The Press., 1892-05-05

wat did he meanT' demanded the now irate old man. Fl will not have ze hr,lge on me, sare. Ze duel is not ex-extinct in Fr-rance"-
 'He means"--
 Fl mean. groaned Ralph. that am dying.
 "Deraisonner!" said the marquis, "is zat all? It is ze win, and don't you for get it"
 But Marie was crying:
 ''Papa, he is dying. Madame! Mees Evvyl Tommyl He is dying-il est mort!'
 Her voice was piercing. and it brought Mrs. Cathcart and Evvy to the sofa. as it did the others
 ''There is nothing the matter" Mrs Cathcart said sternly.
 ''It is Ralph" walled Marie
 ''lt is ze E-english language" said the marquis.
 ''Wait! Waitv' cried Evvy
 She looked witheringly down upon Ralph.
 's1t is indeed the English language" she said calmly. Come! Are we go- ing to the ball this evening?"
 'sNot zis evening; some ozer evening, as Mees Anna Rooney say" said the marquis pleasantly.
 'Bal," echoed Marie, wen Ralph he is so mixed zose children up-so played out 50 scoooped i'm"
 Mrs. Cathcart turned her back on the sofa.
 Monsieur" she said to the marquis, %l, z sons ailment.'
 ssCertainment, madame" returned he. 'sIs it vat ze sweet singer de Michegan call ze D. IT.
 'sZe skates" interpreted Marie. Papa have gem like ze leetle man."
 Evvy took the arm of the marquis
 'sIt is the English language" she said dryly. Monsieur, you know we arc a very progressive people"
 '1 salute Amerique," he returned, placing his thin finger to his lips and waiting the kiss to the outer air 'Amerique is so fly. It is ze sur-r-pris- ing country. mademoiselle Be fly. country"
 "Thank you" Evvy smiled mechan- ically 'sThen it will be easy to explain to you. We'll, it is Ralph-he is dread fully sorry, and he is sick over it, but the English language has changed" There was an exclamation. "-' 'The fact is," she continued, ..the American language changes on an aver age every half year. When Ralph taught you he was correct according to his lights"
 SsII1oo@v;o + o,,+o To,,1 vox,, o ri>od
 "But he had been away from home some months" Evvy continued, with a look that squelched her fiance, ..and during his absence the language under went change" Precisely" stuck in Jardine ''The English he taught you is now no longer elegant-is only used by ordinary peo- ple."
 There was a leap from the sofa.
 "Yes. yes," cried Ralph, that's the racket That's what made me sick the thought that ] had taught you wrong"
 "My angel" murmured Marie, .'zey only have ze dead wood on us." But the marquis was overspread with gloom.
 II am yer disappoint," he said, with a shrug of the shoulders, ''zat ve know only ze faulty E-english. But les con venances"-
 .'Oh, we will soon rectify all faults" interposed Mrs. Cathcart, '.only tonight you had better use the French-you and my charming Marie every word. To morrow we will all of us begin to show you the correct English" -1. ..sMerci, lnada1ner' laughed Marie We viii catch on. Ve are not ze slouch, cher papa.
 I've will not get left" returned the marquis, only conventionally chesrful "Yet it vas Ralph's kind heart vat mek him seek. He is as good as zey make 'em,' as Emerson say. You are moa fills, Ralphl Marie. give Ralph your hand to kiss!'
 "But the ball?' hastily said Mrs. Cathcart "
 'Ah, we will have ze dandy tilne.r Marie cried heartily. clutching Ralph s arm.
 "But in French-in French" Evvy said earnestly, "every word in French ;
 "Ve will get zare all ze same. Mees Evvy," tenderly said Marie. I've will all get zare," cried the niar- quis gallantly, ''ze whole caboodle of us, as Benjamin Franklin remark, Dust! Marchon!'' And so they went to the ball