The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-09-30
she moistened them nervously With II,

she moistened them nervously with the
tip Of her tongue.
Suddenly his manner changed and.he
rose smiling from his seat.
"You are fatigued." he said, politely.
"Let me offer you glass Of wine.''
She declined his offer with an angry
gesture, and moved toward the door.
II haze warned you," she said in a low
voice. Il hae warned you and forbid
den you. II We didn't heed my warn
ing I'll maybe find some other means
to bring you to your senses"
She would have left the house, but
quietly approaching the door, he set his
back against it and blocked the way.
"Pray do not go yet" he said. "Par-
don me. but you must not. You have
given me your message, my dear Miss
Hetherington; now let me ask you to
hear mine."
whats your will with me?" she
cried, impatiently.
"Will you sit and listen a little
while?"
''I'll stand where am. Weel?"
First let me thank you for the kind
ness Of your servant in showing me
over the beautiful castle where you live.
I am interested in all old houses, and
yours is charming"
| She stared at him in blank amaze
ment
"The Castle? when were you there?"
"Just before I returned to Dumfries.
regretted that you were not at home,
in order that might ask your kind
permission; but in your absence took
the liberty of making reconnaissance.
came away delighted with the place.
The home of your ancestors, I pre-
sume?"
The words were innocent enough, but
the speakers manner was far from as
surfing, and his eyes, keenly fixed on
hers, still preserved that penetrating
light-almost a threat.
"Deil taxi the man. Why do you
glover at me like that? You entered
my house like thief, then, when I was
awa'?"
"Ah, do not say that; it is ungener-
Gus. went merely as an amateur to
see the ruins, and found-what shall
l say?-so much more than I expect
ed
He paused, while she stood trembling;
then he continued:
"The Castle is so picturesque, the ruin
so interesting, and the pictures-the
pictures are so romantic and so strange.
All, it is privilege, indeed, to have
such a heritage and such an ancestry;
to belong to family so great, so full
CT honor; to have 'scutcheon without
one blot since the day when the first
founder wore it on his shield"
1t was clear that he was playing with
her, laughing at her. AS he proceeded,
his manner became almost aggressive
in it's studied insolence, its polite sar-
casm. Unable any longer to restrain
her anger, Miss Hetherington, with
outstretched hand, moved toward the
door.
STAND ava, and let me pass"
He obeyed her in moment, and with
a profound bow drew aside; but as she
passed him, and put her trembling hand
upon the door handle, he said in a low
voice close to her ear:
1T would be a pity, perhaps, after
all, to quarrel with one who knows so
much"
She turned furiously, and fixed her
eyes upon him.
whats that?" she cried.
"Who knows so much. let us say,
about the morals of your bonny Scot
land as compared with those of la belle
France"
What do you mean? Speak out!
What do We mean?"
He smiled, and bending again close
to her ear, he whispered something
which drove the last tint of blood from
her cheek, and made her stagger and
gasp as if about to fall. Then, before
she could recover herself, or utter a
single word, he said aloud, with the
utmost politeness:
"And now, my dear lady, will you
stay little while 1onger, and talk with
me about Marjorie Annan?"
(To BE coNr1SUED.)