The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-19
well, what about it, ehs What about

person OF something"
Richard, miserable as no was, re-
mained calm. "Well," said he, II
don't know about her being horrible
Frank is silent ON that point, but she is
wild enough--a wild Indian, in fact"
"Indianl Indianl Good God, red |
nigger" cried General Armour harsh
ly, starting to his feet.
San Indian! A wild Indianp' Mrs. |
Armour whispered family as she drop.
ped into chair.
"And she'll be here in two or three
daysp' fluttered Marion Historically.
Meanwhile Richard had hastily pick.
ed up The Times. "She is due here the
day after tomorrow, he said deliber-
ately. Frank is as decisive as he is
rash. Well, it is melancholy tit for
tat ="
"What do you mean by tit for tat?"
cried his father angrily.
"Oh, mean that--that we tried to
hasten Julia's marriage with the other
fellow, and he is giving us one in re-
turn, and you will all agree that it's
pretty permanent one"
The old soldier recovered himself and
was beside his wife in an instant He
took her hand. Don't fret about it,
wife," he said. cts an ugly bust
ness, but we must put up with it. The
boy was out of his head We are old
now, my dear, but there was q time
when we should have resented such a
thing as much as Frank, though not in
the same fashion perhaps-not in the
same fashion" The old man pressed
his lips hard to keep down his emotion.
"Oh, how could he, how could heP'
said his mother. "We meant every
thing for the best. "
"It is always dangerous business
meddling with lovers affairs, "rejoined
Richard, "Lovers take themselves very
seriously indeed, and-well, here the
thing is. Now, who will go and fetch
her from Liverpool? l should say that
both my father and my mother ought
to 60"
Thus Richard took it for granted that
they would receive Franks Indian wife
into their home. He intended that, SO
far as he was concerned, there should
be no doubt upon the question from the
beginning
"Neverl She shall never come here"
said Marion with flashing eyes. "a COM
mon squaw, with greasy hair and blan-
kets and big mouth and black teeth, who
eats with her fingers and grunts! If she
does, if she is brought to Greyhope, l
will never show my face in the world
again. Frank married the animal.
Why does he ship her home to us? Why
didn't he come with her? Why does he
not take her to home Of his own and
not send her here to turn our house into
o menagerie?"
Marion drew her skirt back, as If the
common squaw, with her blankets and
grease, was at that moment near her.
"Well, you see, continued Richard,
"that is just it. AS said, Frank ar.
ranged this little complication with a
trifing amount of malice. No doubt he
didn't come with her because he wished
to test the family loyalty and hospital
ity, but a postscript to his letter says
that his solicitor has instructions to
meet his wife at Liverpool and bring
her on here in case we fail to show her
proper courtesy"
General Armour here spoke "He has
carried the war of retaliation very far
indeed, but men do mad things when
their blood is up, as have seen often.
That doesn't alter our clear duty i'll the
matter. If the woman were bad or
shameful, it would be adifferent thing.
If'--
Marion interrupted, "She has ridden
bareback across the continent like q
jockey-like common jockey-and she
wears blanket, and she doesn't know
word of English, and she will sit on
the floor.
"Well," said her father, "all these
things are not SINS and she must be
taught better" "
"Joseph, how can you?" said Mrs.
Armour Indignantly. "She cannot--sht
shall not come here. Think of Marion
Think Of our position" She hid hel
troubled tear stained face behind hel
handkerchief. At the same time sh,
gnsped her husbands hand She knew
that he was right. She honored him il
her heart for the position he had taken
but she could not resist the natural i'm
pulse of woman where her taste ant
convention were shocked.
The old man was very pale, but ther
was no mistaking his determination
He had been more indignant than an.
of them at first, but he had an unusua
sense of justice when he got face Il
face with it, as Richard had here helpet
him to do. "We do not know that tn
woman has done any wrong" he said
"As for our name and position, they
thank God, are where mad marriag
cannot unseat them. We have had mucl
prosperity in the world, my wife. w
have had neither death nor dishonor
l Wei
"If this isn't dishonor, father, wha
is?" Marion flashed out.
He answered calmly: my daughter
it is a great misfortune. 1t will proba
: bly, be lifelong trail, but it is nc
Q necessarily dishonor. "
"You never can make scandal les
by trying to hide it,, said Richard
8 backing up his father. 1T is all prett
. awkward, but dare say we shall &c
u some amusement out of it in the end
: Richard" said his mother throug
her tears, "you are flippant and ur
: kind"
Indeed, mother" was his reply, ="
u never was more serious in my life
When l spoke Of amusement, mean
: comedy merely, not fun-the thing tha
: looks like tragedy and has happy enc
ing. That is what l mean, mother, notl
ing more.