Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1920-1-22, Page 2Ir THE ORCHID By DANA Tl RN ET. CHAPTER III Two days later Ramon Alvarez made a second visit to the great house, on the shore of the St. John's. His ostensible purpose was to return the slave Zacharias; but he confessed to Sophia, with a charming, ingenuous air, that he had come eh>eity in the hope of seeing her again. "It is ouch a pleasure to meet a countrywoman in this land which is no longer Spdin,", he confided to her with his gleaming' smile; but his eyes said boldly: "You are the most beautiful creature that I have ever Seen. I dream of you. I long to posses, you.' As it happened, the colonel was not present at this meeting, having gone to ride over his vast estate. Hence, it fell to Sophia's lot to entertain Ramon until leer husband should re- turn. This she did by showing him :;bout the premises, by conducting hint through her flower -garden and by walking with him along the edge of the river, where ran a delightful little path canopied over with Spark- ishmoss. V •.natty they came to the great oak, and Ramon letting his gaze rove for an instant from the person of his companion, eaw the marvelous golden orchid growing upon a 1?raneh of the tree. "Look, senora! There is a flower that alight be your fare reflected from heaven. Let me climb up and. get it for you?" "No, no!" cried Sophia, in horror. "You must not! It is not to be picked, that flower! My husband would kill us.-..,-" Then, rather itreathlessly, she told Ramon the history of the Gardiner orchid. When she had finished he looked at her with his 1 -.ad, flashing eyes. and said that a flower was :a frail Unmet: upon which to impose so large a faith. •'1M,,pet:allean he aided. nee beaUt.t'al .tottr are mean to iae it eked!" "I'S that true, senor?" "Is it not. senora? Of what use is a tilos sam that gruwe ann ot'ced the gleamy ehede of an oak been What put'poae does it serve, or what Soy does it taste, hidden there in <o'd chastity from the waz 'th ofacnnar:'rg eyes :"' Sophia a::need up a t him Sidelong "Ah, st t or, " she said, with a sigh, "how well you understand the nature of flowers." At this moment Colonel Tsailip rode up, mounted upon a powerful white horse, amt the interesting botanieal discussion came to an end. It was re- sumed, however, on subse ;tae nt occa- sions, for Alvarez demonstrated that he was not the man to abandon a flor- iculturai adventure merely because the affair presented difficulties. He became a frequent visitor to the Gar- diner home and was .always welcomed with cordiality by Sophia, who said artlessly that she found , him very sympathetic. The colonel, for his part, continued to treat the young Spaniard with im- peccable consideration and regard. Alvarez had been presented to him by his life-Iong friend, Judge Oidmaster; therefore, the former was entitled to all the privileges and immunities that the latter might have claimed, Colonel Philip, would have felt it a shame and a degradation to betray the slightest distrust of one whom circumstances had invested with the sacred mantle his little clay pipe, downing his occa sional glass of whisky and gambling away thousands without the slightest test evidence of excitement. On the eon- trary , he at last threw 'flown his cards, and looking across at Alvarez, re- marked politely that the game seem ed to be a trifle dull.. "I suggest, sir, that we eliminate the deal and eut for stakes." Alvarez- hesitated' for the fraction of an instant,: then said softly: "I am at your service, senor." So they cut for stakes, wagering huge sums upon the turn of .a single card, seeking to overwhelm each other by the sheer magnificence of their folly. It became not so much a con- test of riches as a trial of nerve. They played all night, and Colonel Philip, by systematically increasing the size of bis bets, won hack all that he bad lost, At daybreak a recess was taken and the colonel, flinging himself down on a couch, slept for an hour, it be awoke, Alvarez was site. ting at the table, calmly shuffling the c rds, "If you ere sufficiently refreshed, senor," he said, "we will continue our game" "I regret to have kept you waiting, sir!" responded the colonel, and ris- ing he walked stiffly to the table. They eut, and the Spaniard. drew the high card. From that time on, Ramon's luck never waned. Occasion- ally it fluctuated, but hi the end he won.• The tattle before him was soon heaped With .eelenel's I. O. Ude, .ands other promissory memoranda, .,The, garlands of fortune bave white i leaves," said Alvarez an 1 ebowed his. teeth in a fleeting smile. ' - The colonel threst out his handl slowlti covered he little pile of paper, and eriirntble + .t In his fingers. His eyes' hunted. "We are westing tamti*, sir" he r;iid, o f e are rot :'old eitoegh!" of friendship. But though he eonformed punetili- uusly to the code of his day—and it was a very punctilious code—'he could not help but feel within himself those impulses and emotions which no amount of •social discipline could era- dicate from his heart. Beneath a calm and imperturabable exterior he a dislike for the elegant earez t at grew s ortly to absolute hatred. The cleverness of the roan ,in avoiding any suspicion of impropriety, the cool impudence with which he wooed the colonel's wife under the colonel's very nose, aroused in the latter a desire to destroy Alvarez body and soul. In addition, Colonel. Philip was tortured abominably by that baffling sense of Sophia's niets- tery, by the enigmatical smile that was like a veil upon her spirit. At times he was consumed with horrid fears and would have taken a grim joy in questioning her outright con- cerning her attitude toward Alvarez; but that, of course, was ,impossible. The tremendous strain of repression under whicth he now lived found an outlet in but' - one channel. Sines he could not employ his strength, he in- dulged his weakness. He would go to town and play for days. His skill at the gaining -table, however, lead en- tirely deserted him. He played reck- lessly and lost large sums—almost invariably to Alvarez, for, the latter alone would gamble for the stakes ,;he named. So overpowering did these become, indeed, that one night Judge Oldmaster, taking his courage in his hands, ventured. to suggest a limit to the wagers -a thing without precedent in the history of the Planters' Hotel. Colonel Philip, sedate and self-pos- sessed as always, agreed without pro- test to the new ruling. In the morn- ing., however, when the game was con- cluded, be drew Alvarez' aside . and proposed that they continue to play mane. "You, sir," said the colonel blandly, "are a sportsman: after my own no- tion. Let us sit down together, with- out limit or' restriction, and see whom good fortune will' favor." "Mat is ,agreeable. to me," retained Alvarez, mooting the colonel's 'pene- trating glance with a cool unite, "especially as fortune is, according to the tvraters of mythology, a goddess of get beauty." 'y - -..�,,cupon zap yo-lonel engaged a r ivate room and theybegan to , p �a :a1ay. At the end of six hours the colonel had 'Get heavily. His composure, however, had not been - disturbed in the least, nor apparently had he suf- fr:ed the slightest physical fatigue.. lie'sat irk a man of iron, sn,olring sled Al h h • •,.Whaat do y tau nrei o�f'senor?" � . • The ee;ere.'> Meed grew grim. "Yon -own pr,?petty on this river, S,, de I With t'en ntlo..ey that you. nave tet.: f •,'re, a, e : r possessions are adireit eoetne., 1 stirs staff;., my entire thio;-ngs. sire -with the exception of the oak that bears the Gardiner or-" ehiii—eatittist your I ev.iuie the -'ak :+ riientimertai reaeone. Other- wise.: coy whine forteee is pieced on the hoard. itnete. -°r. What do you „art' "It in :a herine wager." , spied Alvarez stea+l,'t. ''But grass ea have saga este l it—I aeeept otl!erclainie.:l s o ore eaten and :akin; penell and paper ne wrote out an informal need of gift for his ancestral estate, making reeserva..ur. only as to the oak tree. This tlou- rnent he paced in the centre of the table. Alvarez diel likewise; then tali-. ing up the cards, he shuffled them and passed thele to the colonel. The hatter, deliberately drew one. It was the jack of clubs." t "That is excellent." said Alvarez.'' He extended his hand, looked straight into the colonel's eyes and turned up—' the king of hearts. Colonel Philip Gardiner rose from i his chair with a dignity that would' have graced the coronation of an eiu peror. PIacing. his right hand upon his breast, he bowed superbly to the Spaniard, "You have won, sir. Our' game is finished. If you will call; upon me tomorrow—shall we say be -f tween three and five?—I will maker arrangements to grant you full title to cod day, sir]" ray possessions I wish you a very g So saying, Colonel Philip, holding' himself proudly erect, passed froml the room. He walked at his usual. leisurely pace down the stairs and in -q to the street. His dugout was wait- ing for him .at the town . wharf. He: epee in , an in ue •ime rear - ed home. He went directly to its i st d tat d d t h wife's room and knocked on her door. Sophia herself opened it, She was in negligee, and her hair hung down her back in two long braids. A won -1 derful Spanish shawl of heavy silk em- broidered with crimson flowers, fell from her shoulders to her feet. She was inexpressibly beautiful. (To be continued.) The Chinese Way. The inhabitants of the Flowery Land, it seems, are not immune, any more than the natives of less favored countries, .from the attentions of cer- tain very active insects; but -they are much more ingenious in dealing with them. ' They have invented a kind of little trap, which they place. in their beds and elsewhere! The ,main principle of this trap is that it contains a sticky rerface, which. effectually trammels the feet of the strongest and most 'active insect that ventures upon it. There are charit- able societies in China, instituted for the purpose of supplying these traps. to poor people, and many persons gain their livelrily od by calling round re• gularly to renew the sticky surface of the traps. Thrift in the Sanctuary, An English periodieal tells the story of a minister who' was asked to supply for a Sunday or two in a quiet • country. village.. When he went to the echurcle the verger met him and asked him to preachfrom the chancel: "Why, my good man?" he inquired. "Well, it's like this," said the verger I 'ave a deck in the pulpit: sitting on 2ottrteen eggs," ;fg Promote Legibility,. in the interest'. of legibility Some English. schools are teaching penman- ship pupils a modern farm of "the print writing used in the fifteenth century, -r - — lfiirtertler- nintaznetit Cares Diphtheria • tient eireinatian- NE.W Y. M. C. A, AT GAMBOL • This new $43,000. railway Y.M,C.&., now under construction by Canadian national Railways, will --mean nnteb to the inhabitants of the little radii°ay town of Capreol, which has sprang up during the last five years, on the main line of Canadian t'ationnl Railsr. s between Termite .an•t ,Winnipeg, and now boastsof a population of between five and six hundred railway employees who with their families have loeatcd°'there, It w-:1 "irovide a community centre where the people may meet together in a social lvay, and hold meetings and concerts., + The new "y" will undoubtedly iIII a wide gap in the lila of Capreol in providing a community eentro or clubhouse, with its library, billiard room, writing nein, cafeteria anti large nraiu hall or rotunda, which could be used to exeellent ad`antat,c for a lecture, concert, dello, or any large comtnuaity nattering. :* The building bas arconcrete founilatien, its Pouter walls are of brick finished with stucco and the sloped roof is covered withcedar shingles. There s a Sarge lower and upper verandah acrose the front, supported by a portico of four pillars, and from the centre of the lower ver'ndah one enters throu b. a vestibule into the main rotunda, in the centre of which and opposite the door, in ;a spaeioes alcove, is a large brick .fireplace. Just to the left of tine entrance the menagerie room and oleo is situated, while itamediately to the left is the library and reading Toone Reek of the library, "separated from the rotutuia by pillars, there is a large billiard room and a games room. An open writing room is also provided at the back of the rotunda between the alcove and games roont. To the left of the rotnndn, between two columns, one enters the dining room or e:ifeteria,from width, through swing doors, access to the lrtehe'i is obtained. The main stairs are situated at the itaek of the main hall between the linclu:a and au alcove, Where there is also a street entrance to, the'building,. :i simple treatment of stucco h,•ams with a plain cornice mould and plaster eolui:els is used throughout the main floor. The Roar is finished with c..' , s dile partitloz s and trim are of Georgia pine s+dined and varnisbed. Qn tete Feeond fiber there are'' l`;t bo.lranuts, a sick bay, large toilet and bathroom en1 Them Closets, and from tit? corridors. there are, (alts to .four balconies, wlaieh may 1'e used es sleeping porches, end wo'n't prove useful in ease of ere, On the third zloor there are also as single rooms, a double rooni. large toilet ami S'nen closets and acees to haleon?es from the eorridor, . • Provision bee ;Ila Iron vele for two bowling al; ys, which will be put in later. w: ,a§ca.vtar.s*n::1,., - xM'T:,T^M:,.axa,t,,xM^a-. ^a Aatrx':':,�+nc,er ,xan,K7.N+=g1caw".rx,73.,^7,rr,.z..-•, o+ec Gaels Who Make }f_elticf. " I cart's mane out whet I've sleets to ondereil -1 lLi rson," ray ehum Paris ser .wed ale min Cray. 'Re seemed .o ir.ereetecl, end new I rr Tay think Fie gore out of leis way t,a zvaime." We are both in the sante office.and Jim is one of the nicest -Tanking .leen there, art! I had hotted that the inter- est he evinced for Doris night enc day develop into something more seri- ous. "What about Mabel?" I suggested. "I know you will never listen to me. when I try to tell you she's not a true' friend, hut I think you'll find that she's at the root of the trouble," And what I saki turned out fo be true. I found out afterwards that Mabel, who was very keen on Jini her- self, had, with sugar-coated cattiness, chaffed him about Doris, and the ef- fect on Jim, who was only beginning to be attracted had been to t f hten him off. I wonder how many romances are spoilt in the early stages because girls 1 of one's acquaintance, under the guise of light-hearted banter, are deliber- ately spiteful, and tease a man out of his fondness for another girl by mak- ing him feel awkward and shy? There are so many ways in which a girl can easily ieake mischief if 'she wishes to. She may put into her friend's mouth words Doris would never have dream- ed of saying. Silly little intimate. things that have been told her by an over -confiding Doris and exaggerated tenfold. She may say something in the most subtly innocent way possible which conveys to him the idea that the girl in whom he is interested has been bragging about his attentions. She may hint that she is already "booked," or may leave the impression in his mind that he is being made fun of. There is nothing the average man hates more than being laughed at, and the natural effect of this is to make him cool off. And there is nothing annoys the girl who is 'beginning so fall in Iove with someone more than to:.feel that her every attitude is being watched. She feels self-conscious and: shy, and the, result of being "chipped" is that she. will be cold and frigid in her manner and a misunderstanding may arrive which willenever be cleared up., It is not only girl. friends who make mischief. In many, many cases sisters are behind a broken romance.* It is so easy for a sister to find the weak- est spot in a.girl's armour, and if she doesn't approve of heft useher knowl- edge for all she is worth. If she is really out to end things, she can; with the help of a mother and few relations snake things so un-' pleasant that, in spite of a dawning' fondness forthe man, the girl is only] too gird to see the last of him and,; his people. So, girls, don't be catty! You may try to appease your conscience with eatcuse that you were only jolting,+ never really meant anything, but you know quite well that ,you did. Even if you are jealous,try to re- member that by deliberately interfer- ing in a budding romance and separ- ;sting the lovereLt, ' t cif. citta :` s; ici"in or C't srwist reel a'e reseen ?`t . en eta eesif. :tn.! t:_; re is the ..,aa ,....trip in to e .. whir. Oen nee yet! t . v.the ,',n teed we tnic;...tt as your own. ratio !y encrer , ,k, We are a laigen fit. l -s nave had good: time : t , w::` to : a snbskribe.. tet , . ' 111 not 'e ,u now until e sant:'-e; • o we a.,- milk- ing a sect: h:oll« to help us remember what our parents have told ne a:iout the family and what we want to Leets fresh in mind of our men days in the old home. We are using a spring cover and loose leave - so that et any time any one of cls eau take out cer- tain pages without interfering with the Important part, which we intend to keep together. -In the front are the genealogy and. copies of our grandfathers' and grand- mothers' and great-grandfathers' and great-grandmothers' pictures. Then there is a brief, typewritten history of the few faral y relics—grand- (lather's hunting knife and Great - Aunt Editha's beads, and the rest. Next come the pictures of father and. mother, andthe printed accounts of their wedding and of other important events in their liven. Then come our own pages, on which all of our photo- graphs are kept, so that here and there are groups of snapshots of each of us: John when he was a curly - headed baby, and ,Toseph riding the cultivator, and Clarkson in his new uniform. , There are our graduating programmes,and the poems we wrote in college --and laugh over now! There are snapshots of the house and: the well and the road,-apd of some of the trees we loved best; ,and there are Blackie, the horse we rode, and ¢Villa, our dog. It will be a very interesting book to look at years from now; and I„ think, too, that it will help us to keep up the'tradivtioes; and the spirit of our old home. Insects 'on House Plants. Plants grown in the house inwin- ter do not•have the vigor they have in the summer or as the days get longer_ in theearly spring, and they are much more subject to insect at- tacks, or rather they are much easier injured by them. Insects are always present in most collections and it is the constant attention given their plants by some growers that keeps them healthy, rather than the lack of insects. They keep ^t the insects reduc- ed to ` the minimum . by preventive. measures. * Hot soapsuds is.the handiestinsec- ticide which most of us have to work withe,and if we will give the plants that permit it a good: washing every wash day we . will . not be ' bothered. much by any of the common pests. As this is a busy day many will prefer to make a suds 'just for the purpose, andfor such •I would suggest the ease of whale oil soap, oe fir tree oil soap, as they have special: value as.insecti- cides, Fir tree oil has the same qual- ities, and is somewhat easier to handle than the soap, as it mixes with water by the simple process of pouring it irto s= aetseli Thee will rid plantia Gasoline sold fax 6 cents a 't,:'a:, reel sp,.l, shale. and aro r an li=tl8, t+.. i°ii'c . i. • ";1 ne .. ":..i' to at -a ,.�.,.�.-.,.._,..� ,.._.. to:off:: h ..t, ;a". :' Pr mealy eer et,.eeiee t t_ • a a l in ap- th,' T.r,lt •i, r.i. ,a# gi,c,ew: ti°`. i;ru h - s ,sell hire by . !: I in ;, hzre, they a±. ' eeett net 'heir 1; ',lies wet E r neepine t. -r. , est a gift Camel 'try,'" '^ret 'a: i beet. :linen* h: g dog; �, tittirett term, are en tine meet be treerie l with the fir ree t'il ends, hut dei it car: tel y,. ant then rinse tha ?en vee with clear wt tor ani In care- ful. to get ei! s hp•as water enonged tar re "tis' ' ,r, n .t•la. eoo•i ""aiif. ''s s k tl, :+. have .,t,'r 11r.it offer .Title::et tre.il.Ie . I bave :'een and igen the teener. hrente lhr"rned when not i Er'ot* sit it �4D ',,,-t, s die =us 't at t)ii ferns or'. peens it is heard tet met rid of, es- } ciniiy on -the feels. as every scale must be di t1o,iged fr" positive effects.' Still keeping it up seen without muck brushing will finally got them all. Some may be secure eaiii time, but at some time they will be so that the I ail all penetrate t -'i diem, I Rea Spider is pi,:.hahiy the'most de- structive house ins: st, as it is so min tete it is never noticed until the plants are so bardly infested that they are it almost past saving. When the leaves begin to lookrusty and yellow. and to drop, then they have about finished the plant. Because of this it is best to give the plants a thorough clean- ing every. week or two. - Cards. Worth Keeping. Are many pedple preserving the Chr'istmas . greetings which they re- ceived from the f-r'ont in 1914-18?. They are certainly worth keeping for his- torical, no less than personal, reasons. In 1914 there was .a run on cigar - boxes, and many people in this coun- try had delivered to 'them finely - carved lids of such receptacles. Coins were subsequently used to the same end by some of our soldiers, and many a bit of aluminum was beaten Vat arid made to bear a Christmas greeting to the folk at home. In some units the men combined and produced au annual, on the front of which was printed the old, old wish. One was the Winnipeg Mlles, which, for at least two years in succession, brought out the "Trench Echo." Another device was to send home the menu of the Christmas dinner. Usually •though,''designed on the spot; it was printed -in England, and only needed a few words scribbled on it to }hake an interesting "card:" In 1918; at Steenbecque, the 2 -15th Transport Section, R.A.S.C., did an eight -page menu which thus served a double pure pose. • When, too, the war seemed to have settled down into a -permanent thing, whole div:sions went in for a develop- ment of that great Army institution, the regimental Christmas carts. Some of the divisional greetings were real works af. art. Perhaps the most singular, Christ- mas "card" of the war was one print ed at Salonica. ,It wee a four-page Ieaflet setting forth the achievements of the British forces there, with blanks at the end for the name of the sender and that of the addressee. Plenty of fresh fair isnecessar Keep the `hens busy to' keep them' warm. ga it SCHOOL far NURSING Tke ,Tertian Hoi prim, Plymouth, Blase.. Beautifully situated in 12 erre%, of land overlooking the •ata, offers to udnratr,l ; +•oag woman' i. ts:a year and niic aeon hie coarse in tinr•vng, two to four months of which aro spent In a largo Boston hospital. dordnn Heeuital has a ••opacity oft 67 Ueda. Modern Rouse for ISarsesn,, separate from the hospital. Clausen atitnitted tobruary ana October ase utaaiiv. Prospectus of School sant Tose epeucetion. L.°tura E. Coleman, Supt. All grades. Write far prices.. • TORONTO SALT WQ,FI;f($ Q..1, CLIFF • - TORONTO DYED CHILD'S . COAT AND HER OLD SPIT Diamond Dyes Made Faded, Shabby Apparel so Fresh and New. Don't worry about perfect results. Use "Diamond Dyes," guaranteed to give a new, rich, fadeless color to any fabric, whether it be wool, silk, linen, cotton or mixed goods, -- dresses, blouses, stockings, skirts, children's coats, feathers, draperies, coverings, everything. The Direction Book with each pack- age tells how to diamond dye over any color. To match any material, have dealer show you "Diamond, Dye" Color Card. Assessment System , Whole Family Insurance. The Order furnishes insurance to its tnembees at Ontario Government Stand- ard;rates. Sick and Funeral Benefits are also 'given' if desired. The Juvenile Department furnishes the best pos`aible insurance benefits to the children of our adult members. The Order has already paid over $660,- 000,00 in Sick and Funeral Benefits, and rsneailyurance. Seven Millions of Dollars' in In- ' n- 600 Councils in Canada. If there is snot one in your locality there should be. For full information write to any of ithe ,following Officers: J. L, Davidson, W.: F. Montague, GraCiGrnR.ecodor W, F. Campbellndounc , llor J. Ha.d Bell,. Mr.D.' Grand Organizer. Grand Med. HAMILTON - ONTARIO Minard'o'tinineut Cares Cello, to. When Fatigued -cupofOXO Is both re- freshing and, lnvigdrating. Ready in a min- ute—the minute a you want it. Trifle., �! Q a i.i. z. . 25 , g 5 8 25. r