The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-10-13
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Scotland
The Reverend Mr.. MeEteith had es-
poused late in life the only sister OF
Mr.. Lorraine, a little, timid, clinging
woman. with fair hair and light blue
eyes, who was as wax in the bony
hands of her pious husband.
At the house of the pair one morning
in early summer arrived Marjorie An
nan. escorted thither in a hired fly from
Edinburgh by the minister. 1t was by
no means her first visit, and the well
come she received, If little melancho-
ly, was not altogether devoid of SYM
pathy. Her aunt was an affectionate
creature. though weak and supersti-
tious: and Mr.. Meutieth like many OF
his class, was by no means as hard as
the doctrines he upheld. They had no
children of their own. and the coming
of one so pretty and Sc close OF kin was
like a CLEAN of sunshine.
A week passed away, with one super
naturally dreary Sabbath, spent in what
may be called, figuratively, wailing and
gnashing of teeth.
At last there came a day of terrific
dissipation. when what is known by
profane Scotchmen as tea and cook
lie shine was given by one of the eld-
crs 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.
1t was a 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 aunt's side.
AS she did so the figure disappeared
She walked up the street, trembling
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 CHANGING over her shoulder. she
saw the figure she had previously no.
ticed following at a 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 and
wait.
Mrs. Menteith pushed open the gate,
fastened across the garden, and
knocked at the door. In moment the
figure came up rapidly.
Hush, mademoiselle." said fami-
liar voice in French and simultaneously
she felt a piece Of paper pressed into
her hand. She grasped it involuntarily
and before she could utter word the
figure fitted away.
Meantime the house door had opened
"Marjorie!" cried Mrs. Menteith from
the threshold.
Marjorie fastened in.
What kept We at the gate, and who
was yon that passed.
"A mana gentleman"
did he speak to your"
Without reply, Marjorie passed in.
AS soon as possible she fastened up
to her own room, locked the door, and
there with trembling fingers unfoldcd
the paper and read as follows: :
Il 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
nificance Perhaps he had brought her
news from home.
1t was not an easy task for Marjorie
to keep her appointment on the fol-
lowing 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