HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-08-23, Page 5Driving homeward one beautiful evening in July, I
came across old Colin Anderson, partially hidden irr
the trees and peering through some ancient binocu-
lars. Normally, I would have driven past, but I was
just nosey enough to stop and investigate the subject
of his interest.
. "What are you doing Colin - bird watching?': I
asked jokingly, as I ploughed through the long
roadside grass towards him.
"Guess yer could call it that Don," he said,
recognizing my Limey voice and with his eyes still
glued to his spying aid. "She's some bird. Built like a
brick 'ouse - so she is!" He pointed to a small cottage
below the treeline, where a woman was tending a
garden, but his eyes never left the glasses.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself - an old man
like you playing Peeping Tom!"
Colin's face wrinkled into a lecherous grin and his
eyes lit up with mischievous excitement. "A woman's
as old as she looks,.an' a man is old when 'e stops
lookin! " He shook with' laughter and showed me his
remaining yellow teeth •- all ten of them.- "I ain't
stopped lookin'! Not yit. I still got a few ideas left - so 1
'ave!"
This was my introduction to the ..myste.ry of the
woman at the cottage, although it had been the
choicest subject of the local gossips for some time. All
that anyone knew for sure was that the .woman was
called Marie Bouchard and that . a man (not her
husband), took care of all her needs. They spent their
nights alone together, and Colin Anderson was the
self-appointed reporter on their romantic activities.
From a few sparks of information and supposition; -a
fire of curiosity swept through Redtrees. There just
had to be a juicy story within the walls of the cottage!
we'll be 'er fancy man," old Mrs. Fraser told her
audience on the party line. "Yer can bet there's some
'anky panky goin' on down there in the love nest!"
Angus had no time for the gossips. "Got enough
sins of mi own without worryin' about other people,"
he told me as a rebuke for my inquisitive mind.
"What, 'appens between a .grown man an' woman,
ain'tno pleasure for me, but . it sure don't cause me
any pain'!" ';
I dr"oye past the.cottage twice a day, and afflicted
with the same hutnan failing -as my neighbours, I
slowed down to al crawl in the hope of getting a
glimpse of the "wicked. woman".
After a few days, my patience was rewarded: The
lady was trying to persuade a bunch of heavy steers to
leave .her kitchengarden. Her gentle "shoo, shoo,"
did nothing,to scare her unwanted guests. They just
rolled their eyes at her and continued to devastate her
cabbage patch.
backed my '39 Dodge, "Molly", up the incline of
the cottage laneway, so as to facilitate a rolling start
on my return. Then, selecting a stout stick from
beneath the trees, I sallied forth to rescue the damsel
in distress from the invaders. Even though 1 was a
respectable married man, I was instantly attracted to
the woman. Her face was the image of beauty and her
figure was outstanding, like that -of Elizabeth Taylor!
There is no need to explain to any farmer how
difficult it is to manouvre a bunch of stubborn cattle
through a broken fence line. What is needed is just
the right amount of scare tactics and gentle physical
persuasion. It also helps to have the nimble footwork
of a bullfighter and the infinite patience of Job!
By the time I had completed my roundup
performance, (which would have caused a riot at the
Calgary Stampede), the lady's fancy man had arrived,
home. He invited me into the "love nest" for a little
liquid refreshment. "Now," I told myself, "I'm going
to get the real story!"
My name is Charles," the man said with a slight
French accent. "Charles Bouchard." His handshake
was firm and sincere.
"I'm Don Campbell, editor of the Grunt and er ...
editor of the Redtrees newspaper," I corrected myself
quickly.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise and I had the
impression that the last person he wantedto know was
a newspaperman.
The mysterious lady appeared carrying a tray with a
bottle of brandy and two glasses upon it. She set it
down on a low table and left hurriedly, as if she was
afraid that I might draw her into conversation.
' Charles was aware that I had observed Marie's
shyness towards strangers. "My sister recently left a
very secluded order to join me in my missionary
work," he said: as he poured out two glasses of
brandy. "Y'ou must excuse her shyness. She has been
in a convent for many years and is only just beginning
to get used to the outside world again."
I was mortified! What right had I to pry into the
privacy of innocent people, especially those dedicated
to a cause far greater than mine?
Charles was a highly educated and cultured priest,
andbecause he wished to end the speculative stories
which surrounded both he and hiS sister, he told me a
little about their life. In the fall, they would travel to
Africa to administer to the native people. The period
of time which Marie would spend at•Redtrees, might
prepare her for the JniSsionary work ahead. Slowly,
she would become used to mixing with strange people
again.
"1 would be most grateful if you would keep my
confidence ;- at least until we haveleft for Africa.
Perhaps I might be able to send you some news of our
mission for your newspaper," he said, as he showed
me to the door.
When I left the cottage, I felt like a spy who had
tried to find. intrigue where no intriuge existed. I felt
stupid too, and when l eventually printed the true
story of the "mystery woman", so did half the
population of Redtrees! a
Queers
Ripley was the scene for this year's Bruce County Fair Princess crowning duffing a dance
held Saturday night. Kim Lamont, R. R. 1 Formosa, was chosen to represent Bruce County at
numerous functions including the Dairy Princess Competition at the C.N.E. next year.
Brenda Lamont, R. R. 3 Teeswater, waschosen as runner up. Kim, the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Don Lamont, is a grade 13 student at Walkerton and District Secondary. [Keith Filthy
Photo]
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednead y, AagwI 23, 1978— e 5
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