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

matter nau become notorious. Other
wise the Armours had lived in that nm
pleasant condition Of being constantly
discovered. 1t was simply case of
aiming at absolute secrecy, which had
been frustrated by Frank himself, or
bold and unembarrassed acknowledge
ment and an attempt to carry things off
with high hand. The latter course
was the only one possible. 1t had origi-
nally been Richards idea, appropriated
by General Armour and accepted by
Mrs Armour and Marion with what
grace was possible The publication Of
the event prepared their friends and
precluded the necessity for reserve.
What the friends did not know was
whether they ought or ought not to
commiscratc the Armours. 1t was diff
ficult position. \ death, an accident, q
lost reputation, would have been easy
to them. Concerning these there could
be no doubt. But an Indian daughter
inlaw, a person in moccasins, was
scarcely thing to b. congratulated
upon, and yet sympathy and consolation
might be much misplaced. No one could
tell how the Armours would take it,
for even their closest acquaintance
knew what kind Of delicate hauteur was
possible to them. Even the centric"
Richard, who visited the cottages of the
poor. carrying soup and luxuries Of
many kinds, accompanying them with
the most wholesome advice single man
ever gave to families and the heads of
families, whose laugh was so CHEEKY
md spontaneous-and face so uncom-
monty grave and sad at times-had
faculty for manner. With astonishing
suddenness he could raise insurmounta-
BILE barriers. and people not Of his Or
der, who occasionally presumed ON his
simplicity of life and habits, found
themselves put distinctly i'll at ease by
n quiet. curious look in his eye. No
man was ever more the recluse and at
the same time the man Of the world.
He had had his bitter little comedy of
life, but it was different from that Of
his brother Frank. 1t Vas buried very
deep. Not one of his family knew of
st. Edward Lambert and one or two
others who had good reason never to
speak Of it were the only persons pos
sessing his secret.
But all England knew of Franks
mesalliance And the question was,
What would people do? They very prop
Nly did nothing at first They waited
% see how the Armours would act; they
did not congratulate; they did not con-
sole. That was left to those papers
which CHANGED to resent General Ar
mour's politics and those others which
were emotional and sensational ON ev-
cry subject, particularly SO where WON.
en- were concerned
1t was the beginning Of the season,
but the Armours had decided that they
would not go to town-that is, the gen.
eral and his wife were not going. They
felt that they ought to be at Greyhope
with their daughter-in-law, which was
to their credit Regarding Marion they
had nothing to say. Mrs. Armour in
clined to her going to town for the sea-
son to visit Mrs. Townley, who had
thoughtfully written to her saying that
she was very lonely and begging Mira
Armour to let her come, if she would
She said that Of course Marion would
zee much Of her people In town just the
same MrA Townley was a very clever
and tactful woman. She guessed that
General Armour and his wife were not
likely to come to town, but that must
not appear. and the invitation should
be ON q different basis, as it was
10 v,r.ol~~h1<, h~k Af~~sou So~-, kh~~,r~ =,
the delicate plot. but that did not make
her like Mira Townley less. These lit.
tie pieces Of art make life possible -thesa
tender fictionsl
Marion was, however, not In good
humor. She was nervous and little
petulant She had high strung tenn.
permanent q sensitive perception Of the
fitness Of things and o horror Of what
was gauche, and she would, in brief.
make . rather austere person II thu
lines Of life did not run In her favor.
She had something Of Franks impul.
siveness and temper. II would havl
been great blessing to her II she had
had q portion Of Richards philosophical
humor also She was at . point Of ten
sion-her mother and Richard could see
that She was anxious-though, for the
world, she would not have had it thought
so-regarding Captain Vidal She had
never cared for anybody but him. Il
was possible she never would. But hs
did not know this, and she was not alb
solutely sure that his evident but a. yel
informal love would stand this strain,
which shows how people very honora.
BILE and perfect minded in themselvel
may allow q large margin to other PEG
pie who are presumably honorable and
perfect minded also.
! There was no engagement between
them, and he was not bound in any
way, and could. therefore. without slash
ing the hem Of the code, retire withou,
any apology, but they had had that un
spoken understanding which most PEG
pie who love each other show even be
fore word Of declaration has passei
their lips. If he withdrew because Of
this scandal, there might be some awk
ward hours for Frank Armour's wife a
Greyhope, but more than that thert
would be o very hard hearted younf
lady to play her part in the deceitfu
world She would be as merciless q
she could be. Naturally, being young
she exaggerated the importance Of tn
event and brooded ON it. It was differ
emit with her father and mother. They
were shocked and indignant at first, but
when the first scene had been faced they
began to make the best of things al
round-that is, they proceeded at ono,
to turn the North American Indian int<
European, matter Of no little diff
Guilty. A governess was discussed, bu1
General Armour did not like the idea
and Richard opposed it heartily. She
must be taught English and educated
and made possible ''in Christian cloth
ing" as Mrs. Armour put it. OF the
education they almost despaired-al
save Richard. Time, instruction, vani
ty and q dressmaker might do much q,
to the other
The evening Of her arrival Lali would
not, with any urging, put on clothes Of
Marion's which had been sent in to her.
And the next morning it was still the
same She came into the breakfast room
dressed still in buckskin and moccasins,
and though the grease had been taken