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

packed pOrCmanteau and went up to
town to Cavendish square the act might
be considered from two sides of the
equation. If he came back to enter
again into the social life which for so
many years he had abjured, it was not
very sensible, because the world never
welcomes its deserters. 1t might if men
and women grew younger instead of
older. If he came to see his family, or
because he hungered for his godchild,
or because-but we are hurrying the
situation. 1t were wiser not to state
the problem yet. The afternoon that he
arrived at Cavendish square all his
family were out except his brothers.
wife. Lali was in the drawing room
receiving a visitor who had asked for
Mrs Armour and Mrs Francis Armour.
The visitor was received by Mrs. Fran
els Armour. The visitor knew that Mrs.
Armour was not at home. She had by
chance seen her and Marion in Bond
street and was not seen by them. She
straightway got into her carriage and
drove up to Cavendish square, hoping
to find Mrs. Francis Armour at home.
There had been house parties at Grey
hope since Lali had come there to live,
but this visitor, though once an init
mate friend of the family, had never
been guest.
The visitor was Lady Haldwell, once
Miss Julia Sherwood, who had made
possible what was called Francis Ar
mour's tragedy. Since Lali had come to
town Lady Haldwell had seen her, but
had never met her. She was not at
heart wicked, but there are few women
who can resist an opportunity Of anato-
MIXING and reckoning up the merits
and dement's of woman who has mar
ried an old lover. When that woman is
in the position of Mrs. Francis Armour
the situation has an unusual piquaney
and interest Hence Lady Haldwell's
journey of inquisition to Cavendish
square.
AS Richard passed the drawing room
door to ascend the stairs he recognized
the voices.
Once a sort of heather as Mrs. Fran
els Armour had been, she still could
X
clearness. There is nothing keener than
one woman's instinct regarding another
woman where a man is concerned. Mrs
Francis Armour received Lady Hald-
well with quiet stateliness which, if
it did not astonish her, gave her suffi-
cient warning that matters were not in
this little comedy to be all her own
way.
Thrown upon the mere resources of
wit and language, Mrs. Francis Armour
must have been at disadvantage, for
Lady Haldwell had a good gift of
speech, a pretty talent for epithet and
no unnecessary tenderness. She bore
Lali no malice She was too decorous
and high for that In her mind the wife
of the man she had discarded was
mere commonplace catastrophe, to be
viewed without horror, maybe with
pity. She had heard the alien spoken
well of by some people. Others had
seemed indignant that the Armours
should try to push ga red woman" into
English society. Truth is the Armours
did not try at all to push her. For over
three years they had let society talk.
They had not entertained. largely in
Cavendish square since Lali came, and
those invited to Greyhope had a chance
to refuse the invitations if they choose.
Most people did not choose to decline
them. But Lady Haldwell was not Of
that number. She had never been invit-
ed. But now in town, when entertain
ment must be more general, she and
the Armours were prepared for social
interchange.
Behind Lady Haldwell's visit curios-
ity chiefly ran. She was in way sorry
for Frank Armour, for she had been
fond of him after fashion, always
fonder of him than of Lord Haldwell.
She had married with her fingers hold
ing the scales of advantage, and Lord
Haldwell dressed well, was immensely
rich, and the title had charm.
When Mrs. Francis Armour met her
with her strange, impressive dignity,
she was the slightest bit confused, but
not outwardly. She had not expected it.
At first Lali did not know who her WIS.,
itor was. She had not caught the name
distinctly from the servant.
Presently Lady Haldwell said, as
Lali gave her hand: 81 am Lady Hald-
we'll. AS Miss Sherwood was an old
friend of your husband.
A scornful glitter came into Mrs.
Armour's eyes-a peculiar touch as of
FURNISHED gold, an effect of the light at
a certain angle of the lens. It gave for
the instant an uncanny look to the face,
almost something malicious. She guess
ed why this woman had come She knew
the whole history Of the past, and it
touched her in tender corner. She
knew she was had at an advantage. Be-
fore her was woman perfectly trained
in the fine social life to which she was
born. whose equanimity was as regular
as her features. Herself was by nature
creature of impulse, of the woods and
streams and open life. The social con-
vention had been engrafted. AS yet she
was used to thinking and speaking with
all candor. She was to have her train
ing in the charms of superfciality, but
that was to come, and when it came she
would not be an unskillful apprentice.
Perhaps the latent subtlety of her race
came to help her natural candor at the
moment, for she said at once in slow,
quiet tone:
81 never heard my husband speak Of
you. Will you sit DOWN.
"And Mrs. Armour and Marion are
not in? No, I suppose your husband
did not speak much of his old friends. :"