Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-01-30

Rlcnaru arriving last, ana the indian
girl turned on them, her body all quiv-
ering with excitement, laughed a low,
birdlike laugh, and then, clapping her
hands above her head, she swung round
and ran like deer toward the lake,
shaking her head back as an animal
does when fleeing from his pursuers.
She would scarcely have been recogniz-
ed as the same placid, speechless wom-
an i'll a blanket who sat with folded
hands day after day ON the Aphrodite.
The watchers turned and looked at
each other in wonder. Truly their task
of civilizing savage would not lack
in interest. The old general was better
pleased, however. at this display of ac-
tivity and excitement than at yester-
days taoiturnity. He loved spirit, even
If it had to be subdued, and he thought
on the instant that he might possibly
come to look upon the fair savage as an
actual and not nominal daughter-in-
law. He had keen appreciation of
courage, and he thought he saw in her
face, rs she turned upon them, look
of defiance or daring. and nothing could
have got at his nature quicker. II the
case had not been SO near to his own
hearthstone, he would have chuckled.
As it was, he said good humoredly that
Mackenzie and Marion should 60 and
bring her back. But Mackenzie was al
ready at that duty. Mrs. Armour had
had the presence of mind to send for Col
vim, but presently, when the general
spoke, she thought it better that Marion
should 60 and counseled returning to
breakfast and not making the matter of
too much Importance. This they did,
Richard very reluctantly, while Ma
rion, rather pleased than not at the
spirit shown by the strange girl, ran
away over the grass toward the lake,
where Lali had now stopped.
There was q little bridge at one point
where the lake narrowed, and Lali, evil
IDENTIFY seeing it all at once, went to-
ward it and ran up on it, standing
poised above the water about the mid
die Of it. For an instant an unpleasant
possibility came into Marion's mind
suppose the excited girl intended sui
cidei She shivered as she thought Of it,
and yet She put that horribly cruel
and selfish thought away fom her with
an indignant word at herself. She had
passed Mackenzie and come first to the
lake. Here she slackened and waved
her hand playfully to the girl, so as not
to frighten her, and then with forced
laugh came up painting ON the bridge
and was presently by Lali's side. Lali
eyed her little furtively, but seeing
that Marion was much inclined to be
pleasant she nodded to her, said some
Indian words hastily and spread out
her hands toward the water. As she did
SO Marion noticed again the beauty Of
those hands and the graceful character
Of the gesture, SO much SO that she for
got the fiat hair, and the unstayed body,
and the rather broad feet and the deli
cate duskiness which had so worked on
her in imagination and in fact the even
ing before. She put her hand kindly ON
that long slim hand stretched out beside
her. and because she knew not what
else to speak and because the tongue is
very perverse ct times, saying the oppo-
site of what is expected. she herself
blundered out, How, how, Lali!''
Perhaps Lali was as much surprised
ct the remark as Marion herself and
certainly very much moro delighted.
The sound Of those familiar words,
spoken by accident, as they were, opened
the way to o better understanding as
nothing else could possibly have done.
Marion was annoyed at herself and yet
amused too. II her mind had been per-
fectly assured regarding Captain vi
dali, 1t is probable that then and there o
peculiar, q genial. comradeship would
have been formed. As it was, Marion
found this little event more endurable
than she expected. She also found that
Lali, when she laughed in pleasant ac-
knowledgment Of that How" had re-
markably white and regular teeth. In
deed Marion Armour began to discover
some estimable points in the appearance
Of her savage sister-in-law. Marion re-
marked to herself that Lali might be o
rather striking person If she were dress
ed. as her mother said, in Christian gar
ments and could speak the English Ian
guage well-and was somebody else's
sister-in-law.
At this point Mackenzie came breath
lessly to the bridge and called out o
sharply to Lali. rebuking her. In this
Mackenzie made mistake, for not only
did Lali draw herself up with consider
able dignity, but Marion. noticing the
masterful nature Of the tone. instantly
said: Mackenzie, you must remember
that you are speaking to Mira Francis
Armour, and that her position in Gen.
eral Armour's house is the same as
mine. hope it is not necessary to say
anything more, Mackenzie.
Mackenzie flushed. She was . sensi-
BILE woman. She knew that she had done
wrong, and she said very promptly: II
am very sorry. miss. was flustered,
and I expect I haven't got used to speak
ing TOTO Mrs Armour rs I'll be sure
to do in the future"
As she spoke two or three deer came
trotting out Of the beeches down to the
lakeside. II Lali was pleased and ex-
cited before, she was overwhelmed now.
Her breath came in quick gasps She
laughed, she tossed her hands, she seem
ed to become dizzy with delight, and
presently. as If this new link with and
reminder Of her past had moved her a.
one little expects savage heart is NOV
ed. two tears gathered in her eyes, then
slid down her cheeks unheeded and dried
there in the sunlight as she still gazed
at the deer. Marion, at first surprised,
was now touched, as she could not havo
thought it possible concerning this wild
creature, and her hand went out and
caught Lali's gently. At this genuine
act Of sympathy, instinctively felt by
Lali-the stranger in strange land,
husbanded and yet q widow-there
came food Of tears. and dropping ON
her knees she leaned against the low
railing Of the bridge and wept silently.
So passionless was her grief it seemed
the more pathetic, and Marion dropped
ON her knees beside her. put her arm