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

herself readily TO her new surroundings.
CHAPTER V.
IL is Just as well perhaps that the
matter had become notorious. Other
wise the Armours had lived in that un-
pleasant condition Of being constantly
discovered. 1t was simply "A case Of
aiming at absolute secrecy, which had
been frustrated by Frank himself, or
bold and unembarrassod acknowledge
ment and an attempt TO carry things off
with a high hand. The latter course
was the only one possible. IL had origi-
nally been Richards idea, appropriated
by General Armour and accepted by
Mrs. Armour and Marion with what
grace was possible. The publication Of
the event prepared their friends and
precluded the necessity for reserve.
What the friends did not know was
whether they ought or ought not to
commiserate the Armours. IL was diff
ficul5 position. A death, an accident. a
lost reputation, would have been easy
TO them. Concerning these there could
be no doubt. But an Indian daughter
in-law, person in moccasins, was
scarcely thing TO be congratulated
upon, and yet sympathy and consolation
might be much misplaced. No one could
tell how the Armours would take it,
for even their closest acquaintance
knew what kind of delicate hauteur was
possible to them. Even the centric
Richard. who visited the cottages of the
poor, carrying soup and luxuries of
the most wholesome advice a single man
ever gave TO families and the heads of
families, whose laugh was SO CHEEKY
and spontaneous face so uncom-
monty grave and sad at times--had
faculty for manner With astonishing
suddenneSs he could raise insurmounta-
bile barriers, and people not of his or
der. who occasionally presumed on his
simplicity of life and habits, found
themselves put distinctly i'll at ease by
a quiet, curious look in his eye No
man was ever more the recluse and at
the same time the man of the world.
He had had his bitter little comedy of
life. but it was different from that of
his brother Frank. 1t was buried very
deep. Not one of his family knew Of
it. Edward Lambert and one or two
others who had good reason never TO
speak of it were the only persons pos
sessing his secret.
But all England knew of Franks
mesalliance. And the question was
What would people do? They very prop
erly did nothing at first. They waited
TO see how tue Arniours would act; they
did not congratulate; they did not con-
SOLE That was left to those papers
which CHANGED 10 resent General Ar
mour's politics an1 those others which
we~e emotional and sensational on ev-
cry subject, particularly SO where wom-
EN- were concerned.
1t was the beginning of the season,
but the Armours had decided that they
would not 60 to town--that is, the gen
eral and his wife were not going. They
felt that they ought TO be at Greybope
with their daughter-in-law, which was
to their credit. Regarding Marion they
had nothing 60 say. Mrs. Armour in-
clined to her going to town for the sea-
son TO visit Mrs. Townley, who had
thoughtfully written TO her saying that
she was very lonely and begging Mrs.
Armour to let her come, If she would.
She said that of course Marion would
see much of her people in town just the
same. Mrs. Townley was very clever
and tactful woman She guessed that
General Armour and his wife were not
likely to come to town, but that must
not appear. and the invitation should
be on a different basis, a it was.
IL IS probable that Marion saw through
the delicate plot, but that did not make
her like Mys. Townley less. These lit
tie pieces oi art make life possible-these
tender fictions
Marion was, however, not in good
humor She was nervous and a little
petulant. She had high strung tenn
perament a sensitive perception of the
fitness of things and horror of what
was gauche, and she would. in brief,
make a rather austore person IL the
lines of life did net run in her favor.
She had something Of Franks impul-
sivencss and temper. It would have
been great blessing to her il she had
had aportion of Richards philosophical
humOr also. She was at point of ten
eion--her mother aud Richard could see
that. She was anxious-though. for the
world, she would not have had it Thought
so--regarding Captain Vidal. She had
never cared for anybody but him. II
was possible she never would. But he
did not know this, and she was not Alb
solutely sure that his evident but ss yet
informal love would stand this strain.