The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-07-19

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
lines had shown General Armour and
his wife that they had to do with ma
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 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 9th
er 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.
Lai 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. 1t 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
full 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 alb
ruptly, then turned to the young wife
with scrutinizing eye. "Marion, said
her father, "this is your sister" Ma
rion stood hesitating, 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
" to the girl, and her eyes flashed wide.
Then in a low voice she said in Eng.
lish, eyes, Marion, how?'
1t is probable that neither Marion nor
any one present knew quite the meaning
of "how," save Richard, and he could
surd and aboriginal But at this exclama-
ton Marion once more came to herself.
She could not possibly go so far as her
mother did at the dock and kiss this
savage, but with q rather sudden grasp
of the hand she said little hysterical.
~, for her brain was going round like
q wheel, "Wo-won't you let me take
your blanket?'' and forthwith laid hold
of it with tremulous politeness.
The question sounded for the instant
so ludicrous to Richard that, in spite {
the distressing situation, he had to
choke back laugh. Years afterward il
he wished for any momentary revenge
upon Marion-and he had keen sense
of wordy retaliation-he simply said,
"Wo-won't you let me take your
blanket?"
OF course the Indian girl did not un.
derstand, but she submitted to the re.
moval of this uncommon mantle and
stood forth a less trying sight to Ma.
rion's eyes, for, as we said before, her
bucksllin costume set off softly the good
outlines Of her form.
The Indian girls eyes wandered from
Marion to Richard. They wandered
from anxiety, doubt and a bitter kind of
reserve to cordiality, 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, there was still in
their eyes the same friendliness and
humanity-that is, it was the same look
that Frank carried when he first came
to her fathers lodge.
Richard held out his hand with q COR
dial little laugh and said: "Ah, ah,
very glad, very glad Just in time for
supper. Come along. How is Frank, eh:
How is Frank? Just so, just So Pleasant