The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-09-22


But 1t is so late. monsieur" said
Marjorie. How will you get back to
| Dumfries?"
did you not know" returned the
| Frenchman. smiling Il am taking a
leetle holiday. like yourself. I have
| engaged bed at the inn. and shall not
return till the beginning of the week"
They entered the manse together, and
Caussidiere Joined them at their sim
PIE evening meal.
When tea was over they sat round
the hearth. The minister lit his pipe
anC his guest cigar. They we're chat
ting pleasantly together. when Solo
iaon MucklebaCkit, who had been up to
tEe village on some household errlnd,
quietly entered.
Johnnie Sutherlands az the door
VIII you see him.
Marjorie started, for she had an in
stinctive dread Of meeting between
the two young men; but the minister
at once replied:
show him in. Solomon" and as the
sexton disappeared, he said TO his guest,
"A young friend OF ours, and a school
fellow OF my foster-daughter"
The next moment Sutherland APP
peared A look Of surprise passed. over
his face as he saw the stranger, who
rose politely, but recovering himself,
he shook the minister warmly by the
hand
Welcome, Johnnie" said Mr.. Lor-
raine. Take a seat Do you know
Monsieur Caussidiere? Then let me
introduce you.
Sutherland nodded TO he French
man. who bowed courteously Their
eyes met, and then both looked at Mar
jore.
Monsieur Caussidiere is my French
teacher" she said smiling
Sutherland looked somewha: puzzled,
and sat down in silence. After an awk-
ward pause. the minister began lues-
tioning him on his London expert.
ences; he replied almost in monosyl-
tables. and was altogether so bashful
and constrained that Marjorie could
not avoid drawing an unfavorable COM
parison in her own mind between him
AMI the fluent Frenchman.
An artist, monsieur" said the lat
ter. presently. having gathered the fact
from some of Mr.. Lorraine's questions.
Il used to paint, when | was a boy,
but. finding could not excel, l aband-
oned the attempt. To succeed in your
profession is the labor OF 4 life. and.
alas, SO many fail.
That's true enough" returned Suth-
erland, and when l see the great pic
lures, l despair"
He paints beautifully, monsieur"
| cried Marjorie. eager TO praise her
| friend Does he not, Mr.. Lorraine"
The minister nodded benignly
All indeed" said Caussidiere, with
slight yawn. The landscape, mon
sieGr. or the human figure?"
| Il have tried both" replied Suther-
| land Il think l like figure painting
| best"
Then you shall not go far to find a
subject" exclaimed Caussidiere. way
| ing his hand toward Marjorie. All. II
| | were an artist, l would like to paint
mademoiselle. | have seen such a face,
such eyes. and hair, in some of the Ma
donnes of the great Raphael
Marjorie cast down her eyes, then
raised them again. laughing.
| He has painted me, and more than
once: but I'm thinking he fiattered the
sitter Miss Hetherington has one of
| the pictures up at the Castle"
|
ly upon Sutherland.
DO you work for pleasure, mon
sieur. or for profit? Perhaps you are
a man of fortune, and paint for amuse-
ment only
The question tickled the minister,
who laughed merrily.
II am only poor man" answered
Sutherland. land paint for my bread"
1T is an honorable occupation" said
Caussidiere. emphatically, though not
without the suspicion of covert sheer
AT one time the artist was neglected
and despised; now he is honored for
his occupation, and can make much
| money
| The conversation continued by fits
and starts, but Sutherland's appearance
seemed to have quite destroyed the gay
freedom of the little party. AZ last
Solomon reappeared and grimly an
nounced that it was nine o'clock.
I'VE keep early hours" explained
Mr.. Lorraine. and are all abed at ten
o'clock"
Then I will co. cried Caussidere.
rising, but shall call again. 1t Is not
often in Scotland. one finds such pleas
/ ant