The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-27
CHAPTER VIII


II was the close Of the season. Many
people had left town, but festivities
were still on. To stranger the season
might have seemed at its height. The
Armours were giving large party in
Cavendish square before going back
again to Greyhope, where, for the sake OF
Lali and her child, they intended to re-
main during the rest of the summer in
preference to going ON the continent or
to Scotland. The only unsatisfactory
feature of Lah's season was the absence
of her husband Naturally there were
those who said strange things regarding
Frank Armour's stay in America, but it
was pretty generally known that he was
engaged in land speculations, and his
club friends, who perhaps took the
pleasantest view Of the matter, said that
he was very wise indeed, if little cow
ardly, in staying abroad until his wife
was educated and ready to take her po-
sition in society. There was one thing
on which they all agreed-Mrs. Frank
Armour either had mind superior to
the charms of their sex or was incapa-
BILE of that vanity which hath many
suitors and says, $50 far shalt thou go,
and''-- a.. ..f..
The fact is, Mrs. Frank Armour's
mind was superior. She had only one
object-to triumph over her husband
grandly, as woman righteously might
She had vanity, Of course, but it was
not ignoble. She kept one thing in
view; she lived for it. Her translation
had been successful. There were times
when she remembered her father, the
wild days on the prairies, the buffalo
hunt, tracking the deer, tribal battles,
the long silent hours of the winter and
the warm summer nights when she slept
In the prairie grass or camped with her
people in the trough of a great land
wave Sometimes the hunger for its
freedom, and its idleness, and its sport
came to her greatly, but she thought of
her child, and she put it from her. She
was ambitions for him; she was keen to
prove her worth as wife against her
husbands unworthiness. This perhaps
saved her. She might have lost had her
life been without this motive.
The very morning of this notable re-
ception General Armour had received
note from Frank Armour's solicitor say
ing that his son was likely to arrive in
London from America that day or the
next. Frank had written to his people no
word of his coming. To his wife, as we
have said, he had not written for months,
and before he started back he would
not write, because he wished to make
what amends he could in person. He
expected to find her improved, of course,
but still he could only think of her as
an Indian, showing her common prairie
origin. His knowledge of her before
their marriage had been particularly
brief. She was little more in his eyes
than q thousand other Indian women,
save that she was better looking, was
whittier than most and had finer features.
He could not very clearly remember the
tones Of her voice, because after mar
riage and before he had sent her to Eng.
land he had seen little or nothing of
her.
When General Armour received the
news of Franks return, he told his wife
and Marion, and they consulted together
I whether it were good to let Lai know
at once. He might arrive that evening
If so, the position would be awkward
because it was impossible to tell how it
might affect her. If they did tell her,
and Frank happened not to arrive, it
might unnerve her so as to make her
appearance in the evening doubtful
Richard, the wiseacre, the inexhausti-
BILE Richard, was caring for his cottagers
and cutting the leaves Of new books
his chief pleasure-at Greyhope. They
felt it was matter they ought to
be able to decide for themselves, but
still it was the last evening of Lali's
stay in town, and they did not care to
take any risk. Strange to say, they had
come to take pride in their sons wife, for
even General and Mrs. Armour, high
minded and Of serene social status as
they were, seemed not quite insensible
to the pleasure Of being an axle on
which a system Of social notoriety re.
volved.
At the opportune moment Captain
Vidal was announced, and because he
and Marion were soon to carry but one
name between them he was called into
family consultation. 1t is somewhat
singular that in this case the women
were quite wrong and the men were
quite right, for General Armour and
Captain Vidal were for silence until
Frank came, if he came that day, or for
telling her the following morning, when
the function was over. And the men
prevailed.
Marion was much excited all day. She
had given orders that Franks room
should be made ready, but for whom
she gave no information. While Lali
was dressing for the evening, somewhat
excited and nervous, she entered her
room. They were now the best Of
friends. The years had seen many shift
ing scenes in their companionship
They had been as often at war as at
peace. but they had respected each
other, each after her own fashion, and
now they had real and mutual regard.
Lali's was a slim, 1.-the figure, wear.
,. ing its fashionable robes with an air of
possession, and the face above it, if not
entirely beautiful had o strange, warm
fascination. The girl had not been a
chieftainess for nothing. A look of
quiet command was there but also a
faraway expression which gave faint
look of sadness even when smile was
at the lips The smile itself did not
come quickly-it grew-but above it all
was hair of perfect brown, most rare,
setting off her face as plume does a
helmet. She showed no Surprise when
Marion entered. She welcomed her with
= a smile and outstretched hand, but said