Hutchinson gazette., 1897-08-19


naturally drcary Sabbath, spent in what
may be called. figuratively, Willing and
gnashing OF teeth.
At last there came day Of terrific
dissipation, when what Is known by
profane Scotchmen as 'tea and cook
lie shine" was given by one of the eld-
ers of the kirk.
EARLY in the evening Mr.. Menteith
was called away, and when the meeting
broke up about nine o'clock Marjorie
and her aunt had to walk home alone.
It was fine moonlight night, and as
they left the elders house and fingered
on the doorstep Marjorie saw standing
in the street figure which she
seemed to know.
She started and looked again, and the
figure returned her look. In a moment
to her utter amazement, she recognized
Caussidiere.
Startled and afraid, not knowing
what to say or do, she descended the
steps to her aunts side.
AS she did so the figure disappeared.
She walked up the street, trembling
and wondering, while Mrs Menteith
talked with feeble rapture Of the feast
they had left and its accompanying ed
ification."
Marjorie made some wandering re-
ply, for she heard footsteps behind
her. Glancing over her shoulder, she
saw the figure she had previously no
ticed following at few yards dis
tance.
She would have paused and waited,
but she dreaded the observation Of her
companion. So she simply walked
faster, hurrying her aunt along.
They passed from the street, and still
she heard the feet following behind
her. At last they reached the gate of
the minister's house.
Here Marjorie fingered, and watching
down the road saw the figure pause ans
wait.
Mrs. Menteith pushed open the gate,
fastened across the garden, and
knocked at the door. In a moment the
figure came up rapidly.
Hush, mademoiselle!" said a fami-
liar voice in French and simultaneously
she felt piece of paper pressed into
her hand. She grasped it involuntarily
and before she could utter a word the
figure fitted away.
Meantime the house door had opened.
"Marjorie!" cried Mrs. Menteith from
the threshold.
Marjorie fastened In.
What kept ye at the gate, and who
was yon that passed."
"a mana gentleman"
Did he speak to you?"
Without reply, Marjorie passed in.
AS soon as possible she hastened up
to her own room, locked the door, and
there with trembling fingers unfolded
the paper and read as follows:
81 have something important to say
to you. Meet me tomorrow at noon on
the Edinburgh road. Pray tell no one
that you have received this, or that
am here. Leon Caussidiere."
Majorie sat down trembling with the
paper in her lap. Her first impulse
was to inform her aunt of what had
taken place. A little reflection, how
ever, convinced her that this would be
undesirable.
After all, she thought, she had no
right to assume that Caussidiere's mes
sage had not a perfectly innocent sig
nlfcance. Perhaps he had brought her
news from home.
1t was not an easy task for Marjorie
to keep her appointment on the fol-
Loving day; indeed, everything seemed
to conspire to keep her at home To
begin with, the family were much later
than usual; then it seemed to Marjorie
that the prayers were unusually long,
then Mr.. Menteith had various little
things for her to do; so that the
hands of the clock wandered toward
twelve before she was able to quit the
house.
At last she was free. and with palpS
tating heart and trembling hands was
speeding along the road to meet the
Frenchman.
(To BE CoSTINUED.)