The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-11-23

ley was anxious that the girl should be
dressed in European costume and Of
fered to lend her and rearrange dresses
of her own, but she came in collision
with Mr.. Armour's instructions. So
she had to assume merely kind and
comforting attitude. The wife had not
the slightest idea where she was going
and even when Mackenzie, at Mrs.
Townley's oft repeated request, ex-
planned very briefly and unpicturesque-
ly she only looked incredulous or un-
concerned. Yet the ship, its curious pas
sengers, the dining saloon, the music,
the sea and all had given her sugges-
tions of what was to come. They had
expected that at table she would be
awkward and ignorant to a degree. But
she had at times eaten at the traders
table at Fort Charles and had learned
how to use knife and fork. She had
also been a favorite with the traders
wife, who had taught her many civil
lized things. Her English, though far
from abundant, was good. Those, there
fore, who were curious and rude enough
to stare at her were probably disappoint-
ed to find that she ate like 'any Chris
tom man."
"How do you think the Armours
will receive her?' said Lambert to Mrs.
Townley, of whose Judgment on short
acquaintance he had come to entertain a
high opinion.
Mrs. Townley had q pretty way of
putting her head to one side and speak
ing very piquantly. She had had it as
a girl. She had not lost it as a woman,
any more than she had lost soft little
spontaneous laugh which was one of her
unusual charms, for few women can
laugh audibly with effect. She laughed
very softly now, and her sense of humor
supervening for the moment she said:
"Really you have asked me conun-
drum. I fancy I see Mrs. Armour's face
when she gets the news-at the break
fast table, of course-and gives little
shrek, and says, General, oh, generalP
But it is all very shocking, you know"
she added in lower voice. "Still I
think they will receive her and do the
best they can for her, because, you see,
there she is married hard and fast. She
bears the Armour name and is likely to
make them all very unhappy indeed if
she determines to retaliate upon them
for any neglect. %
Eyes? But how to retaliate, Mrs
Townley?'' Lambert had not suggest
i've mind.
''Well, for instance, suppose they
sent her away into seclusion-with
Eronl>5c o,otha,.
tion-and she should take the notion to
fly her retirement and appear inoppor-
timely at some social function clothed
as she is now. fancy her blanket
would be wet blanket in such case,
if you will pardon the little joke -
Lambert sighed. 'Poor Frank Poor
devilh' he said almost beneath his
breath.
"And wherefore poor Frank? Do you
think he or the Armours of Greyhope
are the only ones at stake in this?
What about this poor girl? Just think
why he married her, if our suspicious
are right, and then imagine her feel
ings when she wakes to the truth over
there, as some time she is sure to dop'
Then Lambert began to see the mat
ter in a different light, and his SYM
pathy for Francis Armour grew less as
his pity for the girl increased. In fact,
the day before they got to Southamp-
ton he swore at Armour more than once
and was anxious concerning the recep-
ton of tthe heather wife by her white
relatives
Had he been present at certain
scene at Greyhope a day or two before
he would have been still more anxious
1t was the custom at breakfast for Mrs.
Armour to open her husbands letters
and read them while he was engaged
with his newspaper and hand to him
afterward those that were important.
This morning Marion noticed letter
from Frank among the pile and with
out a word pounced upon it. She was
curious, as any woman would be, to
see how he took Miss Sherwood's action
Her father was deep in his paper at the
time Her mother was reading other
letters. Marion read the first few lines
with feeling of almost painful won.
der, the words were so curious cynical
and cold.
Richard satopposite her. He also was
engaged with his paper, but CHANGING
to glance up saw that she was becoming
very pale and that the letter trembled
in her fingers Being little short
sighted, he was not near enough to see
the handwriting. He did not speak yet
He watched. Presently, seeing her grow
more excited, he touched her foot under
the table, She looked up and caught his
eye. She gasped slightly. She gave
him warning look and turned away
from her mother. Then she went on
reading to the bitter end. Presently
little cry escaped her against her WILL
At that her mother looked up, but sho
only saw her daughters back, as she
rose hurriedly from the table, saying
that she would return in a moment.
Mrs. Armour, however, had been star
tied. She knew that Marion had been
reading letter, and with a mothers
instinct her thoughts were instantly on
Frank. She spoke quickly, almost sharp
ly, Marion, come here"
Richard had risen He came round
the table, and as the girl obeyed her
mother took the letter from her fingers
and hastily glanced over it, Mrs. Ar.
mour came forward and took her daugh-
ter's arm. Marion" she said, "there
is something wrong-with Frank. What
is it?''
General Armour was now looking up
at them all curiously, questioningly,
through his glasses, his paper laid down,