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Home My WebLink AboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1934-02-08, Page 6THE EXETER TIMES-AD VO CATETHUBSHAY, JANUARY 8, 1934 SYNOPSIS Yvonne Caron, one of the most beautiful ladies of early French Quebec is being forced into mar riage with and by Simon Girard, an unscrupulous lawyer. Her brother Paul is deep in debt thro’ gambling with Girard. The cere mony, however, is interrupted by the notorious Catain Midnight, Robin Hood of the French colony, who marries Yvonne in order to save the girl's vast estates. At last! Bigot could clatter on the stairs, the of the step. The door It was Paul Caron, hat- you not, was dead. I white horse Midnight— all I own to believe the explanation of his. I cannot. Captain Midnight has done many reprehensible things ■' he has stolen the King’s money, he has murdered no harmless defenseless man. I think we best, for this unfortunate night, journ. Tomorrow may bring forth ' new developments—that they may ; be in young Caron’s favor is, I am sure, the hope of every man here.” There were no developments. Moise Cordet was dead. He had been shot down down by Paul Caron. Everybody believed that. They shook their heads at Paul’s stupidity in trying to fasten the guilt upon Cap tain Midnight. Only a scatter brained boy would think of such a silly defence. Captain Midnight gave his protection to the weak, and Cordet le juief, was despite his rich es, quite without defence. Yvonne heard of what had befall en her brother—heard it early the next morning from the lips of the terrified and almost fainting Maryse Il stunned her for a moment as she thought of the possibility of its be ing true that Paul had done 1 thing. the Intendant’s accusation, she grew calm and the splendid courage of her strong heart asserted itself. She would not believe this unless she heard it herself from the lips of the boy she had mothered, had loved so fondly throughout his reckless ca reer. “I will go to him,” she said. “He is wild and irresponsible, but he would not do this—not Paul.” “They say, milady, that lie—he swears it was Captain Midnight who fired the shot—that he saw—” “He says that! too much for me, such a child and fault—I may have he was all I liad- other blame She dent’s in a room guarded by a sentry. Bi got, when her presence was announc- but and had ad- I thing more awful than in the laugh ter of Captain Midnight. Yvonne embraced her brother, pressed her wet cheek to his, touch ed his hair with pathetic, loving hands. “Petit Paul! What have they done to you?” “It is too awful, Yvonne—they think I'—I killed iMoise Cordet. I did not. I tell you, dear, I did not kill him and—-I have never lied to you.” “I knew, of course, But what—” “It was lie; it was The words poured out that, at last, he had found one who i would send one of my own men beleived him, who did not listen to him with the skeptical, tolerant smile that proclaimed unbelief, saw him and I heard him laugh. , knew—lie knew that I would blamed for this. He will let me for something I did not do. not—not your lover? You do not care for h’iin? I should hate to think (that you could love this creature—” I “If is true—and I believe it— this ' what you tell me, then I do net care Then, even as Paul before for him. Did I ever care? I do not It may be that, as they said, be that he because of ................................ .....................- . knew—and it was good to have him come. I cannot make believe that [ he did it; I cannot believe what seems to be the real truth about ’ him. To me he was all gentleness and kindness—I—I thought I lov ed him. It may be that I love him yet—that I ishall hate life even as hated it, when they get him. And he will know that I was the who used the sacred thing he gave to me ! for his own destruction. Is there— I is there no other way?” “No other way,” said Bigot, un moved by her wretchedness. “You will not, regret this, milady, I as sure you. Do you not see how im possible your situation is if this man continues to go on? He can be a part of lifet—mever. He not have loved you or he I never expose your brother, | he knows you love, to the danger ; of a death-sentence for a crime he j did not commit. Have no compunc- I tion. You have done the best, in- j deed the only thing. And you will I go to Sillery and place this rose ’ within the tree? That is all you need do—we will attend to the rest. never could would whom r II it was false j Captain Mid-’ of Paul now truth about him—that he has done no harm, but would not blame his ill reputation on a woman’s jealousy and hurt pride—are very much in volved. Yvonne did not know quite what to do about it. She had been unfair to Jean Pierre, and he had lived up to the character Armand de saying no (She had danger of Midnight, had been Icxptpr $tmpa-Ab»orafr Established 1873 and J.887 Published every Thursday mornlni at Exeter, Ontario SUBSCRIPTION— $2.00 per yeaT in advance. RATES—Farm op Real Estate toi sale 50c. each insertion for first four Insertions, quent insertion, tides, To Rent, Found 10c. per ] Reading notices Card of Thanks vertising 12 and Memoriam, with extra verses 25c. Guast had given him, by word in his own defense, even exposed him to the a qualTel With Captain no mean opponent. (She rather cruel, unkind to him. ^Captain Midnight—she had for a little while forgotten. That letter had made her forget, But soon now she must be off to Sillery. She dreaded it more than every as the minutes sped by. But she had to go. Paul was there a prisoner. She held the key for his release. She must use it. It was hard, it was a cruel thing to have to go into that garden, so full of color and fragrance, of warmth and life, and pick from out its thousand blooms a rose of death. In that same garden where he had come to her, Could she ever again walk there without thinking of this. Of a moonlit night would she not look for that mystic figure to stalk from the shadow and see him smil ing down at her. She steeled herself against such thoughts, Quickly she plucked the rose and put it away in the pocket of her riding-habit, Luitpoldel was saddled gaze at whisper not the and did at that one’s door the evil thing of which he was accused. Through the Sillery woods the road stretched white and dusty; bordered on either side by the tall evergreens, the luxuriantly-leaved birch and maple—an avenue of sil ence along which Yvonne rode un willingly. Over and over again in her mind she turned the problem that faced her, but she found no other solution than this. It was' Paul’s life or his. ■ .She tried to tell herself that, because he knew of her love for Jean Pierre, he had done this thing to make her suffer thro’ her brother. But Sihe could not be lieve it. And yet Paul would not lie to her. One thing* she could do, and must—make Bigot promise that Captain Midnight should be taken alive, not shot down as he rode un suspectingly into the him. He could then own defense and not be upon her. She passed the disregarding her of tarrying there. She thought that ether day—again of Jean Pierre of Melusine d’Artois who had once loved Laurent de St. Hilaire. She reached at length that place on the road where the weed-grown track led to the white and the sky. reaction to doned windmill, she left him teth ered' to a bush and crossed the ex panse of bog on foot. She refused to think of what she was doing. She dared not think of it. No one should be faced with such a choice as hers. She fixed her mind on Paul—on his boyish weak ness and on her to had been and help would have married for his sake now she was using a man’s confidence, however evil that man might be, to bring about his capture. Swiftly, furtively, at the bole of the oak she knelt, took the rose from her pocket. She thought of the handkerchief she had left there for him—a pretty, cruel caprice to leave that, to taunt him with the hope of what he might not have. Yes, the bit of lace was gone. It had given him some happiness, no doubt, to find it there; and next lie would find the rose—for his destruction. A roso—(queer to use a flower so lovely, so fragrant, a queen among its kind for a purpose such as this But there it Was. Hurriedly she laid it among the dry leaves, straigh tened, glanced at dows of the mill, he watched from seen her. Where 25c. each subee- Miscpllaneous ar- Wanted, Lost, or line of six word* 10c. per line. 50c, Legal ad- 8c. per line. In one verse 50o. each. Member of The Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association Professional Cards GLADMAN & STANBURY BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, Money to Loan, Investments Mads Insurance Safe-deposit Vault for use of our Clients without charge EXETER and HEN SALL to do it, but for the chance of liis being observed. You will go?” “For Paul—I will go. But I have done nothing in life before to cause me such shame. I hate to think of it.” “You do but deliver a murderer to justice. You are wrong not in doing it, but in having any com punction about it. I know you will rot fail us. I suspect that he watch es the oak or has someone to watch for him. He knows so much, it would seem he had a thousand eyes. He will know, you may be sure, that you ride to Sillery this day.” , I “Yes, he will know,” agreed was again. Yvonne, thinking of that other day, forever re- of how he had witnessed 1,1: He he die He is ' know. lie is insane or it may has come to despise me something else.’ “But, Yvonne;” Paul his weak, pleading self, liant on her, his burdens' to those frail, shoulders and let those clear black t her in his arms, eyes reflect his cares. “Is< and ready. They stopped to her, the townsfolk, and to as she passed, for was she bride of Captain Midnight not her own brother lay CARLING & MORLEY BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, LOANS, INVESTMENTS INSURANCE Office: Carling Block, Main Street, EXETER, ONT. At Lucan Monday and Thursday : all is my But an- the But no—it is Maryse. Paul perhaps it is made him so. : —all. And if did this and tried to put on him—” went at once to the Inten- Palace where Paul was. held, At last! tell by the swiftness burst open, less, his blonde hair flying wild, his face twisted, his eyes bulging— “Jesu!” he said gaspingly. “Jesu Marie—He is dead, murdered—shotj down in his tracks—” Every man had come to his feet; every eye focused on young Caron, every mind save Bigot’s held one thought—Paul Caron had murdered' the Jew. “Speak!” said the [Intendant sternly. “Calm yourself, m’sieur, and i tell us what is this. Who is dead, murdered—not)—not?” “Moise Cordet! Do you know! And the way he laughed, laughed '• and rode away—this devil of the! darkness, this field, and my sister—! Bigot gestured the others to sil- [ ence. His lips tightened and his eyes were hard as agates as he strode over to the shuddering youth and caught his arm roughly. “The Jew then is dead. And murdered him, Caron!” “No! No! Before God, I did sire! I did not! He opened the door for me and as he stood there with the candle in his hand, there was a shot and he fell. He just made a sound like a moan. He looked around. I saw a and its rider—.Captain and he laughed—” ■Silence, deep, strangely accusa tory, more so than if all there had shouted his guilt, greeted Paul on’s words. Men stared at the pet, avoided each other’s eyes their own betray the thought would not utter. Bigot, a frown on ‘ there, with hypocritical sympathy, his dark face, strolled over to* the [he received her. window, gazed out into the darkness —this that they might not see gleam of triumph in his eyes, ard had done well. Suddenly he turned from window, pointed at Caron. “Captain Midnight has no quarrel with such men as Coredt. I fear I can lend little belief to your story [ brother’s position, m’sieur—and I am sure all : agree with me. Have you proof? Anything to show that fix the guilt on this'man?” “Nothing!” .said Paul stiffly, pride, his hurt pride, rising above his panic and suddenly calming ‘T have only my word to give Here, sire, is your pistol.” “Ah!” Bigot examined it. Car- car- lest • ed to him asked that she be uslier- they > ed into the audience chamber and the Gil’- the here any will his him. you. You used it—■>” He looked appealingly at the others, shook his head hope lessly. “I fired it after the highwayman,’ said Paul, bitterly conscious that each thing he said made his story harder for them to believe. He could read their minds. He knew now that he should have had sense enough not to expect credence. There had been, of long-standing, a quarrel with him and Cordet, No one would believe—no one—except “It is my unpleasant duty,” said the Intendant with a perfect stimu lation of the deepest regret, “to hold you prisoner, monsieur. Doubtless it will be only for a time. I am sure we all in our hearts believe you in nocent, but there were some things— “I am innocent, Paul. “I could not less man. It was I could not do it.” The sentries came, led him away. “A pity!” said the Intendant. “A terrible pity. I, for one, would give I tell you!” said kill this defense- a ghastly thing. Dr. Wood’s Norway PSrte Syrup not “My brother, sire—it is not true, this story they have told about him! He did not kill this man—” Bigot inclined his head, stared un happily at the floor and did speak until he thought the silence had lasted long enough to impress upon her the seriousness of her He looked at her—at the eager, pleading black eyes, with their overarching brows as clear and dark as pencil lines, at the droop of her red mouth at the tightly clasped hands!—itightly clasp ed to still their trembling. “It looks as if circumstances were against him,” he said regretfully. “He owed this man money; they had quarrelled before this; once your unhappy brother used the whip up on him and several times threaten ed his life—all these things Yvonne are not in Paul’s favor—” “But they do not prove he did it. No, he could not do it. He was not bad, only wild, only heedless. Has he no plausible explanation, my lord?” The Intendant’s brows contracted and he tapped his pursed lips with crocked forefinger. “He has—an explanation. It is such that no one seems ready to be lieve it. He claims that is was Cap tain Midnight who fired the shot. There is only one way to settle that Of course—an impossible way—by the capture of this outlaw. He is, I believe, your husband,” “He is—my husband. But Paul is my brother. Let me go to him, please—let me speak to him.” The Intendant called a servant to conduct her. When she was gone he smiled; he laughed and in his laugh ter, to the keen ear, there was some- Her Little Girl Had a Bad Cold Mrs. Thomas Lees, Lansdowne Station, N.S., writes:—“My little girl had such a bad cold she would Cough so hard at night she could hardly get her breath. I tried everything I thought would improve her, hut avail, until I saw where Dr. Wood’s Norway Ime Syrup was good for cold ailments. After giving her two bottles she was greatly improved, I am never without Dr, Wood’s* in the house in cases of emer gency.” Price, 35c a bottle} large family sizer 65c, at ali drug and general Stores; put up only by The T» Milburn Co,, Limited, Toronto, Ont, Jean ready always to shift ‘ Pierre’s bold stopping of the run- slim away, had watched Jean Pierre take Strange that he there should have observed that—but all nothing you can do to get me out of, he did, all he said, all about him this? You know more about this , was strange and unreal, as if, more man than does anyone else in Que bec. If they could find him?—he could not deny. Is there no way . .?” Yvonne was silent. Paul’s eyes, the fear in them, haunted her; they would always haunt her unless— “But, yes,” she said slowly, un willingly. “there is a way. I shall Slowly she rode homeward and the speak to the Intendant about it. Do; day, though the sun shone brightly not despair, Paul. It may be that. from a cloudless sky and I can show them how to take.—(Cap tain Midnight.” “How?” he demanded eagerly. “How could you . . .?” “Very simply, she answered, but her voice was dull, flat, toneless— not her own—for there had been magic in that last but never-forgot ten moment—magic and poignant sweetness and some bliss that can not speak its name—“very simply, my brother—with a rose.” “A—rose!” “A rose—” It was a mere whis per, broken, piteous, “of the color and softness'—of my cheek.” CHAPTER V Bigot, amazement, vying with tri umph in his eyes, stared at Yvonne. ‘A rose, you say! This.fellow, this marauder, this man who hates the world and the life that is in it, will come to you)—(because of a rose!” “So did he tell me, sire, and I do believe him.” “Yes,” be like him, like Laurent, of something like that. He romantic, a troubadour, a brightness and beauty—” Yvonne’s eyes were misted. Now that she had told this man how lie' might find Captain Midnight, now have the highwayman at his mercy, she knew, for a moment, something of what Iscariot felt when the blood money clinked and jankled when was revealed to him the wonder of the Betrayed. But with her it not the same—no, not at all same. No blood money here, her brother’s life and Paul spoken truth to her—the guilty man was Captain Midnight. But it was so sad, so strange, and it made a sick little pain come in her breast to hear the Intendant speak of what this man had been—a lover of brightness and beauty, of flowers turned to silver by th© moon’s car ess, of strings thrummed softly and voices singing under the stars. “I have been thinking a great deal about your brother’s case,” eaid Bigot, it, the surer I become that he speaking the truth. If, with help of what you have told Me, succeed in taking this man who for so long been as a thorn in than the rest of us, be we fools or kings, he was acting a part. Yvonne saw Paul once more and told him that all would be well, that to-morrow would bring him re lease, lease, no doubt, though it make her a prisoner of her Yes, it would bring him re might regrets. muttered Bigot. “It would to think was ever lover of was the but had “And the more I think of is the we has the side of New France, then, whether ho confess his guilt or not, Paul shall go free. That I promise you. “I would,” said Yvonne, “that my brother’s life be purchased for something less than the blood of ah- othef man. He stood before the altar at my side that night. He kiss ed my Ups. He. came to me, before I L was a burst of glory on rock and river, was for her dull, and gray and wretched. She felt as if she had never smiled or sang and never would again. It is a most disconcerting thing to bershown that one’s ideas about a person, which have influenced one’s conduct towards that person, was wrong a.nd unsound—especially if they have influenced an unkindly attitude. Hence was it then when Yvonne took from IM'aryse the letter that had that day arrived from Montreal, and read it, her first im pulse was to discredit it entirely, her second to go to Jean Pierre and say, “I am happy, m’sieur to learn you are not a rouge, but dismissing both these, she re-read the frowned, folded it, read it again. The letter—she well by heart. It herself, matter one way or another, whether Jean Pierre (Martel was saint or sinner. But Leonie d’ Amours had been her dearest friend at the Usruline Convent and once she had met Leonie’s lover, Armand de Guast—and' this must be true: —and I have heard, dearest Yvon ne, that Jean Pierre Martel is now in Quebec, How I should like to see him, for, ever since Armand’s visit to France and his meeting with Jean Pierre I have heard so much of this famous Martel that, were I not almost in love with him, I could almost be jealous of him. Armand idolizes Jean Pierre—and you know how unready Armand is to deify anyone. The real cause of Jean Pierre’s socaUed exile is the King’s mistress la Pompadour. It is too droll. She loved ‘Jean Pierre; he would have none of her. iShe sought to impo verish' him by pitting him against dishonest gamesters; lean Pierre hated them. She set professional things upon him to injure him; he killed one and wounded others. She could not win his love nor ruin him or take his life. He left France, perhaps to be rid of her-—she makes it known that he is exiled tor hav ing dared to love her—la-la! And out of this, Jean Pierre has won a reputation as a gambler, a swaeh- bUcklor ancl a lover—deserved yet hot deserved. Armand Jeati Pierre is, of the noblest, Have Yvonne-—? Most disconcerting; When yon have snubbed a' man and slapped ldm as knave, sat! on s. re-opened letter, it and pretty his trap laid for speak in his blood would of the Fox,Inn horsels intention of oak tree that reared its ruined branches against Mindful of Luitpoldel’s the vicinity of the aban- knew it did not, she told says all noble you met to know. that men, him, that! ihim and generally treated you would a rake and ft Into the bargain, yotiY sen- on finding 'b* Viw* fear, his piteous reliance save him. her lot to him. For Always it had extend solace his sake she Simon Girard, the grimy win- iShe wondered if there, if he had was his vantage ground from which he had seen her with Jean Pierre Martel? JSTo one had ever encountered Captain Mid night in. the light of day; like the bate lie seemed to haunt the dark ness. Tonight he would come to the oak tree. Would he have time to reach in and get the flower? Would they give him time for that? Perhaps it would be ill his hand when arms while after city. morbid would come to gaze him, to point and whisper they took him and bound his to his sides and held him, they exulted in his capture so long a hunt, back to the Abd there the curious (Continued next week) Dr. G. S. Atkinson, L.D.S.,D.D.& DENTAL SURGEON Office opposite the New Post Office Main St., Exeter Telephones Office 34 w House 84J Closed Wednesday Afternoons Dr. G. F. Roulston, L.D.S.,D.D.S, DENTIST Office: Carling Block EXETER, ONT. Closed Wednesday Afternoons K. C. BANTING, B. A., M. D. Physician and Surgeon, Lucan, Ont. ' ■ Office in Centralia Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. or by appointment Telephone the hotel in Centralia at any time. Phone Crediton 3 0r25 JOHN WARD CHIROPRACTIC, OSTEOPATHY, ELECTRO-THERAPY & ULTRA VIOLET TREATMENTS PHONE 70 MAIN ST., EXETER ARTHUR WEBER licensed auctioneer For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTY PRICES REASONABLE SATISFACTION GUARANTEED Phone 57-13 Dashwood R. R. NO. 1, DASHWO.OD FRANK TAYLOR LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTY Prices Reasonable and Satisfadlfti Guaranteed EXETER P. O. or RING 138 OSCAR. KLOPP LICENSED AUCTIONEER Honor Graduate Carey Jones’ Auc tion School. Special Course taken in Registered Live Stock (all breed*) Merchandise, Real Estate, Farm Sales, Etc. Rates in keeping with prevailing prices. Satisfaction as sured, write Oscar Klopp, Zurich, or phone 18-93, Zurich, Ont. and upon, I USBORNE & HIBBERT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY Head Office, Farquhar, Ont. President ANGUS SINCLAIR Vice-Pres. j. T. ALLISON DIRECTORS SAH’L NORRIS', SIMON DOW WM. H. COATES, FRANK McConnell AGENTS JOHN ESSERY, Centralia, Agent for Usborne and Biddulph ALVIN L. HARRIS, Munro, Agetit for FUllarton and Logan THOMAS SCOTT, Cromarty, Agent for Hibbeft * W. A. TURNBULL Secretary-Treasurer Box 295, Exeter, Ontario GLADMAN & STANBURY Solicitors, Exeter