HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1886-7-16, Page 22 THE BRUSSELS POST JULY 16, ?SSG.
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ALINE RODNEY'S SECRET.
By PEA$. _9LA`s;4:. 1TNIT,i.bui,
Aomnon on
wIm3a•el Vane,' "Lady Gay's Pride,"
etc., etc.
She looked around her, but the olcl
woman had already disappeared from
sight.
'As well, perhaps," Mrs. Rodney
muttered to herself : "she could tell me
nothing. I dare say it was all guess-
work. It is so easy to prate of dark
clouds and secrets and dark men—it is
the stock in trade of fortune-tellers."
But she was very uneasy in her mind,
There was a great pain in her heart as
she watched Aline.
The girl had forgotten her trouble for
a little while in the exhilarating excite.
went and exercise. Her eyes sparkled,
her cheeks glowed with pleasure. She
and Max were the best skaters on the
river, and the girl thoroughly enjoyed
her triumph. Sho looked like some
bright.winged bird in her scarlet cos.
tume, and manyeyes followed her
course in unwilling admiration.
"Aline, I will tell you something,'
said Max, as they skated sociably along,
side by side. "I believe that old wo-
man was a man dressed an woman's had recovered from her faint, and he
clothes 1" hurriedly placed her with the frightened
Aline's heart gave a quick throb. Max and the still unoonscious girl in a
"Why do you think so, Max," she paseiug conveyance, then wrapped him -
said. self in his furred overcoat and hastened
"Well, because she had boots on, and
her feet wero large, and her hands, too,
and her voice was coarse and squeaky,
as if she tried to alter it to a woman's.
Didn't you notice it yourself, Aline ?"
"She was rather masculine looking,
certainly; but, then, many women are
When they found one, fortunately aloud, and a squeaky, peouliar voice
near at hand, they returned and wont from outside, answorodimmediately :
over the ioe cautiously, by lying down "Open the door, my good woman, and
fiat upon it and creeping plowly along. see 1"
Then they peered over the ioy edge of "What impudence! There, then, I
the opening into the dark, swirling won't do it!" replied Mrs. Griffin, who,
river. although dying of curiosity to see her
Joy I joy The ioy current had not visitor, knew better than to admit any
swept the hero away. Ho was thorn, ono within the walls of Delany House.
with his head above the waves, and sup- "You're the first womau, thou, that I
porting on his arm the drenched form of ever knew to turn a poor peddler from
a girl whose dark head drooped heavily the door, and it'll be to your sorrow as
and whose chill, white face and closed you did so," replied a bantering voice
eyelids showed that death or deadly nn- outside, "1 have a basketful of notions,
consciousness had stolen upon her. and I'm just from 'New York with the
IIo looked up and saw them peering biggest bargains of the season. Come,
down at him, and shouted, hoarsely: don't be churlish, mistress. Open the
"A rope, quick, with a slip -knot 1 I door, and let me come in and warm my
cannot sustain her much longer, I am frozen fingers, even if you won't buy
freezing to death I" one of nay nice lace collars.
They knotted the rope hurriedly and Mrs. Griffin's eyes had brightened at
threw it down. In a moment he threw the mention of the peddler.
the rope over the girl's limp body, tight- Tho majority of women have an un-
enod it, and they drew her up safely. explainable propensity for baying Trona
In the same manner they rescued him, peddlers, and Mrs. Griffin was no ex -
and again the loud shouts of joy rose up caption to the rule. Besides, she was
from the shore. dying of loneliness and cnmei, Sho in.
They carried the girl's limp, wet body . tensely desired to speak to some one,
to the shore, and her preserver followed and to have better companionship, if
after. It was the tall man Max had only for an hour, than the purring gray
seen behind the tree—it was Oran kitten.
Delaney. She hesitated. And wo have always
People looked at him in wonder. It hoard—have we not, reader ?—that the
was so seldom that he appeared in woman who hesitates is lost. She ,Ie.
public that it always caused surprise to membered that her stook of pins and
see him. His sudden appearance in this noodles and tapes and buttons needed
romantic robe was a nine days' wonder. replenishing. Why not embrace this
But he did not stay to hear their won- excellent opportunity for the purpose ?
dering congratulations. Mrs. Rodney She might easily do so, and Mr. Do-
laney bo none the wilier, and no harm
done. She would talo care that the
harmless peddler did not penetrate be-
yond the kitchen.
The cheery, seductive voice of the
person outside sounded pleasantly in
her hearing. She felt that she would
be all the better for a little human con-
tact with that world from which she
was so closely secluded.
Sho softly turned the key and opened
the door, meaning to have some little
colloquy with the peddler before she
admitted her; but that worthy frus-
trated her intention by immediately
stepping across the threshold, with the
proverbial impudence of the class.
"So you thought better of your first
intentions, did you ?" she said, genially,
to the astonished mistress of the
kitchen. "Second thoughts are best,
aren't they? Well you were wise to
home.
Mrs. Griffin was astonish ed and frigho-
ened when her master walked in so wet
and cold. Sho exclaimed loudly upon
his plight.
"Ib is nothing. I have only had a fall
into the river," he replied, carelessly.
the same. I have no doubt she was ".But I thought that the river was all
what she appeared to bo," said Aline, frozen over?" she said, perplexed.
after giving the matter a moment's ''Yes, but I broke through the ice,"
grave consideration. said Mr. Delaney.
Max was silenced but not convinced, 1 "Oh, clear, dear, then you have got
and presently he looked round at her
again,
"I will tell you something else," he
said. "There is a man watching you.
Perhaps it is the dark man the fortune-
teller talked about."
"Where?" asked Aline, with a start.
"Do you see that great tree down the
bank at •some distance from the crowd?
There is a man round one side of it. He
is looking at you. -He is tall and dark,
and has on a great fur overcoat. I
believe—that is, he looks like him—
your death of cold I" cried Mrs. Griffin,
in alarm.
"Pray do not make me out a girl or a
baby," he said, impatiently. "When I
get some warm, dry clothes, I shall do
very well."
She busied herself in laying them out
for him, and when she had done this
she made some warm drinks for him.
"To drive the cold out of your sys-
tem," she said fussily, but kindly.
He drank something just to please
that it is Mr. De— Ah I ah 1 help! di regarding hervud then hehurried pathetic entreaty thawafrom at
help P' he would go to bed and wrap up warmly
The revelation of what Max believed in blankets, that his wetting and freez-
was never finished, for, all puknowingly, ing might not do him any harm.
and in her interest in his words, Aline
had gone upon a dangerous place, where
the ice was cracked and thin. A lit'
in advance of her brother, altho
clinging to his hand, she felt the tree.
erous hoe giving way beneath her,Seid�.t
like a flash, tore her hand from his, a
threw it far from her. All in an Magill
there was a loud crash, the treacherigul
element gave way, and Aline sunk dei
into the cold waves. Max was left
alone upon the ragged edge, screaming
aloud for help in the frenzy of his
despair.
* * * ,<
All in a moment there arose a great
hubbub of excitement. All eyes turned
upon the spot where Aline had broken
through the thin crust of ice and gone
down into the cold, dark waves. With
the thoughtlessness born of excitement,
the crowd made a rush for the spot.
Some slipped and fell, and were heed-
lessly trampled, and deserted in the
terrible rush. A panic was imminent,
It seemed as if all were bent upon
satiating a wild curiosity, and the solid
ice, beginning to tremble beneath the
burden upon ib, might have broken
through, and precipitated the crowd;
poll -mall, lute the same dark waves
that had ingulfed Aline; but, at that
moment, a loud, stern, authoritative
voice rung out clearly and sharply
"Stand back, all of you! Do you not
see that you aro liable to cause her
death as well as your own ? Go back
before the ice breaks through with
your weight 1"
The stern voice seemed to put reason
into their bewildered minds. There
was a moment of flurry and indecision,
and then the excited crowd began to
veer toward the shore. No one was
left in the vicinity of the dangerous ice
except little Max, screaming piteously
on the brink of the abyss into which his
sister bad disappeared.
But, an instant more, and the form of
a tall, handsome man was seen crossing
the ice, carefully yet fearlessly. As he
neared the thin ice, he threw himself
carefully down upon it, and crept slowly
along to the edge of the precipice. He
had thrown off his coat, and was in his
shirt sleeves, so that every one knew
what was in his mind, and no one was
surprised to see him drop cautiously
over the ragged edge of the ice, and so
down into the deep, running water.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
It was an ant of beroio daring that
appealed to all, oven to hearts less brave.
A cry rose up from the shore, a shout of
admiration lot the hero's bravery, a
cheer to give him courage in his daring
deed.
Some one drew little Max away from
his perilous position and carried him
screaming to the shore, whore MrS.
Rodney had fallen down fainting with
the shock of. Aline's fall. Some men
went for a rope, knowing instinctively
that it would be needed if Aline Rodney
and the adventurous hero wero ever
rescued from the river.
"As if here were any danger, when
my heart and brain are on fire," he said
to himself.
He went up to a quiet little chamber
in the tower, and peered, with burning
eyes, down at a little white -curtained
window of his neighbor's house. He
could dimly see figures moving about
the little room as if they were busy oyer
something.
"Has she revived ?" he asked himself,
anxiously. "Poor child 1 she went
under the black water twice before I
reached her. It was only the strength
of my despair that enabled me to bring
herup to the surface again. Oh, how
fearful it was 1 the cold, black water, the
!ed ice, the terrible danger ! And
I would risk life and limb again a
dr:ea times to save her life!"
gia.PTER XXXIX.
fi ': efttie me, but it's a lonesome
ed. Mrs. Griffin.
3:3 good soul was sitting by the
comfortable stove in the commodious
kitchen of Delaney House, intent upon
the ooncootion of some savory broth
that was simmering on the stove. It
was on the evening of the day that Mr.
Delaney had saved Aline Rodney from
drowning.
The bright, sunny morning had ended
in a dreary, overcast evening, with
hints of snow in the air. The warm,
spacious kitchen was very comfortable,
but it was intensely quiet and still,
even to dreariness. The audible ticking
of the clock, and the soft purr of the
little gray kitten at Mrs. Griffin's feet,
seemed to make the stillness and quiet
even more marked and oppresive to her
peculiar mood.
"It's a lonesome life," she repeated.
"It is hard even for me, and I do not
see how Mr. Delaney bears it at all,
used as he has been to society and
amusement. Sometimes T fairly long
for the sight of a friendly face and the
sound of a kind voice beside my
master's. I never felt the dreariness of
my life me much as I have done sines
Miss Rodney came and, went away.
Spoiled child as she wee, she brought a
bit of life into the house !"
She sighed, and mechanically lifted
the lid of the stew -pan and stirred the
savory broth with a long handled spoon.
"Tap! Tap 1 Tap !"
That ghostly sound broke so suddenly
upon the silence of the room, that Mrs.
Griffin gave a violent start and dropped
het long spoon upon the floor with a
hideous clatter, disturbing kitty's peace-
ful slumbers by a thump upon her little
pink nose, accompanied by a few drops
of hot broth that sent her pattering
into the corner with a spiteful meow.
The good woman mechanically reached
for the spoon and looked toward the
door,
"Tap I Tap 1" came the low knock.
ing again, with as ghostly a sound as
Poe's fabled raven produced.
Mrs. Griffin stared at the closed door
with an air of stupid amazement, and
made no move to open it.
"Whoever can it be ?" she asked
lot me in. I shall sell you tho biggest
bargain of the season."
And then she laughed, and set her
basket down upon the floor, and warmed
her brown fingers by the stove.
Mrs. Griffin was dumbfounded by the
ease not to say impudence, of the female
peddler, who already had taken a seat
and was gazing about the large apart.
ment with careless curiosity.
"You must please not to laugh so loud," Apply to
she said. "If my master hears you he
HURON AN1) 13B'UOL
Loan & Investment Co.
This Comiiany is Loaning Money
on ?.''arm Security at LOWEST itITEs
of .interest.
MORTGAC1ES PURCITASED,
SAVINGS 13ATP Dunn,
8, 4 and 5 per cent. Interest Al-
lowed on Deposits, according to
!amount and time left.
OrruoE.--On corner of Market
Square and North street, Goclerich.
Horace Horton,
MANAGER.
Godericb,Aug.itb,1885
114/10NEY TO LOAN.
Dioneyto 061301 arm property at
LOWEST BATES.
PRIVATE AND COMPANY FUNDS
W. B. DICKSON,
Solicitor,
Brussels, Ont.
Money to Loan.
PRI V'./1 T.E' .F UJV DS.
$20,®00
of Pr.veteFundshavejustbeen placed in
myhandsfor Investment
AT 7 PER CENT.
Borrowerscan hav etheirloanscomplete
in three day s if title i s satisfactory,
E. F. WADE.
CUSTOM TAIL011IN(r.
;Phe undersignel begs leave to intimate
to the publics tilet 110 has opened a tailor
shop in the Garfield Homo block, over
Powell'n store, whore be is prepared to et-
tend to the vents of the public) in cutting,
fitting and making clothing in the latest
and most fashionable styles. My long ex.
perionce together with a course of inetrec-
tion under one of the bust cutters in Termi-
te is a guarantee of being able to do satie-
factory work. Setisiaction guarantood.11 .
t#. ,1- BEEII.
MONEY TO LEND.
Any amount of Money to Loan on
]++'urm or Village property at
6 & G PER CENT. 'YEARLY.
Straight Loans with privilege of
repaying when re-quired. Apply
to -
A. MINTER,
Division Court Clerk, Brussels.
BRUSSELS PUMP WORKS.
The undersigned begs to inform the public
that they have manufactured and ready
for use
PUMPS OF ILL KINDS,
WOOD t IRON.
Cisterns of
Any dimension.
GATES -or ALL SIZES.
CLOTHES REELS
of a superior construction. Examine our
stock before purchasing elsewhere. A Call
solicited. We are also Agents for
llcDougall's Celebrated Windmill..
Wilson & -Pelton,
Shop Opposite P. Scott's Blacksmith Shop
P. S.—Prompt attention paid to all re-
pairing of Pumps, d:c.
will come down and turn you out. I
should not have let you in anyhow, only p NpQ y
that .1 needed some things in your line. 1 LI T L W O O L E M C L. S.
Strangers are not allowed in here. You
shouldn't have entered the grounds."
"I did not know there were any orders
against it. You see, I am a stranger
about here, and seeing such a fine large.
house I naturally thought to myself,
'Here's the place to sell my nice goods
to the ladies: But if there's any offense,
ma'am, I'll humbly take my leave," said
this artful old woman beginning to re-
place the tempting things she had drawn
from her heavy basket.
"Well, well, let me have my buttons
and things first," said Mrs. Griffin, who
had not expected to be so soon taken at
her word. "You may show me your
things, only be quiet aboutit. I shouldn't
care to have my master disturbed." I'
"And your mistress, hey? Wouldn't
she like to buy some of my pretty
laces?"
There isn't any mistress. There's
only my master and mo. I'm cook and
housekeeper, both," Mrs. Griffin replied,
as she poised a black lace cap on her
fingers, and mentally wondered if ft
wouldn't be becoming to her.
They had the usual haggling, the old
woman good.humoredly putting down
her goods to Mrs. Griffin's own prices,
remarking as each new purchase was
laid on the pile at the housekeeper's
elbow : "I told you I would sell you
the biggest bargain of the season. They
don't call me Cheap Jane for nothing I"
"Is that your name ? How funny I"
said the housekeeper, laughing.
"That's what they call me," said the
female peddler. "Mrs. Broadcloth is
my real name, though."
Mrs. Griffin had to laugh again. She
thought that the name of Broadoloth
was even more amusing than that of
Cheap Jane. There was a dry humor
about the peddler that she rather enjoyed
, after her forced seclusion from com-
panionship with her kind.
"Perhaps you'd like a cup of hot tea
before you start out again, Mrs. Broad-
cloth," said she with reckless hos-
pitality.
"Thank you kindly," was the reply,
and the old woman drew out a short,
black pipe from some recess under her
coarse cloak. "While you draw the
tea, I suppose you will let mo smoke my
pipe by your fire," she said.
"Certainly," assented Mrs. Griffin,
and then her heart suddenly misgavo
her.
It occurred to her that, under the
peculiar circumstances of the case, she
was making too lavish a show of hos-
pitality.
"Only suppose that Mr. D elaney should
happen in I It isn't likely he will, but
then I've hoard say Mkt the most un-
likely things are always happening,"
she thought, apprehensively to herself,
"I will stop up to hie room and see if
he wants anything," was her next
thought, with a view to forestalling his
possible intrusion on the prohibited
guest.
Fortune favored her artful design. At
that moment a bell rung from the upper
WL WILINTZ-113
For the Season 1886. Cash Paid.
I am prepared to pay tho highest cash price for good fleece wool delivered at the Lis-
towel Woolen Mills. Having been eleven years in business here, it has always been my
endeavor to pay higher than the market allows, and in the past years have paid city
market prises. Wool being so low in price, it will afford me pleasure to pay the highest
price going. In exchanging wool for goods will allow a few cents more. Will also guar-
antee to sell my goods al Cash prices. I don't have two prices—ensu and trade—my
rule is one price only. Bunning the year round enables me to parry a large stock. This
year having a larger stock than usual, will offer you
The best Stock of Tweeds in the Dominion to choose .from. Double and
Twisted Full Cloths, Plcwtn.els, Blankets, all Goods of
the Newest and Latest Designs.
Como early with your wool and you will find us ready and willing to give you our
beat attention. We will be happy for you to Inspect Goods and Prices before disposing
of your wool. I remain, yours respectfully, -
"R. _ BI®OI•
ILE MILLS,
BB.USS 01�TT.
CHANGE OF RROPRIIETORS.
Having leased the well known and splendidly equipped Roller Flouring
Mill from Messrs. Wm. Vallstone & Sons for a term of years, wo desire
to intimate to the fanners of Huron Co. and the public generally
that we are prepared to turn out the bestbrands of Flour, look after
the Gristing Tracie, supply any quantity of Bran, Chopped stuff, &c.,
and buy Any Quantity of Wheat.
The hill is recognized as ono of the best in the County and our long
experience in this business gives 11s confidence in saying we gamin tei:
satisfaction,
Flour and Feed Always on hand.
1 'Gristing and Chopping promptly attended to.
A CALL SOLICITED.
Stewart & Lowio ,
PROPRIT1TORS.