The Press., 1894-09-27


 what eagerly and drew long sigh, maybe of relief or pleasure She pres ently stretched out a hand almost caress- ingly to the thick trees and the grass and said aloud, "Oh. the beautiful trees and the long grassr' There was 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 sho said, as if to herself: "It is the same. I shall not die. I hear the birds wings, and one is singing. It is pleasant to sleep in the long grass when the nights are sum- mer and to hang your cradle ill the trees"
 She had asked for her own blanket, refusing rug, when they left St. Al bans, and it had been given to her. She drew it about her now with feeling O; 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 the drive through the
 
 his wife that they had to do with na- ture having capacities for sensitive feel ing, which, it is sometimes thought, is only the prerogative of certain we'll 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 oth- CT tightly held at her side, as if to nerve herself for the meeting. The eyes of the Indian girl pierced the light, and. as if by 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 l 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 compOsulo of the servants was ill the circumstances remarkable. It needed to have been, for the courage displayed by Lali's two new guardians during the day almost faltered at the threshold of their own home. Any sign of surprise or amusement on the part of She 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 arm and said quietly: "Come along, Marion. Let us be as brave as our father and mother"
 She gave hard little gasp and scem- ed to awake as from a dream. She quickly glided forward ahead of him, kissed her mother and father almost ab- 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 brother wife. Lali, this is your husbands sis ter, Marion."
 Mackenzie translated the words swift ly to the girl, and her eyes flashed wide Then in low voice she said in Eng fish, "Yes, Marion, howl"
 It is probable that neither Marion nor any one present knew quite the meaning of "how," save Richard, and he could not suppress a smile-it sounded so ab- surd and aboriginal. But at this exclama- tion Marion once more came to herself. She could not possibly go so far as her mother did at 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 a wheel, "Wo-won't you let me take your blanket?" and forthwith laid hold | of 1t with tremulous politeness. | The question sounded for the instant so ludicrous to Richard that, in spite of the distressing sitpat tion, he had to choke back 2 laugh. Years afterward if he wished for any momentary revenge upon Marion-and he had keen sense of woFay retaliatii9}n--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 buckskin costume set off softly the good outlines of her form.
 The Indian girls eyes wandered from Marion to Richard. They wandered from anxiety, doubt and a bitter kind of reserve to cordiality. sympathy and a grave kind of humor. Instantly the girl knew that she had in eccentric Richard l Armour frank friend Unlike as he was to his brother, there was still in their eyes the same friendliness and humanity-that is, it was the same look that Frank carried when he first came to her fathers lodge.
 Richard held out his hand with a cor dial little laugh and said: "Ah, nh, very glad, very glad! Just in time for supper. Come along. How is Frank eh? How is Frank? Just so, just so Pleasant