Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-01-16

sent her away into seclusion--with
Frank consent, another serious ques-
tion-and she should take the notion to
fly her retirement and appear inoppor-
tunely at some social function clothed
as she is now. l fancy her blanket
would be wet blanket In such a case,
if you will pardon the little joke.
Lambert sighed. Poor Frank! Poor
devil" he said almost beneath his
breath.
And wherefore poor Frank: Do you
think he or the Armours of Greyhope
are the only ones at stake in this?
What about this poor girl: Just think
why he married her, if our suspicious
are right, and then imagine her feel
ings when she wakes to the truth over
there, as some time she is sure to do!''
Then Lambert began TO see the mat
ter in a different light, and his SYM
pathy for Francis Armour grew less as
his pity for the girl increased. In fact,
the day before they got to Southamp-
ton he swore at Armour more than once
and was anxious concerning the recep-
ton of 1.-THE heather wife by her white
relatives
Had he been present at a certain
scene at Greyhope day or two before
he would have been still more anxious.
1t was the custom at breakfast for Mrs.
Armour to open her husbands letters
and read them while he was engaged
with his newspaper and hand to him
afterward those that were important.
This morning Marion noticed letter
from Frank among the pile and with
out word pounced upon it. She was
curious, as any woman would be, to
see how he took Miss Sherwood's action.
Her father was deep in his paper at the
time Her mother was reading other
letters. Marion read the first few lines
with feeling of almost painful Won
der, the words were SO curious, cynical
and cold.
Richard sat opposite her. He also was
engaged with his paper, but CHANGING
to glance up saw that she was becoming
very pale and that the letter trembled
In her fingers. Being little short
sighted, he was not near enough to see
the handwriting. He did not speak yet.
He watched. Presently, seeing her grow
more excited, he touched her foot under
the table. She looked up and caught his
eye. She gasped slightly. She gave
him q warning look and turned away
rom her mother. Then she went on
reading to the bitter end. Presently q
little cry escaped her against her will.
At that her mother looked up. but she
only saw her daughters back, as she
rose hurriedly from the table, saying
that she would return in a moment
Mrs. Armour, however, had been star.
tied. She knew that Marion had been
reading letter, and with q mother d
instinct her thoughts were instantly on
Frank. She spoke quickly, almost sharp
~, Marion, come here"
Richard had risen. He came round
the table, and as the girl obeyed her
mother took the letter from her fingers
and hastily glanced over it. Mrs. Ar.
mour came forward and took her daugh.
ter's arm. Marion" she said, "there
is something wrong-with Frank. What
is it?"
General Armour was now looking ur
at them all curiously, questioningly,
through his glasses, his paper laid down.
his hands resting on the table.
Marion could not answer. She wa
sick with regret, vexation and shame.
At the first flush death-for Frank
had been preferable to this. She had
considerable store Of vanity. She wa
not very philosophical Besides she wal
not married, and what Captain Vidal,
her devoted admirer and possible hus.
band, would think Of this heathenish
alliance was not cheerful thought ia
her.
She choked down o sob and waved
her hand toward Richard to answer fol
her. He was pale, too but cool. He un
derstood the case instantly. He made
mp his mind instantly also as to wha'
ought to be-must be-done.
WELL mother" he said, eft Il
about Frank. But he is all right-that
is, he is alive and we'll in body. But
he has arranged hateful little embar
rassment for us. He is married
Married." said his mother family.
"Oh, poor Lady Agncss''
Marion shifted q little viciously a
this
married. Married." said his father
"Well, what about it, Ell? What abou
it,"
The mother wrung her hands ooh
know it is something dreadful-dread
full He has married some horrible wilt
person or something"
Richard, miserable as he was, re
manned calm. WELL" said he, r
don't know about her being horrible
Frank is silent ON that point, but she il
wild enough-a wild Indian, in fact.
"Indianl Indiani Good God, a rex
niggeri" cried General Armour barsh
/ ~, starting to his feet.
IAN Indian! A wild IndianI' Mrs
Armour whispered family as she drop
ped into q chair.
"And she'll be here in two or thre'
daysi" f1uttered Marion Historically.
Meanwhile Richard had hastily pick
ed up The Timea "She is due here tn,
day after tomorrow" he said deliber
i ately. Frank is as decisive as he il
rash. Well, it is q melancholy tit fol
tat"
what do you mean by tit for tatg'
cried his father angrily.
"Oh, mean that-that we tried Il
hasten Julia's marriage with the othe
fellow, and he is giving us one in re
turn, and you will all agree that it's ,
pretty permanent one"
The old soldier recovered himself anS
was beside his wife in an instant 81
took her hand. Don't fret about 1t
wife," he said. "It's an ugly bust
ness, but We must put up with it. TIT
boy was out Of his head. We are OLE
now, my dear, but there was o tim,
when We should have resented such ,
thing as much as Frank, though not il
the same fashion perhaps-not in tn,
same fashion" The old man presset
his lips hard to keep down his emotion
"Oh, how could he, how could he!
said his mother. I'VE meant every
thing for the best"
''It is always dangerous business
meddling with lovers affairs, +" rejoinei
Richard. Lovers take themselves yer,
seriously indeed, and-well, here thu