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Home My WebLink AboutThe Brussels Post, 1926-3-17, Page 7L.ve, Tyrant -1 with all his strength, which Kate knew was very great and beyond that • of most men. Had he injuretj. the man, had lie—ekilled him? A low cry burst from her lips as the question rose to her mind. Why should Mr. Gordon take flight—for his sudden departure presented it- self as nothing less than flight to her—if the man were not (lead? .And yet her pride in Jack rose in revolt at the idea; she could scarcely imagine him seeking safety in flieht from the consequences of any act he had committed: but murder—they would call it murder—was so ter- rible a thing that even so brave a man as Mr. Gordon might quail be- fore its dread penalty. Then a fresh fear shook her: had anyone beside herself seen him that night, after his return from the -woods, and in—in that condition? If not, if no one had seen the encoun- ter which she felt certain had taken place, or Mr. Gordon afterwarde, then she was the only person whose evidence could tell against hine. Had she aroused Miss Vaneourt's suspic- ions by the agitation she had dis- played on hearing of his sudden de- Parture? What had she said? Let her think! Oh, why hadn't she held her tongue, masterecl her emotion, and received the news with seeming indifference? She rose and paced up and down, her hands pressed to her temples; then suddenly she drew a long breath and looked up, as if a ray of light had flashed across the terrible darkness. After all, was she not torturing herself without sufficient cause? They might not have met, or the mart might have been hurt, but not seriously; might, indeed, still be at the Black Crow, alive, though perhaps badly beaten. Acting on the impulse of the moment, driven by her fear and dread to action of some sort or oth- er, she caught hp her sun -bonnet, left the cottage, and went quickly . in the direction of the Black Crow. She walked fast at first, but present- ly, as it occurred to her that her baste might attract notice, she sIack- ene.d her pace. And all the way, though she tried to persuade herself that her fears were groundless, she felt convinced that some terrible catastrophe had happened. .As she neared the little tumble- down inn, sled saw the landlord leaning against the porch smoking, with his hands in his pockets. He took his pipe from his mouth to give her "Good -day," and Kate stopped as if casually. ,....ilik"Good-morning, Mr. Grice," she said, forcing a smile, while her heart beat so fast that she could scarcely keep her voice steady. 'Is my father inside?" Grice shook his head, "No; haven't seen him for quite a goodish thne, MiSS TranSom," he --aid. "And I don't get so many ustomers as not to miss 'em." Kate nodded, controlling her ,quivering lips. "I heard you'd been very busy lately, Mr. Grice; that you'd had people stopping here, quite like as if it was a hotel." "Oh, you mean the gentleman as put up here," he said. "Yes; 'tain't often as us has a visitor; but he's • gone now; left yesterday. Rum Idnd o' gentleman he was; one o' them • silent and keep-theirselves to -their - selves. kind. Not but what he didn't pay his shot all right; leastways— ,q Some o' them Lunnon :nen forget to S I f • do that." 1 "Oh, has he gone back to Lon- 1on?" asked Kate. Grice nodded, and Kate's settee of relief was so great, so intense, that it almost broke down her self -com- mand; but at the man's next voids all her misery came crashing down upon her again. ' "Leastways, I think so. Ple saki he was going by the seven -fifteen from Barminster." Letterheads Envelopes Billheads And all kinds of Business Stationery printed, at The Post Publishing House. We will do a job that will do credit to your business. Look over your stock of Office Stationery and if It requires replenishing call us by telephone 3Z. ThePost Publishing H01180 "flow do you mean? Didn't he go?" she asked, with a c111011 in hoe breath. Grice plugged his pipe and eyed it thoughtfully, "Well, it were this way, Miss Transom. Happened. that the gent I gave me a bad two -shilling bit when he paid his bill, Two shilling'e is two shillings nowadays, and as I was go- ing into Barminster, I drove my lit- tle . pony—that's a fine pony if you like no*--" "Yes," said Noe Kate, "it is 0 very good one, I know. I've heard my father speak of it." "Yes, he can get into BarMinster in fifty-five minutes any day, and no whip neither!" "And did you catch the train last night?" asked Kate, quivering all ever. Grice nodded. "Yes, and a quarter of an hour to spare," "And you saw the gentleman and got- your - two shillings changed?" she asked, catching at the hope; but Grice shook his head, "No, I didn't; for he wasn't there. There was no sign of him." Kate put out her handl and caught at the trellis -work of the porch. "Are you sure?" she asked, as. steadily, as casually, as she could. "He might have got into the train without your seeing him, Mr. Grice." ' Grice shook his head emphatical- ly. "Not he said. "I looked imto every carriage; for I wanted that two -shilling bit changed; but he wallet there." "It was the last train to London?" said Kate. "Yes, miss. But it's likely enough that he walked on to Crithett Owes, the next station. It's almost as near as Barminster. However, Pm two shillings short, and in these hard times—" "Pm sorry," said Kate. She walked on and turned on the road just beyond the hotel. 1 -Ter rear and dread were in the ascendency again. There was no reason why the nen Should go to Crichett Cross Station. He had not left Vancourt that night, though he had left the inn. She walked back slowly, feeling faint, sick, with the haunting, brood- ing terror of evil that her mind pic- tured, As she gained the -village street, a man came out of the lane opposite the row of old cottages. it was one of the under -keepers named Johnson. Kate, though she • seemed .to scarcely glance at him, saw that he carried two guns—one over his shoulder and the other in his lett hand. She stopped, with a leap of the heart—a passing child would have caused her nervous 'tremors that • morning—ani Johnson nodded. "Good -day to you, Miss Kate," he THE BRUSSELS POST e4,4.14+404.04,40+044.+..1.11+4.1.0.1.0÷ • • WANTED 0 Highest market prices 4. • paid. • • 6 See ltitt or Phone No. 2x, 131.1:8 - solo, and will cell and get you!. litdee. 4 M0 Yollick 4+ -^ • - son? Lot him oft—say nothing A- bout it just this once—to pleaee me!" The young fellow hesitated. He admired Kate, as most of the men del, and this unusual amiability* for Silv Wits generally cold and re- served, keeping them at 01'm'$- length—had its effect upon him. "I 'ought to take this gun to Mr. Pulford, the steward, and report—, I weeny ought, you know," he eaid, gravely. "You know that's try duty." She drew closer to him and laid her hand on the gun, which he had taken from her. "I know," she said. "But you won't this time. No one has seen the gun but you?" She pet it interrogatively, and he shook his head. as it happens you're the first person I've seen since I left the woods." "Very well," she exclaimed, In low persuasive voice, her great eyes dwelling on him coaxingly. "Give the gun to me, and forget that you found it." She drew it from his re- luctantly yielding hand; and • as he still continued to shake his head, she added: "See, it hasn't been fired; it's loaded still. He -11e might 'not have been poaching, might just have been passing through the wood—it's a short cut, you know, from the crossroads—" Johnson laughed incredulously. "Dick Reeve's a lucky man to have you to plead for hint, Miss Kate" he said, rather ruefully and wistfully. "But there! you've got the gun and there's an end to it." "You won't say anything, tell Anyone — especially Dick Reeve? You promise!" she said, with a smile, but with an agony of anxiety. The young fellow laughed rather grimly. e "It's not very likely, for my OWIl sake," he said. "I thought the gun was Mr. Gordon's." "Oh, no," she said, quickly. "I know it well. It's not his. Good-bye, and thank you! You won't forget your promise?" She held out her hand with a smile which dazzled him; then she drew her hand from his tightening grasp, and carrying the gun in pro- per fashion went into the cottage. Closing' the door she sank on to a chair, eyeing the thing sideways as if it were a kind of basilisk. Then she sprang to her feet, shot the bolt in said. "Rare fine weather, bean't t the door and taking up the gun, with a shudder examined it closely. "Yes," said Kate. "Why are you carrying two guns? You can't fire them off at once." johnson laughed, "Well, I don't know as I couldn't if I was so minded," he said. "I seed e man do it at Barminster and he hit the target with both of 'am, too. But this 'ere one bean't mine, I found it in Vancourt woods." "Oh said Kate. She had recognized Jack's gun by O notch on the stock—one of those small marks which would escape the notice of most persons but there was scarcely a detail of Jack's dress or belongings mhich had escaped the lyny-like eyes of Kate, the woman who loved him. "Bm told it's 141r. Gordon's, and taking it to hien," said Johnson. "It's a good gun, and I can't think how he came to leave it there—for- get it, as one may say." Kate smiled: no one can S0055 what that smile cost her. "Let me look at it," she said. Johnson, with some surprise, handed her the gun, and she took it and looked it up and down. • "It's not Mr. Gordon's," she said, confidently. "Not Mr. Gordon's. Then whose is it?" he asked. Kate was silent for a moment. She knew how terribly important her next words might prove. Her brain seemed on fire, her heart was beating fast and • furiously, but her voice was quite calm and steady. "It is Diek Reeve's!" she said, on the impulse of the moment. Johnson's round, rubicand fate became suddenly grave. "Oh, • Dick Reeve's!" he eald. "Then he WAS in the woods last nig-ht! That's bad for Master Dick," Kate drew nearer te. him, her beautiful face full of entreaty and coaxing, "Yes; I'm afraid it It. But you won't be hard upon him, Mr, aohnf• It was loaded, as she had said; whatever had happened to the man, he had not been shot. She searched for some traees of blood, but there was not a spot on stock or barrel. She stood for a moment pondering, then she went out by the back way, and loolcing round cautiously, stele to an old disused well which stood in a 0001100 of the email garden, care- fully lifted a piece of the broken wooden cover, softly lowered the gun into the well and replaced the wood and grass in their former posi- tions. As she stood there, with the sen - light streaming on her pale face and bronze -gold heir, she was for the moment conscious of the danger she was incurring, the risk to Dick Reeve and to herself; but she felt no compunction, no remorse; he WAS in peril, and to save him she would have sacrificed a hundred Dick Reeves, and laid down her own life without hesitation or regret. Was there anything else she could do? Should she go to the cottage and see if, in the hurry of his flight, Mr. Gordon had left any trace, -any clue which might endanger litm, A voice, ,calling to her, made her start, but she managed to turn slow- ly though the voice was Dick Reeve'. He was leaning on the low wall, his pipe in his mouth, his dark eyes fixed' on her with an expression in them which she hated; for when a Wormui loves„as Kate did, she loathes the admiration in the eyes of all men save those of the man who holds her heart, "Father in, Kate?" he asked. "No," she &dd.. "He's gone to market. Hove hot itis! I must go In." "Half a moment!" he said, and he vaulted- the wall and approached her. "What is itl" she asked, ira., patiently. "I'm very buy me morning, and I can't stay goesiPing.." WEDNESDAY, MARCH i?th, I92 "I won't keep you long," he :mid. "You're always busy, end want to run away when I come." She put up her hand to shield her eyz from the sun, and half turned iiWay fe• I him. "Well, what le it?" she asked. "I've some ;likes in the oven—" "Let 'ent hide for a moment," 11; said, with nee,. of determination in his voice than usual. "I don't often have a chance of seeing you 'done. Kato, I've got eoree good news for you." "Good news?" In the concentration of her mind upon the one heloved object she, of course, thought his good news must ceneern Mr. Gordon. "Yes," he said, with a nod. "I'm going to give up"—he looked round eautiously—"the poachin' 1 I've been to the woods for the last time-- leastways after the game," Her heart fell again. "I'm glad to hear it," she said, coldly enough. "Glad for your owa sake, Dick," "And not for yours? That's hard, Kate; for its for you that I'm giving. it up. I know how you hate it, and I'd give up a great deal more than the poachin' for you. Don't go, Kate; listen to me! You know I love you—Lord, how many times have I told you!—But there! Pin lie'Ver tired of telling you." She bit her IM. With her nerves strained to their utmost tension, it was almost unendurable that she should have to listen to Dick Reeve's oft -repeated avowal. "I wish you wouldn't," she said, as calmly as she could. "I wish you'd give up this—this foolishness!" His face darkened. '"It's no foolishness with me, Kato; and you know I Can't give it up!" he said, with suppressed fierceness. "I've always loved you, and I always shall to the end of my days. Look here, Kate; I've sworn to marry you, end I mean to sooner or later. Bet- ter give in a once— There, there! r don't 1/10011 to threaten you. Let that go. Listen to me: I've given up the poachin' for good and all. I've goo something else—something ever so much better, somethimg that will make a rich man of me—and I offer to share it with you. You can live like a lady with your hands in your lap, and plenty to eat and drink, and fine clothes to wear." She regarded him with a dull sur- prise and distaste. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Have you got some work, some place—?" His dark; bold eyes fell before her geze, and he moved his feet uneasily as he replied: "No. Who's likely to give me a place? I've come into some money, Kate." "Come into eome money? Had it left to you?" she said. ' "It is very su,ciden, isn't it?" He nodded with his eyes still downcast. "Yes, it is. I didn't know it till last night—that is, this morning. It's a tidy sum Kate; and, if you've a mind, we'll 'take a public. I've heard that they want to get out of the 'Vancourt Arms,' and we might take that; but it's just as you please, my girl. You've only to say the word. Pm your slave, Kate, you know, and I'll do anything you want." She turned her cold, white face away frone "I'm glad you have had this mon- ey left you, Dick," she said; "but -- but it doesn't make any difference; I :shouldn't marry a man for his mon- ey; not if he had millions." His face flushed. "You're hard on me, Kate!" he said, huskily, "I've done all / can to please you. I've given up the poachin', and now I offer to share this windfall with you, and you re- fuse me 1 There's many a girl in the village as 'lid jump at such a chence 1" daresay," :mid Kate, quietly. "And, oh! how I wish you'd ask them! What clo you see in me that you should be so—so set on me? There's others prettier than I am -- there's Polly Andrews, and Lottie Wren; they'd be only to glad to li- teu to you, Dick. Oh1 if you'd only give it up and leave me alone!" His face went white, and he swore ender his breath. "Don't you think that I don't try," he said. "I'm always trying; but I can't! I don't want Polly or Lottie; it's you I want, and, by the Lord; I mean to have She turned on hint with sudden and equal fierceness. That anyone should dare to make love to her, whose heart was aching with love for Mr. Gordon, maddened her. "And by the Lard! you will not!" broke from between her set teeth. "1 don't love you, and I never ahaill Let me pass, ,Dick Reeve;" Inc he had etePped between her and the door. won't listen to you any longer. I've given yen iny anssver,' and 3 will nevek speak h� you again nntees. 'Iron promise not to 503' -- what yon've SAW Just 110W," ` I I L + J, 1, , I L-1- • J L `, I. ^ He eyed her with that terrible passion, that mixture of desire Tod despair„ which eomethnes transforms men into fiends, "And 1 eay you shall!" he re- sporeled, his 1,yo8 1h -tithing. "I nuein to have you for lily wife, by •fair meane or foul; and that's my last word." '"flten let 'it be your lag word!" she retorted; and elm walked by him Within reach cif the hand which he dared not stretch out to stay her— for she looked - like an offended queen—and she entered the cot- tage. She. waited until he had vaulted the veal!, and his footsteps had died away, then she went out by the front door and made her way to Jack Gor- don's cottage, pausing now and again to look round carefully. The key was in the door, and she unloeleed it and entered, looking round, with her hand pressed to her throbbing heart. Love can make the most common place sacred; and the two sniall rooms were hallowed ground to poor Kate. Jack had tid- ied up as well as he could, but he had left various traces of his pree- ence—an agricultural paper on the table, a forgotten pipe my on the nerrow mantel -shelf. She touched the papal- reverently, and took up the pipe and gazed at it almost en- viously—for had not his lips touch- ed it? But there was nothing indic- ative of the tragedy which she had imagined had been enacted in 'the woods. She passed into the tiny bedroom. Tf the rest of the cottage was sacred, this was sacroscanct indeed! The sight of the narrow bed moved her beyond any words to describe. She fell on her knees beside it, and throwing out her arms, laid her head on the pillow and kissed it. "I love you! I love you!" broke from her white lips. "I love you— and 2 shall never see you again! Ohs, God help me! How shall I go on living day by day without a sight of him!" CHAPTER XXVII. Jack tramped through the moon- light with his knapsack on his back; it was much lighter than his heart, for, as every step he took carried hine farther from Esther, he realized how passionately he loved her. Of course, nineteen men out of twenty would have vonsidered jack an ass for tumblg hie back not only 011 the girl he loved, bat on- Yen- tas -art Towers and the estate that be.. longed to him; bat, In simple truth, it /ewer occurred to blen that • he could act otherwise than lie was do - lug. /1 he had not vounted the whole cost of his sacrifice that night he tr.',We his premier, to Esther's broth- er, it was because, not heving at that time met arid fallen in love with Esther, he did not know the extent of his sacrifice; but he had -surrend- ered his estate, tind to go back and elaim it because he lived the girl Ter kwhoin he had resigned it, was net possible to ono of Jack's nature. If, by any chance: she had return- ed his love— "If the moon were Made of 'green cheese and elephants could. fly," he muttered, "then the world would be a via7 different place. No, I'm hest out of it. I Wes an idiot to stay, and I've got punished for my folly. I wonder whether I shall manage to forget her. Afraid not, jud,e-Ing by my present feelings; though they say if you don't see a girl for a year —What rot they talk .about love! If I never see her again—and it isn't very likely 31 shall—I shall go on lov- ing her until I die. How lonely it is without -Bob! Take it, by and large, as they say at the docks, I seem to have been doomed to a wan- derIng and solitary life. Well, I must make the best of it. Poor lit- tle Nettie! She'll miss me—for a day or two. And I—heaven aud earth! don't I miss her now! If l'd married Esther, I—I might have had a little girl like Nettie—None of that, now!" he admonished himself stern- ly. "What you've got to try to do is to forget Vancourt and all that therein dwells; and the sooner you, set about it the better." The tveather was fine and he walk- ed a good part of the way to Lon- don, and was not altogether unhap- py; for he was strong, in perfect health and he loved the country with all an Englishman's love. On the third day he took the train and reached London on a close,kvarm evening, and looked about him with grim distaste for the crowded streets and grimy housese that squeezed round the terminus. Ilo had only spent a few shillings of his money, and he wa$ sorely tempted to put up at an hotel and take it ciaey for a time; but he km:* from experience how soon a Sew ;pounds go in the great city; and, with tt shrug of reeignation, he :made his way towards the huge docks which le in that East of London, which is as strungii 0 region to thaw who live in the West asConstantine (To Be Continued), BUSINESS CARDS -,• THE ndustrial Mortgage and Savings Company, of Sarnia Ontario, are prepared to advance money 0I1 Mortgages on god lands. Partlas doodling money on farm mortgages will please apply to James Omen, Seaforth, Ont., who will fur- nish rates and other partioulars. The Industrial Mortgage and Savings Company dskenv kaJteAfF AGENT FOR fire, Automobile end Wind Ins. IOOMPANIES For Brussels and vicinity Phone 647 JAMES IVP F A 02EAN— Agent Hula Mutual Fire losurance Company Mao Hartford Windstorm and Tornado Insurance Phone 42 Boxl Tarnberry Street, Brussels JNO. SUTHERLAND & SONS LIMITED iXSati /War Oieratare D. M. SCOTT LIC.SX.SND dreZraxasli PRICES MODERATE For references consult any perslimgtles I have officiated 01. Phone T. T. M' RAE M. 0. 28. Village of Brussels, Physician, Surgeon, Acoonolieur Oftiae at residence, opposite Melville Church. William street. OR. WAROLAW Honor graduate of the Ontario Veterinary Dollege, Depend night calls. Office opposite Flour Mill, Ethel, W. J. Szavezaz BARRISTER, SOLICITOR, CONVEYANCER, NOTARY PUBLIC LECKE BLOCK - BRUSSELS NEWSPAPER - ADVERTISING r. Because it secures the best distribution. 2. Because it is read. 3. Because it is regular. , It takes years of effort to work up a news paper's subscription list and the advertiser gets the advantage every week-. And whereas probably not more than one bill out ot three is read, every paper is read by three or four persons. For reaching the people of Brussels and Brus- s-e-l—s district, there is no medium to compare Ewith THE BRUSSELS POST. r, It covers the field. 2. It is a paper that is read through, 3. Its readers belong to the purchasing class. The Quality of a Paper is Reflected on its Advertising -4f Business needs Stimulating try Advertising in The Brussels Post