The Press., 1894-09-27

promising l1gnG because an lnQ1an was an Indian, and this unknown savage from Fort Charles was ill violent con- trast to such desirable persons as Lady Agnes Martling. Not that the Armours were zealous for mere money and title, but the thing itself was altogether apro- pos, as Mrs. Armour had more naive ly than correctly put it. The general, whose knowledge of character and the circumstances of life was considerable, had worked out the thing with much accuracy. He had declared to Richard in their quiet talk upon the subject that Frank must have been anything but so- Der when he did it. He had previously called it policy of retaliation, so that now he was very near the truth When they arrived at the dock at Liverpool, the Aphrodite was just making into the harbor. su. .
 "Egad," Said General Armour to himself, "Sevastopol was easier than this. for fighting know and being pep pered know by Jews, Greeks, infidels and heretics, but to take a savage to my arms and do for her what her godfathers and godmothers never did is worse than the devils dance at Delhi.
 What Mrs. Armour, who was not quite so definite as her husband, thought it would be hard to tell, but probably grief for and indignation at her son were uppermost in her mind. She had quite determined upon her course None could carry better that high neutral look of social superiority than she
 rl,o 11S1 T A< one should see that her equanimity was shaken. They had brought one servant with them, who had been gravely and yet conventionally informed that his young masters wife, an Indian chief tainess, was expected. There are few fam fly troubles but find their way to serv- ants hall with an uncomfortable speed, for, whether or not stone walls have ears, certainly menservants and maid servants have eyes that serve for ears and ears that do more than their bound en duty. Boulter, the footman, knew his business. When informed of the coming of Mrs. Francis Armour the Indian chieftainess, his face was abso- lutely expressionless. His "Y Yessir'' was as mechanical as usual. On the do k he was marble-indifferen When the pas sengers began to land, he showed no ex- citement. He was decorously alert. When the crucial moment came, he was imperturbable. Boulter was an excel lent servant. So said Edward Lambert to himself after the event; so likewise said Mrs. Townley to herself when the thing was over; so declared General a offn1s very emphatlcally just before he raised Boulter's wages.
 As the boat neared Liverpool Lambert and Mrs. Townley had grown very nerv- ous The truth regarding the Indian wife had become known among the pas sengers, and most were very curious some in we'll bred fashion, some in- trusively, vulgarly. Mackenzie, Lali's companion, like Boulter, was expres- sionless in face. She had her duty to do, paid for literally, and she would do it. Lali might have had more presentable and dignified attendant, but not one more worthy. It was noticeable that the captain of the ship and all the officers had been markedly courteous to Mrs. Armour throughout the voyage, but, to their credit, not ostentatioasly so. When the vessel was brought to anchor and the passengers were being put upon the tender, the captain came and made his respectful adieus, as though Lali were lady of title in her own right and not an Indian girl married to a man acting under the influence of bran- dy and malice. General Armour and Mrs. Armour were always grateful to Edward Lambert and Mrs Townley for the part they played in this desperate little comedy. They stood still and watchful as the passengers came ashore one by one. They saw they were the center of unusual interest, but General Armour was used to bearing himself with grim kind of indifference in pub lie. and his wife was calm, and so some- what disappointed those who probably expected the old officer and his wife to be distressed. Frank Armour's solicitor was also there; but, with good taste, he held aloof. The two needed all their courage, however, when they saw a fig pre in buckskin and blanket step upon the deck, attended by very ordinary, austere and shabbily dressed Scotswom- an. But immediately behind them were Edward Lambert and Mrs. Townley, and these. with their simple tact, nat uralness and freedom from any sort of embarrassment, acted as foils and re- lieved the situation.
 General Armour advanced, hat in hand. "You are my sons wife?' he said courteously to this being ill blan- ket.
 She looked up and shook her head slightly, for she did not quite under stand, but she recognized his likeness to her husband, and presently she smiled