The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-11

very little-and scarcely ever speaking,
either TO her or TO the curious passen-
gers. Presently the passengers became
more inquisitive and made many at
tempts at being friendly, but these re-
ceiyed little encouragement. 1t had be-
come known who the Indian girl was,
and many wild tales went about as TO
her marriage with Francis Armour.
Now it was maintained she had saved
his life at an outbreak Of her tribe;
again that she had found him dying in
the woods and had nursed him back to
life and health; yet again that she
was chioftainoss, successful claimant
against the Hudson's Bay company,
and so On.
There were several on board who
knew the Armours well by name, and
two who knew them personally. One
was Mr.. Edward Lambert, barrister
of tho Middle Temple, and the other
was Mrs. Townley, widow, member
of we'll known Hertfordshire family,
who. on n pleasant journey in Scotland,
had met, conquered and married a
wealthy young American and had been
portionless Is months before.
Lambert knew Richard Armour well,
and when, from Francis Asmour's So
licitor, whom he knew, he heard just
before they started who the Indian girl
was he was greatly shocked and sorry.
He guessed at once the motive, the mad
ness, Of this marriage. But he kept
his information and his opinions most
ly to himself, except in so far as it
seemed only due to friendship 10 con-
tradict the numberless idle stories go
ing about. After the first day at sea he
came to know Mrs. Townley, and when
he discovered that they had many mu-
tual friends and that she knew the Ar
mours he spoke little more freely TO
her regarding the Indian wife and told
her what he believed was the cause of
the marriage.
Mrs. Townley was woman--a girl
of uncommon gentleness Of disposi-
tion, and in spite of her troubles in
clined to view life with sunny eye.
She had known of Frank Armour's en-
gagement with Miss Julia Sherwood,
but she had never heard the sequel. If
this was the sequel-well, it had TO be
faced. But she was almost tremulous
with sympathy when she remembered
Mrs Armour and Franks gay, fashion
able sister, Marion, and contemplated
the arrival of this Indian girl at Grey
hope. She had always liked Frank Ar
mour, but this made her angry with
him, for on second thought she was
not more sorry for him and for his peo-
pie than for Lali, the wife. She had
the true instinct of womanhood, and
she supposed that heather like this
could have feelings to be hurt and life
TO be wounded rs herself or another. Al
least she saw what was possible in the
future when this Indian girl came TO
understand her position, only 10 he ac-
complished by contact with the new life
SO different from her past.
Both she and Lambert decided that
she was very fine looking, notwithstand-
ing her costume She was slim and well
built, with modest bust and shapely
feet and ankles. Her eyes were large,
meditative and intelligent, her features
distinguished She was goodly product
of her race, being descended from line
of chiefs and chieftainesses, broken
only in the case Of her grandfather, as
we have said Her hands, the two kind
ly inquisitors decided, were almost her
best point They We're perfectly made,
slim, yet plump, the fingers tapering,
the wrist supple. Mrs Townley then
and there decided that the girl had pos
sibilities. But here she was, an Indian,
with few signs of civilization or that
breeding which seems TO white people
the only breeding fit for earth or heaven.
Mrs. Townloy did not need Lambert's
suggestion that she should try to APP
proach the girl, make friends with her
and prepare her in some slight degree
for the strange career before her
Mrs. Townley had an infinite amount
of tact. She knew it was best TO ap-
proach the attendant first. This she did,
and To the surprise of other lady pas
sengers received no rebufS. Her advance
was not, however, rapid. Mackenzie
had had her instructions. When she
found that Mrs. Townley knew Francis
Armour and his people, she thawed
little more, and then very hesitatingly
she introduced her to the Indian wife.
Irs. Townley smiled her best, and
there were many who knew how attract
i've she could be at such n moment
There WAS a slight pause, in which
Lali looked at her meditatively, earnest
ly, and then those beautiful wild fingers
glided out and caught her hand and
held it, but she spoke no word She
only looked inquiringly, seriously. ot
ner new found friend and presently
dropped the blanket away from her and
sat up firmly, as though she felt she
was not altogether on alien now and
had right to hold herself proudly
among white people, as she did In her
own country and with her own tribe,
who had greatly admired her. Certain
" Mrs. Townley could find no fault
with the woman as an Indian. She had
taste, carried her clothes well and was
x,,,o-1,lx, frock I'm appparauCp thOuph