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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1913-02-13, Page 79 c c WJNI; A)1 TO! ES, FEBRUARY 13 i51i i* Purified BY 6•' MARY J. by Suffering •v6464-645446A546e66.•46 6354k. HOLMES, end was it a very wicked place? To all these queries Mattie answer.. ed readily. She presumed ICaty would- be there, as it was a new ii•opera. It wits not very fair. Dls- tance in the city was nothing, and dfthetit was not a wicked place but over would cost ost mo re than ol her er fa h a price Mattie faltered, Tickets sfor Aunt Betsy,herself andTotwho ofcour cmust go withthe; to give. The theatre was preferable, .as that came within their means, .and she suggested Wallack's, but from that Aunt Betsy recoiled as from Pandemonium itself. "Catch her at a theatre --a deacon's :sister, looked up to for a sample, .and who run once for Vice -President of the Sewing Society in Silverton! It was too terrible to think of." But the opera seemed different. Helen event there; it could not be very Wrong, pau•tieula.ly as the tickets nere so high, and taking out her purse, Aunt Betsy counted its con- tents carefully, holding the bills thoughtfully for a moment, while she :seemed to be balancing between what she knew was safe and what she fear - ,ed might be wrong, at least in the eyes of Silverton. "But Silverton will never know it," the tempter whispered, "and it js worth something to see the girls in full dress." This last decided it, and Aunt Bet• :sy generously offered "to pay the fid - eller, provided 'Tilde would never lot .it get to Silvan ton, that Betsy Bar- low was seen inside a play -house!" "Co Mrs, Tubbs it seemed impossible that Aunt Betsy could be in earnest, but when she found she was, she put no impediments in her way; and so, Conspicuous among the crowd of trausicnt visitors who that night en- tered the Academy of Music was Aunt Betsy Barlow, chaperoned by Miss . •Mattie Tubbs, and protected by Tom, a shrewd, well -grown youth of seven- teen, who passed for some years (Ad- der, and consequently was a sufficient ,escort forrthe ladies under his charge. 'This Mettle pointed out to the ex - •cited woman gazing about her in a laze of bewilderment, and half doubting her own identity with the Betsy lie: low who, six weeks before, .If charged with such a sin as she Was now committing, would have ex - 'claimed: "Is thy servant a dog, to •do this tiling?" Yet hero she was, a deacon's sister, a candidate for the Vice -Presidency of the Silverton Sew- ing Society, a woman who, for six- ty-three years and a half, had led a blameless life, frowning upon all' Worldly amusements and setting her - •self for a burning light to others— here she was in her black dress, her best shawl pinned across her chest, .and her bonnet tied in a square bow which reached nearly to her ears. Here She Was, in that huge building, Where the lights were so blinding, and the crowd so great that she shut ,her eyes involuntarily, while she tried to realize Mutt she could be doing. "I'm in for it now, anyhow, and if it is wrong may the good Father for - !give mc," she said softly to herself, just as the orchestra struck up, thrilling her with its ravishing :strains, and making her forget all 'else in her rapturous delight, t She was r cry fond of music, and listened eagerly, beating time with both her feet. and making her bonnet go up and down until the play coan- tnencecl and she saw stage dress and stage effect for the first time in her life. This part she did not like ; "they mumbled their words so no- body could under stand more than if they spoke a heathenish tongue." she thought, and she was begbening to yawn when a nudge front Mettle and A COLD However Slight 1 MAY TURN INTO BRONCHITIS. tou should never neglect a cold, how or slight. If you do not treat it in thus it Will, in all possibility, develop into tb $nchitis, pneumonia, asthma, or some d't ler serious throat or lung trouble. On the9rstsign of ac old or cough it is s afhisable to cure it at once, sad 'net lee it run on for an indefinite period. Per this purpose there is nothing to ether Dr. Wood's Norway Pine Syrup, 111 tltmedy that has been universally used for theast twenty-five p y five years. 1 too do not experiment when you get it. t Mrs. Louis Lalonde, Pehetanguishe]le; 4int., writes:—'(When my little boy was t*6 years old he caught a cold Which 1 turned into bronchitis. I tried every. a 'tiling to cure' him, even to doctor's meth. shit, but it .did hon no ,good. One day I (Was advised to give Dr. Wood's N'ortiay Rae Syrup a trial, and before he had half n brittle used, he was cured. I would at. , CIO all filothers to try it, olitgoOit reIulth '•06' 4ill follo*. M home is i1. . !�� y titer �Yi6dlriit 1lee that you get "Dr. Wood's," as 'Mike are numerous imitations. It ill �tII up in a yellow wrapper, 3 pine trees it l' trade tiiaik; the price, 25 and 5di ; 1 4 e>'Jt'ts, Mattufe4aure! only by Tbe T. ( d ibutin Co., ',Lief 4Ri, `ort** r n a whisper: ••'t nere they conte,'' rous- ed her from ]ler stupor, and. looking up she saw both Helen and Katy en- tering their box, and with then, Mark Ray and Wilford Cameron, 'Very rapidly Katy's eyes' swept the house, running over the sea of heads below, but falling to see the figure which, h h, ue i 1 f rising }Stn 1'0122 f its g scat stood gazing upon her, the tears r - un Ping lilac rain over the upturned face, and the It s murmuring; "Darling Katy! blessed child! She's thinner than when I see her last, but oh! so beautiful and grand! Precious lamb- kin! ft isn't wicked now for inc to be coining here, where I can see her face again." It was all in vain that Mettle pull- ed her dress, bidding her sit down as People wore staring at her, Aunt Betsy did not hear, and if she had ' she would scarcely have cared for those who, following her eyes, saw the beautiful young ladies, behind whom Wilford and Mark were stand- ing, but never dreamed of associat- ing thele with the "crazy thing" who sank back at last into her seat, keeping her eyes still upon the box where Helen and Katy sat, their heads uncovered, and their cloaks. falling off just enough to show the astonished woman that their necks were uncovered too, while Helen's arms, raised to adjust her glass, were discovered to be in the same condi- tion, "Aint they splendid in full 'dress!" Mattie whispered, wljile Aunt Betsy replied: "Call that full dress? I'd sooner say it was no dress at all! 'They'll catch their death of cold. What would their mother say?" Then, as the enormity of the act grew upon her, she continued more to herself than to Mottle: "I mistrusted Catherine, but that Helen should come to this passes inc.'• Still, as she became more accus- tomed to it, and glanced at other full -dressed ladles, the first shock passed away, and she could calmly contemplate Katy's. 'dress, wondeeing what it cost, and then letting her eyes past on to Helen, to whom Mark Ray seemed so lover -like that Aunt Tk'tse remembered her impres- skins when he stopped at Silverton, her heart swelling with pride as she thought of both the girls making out co well, "Who is that young man talking to !leiter."' Mattie asked, between the tu':s, and when told it "was Mr. Ray. Wilford's partner," she drew her breath eagerly, and turned again to watch him, envying the young girl who did not seen as much grati- fied with the attentions as Mattie fancied she should be were she hi Helen's plade. How could she, with Juno Camer- on just opposite, watching her jeal- ously, while Madam Cameron fanned herself indignantly, refusing to look upon what she so greatly disapprov- ed. But Mark continued his attentions until Helen wished herself away, and though a good deal surprised, was not sorry when Wilford abruptly de- clared the opera a bore, and suggest- ed going home. They would order an ice, ho said, and have a much pleasanter time in their own private parlor. "Please not go; I like the play to- night," Katy said; but on Wilford's face there was that look which never consulted Kitty's wishes, and so the two ladles tied on their cloaks, and just as the curtain rose in the last act, left their box, While Aunt Betsy looked wistfully after them, but did not suspect she was the cause of their exit, and of Wilford's perturba- tion. Running his eyes over the house below, they had fallen upon the trio; Aunt Betsy, Mettle, and Tom, the' first of whom was at that moment partly standing, while she adjusted her heavy shawl, which the heat Of the building had compelled her to un- fasten. There was a start, a rush et blood to the head and face, and then he re- flected how impossible it was that she should be there, in New York, and at the opera, too. The shawl arranged, Aunt Betsy took her seat and turned her fate: fully towards hint, While Wilford seiz- ed' Katy's glass and leveled it at her. Be was not mistaken. It was Aunt Betsy Barlow, and Wilford felt the r perspire tion oozing out beneath his hair and about,his lips, as he remem- bered the letter he had burned, Wish- ing now that he had answered it, end so, perhaps, have kept her from. his door. 1"or she was conning there, naw, possibly had come, Since his de- partu a ft oat home, and learning his whereabouts had tollowed on to the Academy of Music, leaving her bag- gage where ho should stumble over it on entering the hall. Such was the fearful pleturtir con- e jure( up by Wilford's imagination, a!x o ua stood watching poor Aunt Betsy, T t dark cloud on his broi3' and fierce f anger• at his heart, that she should thus presume to worry tad annoy nitree elf she spies us sate Will be (hiding her way up here; there's no piece of eTrontet;v of which that class is not capable," he thought, wondering next who the vulgar looking' girl and Cloche youth Were Who *ere with her, "Country cousins, Of whoi t t have never heard, no doubt," and he ground hie teeth together ad with his next breath he suggested going home, arrying out his suggestion and here ;wing both Helen and Katy to the •arringe as if sonic horrible dragon ad been on their track. There was no baggage In the hal there had been no woman there, an Wilford's fears for a time subsided but grew strong again about th time he knew the opera was out while the sound of wheels conning to 1; which took all her sense away d Trembling like a leaf when Matti , ox• tailed that the "two slice men e %%Ito had dragged her r to the with were police )tree uAlrers, and thittkin again of the subpoena, the frighten wards his door was sufficient t make his heart stop beating, an every hair prickle at its roots. OutAunt3 Betsy did not come ex e(ptin o� 1111f !cls dreams, which d ea Pts, she haunted the entire night, so that the meriting found hint tired, moody and cl oss. '1'h(a clay they entertained a seect dinner party, and as this was something in which Katy excelled, while Helen's presence, instead of de- traeting from, would add greatly to the oelat of the affair, Wilford had antiripatecl it with no small degree of complacency. But now, alas, there was a phantoxn at his side—a skeleton of horror, wearing Aunt Betsy's guise; and if it had been pos- c•ible he would have given the dinner emp. But it was too late fee that; h guests the g l lS wet•(! ))irt.(Ieri. the arrange- ments meuts made, and there was nothing now for him but to abide the conse- quences. "She shall at least stay in her room, if I have to lock her int," ho th:,ug-ht. as he went down to his of- fice without kissing Katy or bidding her good-bye. Business that day had no interest for hint, and in a listless,, absent Way he sat watching the passers-by less it were that, disappointed in bier e call on Mrs..00eneron, she vaguely t „ hoped far some redress by calling on is airs. I an or Idaw thenn was sin g chagrined, when, as the stage left ! m",e d�1 them itt a handsome brown stone ! w. tat, 34+ 44,•Apit i'1 n ed woman who had ,escaped such d peril, followed up the two Bights o stairs and into Wilford's ofTlt'ie, whet' ,:he stink breathless into ata a chair 1 r athU( Mark, not in the least l a4t ail posed, greeted her cordially, an very Iy soon succeeded in getting he quiet, bowing so graciously to Mat tie when introduced that the poo girl dreamed h as e. r, r of hint for many a ' ynigh told by day built castles of who night lave been had she been rich instead of only 'Tilde, Tubbs, otos home was on the Bowery. Why nee Aunt Betsy in her introduction have trent lotted .that fact? Matt to thought, her cheeks burning scarlet; 0m' why need she afterwards speak of her as "Tilde, who was kind enough to come with her to the office where she hope (C 1 to lfud 'Wilford? lfol(l. 10 • vl Mettle, tits sho 0 1?nrw some things very well, but she had never yet conceived the immea- steeable distance between herself and Mark Ray, who cared but little whether her home were on the Bow- el y 0? en Murray Ilii, after the ti st eeeht which told him what she rr•a1R, •'lb•. Cameron has jest left the of - nes acct will not return to -day," he -aid to Aunt Betsy, tasking it he annul@ assist her in any way, and as - seeing her of his willingness to do and glancing at his door as if he ex- pected the first assault to be made there. Then, as the day wore on, and he felt sure that what he so much dreaded had really come to pass, that tho baggage expected last night had certainly arrived by this time and spread itself over his house, .he could endure the suspense imp long- er, and startled' Mark with the an- nouncement that he was going home, and should not return again that day. "Going home, when Leavit is to call at three!" Mark said in much surprise, and feeling that it would be a relief to unburden himself to some one, the story came out that Wilford had seen Aunt Betsy at. the opera, and expected to. find her at Madison Square, I wish I•had answered her letter about that confounded sheep pas- ture," ho said, "for I would rather give a thousand dollars—yes, ten thousand—than have her with us to- day. I did not marry my wife's re- lations," he continued, excitedly, adding, as Mark looked quickly up: "Of course I don't mean Helen. Neither do I mean that doctor, for he is a gentleman. But this Barlow woman—oh! Mark, I ant all of a dripping sweat just to think of it." He did not say what he intended 'doing, but with Mark Ray's ringing laugh in his ears, passed into the street, and hailing a stage was driv- en towards home, just as a down town stage deposited on the walk in front of his office "that Barlow wo- man" and Mattie Tubbs! CHAPTER XXVI, Aunt Betsy did not rest well after her return front the opera, Novelty and excitement always kept her awake, and her mind was not wholly at ease with regard to what she had. done. Not that she really felt she had committed a sin, except so far as the example might be bad, but she feared the result, should it ever reach the Orthodox church at Silver- ton. "There's no telling what Deacon Bannister would do—send a subpoena after me, for what I know," she thought, as she laid her tired head upon her pillow and went off into a weary state, half way between sleep and wakefulness, in which operas, play -actors, Katy in full dross, Helen and Mark Ray, choruses, music by the orchestra, to which she had been guilty of beating her foot, Deacon Bannister, and the .whole offended brotherhood, with constable and subpoenas, were pretty equally blend- ed.'together. But with the daylight her fears subsided, and at the breakfast table sho was hardly less enthusiastic over the opera than Mottle herself, aver- ring, however, that "once would do her, and she had no wish to go again." , The sight of Katy had awakened all the olden intense,love she had felt for her darling, and she could not wait much longer without seeing her. "Hannah and Lucy, and amongst 'em, advised me not to come," she said to Mrs. Tubbs, "and they hint- ed that I might not be wanted up there; but now I'nY here I shall go, if I don't stay more than an hour," "Of course I should," Mattie an- swered, herself anxious to stand be- neath Wilford Cameron's roof, and see VI's. Wilford at home. " She don't.•Iook as proud& as Xtelea, and you are her aunt, her blood kin; why shouldn't you go there if you like?" "I shall.—I am going," Aunt Betsy eplied, feeling that to take Mattie With her was not quite the thing, and not exactly knowing how to manage, for the girl must of course pilot the Way. " I'll risk it and trust to Providence," was her final decision, and so after an early lunch she started out with Mattie as her escort. suggesting that they visit Wilford's office first, and get that af- fair off her mind. • At this point Aunt Betsy began to sok upon herself as a most harden - d wretch, wondering at the depths f iniquity to which she had fallen, 1‘ he opera was the least of her of- s ences, for was she not harboring pride and contriving bent to be rid e of 'Tilde Tubbs, as clever a girl as ever lived, hoping that if she. found -Wilford. he would see her home, and • is so save 'Tilde. the trouble? Play ( h hbuses, pride, vanity, subterfuges and i deceit—it was a long catalogue she 1 Would have to Confess to Deacon Bannister, if confess she did, and s with a groan the conscienceesteittert woman followed her conductor along the Streets, And at lust into the stage which took them to Wilford's oalcd, Broadway Was literally .jathmed that day, and the aid of tWo Police'. men Was required to extricate the be- wildered countrywoman from the mass of vehicles and horses' heads, a h front, near Fifth Avenue Hotel, Mark f said to her, as if she were not of O course expected to go in: •'Please tell yourt h, 11. tt o t t 11 flt Miss 1.1 ni. Barlow cl is r- stopping with Mrs. Banker to -day. Has she baggage at your house, if ✓ so. we will send round for it at once. Your timelier, please?" ✓ Ills manner {vats so offhand and yet so that, politei Mattie t' cl JC CUal < n litter t resist hinm, nn,• be angry, though there was a pant; of alsappaintauent at let' heart as.she gave the required d number, and then shook Aunt Ikt- set's hand, whispering in it choked voice: "You'll come to .us again before you go home?" With it good-bye to Mark, whose bow v atonedo f 1 .tA •tea t deal, ,f 1 Mettle e r r' allcrelt sit r vlr away, yleas 1 1g Mark greatly relieved. Aunt Betsy was as much as he cared to have on his hands at once, end as- he led her up the steps, he begun to wonder mom's and more what his mother would say to his bringing that stranger into her house, tulbklden and unsought. "i'll tell her the truth," las his rapid decision, and assuming a man- ner which warned the servant who answered his ring neither to be curie Aunt Betsy could talk with him better than with Wilford, and was about to give hint the story of the sheep pasture, in detail, when, mo- tioning to a side door, he said : "Walk in here, please. You will not be liable to so many interruptions," "Come, 'Tilde, it's no privacy," Aunt Betsy' said; but 'Tilde felt in- tuitively that site was not wanted, and rather haughtily declined, amus- ing herself by time window, while Aunt Betsy in the private office told her troubles to Mark: Ray, and re- ceived in return the advice to let the claimant go to law if he chose; he probably woulal make nothing by it; even if he did, she would not sus- tain a heavy loss, according to her own statement of the value of the land. "if I could keep the sweet apple tree, I wouldn't care," Aunt Betsy said, "for the rest ain't worth a law- suit; though it's my property, and I have thought of willing it to Helen, if she ever marries." Here was a temptation which Mark Ray could not resist. , Ever since Mrs. General Reynolds's party Hel- en's Manner had puzzled him; but her shyness only made him more in love than ever, while the rumor of her en- gagement with Dr. Morris tormented hint continually. Sometimes he be- lieved it, and sometimes he did not, wishing always that he knew for cer- tain. Here titan was a chance for confirming his fears or for •putting them at rest, and blessing 'Tilde Tubbs for declining to enter his back office, he said in reply to Aunt Bet- sy's "If she ever harries"—"And of course: she will. She is engaged, I believe?" "Engaged! Who toe When? Strange she never writ, nor Katy neither," Aunt Betsy exclaimed while Mark, raised to an ecstatic state, re- plied: "I refer to Dr. Grant. haven't they been engaged for a long time past?" "Why—no—indeed," was the re- sponse, and Mark could have hugged the good old lady, who continued in a confidential tone: "I used to think they'd make a good match; but I've gin that up, and I sometimes mis- trust 'twos Katy Morris wanted. Anyhow, he's mighty changed since she was married, and he never speaks her name. I never heard anybody say so, and maybe it's all a fancy, so you won't mention it." "Certainly not," Mark replied, drawing nearer to her, and continu- ing in a low tone "Isn't it possible that after all Helen is engaged to her cousin, and you do not know it?" "No," and Aunt Betsy grew very positive. ' I ant sure sho ain't, for only t'other day I said to Morris that I wouldn't wonder if Helen and another chap had a hankeria', for one another; and he said he Wished it might be so for you—no, that other chap, I meat—would make a splendid husband," and Aunt Betsy turned very red at the blunder, which made Mark Ray feel as if he walked on air, with no obstacle Whatever in his way. Still he could not be satisfied with- out probing her a. little deeper, and so he' said: "And that other chap? Does he live in Silverton?" Aunt Betsy's look was a sufficient answer; for the old lady knew he was quizzing her, just as she felt that in some way she had removed a stutn- bling-block, . and in the first flush of his joy and gratitude he could do most anything. So when she spoke of going up to Katy's he set him- self industriously at work to prevent it for that day at least. "They were to have a large dinner, party," he said, "and both Mrs. Cameron and Miss Lennox would be Wholly occu- pied. Would it not be better to wait until to -morrow? Did she contem- plate a long stay in New York?" "No, she might go back to -morrow —certainly time day after," Aunt Dot- y replied, her voice trembling at his fresh impediment thrown in the way of her seeing Katy. The quaver in her voice touched fork's sympathy. "She was old and imple-hearted. She was Helen's tunt," and this more than aught Ise, helped him. to a decision. "She must be homesick in the Bowery; he would take her to his' mother's and eep, her until the utorro, and Per - tips until she left for home; telling felon, of course, and then suflerinmg ler to act accordingly." Timis he proposed to his client; to- uring her of his mother's entree wiiliuguess to receive her, and urging SO neatly reasons Why she should go there, instead of "up to Katy's," where they were in Such confusion, that. Aunt BotSy was at last persuade teei, and was Aeon riding up town in a 'Twenty-third Street singe, with Mark Ray her vis-a-rds, and Mattie t her right. Why Mattie Was there tark could not conjecture; and per- aps she did, not know herself un - ons nor impertinent, he conducted his charge into the parlor, and bringing her a chair before the grate, event in quest of his mother, who he found was out. "Kindle a fire then In the front guest -chamber," he said, "and see that it is made comfortable as soon "T s possible," The servant bowed in acquiescence, wondering who had come, and feeling not a little surprised at the descrip- tion given by John of the woman he had let in 'to the house, and who now in the parlor was looking around her in astonishment and delight, con- demning herself for the feeling of homesickness with which she remem- bered ,tiro Bowery, and contrasting her "cluttered quarters" there with the elegance around her, "Was Katy's house as fine as this?" she asked herself, feeling intuitively that such as..site. might be out of place in it, just as she began to fear site was out of her place here, bemoaning the fact that she had forgotten her cap - box, with its contents, and so could not remove her bonnet, as she bind nothing with which to cover her gray head. "What shall I do?" she was asking herself, when Mark appeared, ex- plaining that his mother was absent, but would be at hone in short time. "Your room will soon be ready," he continued, "and meantime you might lay aside your wrappings here if you find them too warm.." There was something about Mark Ray which inspired confidence, and in her extremity Aunt Betsy gasped: "I can't take off my bonnet till I get my caps, down to Mr. Tubbscs. Oh, what a trouble I lie." Not exactly comprehending the na- ture of her difficulty, Murk suggest- ed that she go without a cap until he could send for them; but Aunt Botsi's assertion that "she was grayer than a rat," enlightened hint with regard to her dilemma, and full permission was given her "to sit in her bonnet" until such time as a messenger could go to the Bowery and hack. In this condition she was better in her own room, and as it was in readiness, Mark conducted her to it, the stern gravity of his face putting down the laugh which sprang to the waiting maid's eyes at the old •htdy's ejaculations of surprise that anything could be so fine as the house where she so unexpectedly found herself a guest. "She is unaccustomed to the city, but a particular friend of mine; so see that you treat her with respect," was all the explanation vouchsafed to the curious girl. But that was enough. A friend of Mr. Ray's must be somebody, even if she sat with two bonnets on instead of one, and appeared ten times more rust kc than Aunt Betsy, who breath- ed freer when she found herself alone up stairs, and knew her baggage would soon be there. In some little trepidation Mark paced up and down the pallor wait- ing .for his mother, who crone ere long, expressing her surprise to find him there, and asking if anything had happened that he seemed so ag- itated. "Yes, int hi a deuced scrape," he answered, coming up to her with the saucy, winning smile she could never resist, and continuing: "To begin at the foundation, you know how much 1 aur in lore with Helen Lennox?" "•No, i don't," was the reply, as urs. Bunker removed her fur with the most provoking coolness, "limy should I !now when you have dieter told u•e)" "fiat en't you eyes? ('iln't you see" Don't sou like her yourself!' "Yry ren ;r' tnuah.'' "And aseyouwilling she should be your (lautrhtWr. :,Istria Ire'1 hitt neat around itis moth - el.'s 1'.'te , and b, mu(Iiug his fate to he, t:, Li sell her playfully as he ea.: - ed her the last question. av, mother, are you willing I should harry 1:elrn Lennox?" '('beta Was a struggle' in Wt's, w•'s; 1 eat= t, toad for a moment she felt jealous of the girl who she le 1 goes:<ed wits dearer to her son than 0% or his mother co':ld be again; hitt S. he eels sSUSil)le woman, She , new ihat it was latus: for tutotl em' and as :stronger love to cone betweee her e•ed her boy. She liked Iielen Leto:o . She was: willing to 1117 her am a daughter, and she said so •tt i.t.t, and listened half aniseed and hale excited to the story whieb hail in it so mach of Aunt Betsy Barlow at teat eery moment an occupant of their best guest chamber, wailing for her Nov front the flowery, "Perhaps it was wrong to bring her home," he added, "but I slid it to spare Helen. I knew what a sav- ege Wilford wo 'ld be if he found her three. Say, mother, Was I wrong?" Ile was not often wrong in his mhother's estimation, and erreninly he was not no*, when he kissed her so (To be still ON BANK Proceedinve of Tho FortJw C cc ncAnnual i x« ts er Ai Mooting' of the Sharett;,ld ;rs THD FORTY-SECON.O. ANNUAL GI:XT:IiAL MEETING OF THE DO... MINION BANK was held at the Ilanlcina I:oeze of the Immseitutbon, Toronto, qn Wedneaday, 20th Janurry, 1913. There r, . a Iarc4 number omb r aP shareholders s Irca: t . It was moved by A. W. Austin, seconded by P. W. 'Limber, that Sir ^: Edmun I B. -Osler, M.P., do take the chair, and that Mr. C. A, Bogert do act as Secretary. Messrs. A. It. I:oewell, ICea, and W. Gibson Cassels were appointed scrutineer^, The Secretary Reel the Report of the D'reetors to the Shareholders. and eulrnitted the Annual Statement of the affairs of the Bank, which is as follows :-- r •.a S• _ ills u.mrrc: t,:ad m'::5 The• D:r a, ora beg to submit the Forty-sero^'1 Annual Report of the affairs of tits flank, and the result of its operations far the twelve months ended 31st i)ecember, 1012, which they feel will be received with satisfac- tion by the it:uereholders Balance of Profit and Less Account, 30th December, 1911 $ 500,116. 10 Net prnfltstfor the year, after deducting all charges ural mahing full prov's'on for bad and dot11"f'tl debts 901,529 44 Premium rece;v t of new Capital tel Stocl 2, 6 97 200 3 Making t, total of a 91,698,846 17 Which hes been disposed of as follows : Dividends (quarterly) at Twelve per cent. per an- num . 'MS 636 SS Bonus, Two Per cent 100,000 00 Total distribution to Phareholders of Fourteen per cent, for the veer 9688.530 53- Contribution 3Contribution to (1`flcers' Pension Fund 25,000 00 Transferred to Reserve Fund—Premium on New Stock ..... 297,200 63 1,010,737 16 Balance of Profit and Loss carried forward $ 688,109 01 RESERVE. FUND. Balance at credit of account 30th. December, 1911 Ti'tnsferred from Profit and Less Account $5,702,799 37 297,209 63 $6,000,000 00 There has been a further gratifying increase in the business of the Bank, as evidenced by the figures in the Statement presented. The prosperity of the country and the consequent demand for banking accommodation permit- ted the employment of its funds to unusual advantage throughout the year, ! resulting in earnings sufficient to enable the Directors to distribute a bonus of 2 per cent. in addition to the usual dividend of 12 per cent. To meet the general expansion of business in Canada, in which this Bank continues to participate, your Directors decided to issue to the Shareholders of record of the 15th of February, 1913, a further $1,000,000 of new Capital' Stock, at a premium of 100. This issue is a part of the $5,000,000 of new stock authorized by the Shareholders at the Annual Meeting of the 26th January, 1910, and duly approved by the Treasury Board at Ottawa. Particulars of this allotment will be given forthwith to the Shareholders by circular, When payment of this Issue has been made in full the paid-up Capital of the Bank will amount to $6,000,000, and of the total Authorized Capital of $10,000,000 there will remain unissued $4,000,000. Owing to the growing importance of the Bank's business the Directors • considered It advisable to recommend an increase in their number from nine to eleven, and a by-law will be submitted to you covering this change, You will also be asked to give your sanction to a by-law increasing the remuneration of the Directors, made necessary by these additions to the Board. In connection with Bank Premises the year just closed was one of unusual importance, several transactions of great moment having been brought to completion. You were informed at the annual meeting in 1911 of the purchase of the property on the Northeast corner of King and Yonge Streets, Toronto, for the purposes •of Head Office premises, as your directors were at that time unable to acquire sufficient land immediately adjoining the present site. Last year, however, they succeeded in purcjmasing the property directly south of that now occupied, and extending to Melinda Street, A sale of the northeast corner was subsequently effected at a satisfactory price. Plans have been prepared, and it is the intention to begin active opera- tions at an early date for the erection of .a. building that should meet the Bank's requirements for many years to come. Necessary outlays have been made for improvements to several offices already established, for new Branches opened, and for the purchase of the premises which the Bank has for many years occupied at the corner of Queen ites and alsone secured tat Toronto, Toronto.and , Edmonton South (formerly Strathcona), Elmwood (Winnipeg), and additional property was acquired adjoining our Windsor. Oat., Branch. Branches of the Bank were opened in 1912 as follows ;—In Ontario— Dupont and Christie Streets, Roncesvalles and High Park Avenues, Dufferin Street and Lappin Avenue, Dufferin Street and St. Clair Avenue, Toronto ; By -Ward Market Branch, Ottawa ; and Port Arthur. In the Western Provinces—Swift Current, Moose Jaw (South Hill Branch). Saskatchewan ; Edmonton (First Street Branch). Calgary (River- side Branch), Alberta ; North Vancouver, British Columbia. New Dundee and Melton, Ont., and Wawota, Sask., Branches were closed in 1912. Every Branch of the Bank has been inspected during the year by Head Office officials, specially qualified for such duties, and, as is customary, the Balance Sheet of the 31st December, 1912, _ including the Cash Assets and Investments of the Institution, has been verified by a Committee of your Directors. B. B. OSLER, Toronto, 29th January, 1913. President. The Report was adopted. A by-law was passed authorizing an increase in the number of Directors from nine to eleven. The thanks of the Shareholders were tendered to the President, Vice - President and Directors for their services during the year, and to the General Manager and other Officers of the Bank for the efficient performance of their respective duties. The following gentlemen were duly elected Directors for the ensuing year :—Messrs. A. W. Austin, W. R. Brock. James Carruthers, R. .1. Christie, J. C. Eaton, J. J. Foy. K.C., It1.L. A., E. W. Bomber, H. W. Hutchinson, W. D. Matthews, A. M. Nanton and Sir Edmund B. Osier, M.P. At a subsequent meeting of the Directors Sir Edmund B. Osler. M.P., was elected President, and Mr. W. D. Matthews Vice -President for the ensuing term. GENERAL STATEMENT I,LABILITIES. 'Notes in Circulation Deposits not bearing interest $ 9,564,569 Deposits bearing interest (including interest ac- crued to date) 49,777,866 Deposits made by and balances clue to other Banks in Canada Balances due to Banks in foreign countries. , , Total Liabilities to the Public Capital Stock paid up Reserve I•'unrt . . t e 6,000,000 Balance of Profits carried forward 684,109 Dividend No. 121, payable 2nd eenu'try, 1913 149.092 Bonus, two per rent., payable 2nd January, 1913 100,000 Former Dividends unclaimed 648 Reserved for Rebate on Bills Discounted, Exchange, etc. ASSETS. $5,266,363 00 61 86 69,342,436 511,304 1,984,196 47 99 15 $67,094,505 61 6,000,000 00 00 01 50. 00 36 192,324 78 7,130,174 65 $79,224.680 26 Specie $ 1,56C.ell 23 Dominion Government Demand 'Wates , . 7,514,872 GO Notes of and Cheques on other flanks 4,402,526 88 Balances due from other Bunks 1.' Canada .., 440,021 20 Balances due by Agents in the United Kingdom and Banks in foreign countries 2,043.299 32 15,963,731 18 Provincial Government Securities 437,.:,4 00 Canadian Municipal Securities and British or Foreign or Colonial Public Securities other than Canadian 6o7,iS77 36 Railway and other Bonds, Debentures n'+d Stocks 6,193.t's'1 92 Loans ora call, secured by Stocks and Bonds .. , . 6,040.(77 :19 Bills Discounted and Advances Current 46,410,841 57 Deposit with Dominion Government for Security of Note Circulation 231,42^ Oo Overdub Debts (estimated loss Provided for) .... 115,961 Real. Estate, other than Bank Premises '6,010 03 Mortgages on Real Estate sold 978,107 3677 Bank Prefnlses 2,2$6,4SP 37 "'1,"41,840 Olk 49,982,840 21 $73,224.680 :le CONTINGENT LIABILITIES. Acceptances under Cotnnerelal Letters Of Credit against Merchandise £174,789 10s. Sal. C. A. 13OG1.111. e,. Toronto, 31st December, 1912. General Manager.