The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-10-28

peated. This time she ran to the win.
dow, opened 1t and put out herhead.
"Who is it?" she asked softly. "Il
any one there?"
eyes. Marjorie. It is I. Leon; come
down.
Trembling more and more, Marjorie
hurriedly closed the window, wrapped
a shawl about her head and shoulders,
and noiselessly descended the stairs.
The next minute she was in the
Frenchman's arms. He clasped her
fervently to him. He kissed her again
and again as he said:
Tomorrow night, Marjorie, you will
come to me-"
The girl half shrank away as she
said:
$50 soon-ah, nor
at is not too soon for me, little one"
returned the Frenchman, CALAMITY,
''for I love you-ah! so much, Mar
jorie, and every hour seems to me a
day. Listen, then: You will retire to
bed tomorrow night in the usual way.
When all the house is quiet and every
one asleep you will wrap yourself up in
your travelling cloak and come down.
You will find me waiting for you here.
Do you understand me, Marjorie?"
eyes, monsieur, l understand, but"
"But what, my love?"
81 was thinking Of my things. How
shall I get them away"
"Parbleu!-there must be no luggage.
You must leave it all behind. and
bring nothing but your own sweet
SELF
But" continued Marjorie, 81 must
have some clothes to change"
Most certainly; you shall have just
as many as you wish. my little love.
But we will leave the old attire, as we
leave the old life, behind us. am not
a poor man, Marjorie, and when you
are my wife, all mine will lie all yours
also. You shall have as much money
as you please to buy what you will.
Only bring me your own sweet self,
Marjorie-that will be enough"
With such flattery as this the French
man dazzled her senses until long past
midnight; then, after she had made
many efforts to get away, he allowed
her to return to the house.
During that night Marjorie slept
very little; the next day she was pale
and distraught. She wandered about
the house in melancholy fashion; she
went up to the churchyard several
times and sat for hours beside her fos-
ter-father's grave. She even cast re-
gretful looks towards Annandale Cas-
tie, and her eyes were constantly filled
with tears.
At length it was all over. The day
was spent; the whole household had re-
tired, and Marjorie sat in her room
alone. Her head was ringing, her eyes
burning, and her whole body trembling
with mingled fear and grief-grief for
the loss of those whom she must leave
behind-fear for that unknown future
into which she was about to plunge.
She sat for minute or so on the bed
trying to collect her thoughts; then she
wrote few hurried lines, which she
sealed and left on her dressing-table.
After that was done, she looked over
her things and collected together one
or two trifles-little mementos Of the
past, which had been given to her by
those she held most dear, and which
were doubly precious to her, now that
she was going away. She fingered so
long and so lovingly over those treas
ures that she forgot to note how rap
idly the time was flying on.
Suddenly she heard shrill whistle,
and she knew that she was lingering
over-long. Hurriedly concealing her
one or two souvenirs, she wrapped her.
self in her cloak, put on her hat and
a very thick veil. descended the stairs,
and found the Frenchman, who was
waiting impatiently outside the gate.
Whittier they went Marjorie scarcely
knew, for in the excitement of the
scene her senses almost left her. She
was conscious only of being hurried
along the dark road; then of being
seated in carriage by the French
mans side.
(rn Du