturally, being young, she exaggerated the importance of the event and brooded on it. It was differ ent with her father and mother. They were shocked and indignant at first, but when the first scene had been faced they began to make the best of things all round-that is, they proceeded at once to turn the North American Indian into a European, matter of no little diff culty. A governess was discussed, but General Armour did not like the idea, and Richard opposed it heartily. She must be taught English and educated and made possible lin Christian cloth ing" as Mrs. Armour put it. Of the education they almost despaired-all save Richard. Time, instruction, vani- ty and dressmaker might do much as to the other.
 The evening of her arrival Lali would not, with any urging, put on clothes of Marion's s which had been sent in to her. And the next morning it was still the same. She came into the breakfast room dressed still in buckskin and moccasins, and though the grease had been taken out of her hair it was still combed flat. Mrs. Armour had tried to influence her through Mackenzie, but to no purpose. She was placidly stubborn. It had been unwisely told her by Mackenzie that they were Marion's clothes. They scarcely took ill the fact that the girl had pride; that she was the daughter of chief and a chieftainess herself, and that it was far from happy to offer her Marion's clothes to wear.
 Now, Richard, when he was lad, had been on journey to the south seas and had learned some of the peculiari- ties of the native mind, and he did not suppose that American Indians differed very much from certain well bred Poly nesians ill little matters of form and good taste. When his mother told him what had occurred before Lali entered the breakfast room, he went directly to what he believed was the cause and ad vised tact with conciliation. He also pointed out that Lali was something taller than Marion, and that she might be possessed of that general trait of hu- manity-vanity. Mrs. Armour had not yet got used to thinking of the girl ill another manner than an intrusive being of a lower order who was there to try their patience, but also to do their bid ding She had yst to grasp the fact that, being her sons wife, she must have therefore position ill the house, exer cising certain authority over the serv ants, who, to Mrs. Armour, at first seemed of superior stuff. But Richard said to her: Mother, fancy you don't quite grasp the situation The girl is daughter of chief and the de- scendant of a family of chiefs, perhaps through many generations. In her own land she has been used to respect and has been looked up to pretty generally. Her garments are, fancy, considered very smart ill tae Hudson bay country, and finely decorated blanket like hers is expensive up there. You see, we have to take the thing by comparison, so please give the girl a chance"
 And Mrs. Armour answered wearily: "I suppose you are right, Richard You generally are ill the end, though why you should be do not know, for you never see anything of the world any more, and you moon about among the cottagers. | suppose it's your native sense and the books you read.''
 Richard laughed softly, but there was 8 queer ring in the laugh, and he came over stumblingly and put his arm round his mothers shoulder. ''Never mind how I get such sense as have, mother. have so much time to think it would be wonder if hadn't some. But I think We had better try to study her and coax her along and not fob her off as a very inferior person, or we shall have our hands full in earnest. My opinion is she has got that which will save her and us, too-a very high spirit. which only needs opportunity to develop into remarkable thing, and, take my word for it, mother, if we treat her as a chieftainess, or princess, or whatever she is, and not simply as dusky person, we shall come off better, and she will come off better ill the long run. She is not darker than . Spaniard anyhow"
 At this poiI Marion entered the room, and her m )ther rehearsed briefly to her what their talk had been. Marion had had little sleep, and she only lifted her eyebrows at them at first. She was in little mood of equalization. She re- membered all at once that at supper the evening before her sister-in law had said ''How!' to the butler and had eat en the mayonnaise with a dessert spoon. But presently, because she saw they waited for her to speak, she said, with a little futter of maliciousness:
 "Wouldn't it be we'll for Richard he has plenty of time, and we are also likely to have it now-to put us all training of chieftainesses? And when do you think she will be ready for a drawing room-her majesty Queen Vic toria's or ours?'
 "Marionp' said Mrs. Armour severe ly, but Richard came round to her, and with his fresh, childlike humor put his arm round her waist and added, Ma iron, I'd be willing to bet (if were in the habit of betting) my shaky old pins here against lock of your hair that you may present her at any drawing room-ours or Queen Victoria 's-in two years if we go at it right, and it would serve Master Frank very well if we turned her out something, after all ''
 Mrs. Armour said almost eagerly: II wish it were only possible, Richard. And what you say is true, I suppose that she is of rank in her own country, whatever value that may have.
 Richard saw his advantage. "Well, mother,' he said, "a chieftainess is 8 chieftainess, and I don't know but to announce her as such and"-
 "And be proud of it, as it were" i" put in Marion, land pose her and make her prize-a Pocahontas. wasn't it?- and go on pretending world without end" Marion S voice was still slightly grating, but there was i'll it, too, faint