Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-07-29

by till Them
And with warm squeeze of the
hand the young man walked away.
Marjorie stood looking alter him for
a moment with pleasant smile; then
she turned and walked down the
street She had not many yards to go
before she paused before a dirgy-look-
Ing house. on the door of which was
brass plate with the inscription:
NJ. LEON CAUSSIDIERE,
Professor of Languages
She rang the bell. and the door was
opened almost Immediately by a
scotch servant in petticoat and shor;
gown. who greeted her with a familiar
smile. Answering the smile with q
friendly nod. Marjorie tripped along
the lobby and knocked at an inner
door, which stood ajar. A clear, mu-
steal voice. with an unmistakable for
eign accent, cried, Cone in," and she
entered.
Inc room was n plainly furnished
parlor, at the center-table of which n
young man sat writing. The table was
Uttered with writing materials, books,
and journals. and in the window re-
cess was another table, also slrewn
with books.
The young man, who was smoking a
cigarette. looked up as Majorie en-
tered.
"Ah, is 1t you. MaIemoiselle Mar
jorie!" he exclaimed. smiling pleasant
ly. Il did not expect you so early, and
| was just smoking my cigarette. You
do not mind the smoke? No? Then,
with your permission. l will smoke
on"
He spoke English fiuently. though
his accent was unmistakable. and his
pronunciation of certain words pccu-
liar. Personally. he was tall and hand
some. with black hair worn very long,
lLieE mustache. and clean-shaven
chin. His forehead was high and
thoughtful. his eyes bright but sunk
en-. his complexion swarthy. lie was
dressed shabbily. but somewhat show
Ily, in coat OF brown velvet. shirt
with turn-down collar loose ut the
throat, and n crimson tie shapsn like
n true lovers knot. He carried pince-
nez, secured to his person by a p!ece
of elastic. disused while writing or
reading. but fixed on the nose Mt other
times. Through this pince-nez he now
regarded Marjorie with n very decided
look OF admiration.
Il came early, monsieur" said Mar
jorie, because | cannot come in the
afternoon. l am going home. and |
shall not be back In Dumfries Till Mon
day. Can you give me my lesson new.
please?"
Certainly" answered the French
man: Il was only writing my Frenc,
correspondence. but | can finish th.t
when you are gone. VIII you sit there,
mademoiselle. in the armchair? No.
Then in this other? We will begin IT
once
Marjorie sat down and opened her
books. The Frenchman. taking .ha
armchair she had refused. regarded
her quietly and keenly.
Now read. II you please" he said.
with wave of the hand. "Bcgin-
where you left OF yesterday"
Marjorie obeyed and read aloud In
clear voice from an easy French
reading book. From time to timc the
teacher interrupted her. correcting her
pronunciation.
You advance, mademoisellc." 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
dcd approvingly.
Now let us convorsc-in French. II
you please
But here Marjorie was ut loss, not
knowing what to talk about. She
finally took the weather as a topic. and
advanced the proposition that IL vas
n 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 IVES 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 corstruc-
tion of her sentences and getting very
puzzled over the others voluble an
swers when they extended to any
length. But at last the lesson was
over. and the teacher expressed himself
well pleased.
And now" he said, with smile.
I'VE will talk the English again before
you go. viii you tell mo something
about yourself, mademoisellc? 1 have
seen you so often, and yet know SO
little. For myself, am almost re-
cluse. and go about not at all. Tell me.
then. about yourself. your guardian.
your home
Il 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
mother?"'
The girls eyes filled with tears.
NO monsicur---''
Monsieur Leon
mo. Monsieur Leon
'Ah. that is sad-sad to he an or |
phan alone in the world | myself .