Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-02-27


news of Frank return, he told his wife
and Marion, and they consulted together
whether it Were good to let Lali know
at once. He might arrive that evening
If so, the position would be awkward,
because it WAS impossible to tell how it
might affect her. If they did tell her.
and Frank happened not to arrive, it
might unnerve her SO as to make her
appearance i'll the evening doubtful.
Richard, the wiseacre, the inexhausti-
BILE Richard, was caring for his cottagers
and cutting the leaves of new books
his chief pleasure-at Greyhope. They
felt it was matter they ought to
still it was the last evening of Lali's
stay in town, and they did not care to
take any risk. Strange to say, they had
come to take pride in their son IS wife, for
even General and Mrs Armour, high
minded and Of serene social status as
they were, seemed not quite insensible
to the pleasure Of being an axle on
which a system of social notoriety re-
volved.
At the opportune moment Captain
Vidal was announced, and because he
and Marion were soon to carry but one
name between them he was called into
family consultation. 1t is somewhat
singular that in this case the women
were quite wrong and the men were
quite right, for General Armour and
Captain Vidal were for silence until
Frank came, if he came that day, or for
telling her the following morning, when
the function was over. And the men
prevailed
Marion was much excited all day. She
had given orders that Franks room
should be made ready, but for whom
she gave no information. While Lali
was dressing for the evening, somewhat
excited and nervous, she entered her
room. They were now the best Of
friends. The years had seen many shift
ing scenes In their companionship.
They had been as often at war as at
peace. but they had respected each
other, each after her own fashion, and
now they had real and mutual regard.
Lali's was o slim. 1.-the figure, wear
ing its fashionable robes with an air Of
possession, and the face above it, If not
entirely beautiful. had strange, warm
fascination. The girl had not been a
chieftainess for nothing. A look Of
quiet command was there, but also II
faraway expression which gave faint
look Of sadness even when q smile was
ct the lips. The smile itself did not
come quickly-it grew-but above it ali
was hair Of perfect brown, most rare,
setting off her face as plume does a
helmet. She showed no surprise when
Marion entered. She welcomed her with
. smile and outstretched hand, but said
nothing
"Lali," said Marion somewhat AL
ruptly-she scarcely knew why she did
it-"are you happyf"
It was strange how the Indian girl
had taken on those little manners Of %.
ciety which convey 30 much by infleo-
ton. She lifted her eyebrows at Marion
and said presently in a soft, deliberate
voice. Come. Marion. we will go and
see little Richard; then I shall be
happy"
She linked her arm through Marion'a
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 Lan stretched out her hand
gently. touching the ourls Of the child.
Running finger through one delicate
", she said, with q still softer tone than
before. "Why should not one be happyl'
Marion looked up slowly into her
eyes. let q hand fall ON her shoulder
gently and replied, "Lali, do you never
wish Frank to come?'
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, a deep fire In her
eyes, and said In o whisper almost
hoarse In Its intensity. "Yes, wish he
would come tonight"
She looked harder yet at Marion.
Then, with fash Of pride and her
hands clasping before her, she drew her
self up and added: Am not worthy
TO be his wife now? Am not beautiful
for q savage?"
There was no common vanity In the
action. It had noble kind Of wistful-
ness and q serenity that entirely re-
deemed it. Marion dated her own hap
piness from the time when Lan met her
accident. for the evening Of that disas-
trous day she issued to Captain Hume
Vidal q 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
had grown gentler, curbing the delicate
imperiousness of her nature and frank
" and without the least pique taken .
secondary position Of interest in the
household, oocasioned by Lai's popu-
larity. She looked Lah up and down
with 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 f1t and worthy
70 be queen Of England, and Frank,
when he oomes"-
"Hush" said the other dreamily, and
put finger on Marion's lips. II 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 q panied.
trembling motion, then threw her head
back with quick sigh. But will not
speak Of it Come. prepare for the
dance. Marion. It is the Last tonight
Tomorrow She paused. looking
straight before her. lost In thought
Eyes. tomorrow, Lah?'
II 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 1t had been
agreed she should not be told. She said
nothing.
At IL o'clock the rooms were filled.
For the flag end Of the season people
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