The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-11-30

1t was the beginning of the season,
but the Armours had decided that they
would not go to town-that is, the gen.
eral and his wife were not going. They
felt that they ought to be at Greyhope
with their daughter-in-l law, which was
to their credit Regarding Marion they
! had nothing to say Mrs. Armour in
clined to her going to town for the sea-
son to visit Mrs. Townley, who had
thoughtfully written to her saying that
she was very lonely and begging Mrs.
Armour to let her come, if she would.
She said that of course Marion would
see much of her people in town just the
same. Mrs Townley was very clever
and tactful woman. She guessed that
General Armour and his wife were not
likely to come to town, but that must
not appear, and the invitation should
be ON different basis, as it was.
| 1t is probable that Marion saw through
the delicate plot, but that did not make
her like Mrs. Townley less. These lit
tie pieces of art make life possible-these
tender fictions!
Marion was, however, not in good
humor. She was nervous and little
petulant. She had a high strung tenn
permanent, sensitive perception Of the
fitness of things and horror of what
was gauche, and she would, in brief,
make a rather austere person if the
lines of life did not run in her favor.
She had something of Franks impul-
siveness and temper. 1t would have
been a great blessing to her if she had
| had portion of Richards philosophical
| humor also. She was at point of ten
! sion-her mother and Richard could see
| that She was anXious-though, for the
world, she would not have had it thought
so-regarding Captain Vidal. She had
never cared for anybody but him. 1t
was possible she never would. But he
did not know this, and she was not alb
| solutely sure that his evident but as yet
/ informal love would stand this strain,
which shows how people very honora-
BILE and perfect minded in themselves
may allow large margin to other peo-
pie who are presumably honorable and
perfect minded also.
There was no engagement between
them, and he was not bound in any
way, and could, therefore, without slash
ing the hem of the code retire without
any apology, but they had had that I'M
spoken understanding which most peo-
pie who love each other show even be-
fore word of declaration has passed
their lips If he withdrew because of
this scandal, there might be some awk
ward hours for Frank Armours wife at
Greyhope, but more than that there
would be 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. 1t 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
Guilty. 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 Sin 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 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 fiat.
Mrs. Armour had tried to influence her
through Mackenzie, but to no purpose.
She was placidly stubborn. 1t had been
unwisely told her by Mackenzie that
| they were Marion's clothes They
scarcely took in the fact that the girl
had pride; that she was the daughter of
chief and chieftainess herself, and
that it was far from happy to offer her
Marion's clothes to wear.
Now, Richard, when he was a 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 in 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 adj
vised tact with Cancellation. 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 in
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 yet to grasp the fact that,
being her sons wife, she must have
therefore a position in 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, l fancy you
don't quite grasp the situation. The
girl is daughter of chief and the de-
scendant of 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 in the Hudson bay country,
and finely decorated blanket like hers
is expensive up there. You see, we have
t. take the thing by comparison, so
please give the girl chance