Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-23
by tao i.phrodito in her buckskin gar

quito easy to say. II is possible that ut
first she only considered that she was
the wifo Of white mana thing to be
dosired-and that the man she loved
was hers forever--a matter Of indetlDa-
Bile Joy to her. That no was sending her
to England did not fret her, because it
was his will, and he knew what was
best. Busy with her contented and yet
somewhat dazed thoughts of him, she
was too happy 10 be very active men,
tally, even IL IL had been the character
istic Of her race. She was not mt first
aware Of how much notice she excited
and how strange figure she was in
this staring city. When it did dawn
upon her, she shrank little, but still
was placid, prefcrring 10 sit, with her
hands folded in her lap, idly watching
things. She appeared oblivious that she
was the wife of man of family and
rank She was only thinking that the
man was hers-all hers.
He had treated her kindly enongh in
the day t1Iy were together. but she
had not been great deal with him be-
cause they travelled fast, and his duties
were many. or he made them so, hut
the latter possibility did not occur to
her Whom he had hastily hidden her
farewell at Port Arthur, he had kissed
her and said, 'GoOdby, my wife. " She
was not acute enough yet in the intiec-
tions of Saxon speech TO catch the satire
almost involuntary-in the last two
words. She remembered the words,
however, and the kiss, and she was
quite satisfied. To what she was going
ihe did not speculate He was sending
hcr-that was enough.
The woman given to her as maid had
been we'll chosen. Armour had done
this cmc.uily. She was Scotch, was re-
served, had Il certain amount of shrewd-
ness, would obey instructions and do
her Guty carefully. What she thought
about tho v hole matter she kept to her
self Even the solicitor at Mcn'-..I
could not find out. She had her instruc-
tions clear IN her mind. She was de-
terrired to carry them out 10 the let
ter, for which she was already well
paid and vas likely to be better paid,
because Amour had arranged that she
should continue 10 be with his wife
after they got To England. She under
stood well the language Of Lalis tribe,
and because Lali's English was limited
she would bo Indispensable in England.
| Mackenzie therefore had responsible
ty, and If she was not elated over IL she
still knew the importance Of her posi-
tion and had enough practical vanity to
make her al efficient servant and COM
IpaliC.. S'c .i-ccfv felt that che had
got lor position in life, from which she
was to 20 out 10 moro forever. She
had been brought up III the shadow Of
Alnwick castle, aud she knew What was
due To her Chgrge-by other people.
Herself only should have liberty with
her She was taking Lali 10 the home
Of General Armour, and that must be
kept constantly before her mind There
fore from the day they set foot on the
Aphrodite she kept her place beside Mrs.
Armour, sitting with hcr-they walked
eiti.l- 10 i.,r cr % the curious rasson-
gers. Presently the passengers became
more inquisi;irc and made many at
ten. pts at being friendly. hut these re-
ceived little encouragement. II had be-
come known who the Indian girl was,
and many wild tales went about rs 10
her marriage with Francis Armour.
Now it was maintained she had saved
his life at an outbreak Of her tribe;
again that she had found him dying in
the woods and had nursed him back 10
life and health; yet again that She
was q chiei;ainess, successful claimant
against the Hudson's Bay company,
and so on.
There were several on board who
knew the Armours well by name, and
two who knew them personally. One
was Mr. Edward Lambert, barrister
of thc Middle Temple, and the other
was Us Towrloy, widow, member
Of a we'll known Hertfordshire family
who, on ! pleasant journey in Scotland,
had met, conquered and married a
wealthy young American and had been
left l.oi.o il tho VCI.d ty no mcals
portionless IS months before.
Lambert knew Richard Armour well,
and when, from Francis Armour's so
licitor, whom he knew, he heard just
before they started who the Indian girl
was he was greatly shocked and sorry.
He guessed at once the motive, the mad
ness, Of this marriage. But ho kept
his information and his opinions most
" to himself, except in so far as il
seemed only due To friendship 10 con-
tradict the numberlcss idle stories go-
ing about After the first day ~ sea he
came TO know Mrs Townlcy, and when
he discovered that they had many mu-
tual friends and that she knew the Ar.
mours he spoke little more freely 70
her regarding the Indian wife and told |
her what hi believed was the cause Of |
the marriage.
Mrs. Townley was IA woman--a girl
of uncommon grntleneSs OF disposi-
tion, and IL spite of her troubles in |
clined 10 ylcw life with sunny eye. |
She had known Of Frank Armour's en- |
gagement with Miss Julia Skcrwoc', .
but she had never heard the sequel II I
this was the scquel-well, it had TO lie /
faced. But she was almost trcmulOus I
with sympathy when she remembered :
Mrs. Armour and Franks gay, fashion
able sister, Marion, and contemplated ,
the arrival Of this Indian girl at Grey
hope. She h.d always liked Frank Ar
mour, but this made her angry vita .
him, for ON second thought sic WIS
not more sorry for him and for his peo-
pie than for Lali, the wife. She had /
the true instinct Of womcnhCcd, aid /
she supposed that a hoathcn like t!.is
coull have feelings to be hurt and life I
to be wounded as herself or another. At
least she saw what was possible III the
future when this Indian girl came to
understand her position, only to be ac-
complished by contact with the new life
SO dil--,lt from her past.
Bo.h she and Lambert decided that
she vas very fine looking, nCtwithstand-
ing l.r Costume. She was slim and well ,
built, with modest bust and shapely ,
feet and ankles. Her eyes were large, !
madi.ativ and jutelligpnt. her features