The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-06-14

dame stopped and
looked back. what is there so very
surprising" he asked, Gin such an or
binary act Of politeness on my sisters
part?"
Excuse me, Monsieur Trudaine,"
answered Lomaque; "you have not
passed such an existence as mine-you
are not a friendless old man-you have
settled position in the world, and are
used to be treated with consideration.
l am not. This is the first occasion in
my life on which find myself an OBJ
ject for the attention of a young lady,
and it takes me by surprise. l repeat
my excuses-pray let us go in"
Trudaine made no reply to this Curl
Gus explanation. He wondered at it
little, however, and he wondered still
more, when entering the drawing
up to his sister. and-apparently not
noticing that Danville was sitting at
the harpsichord and singing at the time
addressed her confusedly and earn
estly with set speech of thanks for his
hot cup of coffee. Rose looked per-
picked, and half inclined to laugh, as
she listened to him. Madame Danville,
who sat by her side, frowned and rap
ped the land-steward contemptuously
on the arm with her fan.
BE so good as to keep silent until
my son has done singing" she said.
Lomaque made low bow, and retiring
to table in corner. took up a news
paper lying on it. If Madame Danville
had seen the expression that came over
his face when he turned away from her,
proud as she was, her aristocratic COM
posture might possibly have been little
rutfled.
Danville had finished his song, had
quilted the harpsichord. and was talk
ing in whispers to his bride; Madame
Danville was adding word to the con-
versation every now and then; Trudaine
was seated apart at the far end of the
room. thoughtfully reading letter
which he had taken from his pocket
when an exclamation from Lomaque,
who was still engaged with the news
paper, caused all the other occupants
of the apartment to suspend their EN-
pigments and look up.
What is it?' asked Danville, i'm
patiently.
Shall be interrupting if eXplain?"
inquired Lomaque, getting very weak in
the eyes again, as he deferentially adj
dressed himself to Madame Danville.
You have already interrupted U.S."
said the old lady, sharply; $50 you may
now just as we'll explain"
1T is a passage from the Scientific
Intelligence, which has given me great
delight, and which will be joyful news
for everyone here" Saying this
Lomaque looked significantly at Tru-
dame, and then read from the newspa-
per these lines:
Academy of Sciences, Paris.-The
vacant sub-professorship of chemistry
has been offered, we are rejoiced to
hear, to a gentleman whose modesty
has hitherto prevented his scientific
merits from becoming sufficiently prom
inent in the world. To the members of
the academy he has been long since
known as the originator of some of the
most remarkable Improvements in
chemistry which have been made of late
years-improy the credit of
which he has, with rare, and we were
almost about to add, culpable modera-
ton, allowed others to profit by with
impunity. No man in any profession IS
more thoroughly entitled to have po-
stion of trust and distinction con-
ferred on him by the state than the gen.
tleman to whom we refer-M. Louis
Trudaine."
Before Lomaque could look up from
the paper to observe the impression
which his news produced, Rose had
gained her brothers side. and was kiss
ing him in flutter of delight.
Dear Louis" she cried, cIapping her
hands, "let me be the first to con-
graduate you! How proud and glad I
am! You accept the professorship, of
course?"
Trudaine, who had hastily and con-
fusedly put his letter back in his pocket
the moment Lomaque began to read
seemed at loss for an answer. He
patted his sisters hand rather absently
and said:
Il have not made up my mind; don't
ask me why, Rose-at least not now
not just now" An expression of per.
plexity and distress came over his face
as he gently motioned her to resume
her chair.
pray, is sub-professor of chemistry
supposed to hold rank of gentle
man." asked Madame Danville, with
out the slightest appearance of any
special interest in Lomaque's news.
"Of course not" replied her son
with sarcastic laugh; "he is expected
to work and make himself useful. VIVA
gentleman does that?"
"Charlesw exclaimed the old lady
feddening with anger.
Bah" cried Danville, turning hi
hack on her, enough Of chemistry
L0maque, now you have begun reading
the newspaper. try If you can't I'm,
something interesting to read about