The Press., 1894-10-25

whiter 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 whether it were good to let Lali 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 ill the evening doubtful. Richard, the wiseacre, the inexhausti- ble Richard, was caring for his cottagers and cutting the leaves of new books his chief pleasure-at Greyhope. They felt it was 8 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 son s 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 system of social notoriety re- volved.
 At the OppOrtune moment Captain Vidall was announced, and because he %o 1,,,% name between them he was called into family consultation. It is somewhat singular that ill this case the women were quite wrong and the men were quite right, for General Armour and Captain Vidall 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 Frank 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 all air of possession, and the face above it, if not entirely beautiful, had strange, warm LaxJ , 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 nothing.
 "LaG,' said Marion somewhat ab- ruptly-she scarcely knew why she did it-''are you happy?'
 It was strange how the Indian girl had taken on those little manners of so- ciety which convey so much by inf1ec- tion. She lifted her eyebrows at Marion and said presently in soft, deliberate voice, "Come, Marion, we will go and see little Richard then I shall be happy"
 She linked her arm through Marion 8. Marion drummed her fingers lightly on the beautiful arm and then fell to won- dering what she should say next. They passed into the room where the child lay sleeping. They went to L.i little | bed, and 'Lali stretched out n5f Hand gently, touching the curls of the child. Running finger through one delicate | ly, she said, with a still softer tone than before, "Why should not one be happy?''
 Marion looked up slowly into her eyes, let hand fall on her shoulder gently and replied, ''Lali, do you never wish Frank to come?"
 Lali's fingers came from the child, the color mounted slowly to her fore head, and she drew the girl away again into the other room. Then she turned and faced Marion, deep fire in her eyes, and said in whisper almost hoarse ill its intensity, "Yes, I wish he would come tonight. |"
 She looked harder yet at Marion. Then, with a flash of pride and her hands clasping before her, she drew her. self up and added: "Am I not worthy to be his wife now? Am I not beautiful for a savage?'
 There was no common vanity ill the action. It had noble kind of wistful- ness and 8 serenity that entirely re- deemed 1t. Marion dated her own hap piness from the time when Lali met her accident, for the evening of that disas- trous day she issued to Captain Hume Vidal a commission which he could 4zF6x wished never to, resign. Since
 " had been at her best-we are
 Hess selfish creatures-and gentler, curbing the delicate eriousness of her nature and frank
 and swithout the least pique taken a secondary position of interest i'll the household, occasioned by Lan's popu- larity. She looked Lali up and down with glance ill which many feelings | met. and then. catching her hands