The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-12-14

your m1rFOr muCn. Inc resi- Oh US can
appreciate what you would see there. :"
She reached out and touched his arm.
"Do you like to look at me?' she ques-
toned, with a strange simple candor.
For the first time in many a year Rich
ard Armour blushed like a girl fresh
from school. The question had come so
suddenly, it had gone so quickly into a
! sensitive corner of his nature, that he
lost command of himself for the instant,
yet had little idea why the command was
lost. He touched the fingers ON his arm
affectionately.
Like to look at you? Like to look
at you? Why, of course, we all like to
look at you. You are very fine and
handsome-and interesting"
Richard" she said, drawing her
hands away, lis that why you like to
look at me?''
He had recovered himself. He laugh
ed in his old hearty way and said:
Eyes, yes. Why, of course. Come, let
us go and see the boy" he added, TAX
ing her arm and hurrying her down the
steps. Come and let us see Richard
Joseph, the pride of all the Armours. "
She moved beside him in a kind of
dream. She had learned much since she
came to Greyhope, but yet she could
not at that moment have told exactly
why she asked Richard the question
that had confused him, nor did she
know quite what lay behind the ques-
ton. But every problem which has life
works itself out to its appointed end if
fumbling human fingers do not NEEDLE
with it. Half the miseries of this world
are caused by forcing issues, in every
problem of the affections the emotions
and the soul. There is law working
with which there should be no tamper-
ing, lest in foolish interruption come
only confusion and disaster. Against
every such question there should be
written the one word, wait.
Richard Armour stopped over the
child. "a beauty he said, ga perfect
little gentleman. Like Richard Joseph
Armour there is none" he added.
"Whom do you think he looks like,
Richard?' she asked. This was a ques-
ton she had never asked before since
the child was born. Whom the child
looked like every one knew. Int within
the past year and half Francis Ar
mour's name had seldom been mention
ed and never in connection with the
child. The child's mother asked the
question with strange quietness. Rich
ard answered it without hesitation.
''The child looks like Frank" he
said. Gas like him as can be.
81 am glad she said, 'for all your
sakes. -
"You are very deep this morning,
Lali," Richard said, with kind of
helplessness. Frank will be pretty
proud of the youngster when he comes
back. But he won't be prouder of him
than am. F"
81 know that, " she said. won't you
be lonely without the boy-and me,
Richard?''
Again the question went home
''Lonely? should think would" he
said. 81 should think I would. But
then, you see, school is over, and the
master stays behind and makes up the
marks. You will find London jollier
master than I am, Lali. There'll be lots
of shows, and plenty to do, and smart
frocks, and no end of feeds and frolics,
and that is more amusing than studying
three hours day with dry old stick
like Dick Armour. 1 tell you what,
when Frank comes''--
She interrupted him. ''Do not speak
of that, she said. Then, with a sudden
burst of feeling, though her words
were scarcely audible: 81 owe you every
thing, Richard-everything that is good.
I owe him nothing, Misunderstanding
but what is bitter"
FLUSH, hush," he said "You must
not speak that way. Lali, want to say
to you
At that moment General Armour,
Mrs. Armour and Marion appeared on
the doorstep, and the carriage came
wheeling up the drive. What Richard
intended to say was left unsaid. The
chances were it never would be said.
"Well, WELL" said General Armour
calling down at them, escort his i'm
perial highness to the chariot which
awaits him, and then, no! for London
town. Come along, my daughter, he
said to Lali. ''Come up here and take
the last Whit of Greyhope that you
will have for six months. Dear, dear,
what lunatics we all are, to be sure!
Why, we're as happy as little birds in
their nests out in the decent country,
and yet we scamper off to smoky old
city by the Thames to rush along with
the world, instead of sitting high and
far away from it and watching it go by.
God bless my soul, I'm old enough to
know better. Well, let me help you in,
my DEAR" he added to his wife, land
in you go, Marion, and in you CO. your
imperial highness' passed the child
awkwardly in to Marion-''a in you
60, my daughter, +" he added as he hand
ed Lali in, pressing her hand with a
brusque fatherliness as he did so. He
then got in after them.
Richard came to the side of the car
riage and babe them all goodby one by
one. Lai gave him her hand, but did
not speak word. He called cheerful
adieu, the horses were whipped up, and
in moment Richard was left alone on
the steps of the house. He stood for a
time looking, then he turned to go into
the house, but changed his mind, sat
down, lit cigar and did not move
from his seat until he was summoned
to his lonely luncheon.
Nobody thought much of leaving
Richard behind at Greyhope. 1t seemed
the natural thing to do. But still he
had not been left alone-entirely alone