The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-11-08
CHAPTER XXIII.-(CoNrINUED.

GU Will ODllge me by IoaVlnS the
house, he said, If you cannot speak
civilly. | have made this lady my wife.
She belongs now to me and my coun-
try and she accompanies me to Paris
tonight"
mo, not tonight" said Marjorie
quickly. You will not take me away
tonight, Leonr'
And why not tonight, Marjorie?"
Because l have promised Mr.. Suth-
erland to go back with him to AMMAN
dale to see my-to see dear Miss Heth-
erington. She is i'll, and she wants me,
monsieur"
L regret it, but we do not get every
thing we wish in this world l must
leave for Paris without delay!'
Marjorie hesitated and looked con-
fused. Then Sutherland spoke, uncon-
sciously uttering the thoughts which
had been in the girls mind
"You can go to Paris, he said, ''if
you allow Marjorie to return with me.
The Frenchman gave a smile which
was half sneer.
tYou are consideration itself, mon
sieur,' he said. Then, turning to Mar
jorie, he added: what does my wife
say to that?"
Il don't know she stammered.
Il am so sorry for Miss Hetberington.
1t would be only for few days, per-
haps, and-I could follow you"
Caussidiere smiled again, this time
less agreeably
''You seem to be tender-hearted,
Marjorie" he said, 'to every one but
myself Truly, an admirable speech to
make to your husband in the first flush
of the honeymoon. l am too fond of
you, however, to lose you quite so
SOON
''Then you will not let me return?"
Most assuredly / shall not let you
go; what is Miss Hetherington to you
or to me? She is your mother, per-
haps, as you say but in her case, what
does that sacred word mother mean
Merely this: A woman so hardened
that she could abandon her helpless Off
spring to the mercy of strangers; and
afterWard, when she saw her alone and
utterly friendless, had not tenderness
enough to come forward and say: Mar
Jorie, you are not alone in the world
come to me-your mother!'"
'Ah, Leon, do not talk sou exclainl-
ed Marjorie; then. seeing Sutherland
about to speak, she went toward him
with outstretched hands
DO not speak," she whispered, 'for
my sake. Since my husband wishes it,
I must remain. Good-by"
She held forth her hand, and he took
it in both of his, and, answering her
prayer, he remained silent He had
sense enough to see that in the present
instance the Frenchman had the power
entirely in his own hands, and that he
intended to use it. He had noted the
sneers and cruel smiles which had fit
ted over Caussidieres face, and he saw
that further interference of his might
result in evil for the future Of her he
loved.
So, instead of turning to the French
man, he kept Marjorie's hand, and
said:
you are sure, Marjorie, that you
wish to remain?"
Yes sobbed Marjorie, "quite sure
Give my love to my dear mother, and
say that very soon my husband will
bring me home again"
He lifted her hand to his lips and
kissed it again and again; then, with
out another word, he was about to
leave the room, when Caussidiere stop
ped him.
Monsieur" he said, you will also,
if you please, bear a leetle message to
our much esteemed Miss Hetherington
from me- Tell her that, though in the
first days of our married life she has
tried to separate my wife from me,
bear her no i'll will; on the contrary, l
shall be glad to hear of her prosperity
Tell her, also, monsieur added the
Frenchman blandly, that since Mar
jorie AMMAN and | are one, we share
the same good or evil fortune; that she
cannot now crafty her malignity by
prosecuting Leon Caussidiere without
prosecuting her own child"
CHAPTER XIV.