The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-08-30

company so disagreeable?"
mo, monsieur; but the folk in this
place are aye talking, and if 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"
And as she spoke she looked round
nervously, as if dreading an eye-wit-
ness.
Miss Hetherington! Pray, who is
she?''
"The lady I am going to see. She
has eyes erywhere-nothing happens
but she kens.''
"But surely there is nothing to con-
ceal," persisted the Frenchman. ut
is very natural that, having met you,
/ should offer to escort you"
I'm 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.
II see," cried the Freedman, laugh
ing. "They would take me for your
lover"
Marjorie did not reply, but turned
her face away and began to. walk on
rapidly. But the Frenchman kept by
her side.
"Ah, my child he continued, "I am
more fit to be your father than your
lover. | am not so frivolous and vain
as to presume to think of one so Young
and pretty You must not mind me!
l am your teacher, your friend-that is
ALI"
She was touched by the tone in
which he spoke, but after moments
hesitation she paused again, and looked
him full in the face.
What you say is quite true, mon
sieur,'' she said; "but, oh! do not fol-
low me any further. See, that is the
Castle, and who knows but Miss Heth-
erington herself is watching us from
the tower?"
a dark belt of woodland, over which
two old-fashioned towers were indeed
visible, about a mile and a half away.
well, l will do as you desire, my
child" answered Caussidiere, after a
moments hesitation; II will go and
make the acquaintance of your guard
ian. Au revoir!"
He took her hand, lifted it to his lips,
and kissed it; then, with an air of re-
spectful gallantry, he swept off his hat
and bowed. She could not help smil-
ing; he looked so fantastic to her SIM
pie sight, and yet SO handsome!
She walked on thoughtfully AT the
next stile she turned and looked back.
He was still stationary in the pathway,
gazing after her; but the moment she
looked back he kissed his hand
Marjorie turned again and walked
on, with no little fluttering of the
heart.
When she reached the Castle, an
elderly man-servant led her into the
lobby, a dark and dreary passage hung
with oil paintings and antique maps
and prints; thence into large apart
ment divided by an open folding door
into two portions.
Here he left her to announce her ar
rival to his mistress.
Presently the room door opened, and
the mistress of the house appeared.
She was dressed in an Old-fashioned
robe of stiff black silk, and wore a cap,
like that of a widow, over her snow
white hair. She came in leaning on
her crutch, and nodded grim1y to her
guest.
'Sit We DOOM" she said, pointing to
seat, and herself dropping into an arm
chair before the fire. Then, drawing
out a mans gold hunting-watch and
opening it, she continued: Twenty
five minutes after ten. You're late in
coming, Marjorie Amman. doubt you
were lingering on the way.
CHAPTER TX.