Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-01

hand the young man walked away.
Marjorie stood looking after him for
moment with pleasant smile; then
she turned and walked down the
street. She had not many yards to go
before she paused before dingy-look-
ing house, on the door of which was
a brass plate with the inscription:
M. LEON CAUSSIDIERE,
Professor Of Languages.
She rang the bell, and the door was
opened almost Immediately by q
Scotch servant in pettlcoat and short
gown, who greeted her with a familiar
smile. Answering the smile with a
friendly nod, Marjorie trlpped along
the lobby and knocked at an inner
door, which stood ajar. A clear, mu-
steal voice, with an unmlstakable for
eign accent, cried, Come in" and she
entered.
The room was a plainly furnished
parlor, at the comfortable Of which a
young man sat writing The table was
Uttered with writing materials, books,
and journals, and in the window re-
cess was another table, also strewn
with books.
The young man, who was smoking
cigarette, looked up as MaJorie en-
tered.
"Ah, is it you, Mademoiselle Mar
iorle!" he exclaimed, smiling pleasant
ly. Il did not expect you so early, and
1 was just smoking my cigarette. You
do not mind the smoke? No? Then,
with your permission, 1 will smoke
on"
He spoke English fluentIy, though
his accent was unmlstakable, and his
pronunciation of certain words pecu-
liar. Personally, he was tall and hand
some, with black hair worn very long,
black mustache, and clean-shaven
chin. His forehead was high and
thoughtful, his eyes bright but sunk
en-, his complexion swarthy. He was
dressed shabbily, but somewhat show
lily, in a coat of brown velvet, shirt
with rundown collar loose ut the
throat, and crimson tie shapen like
a true lovers knot. He carried plnce-
nez, secured to his person by q piece
of elastic, disused while writing or
reading, but fixed on the nose at other
times. Through this pince-nez he now
regarded Marjorie with very decided
look OF admiration.
II came early, monsieur" said Mar
jorie, because l cannot come in the
afternoon. am going home, and
shall not be back in Dumfries till Mon
day. Can you give me my lesson now,
please?"
Certainly" answered the French
man; II was only writing my French
correspondence, but can finish that
when you are gone. viii you sit there
mademoiselle, in the armchair? No?
Then in this other? We will begin at
once"
Marjorie sat down and opened her
books. The Frenchman, taking the
armchair she had refused, regarded
her quietly and keenly.
Now read, If you please" he said,
with wave of the hand. Begin
where you left OF yesterday"
Marjorie obeyed and read aloud in
clear voice from an easy French
reading-book. From time to time the
teacher interrupted her, correcting her
pronunciation.
"You advance, mademolselle, he
said presently. "Ah, yes, you are so
quick, so intelligent. Now translate"
In this portion of her task also the
girl acquitted herself well, and when
she had finished, the young man nod
ded approvingly.
Now let us converse-in French, If
you please"
But here Marjorie was at a loss, not
knowing what to talk about. She
finally took the weather as a topic, and
advanced the proposition that it was
very fine day, but that there would
soon be rain. Her master responded,
and, urged to higher flights of imagi-
nation, Marjorie hoped that it would
not rain till she reached home, as the
public wagonettc in which she was to
travel was an open one, and she did
not want to get wet. In this brilliant
strain the conversation proceeded,
Marjorie stumbling over the construc-
ton Of her sentences and getting very
puzzled over the others yoluble an
swers when they extended to any
length. But at last the lesson was
over, and the teacher expressed himself
we'll pleased.
"And now" he said, with a smile,
1--WE will talk the English again before
you go. viii you tell me something
about yourself, mademoiselle? l have
seen you so often. and yet l know so
little. For myself, l am almost a re-
cluse, and go about not at all. Tell me,
then, about yourself, your guardian,
your home"
81 don't know what to tell you,
monsieur" answered Marjorie.
Call me not monsieur, but Mon
sieur Leon Monsieur is so formal
so cold"
Monsieur Leon"
"That is better. Now answer me, II
you please. You have no father, no