The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-12-28
TCoNT1NUED.l

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 eompanionship.
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 areal and mutual regard.
Lali's was slim, 1.-the figure, wear
ing its fashionable robes with an air of
possession, and the face above it, if not
entirely beautiful, had a strange, warm
fascination. The girl had not been a
chieftainess for nothing. A look of
quiet command was there, but also a
faraway expression which gave faint
look of sadness even when q 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 Ii plume does a
helmet. She showed no surprise when
Marion entered. She welcomed her with
smile and outstretched hand, but said
nothing
''Lali," said Marion somewhat alb
ruptly-she scarcely knew why she did
it-"are you happy"
1t was strange how the Indian girl
had taken on those little manners of So
ciety which convey so much by intlec-
ton. 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's
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 his little
bed, and Lali stretched out her hand
gently, touching the curls of the child.
Running finger through one delicate
ly, she said, with 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 Gomez"
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 hel
eyes, and said in q whisper almost
hoarse in its intensity, eyes, I wish he
would come tonight. "
She looked harder yet at Marion.
Then, with flash of pride and hel
hands clasping before her, she drew her.
self up and added: Gam 1 not worthy
to be his wife now? Am not beautiful
for q savage?"
There was no common vanity in the
action. 1t had q noble kind of wistful
ness and serenity that entirely re-
deemed it. Marion dated her own hap
piness from the time when Lali met hel
accident, for the evening of that disas
trous day she issued to Captain Hume
Vidal a commission which he could
never, wished never to, resign. Since
then she had been at her best-we are
all more or less selfish creatures--anc
had grown gentler, curbing the delicate
imperiousness of her nature and frank
ly and without the least pique taken {
secondary position Of interest i'll the
household, oecasiOned by Lali's popu
larity. She looked Lali up and dow
with a glance in which many feelings
met. and then, catching her hands
warmly, she lifted them, put them OIL
her own shoulders and said, MY dear
beautiful savage, you are fit and worthy
% be queen of England, and Frank
when he c0mes'---
''Hush" said the other dreamily, anC
put a finger ON Marion's lips II know
what you are going 10 say, but do no
wish 90 hear It, He did not love m
then. He used me- She shuddered
pat her hands 20 her eyes with panied
trembling motion. then threw her heat
back with quick sigh But Twill no
speak u IT, Come. prepare for tn
dance. Marion Il is tho last tonight
Tomorrow She paused, looking
straight before her. lost in thought
YES. tomorrow, Lali?'
n 30 not know about tomorrow,
Was ths reply. strange things come t
me
Marion longed % tell her then an,
thNrg the gfcnt news bat she was afrai,
o. ao 80 and was. moreover, withheld,
- the rpmfmhIanCo that u had beel
asre1 shc should not be told She sal,
uothins
Az 40 o'clock the rooms were filed
Pr fla fls end IL the season peopl
aeemra unnsually brilliant. The even
mz uaif vas noe so hot as common
nBi there WAS nn extra array of distiu
xaishsd guests Marion was nervous al
fae eFaulnE. though she showed httl
cf ia beinz moss preitily employed 4
ula&.na people pleased with themselves
Mrs Agrnour also was noe free from AZ
peesfasiou
in reply 81 inauiries concerning he
san sfs aaiA Al she bad often said dun
taa tMs a.ssan. that ho might be bac
IA anV ume u1F laii bad answered al
Mays .u CO.. sann fashion and had show
- aarl thaf his caniuutsi absence wa
sluautsr A. chs evening wurs ga th
FratatilifF IL Frink appearance seen
81 tss aui tas Armours tez,n {
ESuafhs mrgu igueiv
ffsak h1il a1uf.s arrived ~ ha
astFsm mrssht ir1m Eussou 30 Caves
sasa alnaFei I'VE sasirg the house lighl
"a ~ tri reesss arriFiug. hs had
sslt.a feHrE ri unelffainiv. 40 "a
asrri o. astrsn "a laze him o. hl
rIuH frFre p pa nfnIalif ia erenin
lireaa so alIflr etls - Ilu tn tiln hiss.
a. rus.r.i HailflV Af thr momaat th
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