The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-08-19

by till them"
And with warm squeeze of the
hand the young man walked away.
Marjorie stood looking after 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 dingy-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 short
gown, who greeted her with a familiar
smile. Answering the smile with a
friendly nod, Marjorie tripped alons
the lobby and knocked at an inner
door, which stood ajar. A clear, mu-
Steal voice, with an unmistakable fer
eign accent, cried, Come in" and she
entered.
The room was a plainly furnished
parlor, at the center-table of which a
young man sat writing. The table was
Uttered with writing materials, books,
and journals, and in the window re-
cess was another table, also strewn
with books.
The young man, who was smoking a
cigarette, looked up as Majorie en-
tered.
"Ah, is it you, Mademoiselle Mar
jorie!" he exclaimed, smiling pleasant
'y. dld not expect you So early. and
| was just smoking my cigarette. You
do not mind the smoke? No? Then.
with your permission, I will smoke
on
He spoke English f1uently, though
his accent was unmistakable, and his
pronunciation of certain words pecu-
liar. Personally he was tall and hand
some, with black hair worn very long,
black mustache, and clean-shaven
! chin. His forehead was high and
thoughtful, his eyes bright but sunk
en-, his complexion swarthy. He was
dressed shabbily. but somewhat show
lily, in coat of brown velvet, shirt
with rundown collar loose at the
throat, and a crimson tie shapen like
true lovers knot. He carried pince-
nez, secured to his person by a piece
of elastic, disused while writing or
reading, but fixed on the nose at other
times. Through this pince-nez he now
regarded Marjorie with very decided
look of admiration.
Il came early, monsieur" said Mar
jorie, because l cannot come in the
afternoon. am going home, and I
shall not be back in Dumfries till Mon
day. Can you give me my lesson now,
please?"
Certainly" answered the French
man; Il was only writing my French
correspondence, but I can finish that
when you are gone. Will you sit there,
mademoiselle, in the armchair? No?
Then in this other? We will begin 1t
once"
Marjorie sat down and opened her
books. The Frenchman, taking th.,
armchair she had refused, regarded
her quietly and keenly.
"Now read, if you please" he said,
with wave of the hand. Begin
where you left off yesterday"
Marjorie obeyed and read aloud in
q clear voice from an easy French
reading-book. From time to time the
teacher interrupted her, correcting her
pronunciation.
You advance, mademoiselle, 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
ded approvingly.
"Now let us converse-in French. If
you please
But here Marjorie was at loss, not
knowing what to talk about. She
finally took the weather as topic, and
advanced the proposition that it was
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 wagonette in which she was to
not want to get wet. In this brilliant
strain the conversation proceeded.
Marjorie stumbling over the construc-
ton 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
we'll pleased.
"And now" he said, with smile,
1--WE will talk the English again before
you go. Will you tell me something
about yourself, mademoiselle? l have
seen you so often, and yet I know so
little. For myself, am almost re-
cluse, and go about not at all. Tell me,
then, about yourself, your guardian,
your home"
II 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" a.