Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-01-23
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER Ill
II vas beautiful day, which was so
much in favor of Mrs Frank Armour
IN relation to her husbands people.
General Armour and his wife had come
down from London by the latest train
possible that their suspense at Liver
pool might be short. They said little
to each other, but when they did speak
it was Of things very different from the
skeleton which they expected to put
into tho family cupboard presently.
Each was trying to spare the other. 1t
was very touching. They naturally
looked upon the matter i'll its most I'M
promising light because an Indian was
All Indian, and this unknown savage
from Fort Charles was in violent con-
trast to such desirable persons as Lady
Agnes Martling. Not that the Armours
were jealous for mere money and title,
but the thing itself was altogether apro-
pos, as Mrs. Armour had more naive
ly than correctly put it. The general,
whose knowledge Of character and the
circumstances Of life was considerable,
had worked out the thing with much
accuracy. He had declared to Richard
in their quiet talk upon the subject that
Frank must have been anything but So
Der when he did it. He had previously
called it policy of retaliation, so that
now he was very near the truth. When
they arrived at the dock at Liverpool,
the Aphrodite was just making into the
harbor.
"Egad," said General Armour to
himself, "Sevastopol was easier than
this, for fighting know and being pep
pered l know by Jews, Greeks, infidels
and heretics, but to take savage to my
arms and do for her what her godfathers
and godmothers never did is worse than
the DEVILS dance at Delhi"
What Mrs. Armour, who was not
quite so definite as her husband, thought
it would be hard to tell, but probably
grief for and indignation at her son
were uppermost in her mind. She had
quite determined upon her course. None
could carry better that high neutral look
of social superiority than she.
Please heaven, she said to herself, no
one should see that her equanimity was
shaken. They had brought one servant
with them, who had been gravely and
yet convcntionally informed that his
young masters wife, an Indian chief
tainess, was expected. There are few fam
lily trDubles but find their way to serv-
ants hall with an uncomfortable speed,
Tor, whether or not stone walls have
ears, certainly menservants and maid
servants have eyes that serve for ears
and ears that do more than their bound.
en- duty. Boulter, the footman. knew
his business When informed of the
coming Of Mrs. Francis Armour, the
Indian chieftainess, his face was abso-
lutely expressionless. His "Yessir" was
as mechanical as usual On the dock he
was marble-indifferent When the pas
sengers began to land, he showed no ex.
element. He was decorously alert.
When the crucial moment came, he was
impeEturbable. Boulter was an excel
lent servant. So said Edward Lambert
to himself after the event; so likewise
said Mrs. Townley to herself when tho
thing was over; so declared General
Armour many a time after and once
very smphatically just before he raised
Boulter's wages
As the boat neared Liverpool Lambert
and Mrs. Townley had grown very nerv-
GUS The truth regarding the Indian
wife had become knswn among the pas
sengers, and most were very curious
some in we'll bred fashion, some in
trusively, vulgarly. Mackenzie, Lali's
companion, like Boulter, was express
sionless in face. She had her duty to do,
paid for literally, and she would do It
Lali might have had more presentable
and dignifed attendant, but not one
more worthy. 1t twas noticeable that the
captain Of the ship and all the officers
had been markedly courteous to Mra
Armour throughout the voyage, but, to
their credit, not ostentatiously 80.
When the vessel was brought to anchor
and the passengers were being put upon
the tender, the captain came and made
his respectful adieus, as though Lal
were lady Of title in her own right
and not an Indian girl married to q
man acting under the influence Of bran
dy and malice General Armour and
Mrs. Armour were always grateful to
Edward Lambert and Mrs. Townley for
the part they played in this desperate
little comedy. They stood still and
watchful as the passengers came ashore
one by one. They saw they were the
center of unusual interest, but General
Armour was used to bearing himself
with grim kind Of indifference in pub
lie. and his wife was calm, and so some
what disappointed those who probably
expected the old officer and his wife to
be distressed. Frank Armour's solicitor
was also there; but, with good taste, he
held aloof. The two needed all their
courage, however, when they saw fig
ure in buckskin and blanket step upon
the deck, attended by very ordinary,
austere and stability dressed Scotswom-
an. But Immediately behind them we've
Edward Lambert and Mrs. Townley,
and these. with their simple tact, nat.
uralness and freedom from any sort Of
embarrassment, acted as foils and re-
ieved the situation.
SHCACAoA RAAlOO4 tbutduCcuy udb xu
hand "You are my sons wife?' he
said courteously to this being in blan-
ket.
She looked up and shook her head
slightly, for she did not quite under
stand, but she recognized his likeness to
her husband. and presently she smiled
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