New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-09
CHAPTER Y.


II takes n little longer in the Far East to get
talked about" than II does in the West. But
not very much more In some cases. where the
flirting is very outrageous-that Is, IN Eva
Freke's case.
1t was almost a case OF changing husbands,
Eva used laughngly to declare to Lima when
she and Archie came in together from some drive
or garden party and found Mr.. Freke sitting OPP
rosite Lima gravey contemplating that wonder
full baby Mr. Freke was losing his interest In
his studies or rather Eva had cured him OF his
harmless little craze. She had way OF making
him seem ridiculous In his own eyes, which Mr..
Freke had found it impossible to stand out
against
before "you don't know any Chinese, and
YOU never will. I've heard your Chinese laughed
at over and over again. Don't you see they only
get YOU to speak at their meetings and to write
in their Journals because they want your sub
scription? You can't speak. my friend. and you
can't write: and every one Is afraid to tell you
so except your poor little wife,
True this may have been and most likely was.
7 am too much OF a Philistine to be able to say
whether the world has been any the poorer since
Mr. Freke left off enlightenng 1t. But he him
self was undoubtedly a loser.
Physically too, Mr.. Freke was declining. It Is
dangerous TO disturb the habits OF mind OF life
time nj forty-fve. And Mr.. Freke's had been
more than habits; they had grown into his very
being Just as a man who retires early from
business is IA ted to die sooner than II he had re-
NAMED active-to die from utter boredom-so
Mr. Freke's health began to suffer. He was still
master enough TO prevent Eva's flooding his
house with guests; he still fought valiantly an
everlasting battle against her demands for
money. But his wife had taken from him all he
had striven after in life-taken, and given him
nothing in return. He would have been utterly
desOlate had II not been for Lima Urquhar' ana
Lima Urquharts baby.
The world OF Shanghai shook its head at Mrs.
Freke-disapproved of her, and invited her all
the same She was the making of party with
her fun and her life, and her little bit Of
naughtiness, The world likewise shook its head
at Archie Urquharts foOlishness In dangling
after Eva Freke. but 1t invited him and his wife
all the same. And Mrs. Urquhart went and sat
quietly in corner. while her husband joined the
group round Eva, and left his own wife to
amuse herself as best she might He always I'm
pressed upon her they drove home that ne
had done so on purpose; that husband and wife
should keep at opposite poles when they were
in company Frequently too, very, very fire.
quently he would take Mrs Freke a drive.
Herein. however he must be absolved, for Eva
never scrupled to ask him TO take her, and she
had not yet succeeded in getting carriage out
of Mr. Freke. Archie always extra kind and
attentive to Lima after these drives and Eva.
who invariably came in to tea afterward, used
to chaff Archie's wife exceedingly on her ad-
mirer. Mr.. Freke. 1t vexed Archie rather that
Lima never took up the joke
In short Archie Urquhart from that foolish.
easy temper and readiness to interfere on behalf
of any one whom he imagined was oppressed,
was fast drifting into Evas champion and be-
yond that-who knows? Not that he was in his
heart Of hearts bit unloyal to his own Wife;
but Eva was decidedly good company when you
wanted to be made to laugh. Mr.. Freke was no
companion to her, and-hc was sure Lima dldp't
| mind
still matters got little complicated when
Eva ventured a very tiny sheer at Lima.
Archie coored up then and bit his lip. but.
moral coward that he was, made no answer.
! However Eva was quick enough to perceive
she had made mistake. and taking n sudden
Wfely fit requested Archie to drop her at her
own door (hey were, OF course, out driving).
! Mr. Freke had not been very well that day: she
/ was anxious about him. SO anxious that Archie
! coming for stroll alongfth Bund with Lima
! half hour later. was amazed to meet Mrs
! Freke. the centre Of lively throng. strong
! toward the Public Gardens. whore the little
! Manila bandsmen were enhancing crowds or
| loudly Fossiping amahs.
But then Eva was different again next day.
| and spoke nicely of Lima! SO nicely to her
also. that Archie was again sorcly perplexed
! And she wept too, wept over Mr.. Freke's UNI
| kindness. wept that she had no one to care for
| her, And then Archie felt mean; for he was MIR
! Freke's friend. too. yet he kept silence
So the time drifted on. and tongues wagged
! louder and faster. and Mr.. Freke looked older
and feebler day by day. and Eva went on con-
! hding In Archie, who was too weak minded 10
reject her condolences till matters came to a
/ crisis Mr. Freke II was who put end to the
/ whole concern And this he did In a manner
peculiarly annoying for Evan short. by dying
quite suddenly
He died at his desk In his Office. quite quietly
and quite alone. Archie Urquhart. coming In 10
get him To correct some muddle In some report
had found him sitting with his head In his
hands, leaning his elbows on the table. only
dead apparently without struggle. without
any pain But his face though peaceful, looked
horribly carcworn. and In his hand, crumpled
up was a note with few words from his wife
words Arches wife would never have penned to
! him:
you were 30 dull this morning that am 60