The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-11-17

CHAPTER XXIII.-(CoNTINUED
"You will oblige me by leaving tn
house." he said, eff you cannot speal
'civilly. have made this lady my wife
She belongs now to me and my coun
try. and she accompanies me to Pari
tonight"
mo. not tonight" said Marjorie
quickly. "You will not take me away
tonight, Leon!"
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"
Il 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 so to Paris" he said, "ii
you allow Marjorie to return with me-
The Frenchman gave a smile which
was half sheer.
You are consideration itself, mon
sieur," he said. Then, turning to Mar.
5orie, he added: What does my wife
say to that?"
IL don't know" she stammered
Il am so sorry for Miss Hetherington
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 I 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 4?
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
1or1e, you are not alone in the world
come to me-your mother!'
"Ah, Leon, do not talk SOL" exclaim-
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
1t 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 Marjories 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 1t again and again; then, with
out another word. he was about tc
leave the room, when Caussidiere stop.
ped him.
--onsieur," he said, you will also
if ;'ol please, bear leetle message Il
Our much esteemed Miss Hetheringtor
from me. Tell her that, though in the
frs days of our married life she ha:
tried 10 separate my wife from me,
bear her no i'll will; on the contrary.
shall be glad to hear of her prosperity
Tell her, also, monsieur" added tn
Frenchman blandly, that since Mar
jorie Amman and I are one, we shar
the same good or evil fortune; that sh
cannot now crafty her malignity b,
prosecuting Leon Caussidiere withou
prosecuting her own child!"