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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-10-16, Page 6Page 64neknow Sentinel, Wedtteday, October 14, 1985 1 • "The Sepoy Town" ' *C A BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 P.4410 Thomas'Thompson James Friel Pat Livingston Joan Helm Merle Elliott -Advertising Manager . -Editor • -General Manager -Compositor -Typesetter Subscription rates in advance: $17.00 Outside Canada $60,11° Si Co Outside Canada $58.00 SertimCitizen Second class mailing reg. no. 0847 AdVertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the portion of the advertising 4pace occupied by theerrOneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for; but the balance of the advertisement will be paid at the applicable rates. • New players, same problems Free trade discussions have again• set the interests of Ontario. and Alberta on a, collision course. DonGetty's selection as leader of the Alberta Progressive Conserva- tives and the province's next premier promises to aggravate that rift. During his time as Peter Lougheed's right hpnd man in Albertae's energy portfolio, he was one of the major players • in the federal -provincial energy battles. He was one of the architects of the "let the East freeie in the dark" attitude during during the height of the animosities. Free trade is the issue this time and as .the federal governments discussions with the United States progress, the battle promises to heat up. Peterson will attempt to Stall talks because he and his people feel more study is needed. Alberta's economic woes mean Getty will, try to increase the pressure Peter Lougheed is presently exerting. They feel free trade will shore up and stabilize the 'province's sagging agricultural • sector and help 'broaden the economic base with an industrial injection to the petrochemical industry. Getty will find it a little 'difficult to 'continue 'the provincial -federal discord and harass Prime Minister Brian • • Mulroney. After all, Mulroney has started the free trade discussions , Alberta and 4most of the other provinces clamoured for and he has removed the National Energy Program (NEP) tax which siphoned off about $2.5 billion from the oil industry. And. Mulroney's government is Progressive Conservative and the Torys• need the solidarity 'they can muster at this time. There is a better target and with a Liberal government, although former Ontario Progressive Conservative Prem- ier Bill'Davis • and Lougheed were also at loggerheads • during the energy crisis.„ Getty says he will be a little to the right of Lougheed on •the political spectrum and his accent on capitalism as the answer to social problems is also •going to be at odds with Peterson's; view of Canada, Peterson .has also been successful in businesS, but' with the NDP 'supplying the support and a lot Of the ,agenda during the next legislative session; more emphasis will be placed On social programs and reform than make Getty and company comfortable: ' *JP: October's gift "Keping up with. the Jones's" or • pretending to be as good or better than our neighbours is a modern human failing. But even in the days of the pioneers, there/ were those who constantly tried to project an image far above reality. So it was with Katie Murdoch. From a few words of hear-, say, she fabricated a love affair between her daughter and the son Of Sir Alexander MacDougal and broadcast to everybody in Redtrees that her daughter was about to be • married into the nobility Class. When Anne Murdoch returned home and completely • shattered her mother's foolish dreams. poor Katie was mortified. Whatever could she tell her neighbours now? Katie tried to pry into Annie's clandes- tine activities at the MacDougal estate, but without success. Her persistent question- ing brought as wicked threat from her danghter, • "If ye dinna leave me be, an' stop askin' sae many questions, I'll awa tae Toronto, on a wild Spree and then the community will really hae somethiti. tae gossip abotit!" Katie was quite sure 'her daughter was capable of carrying out her disgraceful threat, so she ' stopped 'harassihg her, . hoping that eventually Annie would7tell her: the truth about the MacDougal affair. In .the meantime, when the question of. ' Aanie's marriage was raised by one or other of the local womenfolk, Katie had 'a standard reply already formulated: "I'M no sae sure Annie Will accept the MacDougal's offer o' marriage," she would say in a superior tone of Voice. "My lass has a head on her shoulders as well as , good looks. 'Twould not surprise me, if she has her sights set on somebody' a• little better than the MacDougal lad!" Her audience was usually flabbergasted by such an outlandish statement. Who could possibly be more important than the MacDougals? "Ocheaye. There's mare than One fine „gentleman interested in my lass," Katie would •continue unabashedly. "There's a lawyer - a Queen's Council if you please. And 1 know ofseveral wealthy business- men in Bolton Town who are just champin' at the bit tae court Annie!" But Katie's preposterntm prattle did nothing to allay the gossip and suspicion surrounding the return of Anne Murdoch to Redtrees. • One morning,, Doctor Cameron ilode his fine black stallion up to the new ,Murdoch house. Katie was surprised to see him. She . . • had no idea what was the purpose of his visit uatil he spdke. • • . "Good day to you Mrs. 'Murdoch. Your • daughter came to my surgery yesterday but unfortunately. I was away. If it is convenient, I would like to. see her now - that is, if, she still wishes to see me." Katie was about to shout to her daughter. that the doctor was at the door but as if, from nowhere, Anne appeared. She gave her mother a cold "mind ye ain business" look and invited the doctor into the house. "Would yease come this way," Anne tin said, ushering ' into the parlour. She waited until the doctor had placed .his bag on the table and then she closed, the door. • On the other side, Katie strained her ears against the door panel but could not hear a word which was said. It was a full twenty minutes before the doctor enierged. Katie followed hint out of tll house, bursting with curiosity. "Is there ought amiss wi' mi lass, doctor?" - • Doctor Cameron paused with his foot in the stirrup' and smiled, "Nothing to cattle me the 'slightest concern, Mrs. Murdoch. Your daughter's • bv Do . • . condition is not infectious - st, I hop( not!" "What 1 am ask ' ye sir, Khy ye came tae see my Ann:- Katie. s: 4, her voice riding impatir ly. "I am h.:r mother' - I hae a rigW tat know." • "NobodS has a right, to know what is confidential between a doctor and his patient," Doctor Cameron said softly.. ' "Is it sae secret:that ye canna even tell me?" Katie asked in a hurt tone of voice. The doctor swung himself up into the sacidlq and patted his horse's neck before he replied. • "Well I suppose I could tell you,'.' the' doctor said almost mischievously. "Espec- ially since I am quite sure you are not likely to gossip it around the countryside." "Is that a fact," Katie said.sarcastically; indignant because the doctor had reminded • her of her eternal failing/ "Yes indeed, Mrs. Murdoch. I don't think you will wantto announce just yet • that your daughter is pregnant!"