The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-12


q man has been set TO the right about
because he has ventured i'm proposal at
the wrong time. What would have oc.
CURED to Lambert it Ia hard to tell, but
he saw that something was wrong and
stopped in time.
When General Armour and his party
reached Greyhope, il was late In the
evening. The girl seemed tired and con-
fused by the events Of the day and did
~ she was directed indifferently, limp
ly. But whom they entered the gates Of
Greyhope and travelled up the long ave.
nue. Of lines she looked round her some
what eagerly and drew long sigh,
maybe Of relief or pleasure. She pres.
emily stretched ont hand almost caress-
ingly to the thick trees and the grass
and said aloud. "Oh, the beautiful trees
and the long grass There was q whir
Of birds wings among the branches,
and then presently there rose from
distance the sweet gurgling whistle OF
the nightingale A smile as of remi-
niscence crossed her face. Then she said,
az il to herself: lit is the same / shall
not die. / hear the birds wings. and
one is singing. Ii is pleasant to sleep in
the long grass when the nights are sum-
mer and to hang your cradle in the
trees"
She had asked for her own blanket,
refusing a rug, when they left ST. AL
bans, and il had been given to her. She
drew il about her now with a feeling OF
comfort and seemed to lose the horrible
sense of strangeness which had almost
convulsed her when she was put into
the carriage at the railway station. Her
reserve had hidden much Of what she
really felt, but tho drive through the
lines had shown General Armour and
his wife that they had to do with a ma
ture having capacities for sensitive feel
ing, which, il is sometimes thought, is
only the prerogative Of certain well bred
civilizations.
But it was impossible that they should
yet, or for many day, feel any sense
of kinship with this aboriginal girl.
Presently the carriage drew up to the
doorway. which was instantly open to
them. A broad belt of light streamed
out upon the stone steps. Far back in
the hall stood Marion. one hand upon
the balustrade of the staircase the 9TH
er tightly held at her side, as il TO nerve
herself for the meeting. The eyes of the
Indian girl pierced the light and, as il
by q strange instinct. found those of
Marion even before she left the carriage.
Lali felt vaguely that here was her pos
sible enemy. As she stepped out of the
carriage, General Armour's hand under
her elbow to assist her, she drew her
blanket somewhat more closely about
her and so proceeded up the steps The
composure of the servants was in the
have been, for the courage displayed by
Lali's two new guardians during tho
day almost faltered at the threshold of
their own home. Any sign of surprise
or amusement ON the part of the domes-
tics would have given them some pain
full moments subsequently. But all was
perfectly decorous. Marion still stood
motionless. almost dazed The group
advanced into the hall and there paused,
as if waiting for her.
At that moment Richard came out Of
the study at her right hand, took her
srm and said quietly: Come along.
Marion. Let us be as brave as our father
and mother"
She gave a hard little gasp and SEEM
ed to awake as from dream. She
quickly glided forward ahead Of him.
kissed her mother and father almost alb
ruptly, then turned TO the young wife
with a scrutinizing eye. Marion. said
her father, this is your sister" Ma
rion stood hesitating confused.
Marion, dear, repeated her mother
tremendously. this is your brothers.
wife. Lali, this is your husbands Sis
ter, Marion"
Mackenzie translated the words swift
" to the girl, and her eyes flashed wide.
Then in q low voice she said in Eng
lish, "Yes, Marion howf"
1t is probable that neither Marion nor
any one present knew quite the meaning
of "how," save Richard. and he could
not suppress smile-it sounded so alb
surd and aboriginal But atthis exclama-
tion Marion once more came to herself.
She could not possibly 90 SO far as her
mother did ut the dock and kiss this
savage, but with rather sudden grasp
of the hand she said little hysterical-
ly, for her brain was going round like
q wheel. "Wo-wont you let me take
your blanket?" and forthwith laid hold
of it with tremulous politeness.
The question sounded for the instant
so ludicrous to Richard that, in spite of
the distressing situation, he had 20
choke back laugh. Years afterward If
he wished for any momentary revenge
upon Marion-and he had keen sense
of wordy retaliation--he simply said,
"Wo.won't you let me take your
blanket?"
OF course the Indian girl did not un-
derstand. but she submitted TO the re-
moval Of this uncommon mantle and
stood forth less trying sight to Ma
rion's eyes. for. as we said before, her
buokskin costume set off softly the good
outlines Of her form.
The Indian pirl's eyes wandered from