The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-08-09

masterpieces, it made me despair of
ever becoming a painter. | thought to
myself, maybe it would be better, after
all, to bide at home. and stick to weav
ing like my father"
AS he spoke, Marjorie paused at the
corner of a quiet street, and held out
her hand.
II must go to my lesson. Goodby."
s'How are you going down? BY the
wagonette? %
yes, Johnnie
so am I; we can go together Good
by till then!"
And with a warm squeeze of the
hand the young man walked away.
Marjorie stood looking after him for
a moment with a pleasant smile; then
she turned and walked down the
street. She had not many yards to go
before she paused before 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 familiar
smile Answering the smile with
friendly nod, Marjorie tripped along
the lobby and knocked at an inner
door, which stood ajar. A clear, mu-
steal voice, with an unmistakable for
nj fr,I int oY1I cjoo
entered
The room was a plainly furnished
parlor, at the comfortable 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
~ Il did not expect you so early, and
was just smoking my cigarette. You
do not mind the smoke? No? Then,
with your permission, will smoke
on
He spoke English fuently, 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. lie was
dressed stability, but somewhat show
lily, in a coat of brown velvet, shirt
with rundown collar loose at the
throat, and crimson tie shapen like
a true lovers knot. He carried a 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.
81 came early, monsieur said Mar
jorie, because l cannot come in the
afternoon. I am going home, and |
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 / 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 the
armchair she had refused, regarded
her quietly and keenly.
Nov read, if you please he said,
with a wave of the hand. Begin
where you left off yesterday"
Marjorie obeyed and read aloud in
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. All, 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-