The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-19

"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
high opinion.
Mrs. Townley had pretty way Of
putting her head to one side and speak
ing very piquantly. She had had it as
q gifl She had not lost it as woman,
any more than she had lost soft little
spontaI. aous laugh which was one Of her
unusual charms, for fa'" women can
laugh audibly with effect. one laughed
very softly now, and her sense Of humor
supervening for the moment she said:
Really you have asked me conun-
drum. / fancy 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 l
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
Franks consent, another serious ques-
tion-and she should take the notion to
fly her retirement and appear inoppor-
tunely at some social function clothed
as she is now l fancy her blanket
would be wet blanket in such case,
if you will pardon the little joke"
Lambert sighed. "Poor Frank Poor
devilp' 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 dol'
Then Lambert began to see the mat
ter in q 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 a certain
scene at Greyhope 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 word pouneed 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 sat opposite 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 a warning look and turned away
from her mother. Then she went or
reading to the bitter end. Presently g
little cry escaped her against her will.
At that her mother looked up, but she
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 beer
reading letter, and with a mother!
instinct her thoughts were instantly OF
Frank. She spoke quickly, almost sharp
ly, Marion, come here. "
Richard had risen. He came roun(
the table, and as the girl obeyed he,
mother took the letter from her fingers
and hastily glanced over it. Mrs. Ar
mour came forward and took her daugh
ters arm. Marion" she said, "ther,
is something wrong-with Frank Wha
is it?"
General Armour was now looking NJ
at them all curiously, questioningly
through his glasses, his paper laid down
his hands resting on the table
| Marion could not answer. She wa
| sick with regret, vexation and shame
| At the first flush death--for Frank
had been preferable to this She ha,
considerable store of vanity. She wa
not very philosophical Besides she wa
not married, and what Captain Vidal
her devoted admirer and possible hus
band, would think Of this heathenis
alliance was not cheerful thought t,
her.
She choked down a sob and wave
her hand toward Richard to answer fo
her. He was pale, too, but cool. He ur
derstood the case instantly. He mad
up his mind instantly also as to wha
ought to be--must be--done.
well, mother" he said, sit
about Frank But he is all right-tha
is, he is alive and well in body. Br
he has arranged hateful little embal
rassment for u.s. He is married. "
"Married" said his mother family
ooh, poor Lady Agnesp
Marion shifted a little viciously {
!, this.
Married. Married." said his fathel
DOCTORS BILLS SAVED.