The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-13

ly, but Richard came round TO her, ana
with his fresh, childlike humor put his
arm round her waist and added, Ma
rion, I'd be willing to bet (if / were IN
the habit Of betting) my shaky old pins
here against lock Of your hair that
You may present her at any drawing
room---ours or Queen victoria's--in two
years If we go at it right, and 1t would
serve Master Frank very well II we
turned her ont something. after all. "
Mrs. Armour said almost eagerly: II
wish it were only possible, Richard.
And what you say is true, suppose
that she is Of rank in her own country,
whatever value that may have"
Richard saw his advantage. well,
mother" he said. "a chieftainess Is
chieftainess, and / don't know but to
announce her as such and"-
"And be proud of it. as il were,
put in Marion, "and pose her and make
her prize--a Pocahontas, wasn't it!-
and go on pretending world without
endr' Marion's voice was still slightly
grating, but there was in it, too, faint
sound of hope Perhaps, she said to
herself. Richard is right.
At this point the door opened, and
Lali entered, shown in by Colvin, her
newly appointed maid, and followed by
Mackenzie, and, as we said, dressed
still in her heathenish garments. She
had strong sense of dignity, for she
stood still and waited. Perhaps nothing
could have impressed Marion more. Had
Lali been subservient simply, an entire
ly passive, unintelligent creature, she
would probably have tyrannized over
her in soft, persistent fashion and de-
spised her generally. But Mrs Armour
and Marion saw that this stranger might
become very troublesome indeed il her
temper were TO have play. They were
aware of capacities for passion in those
dark eyes, so musing. yet 20 active in
expression, which moved swiftly from
one object to another and then sudden
ly became resolute.
Both mother and daughter came for
ward and held out their hands, wish
ing her pleasant good morning, and
were followed by Richard and imme-
diately by General Armour. who had
entered soon after her. She had been
keen enough to read, IL a little vaguely.
behind the scenes, and her mind was
Weakening slowly to the peculiarity OF
the position she occupied. The place
awed her and had broken her rest by
perplexing her mind, and she sat down
to the breakfast table with q strange,
hunted look in her face. But opposite
to her was a window opening to the
ground, and beyond ii were the lines
and beeches and wide, perfect sward
and far away little lake, on which
swans and wild fowl fiuttered.
Presently, as she sat silent, eating
little, her eyes lifted to the window.
They flashed instantly, her face lighted
up with weird kind Of charm, and
suddenly she got to her feet with Indian
exclamations on her lips, and, as If un-
conscious of them all, went swiftly to
the window and out Of it, waving her
hands up and down once or twice to the
trees and the sunlight.
What did she say?' said Mrs. Ar
mour, rising with the others.
''She said," replied Mackenzie as
she hurried toward the window, that
,hey were her beautiful woods, and
there We're wild birds firing and swim
ming in the water, as in her own coun.
try.
BY this time all were at the window,
Richard arriving last, and the Indian
girl turned ON them, her body all quiv-
ering with excitement, laughed low,
birdlike laugh, and then, clapping her
hands above her head, she swung round
and ran like a deer toward the lake,
shaking her head back as an animal
does when fleeing from his pursuers.
She would scarcely have been recogniz-
ed as the same placid, speechless wom-
an in q blanket who sat with folded
hands day after day on the Aphrodite.
The watchers turned and looked at
each other in wonder Truly their task
in interest. The old general was better
pleased, however at this display of ac-
tivlty and excitement than at yester-
days taciturnity. He loved spirit. even
if it had TO be subdued, and he Thought
on the instant that he might possibly
come to look upon the fair savage as an
actual and not nominal daughter-in-
law. He had a keen appreciation Of
courage, and he thought he saw in her
face, as she turned upon them, look
of defiance or daring, and nothing could
hNe got at his nature quicker. If the
case had not been so near to his own
hearthstone, he would have chuckled.
AS it was, he said good humoredly that
Mackenzie and Marion should go and
bring her back. But Mackenzie was al
ready at that duty. Mrs. Armour had
had the presence of mind to send for Col
win, but presently, when the general
spoke, she thought it bs tier that Marion
should 60 and counseled returning to
breakfast and not making the matter OF
too much Importance. This they did,
Richard very reluctantly, while Ma
rion, rather pleased than not at the
spirit shown by the strange girl, ran
away over the grass toward the lake,
vhora Ioli boA NOW etnppad