Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-23

troducod to tie Hudson bay country as
Mrs Frank Armour. But that was not
all Indeed as it stood it was very little.
He had only made his comedy possible
as yet Now the play itself was to come.
He had carried his scheme through
boldly so far. He would not finch in
carrying it out to the last letter. He
brought his wife down to the great lakes
Immediately, scarcely resting night or
day. There he engaged an ordinary but
reliable woman, to whom he gave in
structions, and sent the pair TO the
coast He instructed his solicitor at
Montreal to procure passages for Mrs.
Francis Armour and maid for Liverpool.
Then by letters he instructed his solic-
itor in London to meet Mrs. Francis Ar
mour and maid at Liverpool and take
them TO Greyhope in Hertfordshire-
that is, il General Armour and Mrs. Ar
mour or some representative Of the fam
lily did not meet them when they landed
from the steamship.
Presently he sat down and wrete to
his father and mother and asked them
to meet his wife and her maid when
they arrived by the steamer Aphrodite.
He did not explain TO them in precise
detail his feelings ON Miss Julia Sher-
woods marriage, nor did he go into
full particulars rs TO the personality Of
Mrs. Frank Armour, but he did say
that because he knew they were anxious
that he should marry "acceptably" he
had married into aristocrscy. the oldest
aristocracy of America, and because he
also knew they wished him to marry
wealth he sent them wife rich in vir-
tues-native, unspoiled virtues.
He hoped that they would take her
TO their hearts and cherish her. He
knew their firm principles Of honor,
and that he could trust them to be kind
10 his wife until he returned 10 share
the affection which he was sure would
be given to her. Ii was not his inten-
tion to return to England for some time
yet. He had work to do in connection
with his proposed colony, and wife.
even native wife, could not well be u
companion In the circumstances. Be
sides Lali-his wifes name was Lali--
would be better occupied in learning the
peculiaritics Of the life in which her fu-
ture would be cast IL was possible they
would find her an apt pupil. OF this
they could not complain that she was
untraveied, for she had ridden horse,
| -. ka1f lao
They could not cavil at her education,
for she knew several languagos-abo-
| yiginal languagcs--Of the north. She had
merely 10 learn the dialect Of English
society and how to carry with acccpta-
BILE form the costumes Of the race TO
which she was going. Her own costume
was picturesque. but II might appear
unusual III London society. Still they
could use their own Judgment about
that.
Then, when she was gone beyond re.
call, he clSanced one day to put OH the
coat he wore whom the letters and pa.
pee declaring his misfortune came TO
HIM He found his brothers letter; he
opened il aud read it. Ii was the letter
Of a man who knew how to appreciate
nc their proper value the misfortunes
rs the fortunes Of life. While Frank Ar
mour read he came 10 feel for the first
time that his bother Richard had suf-
fered, maybe, from some such misery
as had come To him through Julia Sher.
wood. 1t was dispassionate, manly
letter. relieved by gentle wit and
limiting with careful kindness that
sudden blow was better for a man than
n lifelong thorn in his side. OF Julia
Sherwood he had nothing particularly
bitter TO say. He dclicately suggested
that she acted according to her nature,
and that in the seesaw Of life Frank
had had q sore blow, but this was 10 be
borne.
The letter did not say too much. 1t
did not magnify the difficulty. lt did
not depreciatc il. Ii did not even direct
" counsel. 1t was wholcsomely, tender
ly judicial. Indirectly it dwelt upon the
steadiness and manliness Of Franks
character. Directly, lightly and with
out rhetoric it enlarged upon their own
comradeship. 1t ran over pleasantly the
days of their boyhood when they We're
hardly ever separated. 1t made distinct,
yet with no. obvious purpose, how good
were Friendship and coniidence-which
might be the most uIselfsh thing in
the world-between two men. With
he letter before him Frank Armour saw
his act in new light.
As we said, it is possible If he had
read il on the day when his trouble
came TO him he had not married Lali
nor sent her to England on this-to her
involuntary mission VI revenge. II Is
possible also that there came TO him
the first vague conception Of the wrong
he had done this Indian girl, who un-
doubtedly married him because she
cared for him after her heathen fashion,
while he had married her for nothing
that was commendable, not even for
passion, which may be- pardoned, nor
for vanity, which has its virtues. He
had had his hour with circumstance.
Circumstance would have It's hour with
him in due time Yet there was no ex-
traordinary rcvulsion. He was still an-
cry, cynical and very sore. Dc would
see the play out with consistent firm
ness. He almost managed smile when
letter was handed to him some weeks
later, bearing his solicitors assurance
that Mrs. Frank Armour and her maid
had been safely bestowed on the Aphro-
dite for England. This was the first act
in his tragic comedy.
CHAPTER ii.
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