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The Wingham Times, 1893-09-15, Page 6s a: THE W INO•J. AM ri iMES .SEPTEMBER 15,, 189 3,, _Iv of SUMO z atall5,e ditutip :- a ,inti I think every ono f tetter tem it, Women have got t deal which they had not in th of our fathers, They have nnivei rAfft niS fitf rANCE.su. meets a;KSEatsao erect, with reniiniseenc'e 0a I119 admiral' s voyages. 'Hullo!" said she, "'Surely this ship would have furled all her lower canvas That a right, my dear." She tap r upon arm with for cents racket,. there was Harold Denver standingb "' like ou tai and 1 g to fore her. es- ""Yon were lost, in your thoughts," sa 1 he, smiling, '"I .hepe that they we is pleasant ones." ave '"Oh, I was planning," said she, ris' do ! '"It seems rather s wasto of time, as a ' izo rale, for things have 0, way of working think o illy /woe i themselves out jest as you least expeot;"" . ""What were you planning, then?""' x- "The future." i I I e thetl t t you, Y dear, a am going call yott Clara, You are not as aggr sive as 1 should wish, Clara, but sti11 like you very much. Self saorifiee all very well. you know, but we h had, rattier too much of it on our si and should like to see a little on t other. What do you tl ' i f Charles?" The question was so sudden and iota pecten that Clara gave quite a jump her chair. ,,1--1-�-1 lewdly ever halt thought of your nephew Charles," "No? Oh, you must think lziIn w.. over, for I,want to s'�)eak to you abo Idea " e '"To me? But why?' ' "It seemed to the most delicate. le see, Clara, the matter stands in this way 1't is quite possible that I may soon fin r• myself in a completely new sphere o life, which will involve fresh duties an make it impossible for xne to keep up a household which Charles eau share." Clara stared. Did this meati that she was about to marry again? What else could at point to? "Therefore Charles must have a house, hold of his own. That is obvious. Now, I don't approve of baehelpr establisb- ments. Do you?" 'Really, Mrs. Westmaeott, I have never thought of the .natter," "Oh, you little sly puss! Was there ever a girl who never- thought of the "tatter? I think that a young .tan of six and twenty ought to be married." Clara felt very uncomfortable. The awful thought had come upon her that this embassadress had come to her as a proxy with a proposal of marriage., But how could that be? She had not spoken more than three or four titres with her nephew and knew nothing more of him than ho had told her on the evening be- fore. It was impossible then. And yet what could his aunt mean by this dis- cussion of his private affairs? "Do yon not think yourself," she per- sisted, "that a young man of six and twenty is better married?" -I should think that he is old enough to decide for himself." "Yes, yes. He has done so. But Charles is just a little shy, just a Little slow in expressing himself. I thought that I would pave the way for him. Two women can arrange these things so much better. Men sometimes have a difficulty iu making themselves clear." •'I really hardly.: follow you, Mrs. West- maeott," cried (Dara in despair. ""He has no profession, but he has nice tastes. He reads Browning every night. And he is most amazingly strong. When he was younger, we used to put on the gloves "together, but 1 cannot persuade him to now, for he says he canto£ play light enough. I should allow him £500, which sbould be enough at first." •"My dear Mrs. Westmaeott," cried Clara, "I assure you that I have not the least idea what it is that you are tally- ing of." "Do you think your sister Ida would have my nephew Charles?" Fler sister Ida! Quite a little thrill of relief and of pleasure ran through her at. the thought. Ida and Charles Westma- eott! She had never thought of it. And yet they had been a good deal together. Th had as ] a ed tennis. onni P 3 s. They had shared the tandem tricycle. Again came the thrill of joy, and close at its heels the cold questionings of conscience. Why this joy? What was the real source of it? Was it that deep down, some- where pushed back in the black recesses of the soul, there was tho thought lurk- ing that if Charles prospered in his woo- ing then Harold Denver would still be free? Iiozv inean, lro'w uninaidenly, how tu"sistetty the thought! She crushed it down and thrust it aside, but still` it would push up its wicked little head.. She crimsoned with shame at her own ba,oness as sho turned one more to her companion. "I really do not know," she said, "She is not engaged?" "Not that I know of," ""You speak hesitatingly," ""Because I ase not .sure. But ho may ask. Sao cannot but bo flattered." "Quito so. I tell hila that it is the most practical compliment which a man can pay to a woman. Hee is a little shy, but when he sets himself to do it ho will do it. He fa very much in love with her, I assure you. These little lively people always do attract the slow and heavy ones, whieh is nature's device for the neutralizing of bores. But they' dire all going in. I think if you will allow me that I will just take the opportunity to tell him that, as far at you know, there fs no positive obstacle in the way." "As far as I Know," Clara repeated air tho widow moved away to where the players wore grouped round. the net of sauntering slowly toward the hoose. Sho rose to follow her, but her head was in a whirl with new thoughte, and she sat dawn again. Which would bo hest for Idlle --Harold or Charles'? She thought it over with as much solicited° as 0 Mother who plans for her only child. Harold had eeemed to her to be in ?,many ways the noblest and best yottng matt whom sho had ]mown, tit ever she was to love a roan, itwotild bo arteh a menet that. But she must not think of hermit She bad reason to believe that both of these men loved her sister. Which would bo the best for heti° taut perhaps the fnalttet' was already decided„ She could, not forget the scrap of tonlversatiea Which she had heard the night before, or the secret which her alder haul ro- used to confide to her. If Idts would li of tell her, t,I,Ieia Wee ;tent :Otte Verson ped *lee Gould, She raised her eyes, and ' they wandered amid the darkciutug shad. e, ; ows, while one by one the stars peeped out in the blue -black sky above them.. id At last a chill night wind blew up from re the east and bragglit them. back to the realities of• 1. - xng, "Whose?" n • a ""Oh; my own and Ida's." ""And was I included in your joint. fur we 1 tures?" , it ""I hope all our friends were included." "Don't go in," said he as she began to t ?tet move slowly toward the hawse, leo want to have a, word, Let us stroll up and down the lawn. Perhaps you aro Ia�% a cold,. If y ou are, I could bring you out rt e a shawl," } all for themselves, I am told, and met women doctors, T hear. Surely sh"anld rest contented. What more ty .,.int?•'. on are a sailor, and sailors are al- chivalrous. If you could see how $ really, are you would change your 1. What are the poor things to There aro so Many of them and so hangs to which they can tern their Governesses? But there are i y any situations. Music and draw - There fa not one in fifty who has +)ec.t 1 talent in that direction. Med- It is still surrounded with difii- s for women, and it takes many atlztl it small fortune to qualify. erg? It is hard work i11 paid, and. t but the strongest can stand it. would. yon have them do then, tea? Sit down and starve?" Ott, anti It is not so bad as that." �to pressure is terrible. Advertise E lady companion at 10 shillings a twinch is less tban a, ,cook's wage, ee how many answers you get. is no hope, no outlook, for these ;°ling thousands. Life is a dull, strugglo, leading down to a cheer - id ago. Yet when wo try to bring ;little ray of hope, some thence, ,•or distant, of something better ate told by chivalrous gentlemen that ogarnst their principles to help." admiral winced, but shook his in dissent. 'ere arobanhing, the law, veterinary 'y, ,government offices, the civil co, all these at least should be thrown open to women If thea have brains h so compote Successfully for them. if woman were unsuccessful it be her own fault, and, the ntajor- the population of this country 'Ito longer complain that they live a different law from the minority, :at they are held down in poverty trfdoni, with every road to inde- tee sealed to there." fiat would you propose to do, l *set the more obvious injustices and so to pave the way for a re - :Now, look at that man digging in a id. 1 knew ,tits. He can neither ss or write, he is steeped in whisky, has as much intelligence as the s that he is digging. Yet the man 'ate, can possibly turn the scale of tion ' and may help to decide the of this empire. Now, to take the F, example, here am I, a. woman lis had soma education, who has cgcl!and who lies seen and studied ititntioes of many countries, I nzsiderable property, and I pay ten imperial taxes than that man xi in 'whisky, which is saying a (areal, and yet -II have no more direct et upon the disposal of the money fl pay than that fly which creeps fsthe wall. Is that right? Is it li admiral moved uneasily in Itis ""Yours is an exceptional ease," no woman bas a voice. Consider a women are a majority in thetla- et if there was .tqueetion of leg - upon which all the women were upon one :,°ido and all the men to other,it would appear that the Was settled unanimously when °u,' an half the population were op- it. Is that right?" oft the admiral wriggled, It was t -kward for the gallant seaman to handsome women o1poeito to nbarding him with questions to which Ito could find an answer. a't even get the tampions out of e,'" as he explained the matter to :or that evening. ', those are really the obits that lay stress upon at the meeting, !anti complete opening of 1hoproe , the final abolition of the weer .% , and the franchise to all women r "lumen:; taxes above a certain array there is nothing unreason. kat—nothing whieh could offend hariples. We shall have needle I' and the church, all railyiue' Dt for theproteetion of wonted. Ila to 1x7 the one prolet:sion e,b- Cadr,tl,jteapad out of his chair ovii word iii lth' tlhroat. "There, Mein," he cried. "Drop it for at have lamed enough. i. Y.ou'Ve es a i.o it t'r two. I won't deny let it stand at that. I will think d nits 1. 'arse tt ottld not r, r .1•"i i iter, Bet r i*:,till Y",it ) a tear page—ea." a. She teat T ,ra in Lee I,)ti:id;� '2;' t • 1'ir tnre to cot- and reefed her topsails if sho found he self on a leo shorn with the mind on her quarter." "Of course she mould,. The artist was never past Gravesend, I swear, It's the Penelope as she was on the 14th of Juno, 1ta.);, in the throat of the straits of Bau- en, with the island of Banca on the star. board bow and Sumatra on the port, He paiuted from do n'ription, but of course, es you very sensibly say, all was sung below, and she tarried stormeails and doable reefed topsails, for it was blow- ing a cyclone from the sou'east. I com- pliment you, ma'am, I do indeed!" "Olt, I have clouo a little mitering my. self --as Much as a evonlan can aspire to, you know. This is the bay of Funchal, What a lovely frigate!" "Lovely, you say! Ah, she was lovely! That is the Andromeda. I was a mate aboard of her—sublieutenant they call it now, though I like the old name best" "`What a lovely rake her masts have, and what a curve to her bows! She must have been a clipper." The old sailor rubbed his bands, and his eyes glistened. FTi' old shills bor- dered close upon his wife and his son in his affection. ""I know Funchal," said the lady care- lossly. "A couple of years ago I had a 7 -ton cutter rigged yacht, the Banshee, and wo ran over to Madeira from Fal- n:oetli." "You, ma'am, in a 7-tonner?" "With a couple of Cornish lads for a crow. Oh, it was glorious! A fortnight right out in the open, with no worries, no letters, no callers, ho petty thoughts, nothing but the grand works of God, the tossing sea and the great silent sky. They talk of riding—indeed I am fond of horses, too—but what is there to com- pare with the swoop of a little craft as she pitches down the long, steep side of a wave, and then the quiver and spring as she is tossed upward again? Oh, if, . our souls could. transmigrate I'd be a seamew above all birds that $y! But I keep you, admiral. Adieu!" The old sailor was too transported with ! sympathy to say a word. Be could only 1 shake her broad muscular hand. She was half way down the garden path before she ,,earth him .calling her and saw his grizzled head and weather stained face i looking out from behind the curtains, "You may put tie down for the plat- form," » lie cried and vanished abashed behind the curtain of his Times, where hie wite fotuid him at lunchtime. "1 hear that you have had quite a long chat withefts. Westmaeott." said she. ' "Yes, and I think that she is one of the most senstpie women that T eves know." . "Except on the woman's rights ques- tion, of course." "Oh, I don't know. She has a good deal to say for herself on that also. In fact., mother, I have taken a platform ticket for her resecting,"" CHAPTER VL AN ULD SToity. But this was not to be the only event ful conversation which Mrs. Westinacott hetet that day, nor was the admiral the only person in The Wilderness who was destined to find his opinions considerably Omeged, Two neighboring fainilies, the Wingtows from Anorloy and the Conr- berb:itches from Gypsy Hill, hacl boon invited to tennis by Mrs. Westznncott, and the lawn was gay in the evening with the blazers of tho young teen and the bright dresses of the girth, To the older people sitting round, in their wicket work garden chairs the darting, stoop- ing, springing white figures, the sweep of skirts and twinkle of canvas shoes, the click of the rackets at1t1 sharp whiz of the balls, with the continual "fifteen love, fifteen all!" of the marker, made up a merry and a ;hilarating scene. To see their sons and daughters 80 flushed and healthy and happy gave theta else a re- tiectedl glow, and it was hard to say who had most pleasure from the game, those who played or diose who watched. Mrs. Westmaeott had just finished a set when she caught a ,Butte of Clara Walker sitting alone at the farther end of the ground. She ran down the court, cleared the net to the amazement of the visitors and seated herself beeide her,, Clara's reserved and refined nature shrank somewhat .from the boisterous frankness and stratnge mrnnors of the widow. and yet her feminine instinct told her that beneath all her peculiati• ties there lay much that was good and noble, She smiled tip at her, therefore, and nodded a�grouting. 'Why aren't you ,.laying then? Iion't,.. for goodness' sake, begin to be languid and When you give up active epode, you give rip youth. Ott.""Ihave played, a set, Mee, Westnia- e a "Olt, no, I ant not cold." 4" '"I was speaking to your sister Ida la night." She noticed that there was slight quiver in his voice, and. glanein . up at his dark, clear: cut face she sa that he was very grave. She felt that i was settled—that he had come to as her for her sister's hand, ""She is a charming girl," said he afto a pause. . "Indeed she is," cried Clara warmly "And no one who has not lived with h and known her intimately can tell 110 charining and good she is. She ie like sunbeam in the house." "No one who was not good could absolutely happy, as she seems to be Heaven's last gift, I think, is a mind a. pure and a spirit so high that it is un able even to see what is impure and evil iu the world around us. For as long a we can sea it, how can we be truly ha Pea" t° "`She has a deeper side also. She. doe not turn it to the world, and it is no natural that sho should, for she is very young. But she thinks and has aspira- tions of her own." ' "You cannot admire her more than I do. Indeed, Miss Walker, I only ask tei be brought into near relationship with her and to feel that there is apermanent bond between us." It had come at last. For a moment her heart was numbed within her, and then a flood of sisterly love carried all before it. Down with that dark thought which would still try to raise its unhal- lowed head! She turned to Harold with sparkling eyes and words of pleasure upon her lips. - "I should wish to be near and dear to both of you," said he as he took her hand. ""I should wish Ida to be my sis- ter and you my wife," She said nothing.,, She only stood looking at hint with parted lips and great, dark, questioning eyes. The lawn had vanished away, the sloping - gardens, the brick villas, the darkening sky, withbalf a pale moon beginning to show over the chimney pots. All was gone, and she was only conscious of a dark earnest pleading face, and of a voice far away, disconnected from herself, the voice of a Iran telling a woman how he loved her. He was unhappy, said the voice, his life was a void; there was but one thing that couldsave flim; he had come to the part- ing of the ways; here Iay happiness and honor and all that was high and noble; there lay the soul killing round, the lonely life, the base pursuit of money, the sordid, selfish aims. He needed but the hand of the woman that he loved to lead him into the better path. And how he loved her his life would show. He loved her for her sweetness, for her womanlitfess, for her strength. Ho had need of her. Would she not come to him? And then of a sudden as she listened it came Roan to her that the elan was Harold Deriver, and that she was the woman, and that all God's work was very beautiful --the greensward be- neath her feet, the rustling leaves, the long orange slashes in the western sky., Sho spoke. She scarce know what the broken words were, but she saw the light of joy shine out on his fate, and her hand was still in his as they wan- dered aurid the twilight, They said no more now, but only wandered and felt each other's presence. All was fresh around them, familiar and yet new, tinge(' with the beauty of their own new found happiness. "Did you not know it before?" he asked. "I did not dare to think it." "What a mask of ice I must wear? Row could a man feel ars I have done without showing it? Your sister at least know." ",Ida." "1t was list night. She began to Praise you, 1 said what I felt, and then in an instant it was 011 out." "But what could you—what could you see in tee? 011, I d4 pray that yon may not repent it!" The gentle heart was misled amid its joy by the thought of its own unworthiness. "Repent it. I feel that I am a saved man, You do not know ,tow degrading this city life is, how debasing, and yot how absorbing. Money. forever clinks itt your ear. You can think of nothing else. Prom the bottom of my heart I hate it, and yet how -can draw back without bringing grief to my dear Old father? Thera was batt one Way in which I could defy the taint, and that was by Laving a holrze influence 80 ptiire and to high that it may brace me up against all that draws mo down. I have felt than influence already, 1 lntow that when I En talking to you I ate a better Taman. It is On who blest go with me through 8t a g, as he }4 a be a >D s P' s t fe, or I must walk forever. alone:" ° . "Oh, liaroId,I stn, so happy!" Still '4)114 Harold,, I am so happy!" "You must go in. You will be cold," "aly father will wonder where I am. Shall I say anything to ,flit?" "If you like, my darling.' Or I will in the morning. I must toll my mother to- night. I know how delighted she will be." "I do hope so." "Let me take you up the garden Bath. It is so dark. Your lamp is not lit yet. fihere is the window. Till tomorrow, then, dearest" "Till tomorrow, Harold." "My -own darling!" He stooped, and their lips met for the first time. Then as site pushed open the folding windows she heard his quick firm step as it passed down the graveled path. Alamp tenant as she entered the room, and there was Ida, dancing about like a mischievous little fairy, in front of her. "And have you anything to tell me?" she asked, with a solemn face. Then sud- denly throwing her arms round her sis- ter's neck: "Oh, you dear, dear old Clara! I am so pleased. I am so pleased." CHAPTER VII. "VI;NIT TANDTrat FELIOITAS." It was just three days after the doctor and the admiral had congratulated each other upon the closer tie which was to unite their two families, and to turn their friendship into something even dearer and more intimate, that Miss Ida Walker received a letter which caused her some surprise and considerable amusement. It was dated from next door and was handed in by the red- headed page after breakfast. "Dear Miss Ida," began this curious document and then relapsed suddenly into the third person. "Mr. Charles Westmaeott hopes that he may have the extreme pleasure of a ride with Miss Ida Walker upon his tandem tricycle. Mr. Charles Westmaeott will bring it round ea half an hour. You in front. Yours veryetruly, Charles Westmaeott." The whole was written in a largo, loose o jointed,acho lboyislr hand, very thin on the up strokes and thick on the down, as though caro and pains had gone to the fashioning of it. Strange as was the form the meaning was clear enough, so Ida hastened to her room and hacl hard1/ slipped on her light gray cycling dress when site saw tate tan- dem with its large occupant at the door. He handed her up to her saddle with a more solemn and thoughtful face than was usual with hitt, and a few moments Iater they were flying along the beautii ful smooth suburban roads in the direc- tion of Forest hill. The great limbs of the athlete inade the heavy machine spring and quiver with every stroke, while the mignon gray figure„with the laughing face and the golden curls blow- ing front under the little pink banded straw hat, simply held firmly to het perch and let the treadles whirl round beneath her feet. Milo after mile they flew, the wind beating in her face, the trees dancing past in two long ranks on either side, until they had passed round Croydon and were approaching Nor- wood once more from the farther side. "Aren't yon tired?” she asked, glanc- ing over her shoulder and turning to- ward him a tittle pink ear, fluffy golden curl, and one biro eye twinkling from the very corner of its lid. "Not a bit. I am just getting my swing." "Isn't it wonderful to be so strong; You always remind into of a steam en- gine." "Wily a steam engine'?" "Well, because it is so powerful and reliable and unreasoning. Well, I didn't mean that last, you know, but—but— you know what I mean. What is the matter with you?" "Whys" "Because you have something on your Mind. 'Zen have not laughed once" Xao broke Into a grewsome laugh. ""1 ?tin quite jolty," said he, "Oh, nq, yott aro not. And why did you write me such a dreadfully stiff' let- ter?" "There, now," he Cried, "/ was sure It WAS stiff. 1 said it was absurdly stiff." "hen why write iter "It wasn't nay own eeMpositiotn," "''Whose ?hent Your aunt'.?" "Oh, no. Itwas a person of the Name Of Slattery;" "Goednessl Whole het" lrfte'i'r it would come out. Mit #jet Yt would. 'ou've hrrarct of Slattery, tad Sq. lxe authori" "Never," olio is wonderful at expressing him. self. Tire wrote a book called 'The See Bret Solved; or, Letter Writing lade asy," It gives. you models of all Berta of letters.'" Ida burst outlaughing. "So you ao. tually copied one," ""It was to invite a young lady to a pacnie, but I set to work and soon got it changed so that it would do very well. Slattery seems never to have asked any one to ride a tandem. But when I had written it, it seemed so dreadfully stiff that I had to put a little beginning .and end of my own, which seemed to bright. en it up a od. deal," "I thoughgot there was something funny about the beginning and end,". "Did you? I"'anoy your noticing the difference in style. How quick you are! I am very slow at things like that, I ought to have been a woodman or game keeper or something. I was made on those lines, but I have found something now,'" "What is that, then?" "Ranching. I have a chum in Texas, and he says itis arare life. I am to buy a share in his business. It is all in the open air—shooting and riding and sport. Would it—would it inconvenieuee you much, Ida, to come out there with mo?'O Ida nearly fell off her perch in her amazement, The only words of which she could think were, "My goodness tee!" so she said them. "If it would not upset your plans or change your arrangements in any way." He luta slowed down and let go of the steering handle, so that the great mat chine orawled-.aimlessly about front one side of the rood to the other. "I know very well that I am not clever or any- thing of that sort, but still I would do all I can to make you very happy. Don't you think that in time you might come to liko ire a little bit?" Ida gave a cry of fright. "I won't like you if you run me against a brick wall," said, she as the machine rasped up against the curb. "Do attend to the steering." "Yes, I will. But tell me, Ida, wheth- er you will come with rte." "Oh, I don't know. It's too absurd! How can we talk about such things when I cannot see you? You speak to the nape of my neck, and then I have to twist my head round to answer." "I know. That was why I put "Yon in front' upon my letter. I thought that it would make it easier. But if yon world prefer it I will stop the machine, and then you can sit round and talk about it," "Good gracious!" cried Ida, "Fancy , our sitting face to face on a motionless tricycle in the middle of the road and all the people looking out of their windows at usIst w." ""ould look rather funny, wouldn't it? Well, then suppose that we both get off and push the tandem along in front of us." "Oh, no; this is better than that." "Or I could carry the thing." Ida burst out laughing. "That would be more absurd still." "Then we will go quietly, and 1 will look out for the steering. I won't talk about it at all if you would rather not. But I really do love you very much, and you would mike me happy if you came to Texas with mo, and I think that per - baps after a time I could make you happy too."' "But your aunt?" "Oh, she would. like it very much. I can understand that your father might ma nr. COxTrit:ia), Mrs, A. A. Williams Lynn, Mass. For the Good of Others dTietO. Mr. Vdllfa-ms Heartily En- dorses ,tooth's ,Sarsaparilla, We are pleased to present this from Rev. A. A. Williams, of the Sillsbee street Christian Church, Lynn, Mass.: "/ see no reason why a clergyman, more than a layman, who knows ralrereof he speaks, should hesitate to approve an Article of Merit rind worth from whirl) he or his fatuity Italie teen Signally benefited, and whose Comineneta- tion may 'servo to extend those benefits to others by Increasing their confideftce. My wife has for many ,years been It Sufferer front sevet,e Nervous Headache torwitielt she found nine belri many things that promised[ enc bass tried Pee - formed little. eatstfaliefriend gave but pot. tie of Hood's Sarsaparilla. ,ler eppic?;- Ing whatsinaptsr one bottle could and did d for her: The attacksof headache decreased in imbiber and were less violent In their inter+ S1ty, while her general health hag been lin. Drroved. Her appetite has also been better.. 'tOhi ou# expetieeee with ` Hood's Sarsaparilla I ha*e oo hesltatlon aft endoreing it* beoltad A. Witaults. Its t1 dR caves •r a Dais best Wayathatttt"