The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-07-12

| uttle cry escaped her against her Will.
AT that her mother looked up, but she
only saw her daughters back, as she
rose hurriedly from the table, saying
that she would return in q moment
Mrs. Armour, however, had been star
tied. She knew that Marion had been
reading letter, and with mothers
instinct her thoughts were instantly on
Frank. She spoke quickly, almost sharp
ly, "Marion, come here"
| Richard had risen. He came round
the table, and as the girl obeyed her
mother took the letter from her fingers
and hastily glanced over it. Mrs. Ar
mour came forward and took her daugh-
ter's arm. Marion" she said, "there
is something wrong-with Frank. What
| is it?''
| General Armour was now looking up
at them all curiously, questioningly,
through his glasses, his paper laid down,
his hands resting on the table,
Marion could not answer. She was
sick with regret, vexation and shame.
| AT the first flush death-for Frank
had been preferable to this. She had
considerable store of vanity. She was
not very philosophical. Besides she was
not married, and what Captain Vidal,
| her devoted admirer and possible hus-
band, would think of this heathenish
alliance was not cheerful thought to
her.
She choked down sob and waved
her hand toward Richard to answer for
her. He was pale, too, but COOL He I'M
derstood the case instantly. He made
up his mind instantly also as to what
ought to be.--must be-done.
"Well, MOTHER. he said, sit is
about Frank But he is all right-that
is, he is alive and well in body. But
he has arranged q hateful little empar.
rassment for us. He is married.
Married." said his mother family.
ooh, poor Lady Agnes!''
Marion shifted little viciously at
this.
Married. Marriedr' said his father
"Well, what about it, Ell? What about
it?''
The mother wrung her hands, sob,
L know it issomething dreadful-dread-
full He has married some horrible wild
person or something
Richard, miserable as he was, re-
manned calm. 'Well," said he 81
don't know about her being horrible.
Frank is silent ON that point, but she is
wild enough-a wild Indian, in fact. "
"Indianl Indiani Good God, O red
nigger!'' cried General Armour barsh-
ly, starting to his feet.
can Indiani A wild indiana Mrs.
Armour whispered family as she drop>
ped into chair.
''And she'll be here in two or three
daysp' huttered Marion Historically.
Meanwhile Richard had hastily pick
ed up The Times "She is due here the
day after tomorrow, he said deliber-
ately. Crank is as decisive as he is
rash. Well, it is q melancholy tit for
TAFT
"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 a
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 a 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 HELP
said his mother. eve meant every
thing for the best"
"It is always dangerous business
meddling with lovers affairs, "rejoined
Richard. Lowers take themselves very
seriously indeed, and--well, here the
thing is. Now, who will go and fetch
her from Liverpool? 1 should say that
both my father and my mother ought
to CO."
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.
Never! She shall never come herei"
said Marion with flashing eyes. IA COM
mon squaw, with greasy hair and blan-
kets and big mouth and black teeth, who
eats with her fingers and gruntsl IF she
does, if she is brought to Greyhope,
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
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 I said, Frank ar.
ranged this little complication with
trifling 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