The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-12-22
emit nations nations which, for the rest,

Marjorie read in the mans livid face
not merely WEAKNESS and safety, but
positive dislike, black almost as nate
itself. She clasped her child and utter
ed despairing cry.
You can't mean it, Leon! No, no,
you don't mean what you say she
moaned, sinking into chair, AMI COW
ering her face with her hand.
Mamma, mammal cried little Leon.
do not cry"
She drew him convulsively 10 her,
and gazed again al Caussidiere. He
was standing on the hearth rug, look
ing at her with nervous scowl.
1T is useless TO make scene he
said. Understand me once for all,
Marjorie. / want my freedom. | have
great work on hand, and cannot pur-
sue it rightly il encountered by you
You should have thought of that be-
FORE" she sobbed. You used to love
me; God knows what has turned your
heart against me. But am your wife;
nothing can part us now"
do you really deceive yourself so
much?" he demanded colby. Then
hear the truth from me. You are no
wife of mine."
Not your wife!" she cried.
Certainly not. My mistress, if you
please, who has been suffered for
time to wear my name; that IS all"
She sprang up as if shot through the
heart, and faced him, pale as death.
I'VE are married, We stood tCgeth-
er before the altar, Leon. | have my
marriage lines"
Which are so much waste paper,
my dear, here in France
Sick with horror and fear, she totter-
ed to him and clutched him by the arm.
Leon! once more: what do you
mean?"
my meaning is very simple" he re-
pied; 1.-The marriage OF an English
woman with a French citizen is no
marriage unless the civil ceremony has
also been performed in France. Now,
do you understand"
Il am not your wife! Not your
wife," cried Marjorie, stupefied.
Not here in France answered
Caussidiere.
Then the ch.ld-our child?"
Trouble rot yourself about him."
was the reply. IF you are reasonable
he can easily be legitimatized accord
ing to our laws; but nothing on earth
can make us two man and wife so long
as l remain on French SOIL"
He added coldly:
And | have no intention of again
expatriating myself, | assure you"
1t was enough Dazed and mystitled
as she was, ks5arjarie now understood
plainly the utter villainy Of the man
with whom she had to deal. She had
neither power nor will for further
words. She gave one long despairing,
Mortified look into the mans face. and
then, drawing the child with her, stag
gered into the inner room and closed
the door behind her.
Caussidere remained for some time
in his old position, frowning gloomily.
For the moment he almost hated him.
self, as even a scoundrel can do upon
occasion; but he thought of Seraphine
and recovered his self-possession. He
walked to the door, and listened; all
was still, save low murmuring sound,
as Of suppressed sobbing.
He hesitated moment; then, set !,
ting his lips tight, he lifted his hat
and quietly descended the stairs.
When the great clock of our Lady
of Paris chimed forth five, Marjorie
still sat in her room staring vacantly !
into the CRATE. The room was bitterly
cold the light of the candle was grow
ing dim before the more cherries light !
of dawn; the last spark Of fire had died
away; and the child, wearied with
fatigue and fear, slept soundly in her
arms.
Marjorie, awakening from her trance, !
was astonished to see the dawn break
ing, and to hear the Ginning clocks
announce that another day had begun. !
She looked for a moment into the
child's face, and as she did so her body
trembled and her eyes filled with |
tears.
My poor little boy!" she sobbed; !
"my poor little I,eon!"
She laid him gently on the bed, and
let him sleep on. Then she tried to
collect her thoughts, and to determine
what she must do.
GO back to Scotland?" No, she
could not do that. She could not face
her old friends with this shame upon
her. and show them the child who
should never have been born. From
that day forth she must be dead to
them. What she could not undo she ,
must conceal.
ITO BE coNTINUED)
Sure Sign.
when q woman" said the cornfed