The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-08-16

nothing.
"Lali," said Marion somewhat alb
ruptly-she scarcely know why she die
it-"are you happy"
1t was strange how the Indian CIR
had taken on. those little manners of So
ciety which convey so much by inhec-
ton. She lifted her eyebrows at Marion
and said presently in soft, deliberate
voice, Come, Marion, we will go and
see little Richard; then / shall be
happy"
She linked her arm through Marion's.
Marion drummed her fingers lightly on
the beautiful arm and then fell to won
dering what she should say next They
passed into the room where the child
lay sleeping. They went to his little
bed, and Lali stretched out her hand
gently, touching the curls of the child.
Running finger through one delicate
ly, she said with still softer tone than
before, "Why should not one be happy?'
Marion looked up slowly into her
eyes, let hand fall on her shoulder
gently and replied, "Lali, do you never
wish Frank to Gomez"
Lali's fingers came from the child,
the color mounted slowly to her fore
head, and she drew the girl away again
into the other room. Then she turned
and faced Marion, deep fire in her
eyes, and said in a whisper almost
hoarse in its intensity, Eyes, wish he
would come tonight. +"
She looked harder yet at Marion.
Then, with flash of pride and her
hands clasping before her, she drew her.
self up and added: Gam not worthy
to be his wife now? Am not beautiful
for q savage?'
There was no common vanity in the
action. 1t had noble kind of wistful-
ness and serenity that entirely re-
deemed it. Marion dated her own hap
piness from the time when Lali met her
accident, for the evening of that disas-
trous day she issued to Captain Hume
Vidal commission which he could
never, wished never to, resign. Since
then she had been at her best-we are
all more or less selfish creatures-and
had grown gentler, curbing the delicate
imperiousness of her nature and frank
ly and without the least pique taken
secondary position of interest in the
household, occasioned by Lali's popu-
larity She looked Lali up and down
with q glance in which many feelings
met, and then, catching her hands
warmly, she lifted them, put them on
her own shoulders and said, "My dear,
beautiful savage, you are fit and worthy
to be queen of England, and Frank,
when he comes"--
"Hush!" said the other dreamily, and
put finger on Marion's lips 81 know
what you are going to say, but do not
wish to hear it. He did not love me
then. He used me- She shuddered,
put her hands to her eyes with apained,
trembling motion, then threw her head
back with quick sigh. But Twill not
speak of it, Come, prepare for the
dance, Marion. 1t is the last tonight
Tomorrow She paused, looking
straight before her, lost in thought.
eyes, tomorrow, Lali?'
81 do not know about tomorrow,
was the reply. Strange things come to
me-"
Marion longed to tell her then and
there the great news, but she was afraid
to do so and was, moreover, withheld
by the remembrance that it had been
agreed she should not be told. She said
At II o'clock the rooms were filled.
For the fag end of the season people
coar,oG .,,,e,,ollx, bc;1l;o,+ rrl,o o,,o,,
ing itac-f was not so hot as common,
and therA vas an extra array of distin-
guished e; asts. Marion was nervous all
the evei.@H, though she showed little
Of it, b! : most prettily employed in
making people pleased with themselves.
Mrs. Armour also was not free from APP
prehension.
In reply to inquiries concerning her
son she said, as she had often said dur
ing the season, that he might be back
at any time now. Lali had answered al
ways in the same fashion and had shown
no sign that his continued absence was
singular, AS the evening wore OH the
of Frank S appearance SEEM
I'D less, and the Armours began to
breathe more freely.
Frank had, however, arrived. He had |
driven straight from Erston to Caven-
lish square,; but seeing the house light
ed up and guests arriving, no had q |
sudden feeling Of uncertainty. He or.
Tered the cabman 20 take him to his |
hub. There he pat hi%9Clf i'll evening |
lress and drove back again 10 the house.
he entered quietly. Al tho moment the
hall was almost deGcrtcd; people were
Mostly i'll the ballroom and supper |
DOM. He paused a Ernment. biting his
nustache as ii IL rerpiexity. A strange
imidity came On him All his old dash
md self possession seemed to have for
aiken him. Presently, sosi;,3 number
It people entering the hail. he made for
he staircase and went LASTLY up. Me-
he went to his own room
md found it lighted. Flowers were set
bout, and everything was made ready
IS for q guest. He sat down, not think
sE1lI(N ,If!,5y