The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-12-06

ent nations nations which for the rest,
have always hated each other. So let
us shake hands and part company
the sooner the better
The mask had fallen indeed! Poor
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 a chair, and COW
ering her face with her hand
Mamma, mammal cried little Leon.
do not cry
! She drew him convulsively to her,
| and gazed again at Caussidiere. He
was standing on the hearth rug, look
ing at her with nervous scowl.
1T is, useless to make a scene," he
said. Understand me once for all,
Marjorie. l want my freedom. l have
great work on hand, and 1 cannot pur-
sue it rightly if encountered by you"
you should have thought of that be-
FORE" she sobbed. 'FYou used to love
me; God knows what has turned your
heart against me. But I am your wife;
nothing can part us now
do you really deceive yourself SO
much?" he demanded coldly. "Then
hear the truth from me. You are no
wife of mine!'
mot your wife!" she cried.
Certainly not. My mistress, if you
please, who has been suffered for a
| time to wear my name that is ALL
She sprang up as if shot through the
heart, and faced him, pale as death.
1--WE are married! We stood togeth-
er before the altar, Leon. l 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-
Piled; ''the marriage OF an English
woman with French citizen is nc
marriage unless the civil ceremony has
also been performed in France. Now,
do you understands"
81 am not your wife! Not your
wife!" cried Marjorie, stupefied.
'Not here in France" answered
Caussidiere.
'Then the child-our child?"
"Trouble not yourself about him, .
was the reply. eff 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 1 remain on French soil"
He added coldly:
"And I have no intention of again
expatriating myself, assure you.'
It was enough. Dazed and mystlfled
as she was, Marjorie 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 despalrlng:
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.
| Caussidiere 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 h.a thought of Seraphine
and recovered his self-possession. He
walked to the door, and listened; all
was still. save low murmurlng SOUND,
as of suppressed sobbing.
He hesitated moment: then, set
ting his lips tight, he lifted his hat
and quietly descended the stairs.
| X Il
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 cheerless light
of dawn: the last spark of fire had died
away: and the child, wearled with
fatigue and fear, slept soundly in heI
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 moment into the
child's face, and as she did so her body
trembled, and her eyes filled Win
| tears.