HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1926-5-26, Page 7Mi4.1111.1••••
THE BRUSSELS POST
ve, e Tyrant
That evening as jaek Was dtiving
home from his work, he Wile Melting
himself seriously the question whirl
had sprung into Ids mind while h,
end Kate Trees= had peon sitting
under the tree in Victoria Park. Sev-
eral times that day it had recurn.d
to him and haunted him,ojust as a
neelectod duty bothers and haunts
ono: hadn't he better marry Kath
Transom who,—who seemed to care
a little for 111(8, take her out to Aus-
tralia, forget Esther and Vancourt
Towers, and be --be happy? Every
e.
tin. he tteked himilelf the 'question,
common-sense replied, coldly, "Yes;''
then, almost in the :same breath,
- something within his heart ('050 111(1
whiTered reproctehfully, "No! Of
all the mean things a man van cam -
none meaner or more
despicable than to marry one wom-
an while he is in love with another."
And so between his heart and his
comnien-sense, Jack was pretty' cone
siderably worried; and his step was
not $o light as usual, nor his face so
cheerful as was its wont, as he push-
ed open the half -door and entered
the sitting -room.
Moody Jane was getting his tea,
and as the bundled her father into
a corner, so that she might lay the
cloth, she eyed :Tack's pensive face
with magpie :scrutiny.
"You loolc as if you'd fairly got
the 'temp, Mr. Gordon!" she said,
"An' T daresay you have. Serve yer
right, too; why don't yer get mar-
ried, like a sensible man?"
"Well, you see, I am waiting for
you, lefordy Jane," said Jack. "Of
course, I've long known you've melc-
ed me for your own, and I'm just
waiting." .
"That's what the empty pie -dish
said to the rabbit!" said Mordy Ja.nn
with a sniff. "But you've- got to
ketch yer rabbit before yer makes
yer pie; an' ain't goin' be. caught
for ever so long. I've seen too much
of marriages to. be eager for it my-
self; besides, 7 should want a man
with some brains; an' you don't ap-
pear to be troubled with too many."
"You're quite right, Moody Jane!"
aisented Jack, with the cheerful
humility which always disarmed the
young vixen. "How is Kate this
evening? I've not teen her for two
days."
"That's Your fault and your mis-
fortune, too," retorted Moody jane.
"I daresay you could have seen her
for the asking. She has gone out
for a little walk, jest to try her pins,
with Miss Woods; an' I tell yer she
fetches the whole street—"
"Who, Miss Woods?" said Jack,
densely.
"No; stoopid-'ead," said l‘lordY
Jane, eyeing him scornfully. "Kite,
o' course. I tell yer she's a stunner;
she's as puffectly lovely as the girls
you see in the fust row of the belly
at the theatre; an' mind you, they
puts all the fust -class 'uns there. Tf
I was a man an' that gal lived in the
some 'ouse with me, I'd up 'an mar-
ry '01' if I 'acl to 'ire a coach -on'
four an' a couple of brigands to car-
ry 'er off. But there; some 18011-
1 don't mention no names, 'cos I've
been properly brought up—is as
blind aa they're silly, an' don't know
a pretty gal when she's right under
their nose. There! go and clean
yenself, an' come down and get yer
tea; though it do seem a pity to 810
sometimes to waste good vittles upon
sieh a six -footed idiot."
Sack went meekly upstairs, nut
feeling quite OMITS that he didn't de-
serve Mordy Jane's trenchant abuse;
and while he was gone Miss Woods
and Kato Transom returned. 'the
sight of them inspired 1VIordy Jane
with what she called a "Melee," and
winking and motioning to Miss
Woods to go on Upstairs, she drew
Kate Transom into the little room,
and pushing 1101' into a chair, remark-
ed:
"You're going to have a ouP 01
tea before you 'climb them stairs,
Kite; so take off yor 'at and undo
not shawl."
1/4
"Thank you—hut I'm sitting 1 1
- Mr. Gordon's chair," murmured Katt
NO, you II lift," retorted Mordv
• ',Nine, "These (hairs belong. to nu,
• Neves you mind whore you're slain
'Ere... yet. tea• 88(1 there's a pipe
o' hot tenet— Oh, yer needn't loo
:a it in that shy way; it ain't Mr
n ,
G. 'e'e; leastways, there's plenty
more for 'im."
Kate bluthed and leant back, and
eresently Jack came down. •The
light which always shone in her eyes
at his appearance, shone there now,
and the delicate ee eolor roto her
flee., heightening its beauty.
"Hallo Kate!" said jaelc, with just
the slightest touch of embarrassment,
for the question was still hammer-
ing at his mind. "Glad to bear you've
been out again, and to see you look-
ing so Much better. Thank you, Mer-
ely Jane."
Ho took his too, and was going te
seat himself upon the bench, but
Mordy Jane gave him a slight shove
towards the chair next Kate's.
. "Do sit down and keep your lonehe
li'gs.out of my way!" ssaid; "not
as they'll be in my 'way long, for
I'm going' out with father to see him
tiny 'is supscribshion to the hautmun
Goose Club; 'cos I'm goin' to tell Mr.
Swabs, the landlord as 'olds it, that
I ain't a goin' to 'ave one like what
,we 'ad last Christmas, which I should
say wasfedon shavin's and coneent.
Father and me was so exhausted
trying to cut it up that we was too
tired to eat our puddin'."
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She tied the preposterous bonnet
under her chin, found a dilapidated
tall hat for her fatheie jammed it
on his head well over one eye, and
calling to him to follow her, bounced
out,
Jack sat drinking his tea and
munching his bread and butter and
!daring at the fire; and Kate leant
back in her chair outwardly calm,
though the faint flush was still upon
her cheeks, but inwardly thrilling
with his nearness. He glanced at
her presently and was struck, as
Chase Street apparently was, by her
beauty; but it awakened only the
cold admiration which is the oppos-
ith pole to love. Presently she broke
the silence, and looking at him, said:
"I have been talking to Miss
Woods; have been asking her if
she could get me a situation like
hors, or some work to do such as
she does; but she said `No' and seem-
ed—frightened; yes, as if the were
frightened by my asking her. I must
get something to do ,Mr. Gordon,"
her voice shook; her hands twisted
together, and she turned her head
away. "I cannot go on living like
thie, a burden on you—living. on
charity— I .cannot boar it any long-
er—"—"
Her voice •broke, and 110 :know the
tears were in her eyes.
"Don't tallc about being a burden,
Kate," he said. "As I said the oth-
er day, you'd do the . same for Me,
for any friend, who needed your
help. But I'm glad you spoke, for
other reasons. I'm thinking oe go-
ing out to Australia—"—"
She turned to him suddenly with
1111 expressien on lice face RS if she'd
forgotten about herself and all her
thoughts were concentrated on him.
"Yes? I am glad, glad, glad! You
will go at once—ah, you will go at
once!"
Jack Wile rather puzzled by her
intense earnestness, but he nodded
gravely.
"Yes, there is no reason why I
ehould stay, or why T should not.
I3ut, Kate, I have boon thinking. of
YOU as well, and what you are going
to do."
She flushed.
"It doesn't matter about me," she
Said, in a low, quick voice, "1 MR
hide here in London, and 110 one can
find me; and if they found me they
could not force me to speak, to utter
a. word. I would die first-e–and you.
know
jack felt still 11101.0 puzzled and
00111 Used by her manner and speech;
but he went OM, with his purpose held
straight before
"I was wondering, Kate, whether
you'd like to 001110 out to Australia,"
he said; "to go out with me."'
The color elowly (ebbed from her
face and the looked at him with it
stra.nge look in .her large eyes,"
"With you!" she repeated in a low
voice.
"Yes," aaid Jack, leaning forward
and half unconsciously laying his
hand on her arm, -"See here, Kate;
I've been thinking about you and
me; about what is to become of you
if make it bolt for it; .and I've come
to the conclusion that—I'm going to
sutprise you, Kate, perhaps make
you angry --but we're old friend -8, so
to sneak, you and L Wire*"–"
At this moment boy's head wettit
ing it peaked cap, .with a geld 'MOOT
el
around the handuappear-
ed abege. the doe' • a
veto.. belonging to the owner of the
head demanded 111 Cockney amends:
"Does Mr. Gordon live here?"
-.Tack roen—alue! not sorry for the
interruption.
"That's My name," he said.
"'Ere's letter for yer," eahl the
ite.e. "Await answer,","
The paraffin lamp had not been lit
.loelc went outeide and 1(11(1(1) 81 the
(8(11155 on the envelope; and hie
is
gave a great leap; for he saw
that It Wit:4 !el Esther's handwriting.
He tore open the envelope and found
a :1(11 ,'t note inside; simply this:
"I wish to see you. Will you come
to 111' at 01108? Inquire for Room
2(10. "E. V."
For a moment Jack stood stock-
still in amazement; then the blood
raehed through his veins and hie
heart. leapt with joy. She was near
Ji, in London, within a cab drive.
Would he go to •hor! He strode back
to Kate and caught up his eap. Sae
rose and looked at him.
"Where are you goieg?" she nak-
ed, in a low voice, quivering with
anxiety.
"I'm — Pm going somewhere on
bueiness," stammered Jack.
"On business?" Her face went
white, her hand clasped his arm.
"Oh, be careful, pray be careful; it
may be trap!" she .exclaimed, in a
terrified whisper.
Jack stared at her as if confused;
then he laughed awkwardly.
"Oh, I'm all right. I 'must go Me"
sorry—no, I mean—yes, I must go!"
The boy had a cab waiting, and
Jack bundled him in and followed,
.telliug the cabman to drive like the
devil. When they reached the Met-
ropole, he • strode into the vestibule,
inquired for No. 240, and was taken
to a luxurious room on the first floor,
It was empty, a shaded. lamp was
burning on a side -table; it was the
only light in the room. Jack looked
round impatiently; and presently the
door opened and Esther entered.
His heart leapt at sight of her, but
he could only look at her, could only
wait for ber• to speak; noticing, as
his eyes eested on her, how pale she
Was, how fixedly, sadly, searchingly
those sweet, beautiful eyes gazed
into his.
Why had she sent for him?
CHAPTER XXXVIL
Esther had paused outside to try
and still the beating of her heart.
She meant to be quite calm; not only
to seem but to be really indifferent
to that subtle influence of his pres-
ence which had gained such power
over her; but as she saw him, noting
with a woman's quick eye the rough,
well-worn serge suit, thc. tanned
hasds whiah plainly bore the marks
of heavy labor, the handsome face
with its brows knit with uncertainty,
a touch of anxiety and yet a kind
of eager gladness, her heart began
to throb again and she found it diffi-
cult to maintain an appearance of
calm.
She was in evening dress, a dress
of black silk and lace, without a sin-
gle ornament to relieve it, and her
white skin looked dazzling against
the soft, sombre shades. 1-1 01' loveli-
neee filled jack with a delight, with
n longing that was an ecstasy of
pleasure and pain at one and the
mune moment. She 'motioned to a
chide, but Jack declined it with a.
gesture and they both stood, look-
ing at each other; with seeming cold-
ness in her eyes and with an earnest,
anxious appeal in his. At last she
spoke, and War voice was low 0110
steady, though her heart was beat-
ing quickly, tumultously,
"It is good of you to come so
quickly, Mr. Gordon," she said.
jack shrugged his shoulders slight-
ly.'.
"Why, of courser he said. "I
came at once—is anything the me-
ter?"
She paused a moment,
"No. I wanted to ask you a few
questions. I bog you to (111517110 them
without—without equivocation, how-
ever strange .they may seen' to you."
"Of Niers° I I can!!" re
sponded Jack. "Is anything wrong
down at Vancoart—with the farm?"?'
She shook her head.
"I want to. ask you some ques-
tions about—Australia," she said.
Jack's eyebeows went up lot a
second,. but he answered steadily
enough.
"Certainly!"
"Were you at a place .called Wal-
ly Ford?" she. asked.
Jack 'hesitated for juet a eccmd,
then be said eimply
awe .
"Did you know a man named Ar-
thur Burton?" she asked,
Jack looked et her, and his face
set, so to speak, as if he were sud-
denly throwing himself on guard.
"Yes," he said.
"Was he not a friend, what yen
eall 01(8111, of you'll?"?"
"Yes; T knew him," replied Jerk.,
"When did you see hire hut?" salt.
ed Bather,
"The day he died," Tolled Seek,
You'll Be I
C rnpletely In
the
All the Thee Verifie tleacitieg
the Great S&!
THE
ED LA
By
Mary
Roberts
kzehart
Uniess
You Are Kean
Enough
To ,Sohte It
As You Go
Startng 111
76!:
"THE POST"
IN THE NEAR
FUTURE
He died"—his voice grew husky—
"he died in time to save my life."
She started. There was a chair
near her and she felt for it with her
hand and sat down.
"Will yoq explain, will you tell
Inc the whole story?" she asked.He looked at her with an expres-
sion of anxiety and pity.
"Certainly; it is soon told. He.
and were chums, were camping -out
together." He stopped and regarded
her with a frown of perplexity.
"Why do you ask nee these questions
e—how did you know—"
She looked down.
"I will tell you presently. You
have promised to answer my ques-
tions. Go, on please."
"We were camping together; ono
night we were attacked by bush-
rangers; he was ill, dying. I was
overpowered and bound; one of the
scoundrels was about t o shoot me
m ,
my friend flung himself frothe bed
and in front of me, and received the
bullet which I ought to have got.
He saved my life at the cost of his
own."
She seemed to see the whole scene,
her face went white, and her eyes
closed for a moment; then she open-
ed them and fixed them on hire.
"What was Arthur Burton's real
name, Mr. Gordon?" ehe asked.
Jack was silent for a moment un-
der the direct gaze of those lovely
eyes, appealing to him for the truth;
he found it difficult to keep up the
lie, and yet it must be kept up.
"His name was John Vancourt,"
he said, sternly. He expected her to
start and utter an exclamation; but
she remained perfectly silent, the
beautiful eyes regarding him stead-
ily. "A letter was found in his coat,'
dontinued Jack. "A letter addressed
to him in his assumed name,. Arthur
Burton; ;the police found it and were
thus able to identify him."
Her lips quivered.
"That is not true," she said,
Jack started.
"I—I beg your pardon!" he stam-
mered. "What did you say?"
"1 say it is not true!" ssaid,
"Why have you told this falsehood,
acted this falsehood?"
"I—I doo't know what you mean,","
ho faltered.
She took something from hor pock-
et and held it in her closed hand while
ehe looked him in the face; then her
hand unclosed and the silver match-
box fell Softly on the table, and she
pointed 'to it.
"To whom does that belong?" she
asked.
Jack took up the match -box and
looked ale it.
"How did you come by it? It
belonged to Jack Vanconrt—that is,
Arthur Burton-------"
"And you are Sir John Vaneourt,"
Isaid Itlether, leaning. forward, her
lips parted, her eyes shining.
Jack made a fight for it,
"I don't know whatm
you ean," he
said, his eyes vaised for a moment
and then dropping
"Look at the name scratched on
the match -box," gho said, "mid now
look .at this," She took a paper from
her pocket; it was the aecount of his
expenses in London; which he had
given her in the cottage. He had
written her name on the top and elle
pointed t� the word "Vancourt,","
8114 then to the similar word on the
match -box. -"Tteno he shand wrote
both these 'limo.," she :said. -"Why
do you try any longer to deceive mo?'
know the truth. Do you .known 0.
gentleman called Coverdale?"
Jack 'dropped into. a (711811' and
leant his head on his hand, so nett -
Lally covering his faen, and Esther
wont MI.
hUN/C Met lir, Coverdale, He
knew yen and—and the Watet Who
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2Gth, I 920.
watch -box; you admitted to him that ! tell him who I wee end h 1 • 1
AIflyou were John vancourt; 110 des- 1 fop hee little sister, eve were attack-
.
1 ge,' you to nee described you so ed. Ile gee.. his life for me, and I --
exactly that It Wile 1111)4020i ble mot to i what r.10, could I do hut Iceep my
ideigify you. You aro John Van- I promise and befriend the girl he had
oe1(1---1 1,,,!...; your pardon, ;4I1' John , ,,oti-01,41 to my (.80)eo
I
Vancourt tiir Rieltartre nephew end Lether ;awed with her halide elasn-
iwir, the owner or v:::•oiat Towors.' ed tightly and preseed against hor
Jetek !.',1S,..! 8114 101100,1 al lwr, half boom,.
1-.-817e1(tly, hall' defiantly. 'Ile man wile year brother, the
•••Bow1e.1 out! Yes, I'In afraid '11), girl was youraelf. When the police
ince's up, 1114 Vat. court : 1 Y elt broke in I was uneeeleeinee. They
eev. n't h.ft me a kg to stand upen. found the letter ten your brethers -
e'eleve got 111.. tete.. ite clearly ite if
,..iou w..rta lawyer. But I'm sorry --"
1411e, too, had ris..n and steel ln-
gording him with heaving b esom,
with lips tha quivered 11701 eyos that
were dint with the tears that were
welling LIP in theme
'All last night, cNer since I knew,
while I orly glz,0e,11, I IlltV, 'Joel' :Al
lug myself, why you him, done tide
thing, why you have played this trick
lipoll me. EVell 11017 I can only VAT
'
uely surinise--1 do not quite know,
lf you feel the least reMeree for what
you've done, if you have any 1-d1<e' nat back on him? No 1 No man could
and friendly regard for- the girl you be sueh a hound."
have so cruelly deceived, you will
explain, you will tell Me the whole
truth—why you did it, What Wile your
Mr. Gordon --I beg your pardon, Sir
John Vancourt--"
"Couldn't you go on calling me
Mr. Gordon?" said poor jack. "It
sounds more natural, and I should
answer up to it better than to Van -
court."
I had put my jaeket on him. It was
easy to say that he was Arthur Bur-
ton, ea..y for Me to take the name he
hbre--Jaeli Cordoca--lostead of my
Own. Th.. thing was deo& in a min-
e•e; tit if Ed had 11 month to
ever I'd have done the
'You w,re wrong, wrelee wrong,"
..1.0 breathed.
"1 1041e riltht, right, ri....:!a!" he
retorted, almost angrily, and strik-
ing OM table with his hand. "Y811
hroth-r had entrusted you to my (IWO,
given his lir,. for me: could I
Esther ccho.ok her head, .
"Do you think I do not know the
extent of the sat•rifice you have made
Jack thrust his hands in his pock-
ets and paced up and down with bent
head, gnawing at his moustache.
Then he stopped in front of her and
loolced at her with the doggedness of
it man driven to bay.
"What else could I do?" he athed,
almost fiercely. "Miss Vancourt, the
man who saved my life, who laid
clown his 'life for 111e, W RS my friend
and chum. A little while before he
died he told me a story of his life; he
told me about his little sister; how he
had left her in poverty to work for
her living, to fight the world — a
young girl with no man -relative or
friend to help her. Almost while he
was telling me, and knowing that he
was dying, asking me to find her and
"No, you are Sir John Vancourt.
You had no right to relinquish your
name. I know the sacrifice you've
made. You came and worked on the
estate which belonged to you; you
must have felt that the wretched girl
whom your mestaken generosity had
placed in possession of it was a us-
urper and a fraud; even you must
begrudged her---"
jack broke in quickly.
"You are quite wrong, I give you
my word. T never begrudged the cs-
le•lp her for his sako, he read in a tate for a single second. When I saw
sneetwtisepinaepnetr tIhehnaeciwsbroofugshitr IRrininarthd'es graceful, so beautiful—er — I beg
you queening it there, so young and
your pardon! I mean, when I saw
how well you filled the place I was
jolly glad I had done what I had." I
"I cannot believe it; you must
death and the fact that if his nephew
were not alive, this girl would come
into the property. would step from
poverty to wealth. And at that very
moment I had a letter from Floss &
Floss, telling Inc that I was Sir Rich -
maltose you're going to knock II
Oven."
"If you mean, inn I going to sure
render the 'tato to you; I verteinly
am, at °nee, as quiekly es Possible,"
eebi Eether; "as a matter Of COUrMil."
"Wi'.1/, 1 WIS11 to Heaven you
woultheti" be said, "Luok here:"
he said, as if an idea bad struck
"eouldn't Mae a compramise.
eouldn't you kovii Wiltl'P you Mr, arid
mak, sm ? go eves
to Australia------"
(To 13.. Continued),
BUSINESS CARDS
_
irHE industrial Mortgage anti
I Savings Company, of Sarnia
Ontario., aro proorrril1 AdVAIICO money on
Mot tengre ime 41 Miele. Vox (los g
mou,-; on form anortgerre will Metier apply to
amore Omen, sreforth., Mot.. wile will Inc
1(3, 08 .11,4 1,1,,Iireler,4,
The Industrial Mortgage
and Savings Company
eta.GaN Laatoxv
AGENT FOR
fire, Automobile and Wind Ins,
COMPANIES
for Brussels and vieinIty Phone 647
--
JAMES M'FADZEAN
Agent Hawick Mutual Fire insurance Company
Also
Hartford Windstorm and Tornado Insurance
Phone 42 Box. I Turnberry Street, Brussels
iNO, SUTHERLAND & SONS
LIMITED
mrsatigiecur
youtzely OX2r01110
D. M. SCOTT
Zoraxxsiga .16,0170418.62
PRICES MODERATE
s'o,
eferences 001(80(1 111(7 person whose wiles
fhs v e alb:Aided at, Phone MS
. •
T. T. M'RAE
m. Se. M. O. P.. di S. O.
IA, 0.i3,, intIsso of Brussels.
PhySician, Surgeon, Aeoritiolurar
Office at residence. olitioelte Melville Church.
William etreet.
WAROI-AW
Honor graduate of the Ontario Veterinary
ctIlilierl.iegiZ night calls. Office opposite
have been unhappy." W: J5eFiNmstirti
"Don't von mak
• .
' BARRISTER, SOLICITOR,
ard's heir, Before I could recover RIS" said Jack, ruefully. "I was never CONVEYANCER, NOTARY PUBLIC
surprise, could pluck up courage to half so happy in my life. And now 1 LECKIE BLOOK - BRUSSELS
eranac--v. ek-_51e_go
Have you, Mr. Business Man, the
time to get out and call on all of your
customers and prospective customers
each week ? If you could do so, it
would be a fine thing for you and for
your business.
The next best thing to a personal
.call from you is to send out your
business message each week in THE
POST, which covers the local com-
munity and will carry your message
to old friends and new friends, alike.
Advertising in THE POST is an
economical, efficient way to reach the
people in your trade territory and let
them know of the buying opportun-
ities offered in your business estab-
lishment.
THE BRUSSELS POST