The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-10
CHAPTER I.

people came to know, they said that to
have done it when sober had shown him
possessed Of kind of maliciousness and
cynicism almost pardonable, but to do
it when tipsy proved him merely weak
and foolish. But the fact is he was less
tipsy at the time than wes imagined, and
he could have answered to more malice
and cynicism than were credited TO him.
To those who know the world il is not
singular that OF the two Armour was
thought to have made the mistake and
had the misfortune OF that people vast
ed their pity and their scorn upon him
alone. Apparently they did not see chat
the woman was TO be pitied. He had
married her, and she was only an Indian
girl from Fort Charles of the Hudson's
Bay company, with a little honest white
blood in her veins. Nobody, not even
her own people, felt that she had any
thing at stake or was ia danger of un-
happiness or was other than person
who had ludicrously come 10 bear the
name of Mrs. Francis Armour. If any
one had said In justification that she
loved the man, the answer would have
been that plenty Of Indian women had
loved white men, but had not married
them, and yet the population of half
breeds went OH increasing.
Frank Armour had been popular
man in London. His club might be
found in the vicinity of Pail Mall, his
fathers name was high and honored in
the army list, one of his brothers had
served with Wolseley in Africa, and
himself, having no profession, but with
"A taste for business and investment, had
gone 10 Canada with some such inten-
tion as Lord Selkirk's in the early part
of the century. He owned large shares
in tho Hudsons Bay company, and
when he travelled through the north
wet country prospecting he was receiv-
ed most Hospitality.
OF an inquiring and gregarious turn
of mind he went IA much among the
half breeds-or metis, as they are called
and Indians as among the officers of
the Hudson's Bay company and the
white settlers. He had ever been credit
cd with having "A philosophical turn,
and this was accompanied by certain
strain Of impulsiveness or daring. He
had been accustomed all his life to
make up his mind quickly, and because
he was we'll enough off TO bear the con-
sequences of momentary rashness in
commercial Investments he was not
counted among the transgressors. He
had his own fortune. He was not draw
ing upon a common purse It was a
different matter when he trafficked rash
ly in the family name, SO far as TO mar
~ the daughter of Eye-of- the Moon, tho
Indian chief
He was tolerably happy when he went
20 the Hudson bay country, for Miss
Julia Sherwood was his promised wife,
and she, if poor, was notably beautiful
and of good family. His people had not
looked quite kindly on this engagement
They had indeed tried in many ways to
prevent il, partly because of Miss Sher-
wood 5 poverty, and also because they
knew that Lady Agnes Martling had
long cared for him and was most hap
PLY endowed with wealth and good
looks also. When no left for Canada,
they were inwardly glad (thoy imagin-
ed that something might occur to end
the engagement)-all except Richard,
tho wiseacre of the family. the book
man, the drone, who preferred living at
Greyhope, their Hertfordshire home, the
year through TO spending half the time
in Cayendish square. Richard was very
fond of Frank, admiring him immense
ly for his buxom strength and clever
ness and not n little, too, for that very
rashness which had brought him such
havoc at last
Richard was not, as Frank used TO
say, perfectly sound ON his pins''-
that is, he was slightly lame-but he
was right 1T heart. He was an immense
reader, but made little use Of what he
read He had an abundant humor and
remembered every anecdote he ever
heard. He was kind to the poor, walked
much, talked TO himself as he walked
and was known by the humble sort as
"a centric. " But he had wise head,
and he foresaw danger TO Frank S happi.
ness when he went away. While others
had gossiped and maneuvered and were
busily idle he had watched things. lie
saw that Frank was dear to Julia in
proportion to tho distance between her
and young Lord Haldwell, whose father
had done something remarkable in guns
or torpedoes and was rewarded with
lordship and an uncommonly large for
tune He also saw that after Frank left
the distance between Lord Haldwell and
Julia became distinctly less. They were
both staying at Greyhope. Julia Sher-
wood was remarkably clever girl.
Though he felt it his duty to speak to
her for his brother--a difficult and deli
cate mattcr--he thought il would come
better from his mother.
But when he took action il was too
late. Miss Sherwood naively declared
that she had not known her own heart
and that she did not care for Frank any
more. She wept little and was sootied !
by motheIly Mrs. Armour, who was
inwardly glad, though she knew tho
matter would cause Frank pain, and |
even General Armour could not help |