Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-08-19


"Good-morning. Marjorie. Where
are you going to SO early?"
up to Miss Hetherington's at the
Castle" she replied: Z
Are you going to walk?"
"Yes." lDt
Then may come with You piece
of the road?' III
Not today. Johnnie" she said.
nervously. I'm late. and must hurry
on" 4Nt
The young man sighed, hut did not
press his request. Troubled and veSed
at the meeting, Marjorie walked quick
ly away. ...s| $50 III.
She followed the downward highway
till she came to the crossroads where
she had alighted from the wagonette.
Close to the cross-road there was a
stile, and she was about to step over,
when she heard a voice behind her.
Turning quickly she saw to her as
tonishment the French teacher from
Dumfries. sN.
He was clad in a dark walkiug-suit,
with broad-brimmed, wide-awake hat,
and was smoking cigar. He looked
at her smilingly, and raised his hat.
She thought he had never looked so
handsome, as he stood there in the
sunshine, with his pale face smiling
and his bright black eyes fixed eagerly
upon her. .Eg
Monsieur Caussidiere!" she cried in
astonishment. 34.
"Yes, 1t is Il" he replied In his sad.
musical voice. II have walked from
the town, and was going down to see
you" iEt
ITO see met she echoed. tEF
Eyes, mademoiselle, and the good
man your guardian. You have spoken
of him so often that longed to make
his acquaintance, and, having two idle
days before me, came here, as you
behold" @ % 500 ae'A tt
Marjorie did not know what to say
or do, the encounter was so unexpected.
She stood trembling and blushing in
such obvious embarrassment that the
Frenchman came to her relief
do not let me detain you. If you
have an appointment. Or stay! per-
haps you will permit me to walk a
little way In your company" 4
And before she quite understood
what was taking place, he had lightly
leaped the stile and was handing her
over with great politeness. They
strolled along the foot-path side by
side. Suddenly Marjorie paused.
81 am going up to the Castle" she
said, land l shall not be back till the
afternoon. Do not let me take You out
of your way" 51 Ia.sass
The Frenchman smiled and shrugged
| his shoulders. a--'1-H'-stss7ss-.
"Oh! one way is to me as good rs
another" he exclaimed.
"But you said you wished to see Mr..
Lorraine?" lrr.tI ....
Precisely; but I prefer your com
pany, my child" aHf5 .s.,4
He is at home now. and will be so
glad of some one to talk to-"
"I see you want to get rid of me,
little one" said Caussidiere, paternally
..If l go will you promise to return
soon? Remember. shall not depart
until you do return"
"Yes, 1 will promise" answered Mar
jorie. Il would rather you did not
come any further" arrt o..
"And wherefore, my child? Is my
company so disagreeable?"
mo, monsieur; but the folk in this
place are aye talking, and II they saw
me walking with a strange gentleman
it would be all over the parish before
night and then Miss Hetherington
would hear of it, and l should get no
peace. -.e --- -.-.--...-
And as she spoke she looked round
nervously, as if dreading an eye-wit-
ness.
Miss Hetherington! Pray, who is
she?" s
"The lady 1 am going to see. She
has eyes everywhere-nothing happens
but she kens."
But surely there is nothing to con-
ceal," persisted the Frenchman. at
is very natural that, having met you,
] should offer to escort you"
"In France, maybe, but not here In
Annandale. Down here, monsieur,
when two folk are seen out walking in
the fields together, all the world be-
lieves them to be courting."
She had spoken without reflection,
and her face now grew crimson as she
met her companions eyes and realized
the Significance of her own words.
Il see," cried the Freedman, laugh
ing. They would take NC for your
lover"
Marjorie did not reply, BIT. turned
her face away and began to walk on