Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-25

and said aloud, "Oh, the beautiful trees and the long grassp There was a whir of birds wings among the branches, and then presently there rose from a distance the sweet gurgling whistle of | the nightingale. A smile Rs of remi- niscence crossed her face. Then she said, as if to herself: Ut is the same. Ishall not die. hear the birds wings, md l one is singing, It is pleasant to sleep in the long grass when the nights are sum, mer and to hang your cradle in the i trees.
 She had asked for her own blanket, | refusing q rug, when they left St. Al | bans, and it had been given to her. She | drew it about her now with feeling of | comfort and seemed to lose the horrible | sense of strangeness which had almost | convulsed her when she was put into | the carriage at the railway station. Her | reserve had hidden much of what she | really felt, but the drive through the l Hines had shown General Armour and his wife that they had to do with a na- ture having capacities for sensitive feel. ing, which, it is sometimes thought, is only the prerogative of certain we'll bred civilizations.
 But it was impossible that they should yet, or for many a day, feel any sense of kinship with this aboriginal girl Presently the carriage drew up to the doorway. which was instantly open to them. A broad belt of light streamed out upon the stone steps. Far back in the hall stood Marion, one hand upon the balustrade of the staircase, the oth- CT tightly held at her side, as if to nerve herself for the meeting. The eyes of the Indian girl pierced the light, and, as if by strange instinct, found those of Marion even before she left the carriage Lali felt vaguely that here was her pos sible enemy. As she stepped out of the carriage, General Armour's hand under her elbow to assist her, she drew her blanket somewhat more closely about her and so proceeded up the steps. The composure of the servants was in the circumstances remarkable It needed to have been, for the courage displayed by Lali's two new guardians during the day almost faltered at the threshold of their own home. Any sign of surprise or amusement on the part of the domeS. tics would have given them some pain ful moments subsequently,. But all was perfectly decorous. Marion still stood motionless. almost daZed. The group advanced into the hall and there paused. as if waiting for her.
 At that moment Richard came out of the study at her right hand. took her arm and said quietly: Come along, Marion. Let us be as brave as our father and mother.
 She gave hard little gasp and seem- ed to awake as from dream. She quickly glided forward ahead of him. kissed her mother and father almost ab- ruptly, then turned to the young wife with n scrutinizing eve. Marion, " said her father, this is your sister, Ma riOn stood hcsitating, confused.
 Marion. dear, repeated her mother tremendously, this is your brothers wife. Lali, this is your husbands sis ter, Marion.
 Mackenzie translated the words swift ly to the girl. and her eyes flashed wide Then in a low >o.cy ~hc >aid in Eng fish, Yes Marion. how"
 It is probable ?.,At neither Marion nor any one present knew quite the meaning of ''how, save Richard, and he could not suppress a smilr-it sounded so ab- surd and aboriginal But at this eXclama- l tion Marion once more camc to herself. She could not possibly % so far as her mother did al the dock and kiss this savage, but with a rather sudden grasp of the hand she said a little hySterical- ly. for her brain WAS .;oinS round like l a xt.h.ol lar faEa your blanket" and forthwith laid hold of it with trcHulous politeuess.
 The question sounded for the instant ] so lEGicrous tu Richard that, in spite of tLc distressing situation, ho had t. | choke back laugh. Years afterward if | he wished for any mOmentary revenge upon Marion-and he had q keen sense I of wordv retaliation-he simply said, "Wo-won't you let me take your blanket?'
 Of course tho Indian girl did not un- dcrstand, but she submitted to the re- moval of this S~uncommon mantle and stood forth a less trying sight to Ma irons eyes, for, as we said before. her buckskin costume set of softly the good outlines of her form.
 The Indian girls eyes wandered from
 Marion to Richard They wandered from anxiety, doubt and bitter kind of rcscrve to Cordialitv. sympathy and a grave kind of humor. Instantly the girl
 knew that she had in eccentric Richard
 Armour frank friend. Unlike as he
 was to his brother, thcrc was still iu
 their eyes tine same fricndliness and
 humanity-thatis is, it was the samo look
 that Frank carried when he first came
 to her fathers lodge,
 Richard held out his hand with n cor
 dial little laugh and said: "Ah, ah,
 very glad, very glad! Just i'll time fol
 supper Como along How is Frank, oh 1 Hnyr $ Eranka Inst so inst so PlNasan.