HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1942-11-25, Page 2Heart of Gold
By Pat Moore
Her room was situated at the front passing motor while he was crossing
the road about three and a half
years ago.
"But dida't you get compensation?
asked Jean. •
Mrs, Roberts shook: her head.
"No," she said Hopelessly. 'Yon
see, a passerby gave evidence that
it was hie owns fault. He stepped off
the pavement without looking to see
if there was anything coming, so
the children and I got nothing."
Considering the evident and ad-
mitted, poverty of the little party,
Jean was surprised to see the num-
ber of photographs which had been
taken of the children.
There were photographs of them
as babies, sitting in their perambu-
lator, ,and as tiny toddlers, evidautly
staggering on uucertain. legs; there
were photos of them sitting upright
and solemn, staring at her over the
top of a big picture book. These
photos were none of them mere
snaps, but had obvious been taken
by a good professional photo-
grapher,
Mrs. Roberts evidently read her
thoughts, for she replied to them
without Jeauis having made any
reference to the ideas which were
running through her mind.
of the house, and she could see that
poor Mrs. Roberts was evidently in
the habit of melting some attempt to
keep the front garden tidy.
Jean glanced at her watch. It was
only about half -past six, but she
decided to get up straight away and
begin at once on her self -supposed
task of reconstnueting the affairs of
the Roberts family.
'She found plenty to occupy her
attention till, at half -past seven, Mrs,
Roberts, looking only a shade less
worn and weary than she had done
the previous evening, arrived down-
stairs, leading a twin by each hand.
Between attending to the various
wants of the twins and to their table
manners;, there was very little op-
portunity for conversation during
breakfast.
After the twins had finished their
meal, however, and gone out into the
spring sunshine to play inn the
garden, Mrs. Roberts became con-
fidential.
She told Jean about the home
where she had spent her South. It
appeared that she had been, brought
up in a gloriously happy-go-lucky
household in the ,South of Ireland,
and had been pitchforked into all
the cares and responsibilities of ha -
allexpect you're surprised to see
all these photos,' she said. "Of
ofsums widowhood at the early age course, .1 couldn't have afforded to
of twenty -Pour. have them taken, but my old aunt
Jean made a swift mental calcu-
laiton, ,and decided that this tired,
careworn woman could in actual
tact only be about seven or eight
years older than she was herself.
Mrs. 'Roberts produced a quantity
of photographs out of a drawer in
the bigger of the two sitting -rooms--• hastened to change the subject.
a room which Jean saw as untidy as Jean picked up one of the few
the rest of the house. remaining photograpns which she
She showed the photographs to had not yet looked at, and saw that
Jean one by one., with a sort of lov-
ing tenderness.
will insist on doing so. She can't
really afford it either, but it's a sort
of mania with her.
Jean felt suddenly acutely embar-
rassed, though she could not have
accounted for the sensation, so she
it was the picture of a young man
with kind eyes and a very sweat
There were photos of her husband i mouth.
--a handsome young fellow who, she "Who's the man, with the nice
informed Jean, had been killed by a face " she demanded, looking at it
with interest.
Mrs. Roberts held out her hand for
the photo.
FOR
MEN
Th. Eke -Ea
craw — band-
mmna cod amt.
!w m
Elco" $2?"
ow Era"
model in the
smart coral
$2375
FOR
LADIES
C.
A4r•ainoir,,
•tyt•d Boo
"Ym tf..,in
0$217
TIM isth.beautiful
lifeo "-ttny,43
yet dependable '
EASY CREDIT TERMS
Shop at
Savauge'
IT PAYS
sEerFBRTH; ONT.
Our Diamond Room Affords
Privacy When Buying;
"It's odic somebody I rsed to know
Years ago before I was married to
John," she replied, and she, tco.
stared intently at the photograph.
then she laid it fade downwards on
the table. "I haven't seen him or
heard anything of him for over seven
years, not since I first became en-
gaged to John."
"I think if there s nothing else I
can do for you just at the moment,
Mrs. Roberts," she said, "I'll get
along down to the station and fetch
my luggage."
As she issued from the front. door
the twins„ who had evidently taken a
great fancy to their new friend,
came up clamouring to know woere
she was going, and when they heard
that she was on her way to the stn.
tion, they demanded to be taken,
too.
Jean, hesitated. She was willing
enough to have the children as com-
panions, but thought that the short-
ness of their legs might hinder her
somewhat, and she was in a hurry to
get back In order to help IVIrs,
Roberts.
Reluctantly she refused the child-
ren's request, and they oceepted the
verdict meekly enough, trotting back
quite happily to their game beneath
the apple tree—a game which seem-
ed to involve the expenditure of
much energy with two small spades
Jean walked off briskly down, the
road and before she had gone more
than: a hundred yards, a bend in the
road hitt her completely from the
house. Another bend hid the
village from her slight so that she
was for the moment quite by
herself, and it was at this particular
moment than an, unusually nasty -
looking tramp appeared in sight,
slouching along towards her v'ith
his hands thrust deep into his trous-
er pockets.
As soon as he caught sight of Jean
he quickened his pave, and when she
went to pass him he at -once began
some whining story.
It was the usual tale. He informed
her that he had lead nothing to eat
Since the day before .yesterday,
though Jean could hardly believe
this in view of his very well-
rourished condition.
More to get rid of aria than for any
other reason Jean. handed him tail-
pence out of her bag, hut thts did
not please him. Heglanced turtively
over his shoatlrler to snake sure ne
one was in sight and then, grabbing
hold of her bag, tried t� pull 11 from
her areal.
Jean hung on desperately, wishing
that somebody' would come along
tine 1'084 to her assletaetoe.
FOR A MILD, COOL, SMOKE
Assistance did come in what Jean
could not help regarding as a most
unexpected and gratifying manner.
There u'aa' a clear loud toot of a.
motor horn, and the next' minute a
car swept round the bend from the
village.
The young ratan in the car `oeli
in the situation in a single glance,
and in a moment had ground on hie
brakes and brought Lite car to such a
sudden standstill that it skidded
slightly across the road.
In another Instant he was out �f'
the car, and the tramp, seeing from
the expression on his furious face
that he really meant business, re-
leased his hold of the bag and,taking
to his heels, tore down the read as
hard as he could.
In the excitement of the moment,
Jean failed to recognise her rescuer.
Then she saw to her joy Lilac it was
David Edwards.
David looked uncertainly from her
rather white face to the rapidly
receding form of the tramp,
"Shall 1 go after the tramp and
tell him exactly what 1 think of
him?" he wanted to know.
Jean shook her head.
"I shouldn't if I were you " she
replied, with a shaky little laugh.
"He would only be frigtitftt -y rude
to you most likely."
David laughed shortly. It was
obvious that he was still extremely
angry.,
"Not half as rude as i should have
been to him!" he told her. "However,
r
i N BRUSSELS POST
we envy as well let the chap go. 1
think he's had a fright and I hope it
will be a long time before he at.
tempts to snatch the brig of any
ocher unattended female."
Jean sullied up at bine
"1 think I object to balms eaalled
an unattended female," she ennounic-
act. "It sounds too much hko a Gov
rrn ent form. But tail me, Mr,
Edwards, how is it that you always
manage to appeal' just at toe mo-
ment when 1 need you. Last night
pint were there to pall me into the
nein after it had started, and now
1hie morning you appear ju;t in time
to rescue my bag from being stolen
by a tramp."
David la:uglaod:
Ola, 1 can't lay any claim to natur-
al talent in that direction," he said.
it's what you might call just my
good. luck,"
"I should have thought," said Joon
slowly, "that it was any luck, not
yours, that you are always on hand
to hen$ me when I nee.] you.'
Don't you believe it,' he. said.
There was such a wealth of mean-
ing in his tone that Jean decided it
would only be discreet to change the
tople of conversation.
"Are you Just on your way back
to London;" she enquired remeneber-
tag whet he had told hey of his
movements the night before in the
train.
He nodded.
"Yes, but I'm not in a hurry, if I
can give you a lift first of all. 'Where
were you off to, when I met you
grappling with the tramp"
"I was 011 my way down. to the
station," said Jean. "I wanted to get
my luggage brought up to the house
in a taxi,"
"Shouldn't I do as well as the
taxi?" he enquired eagerly.
I'M D iNG MYBIT
wok you ooYOuRs
parse
SCRAP METAL
Ws not always., easytor"ieniember that every
scrap counts—but it's true. Every scrap dos.
count.
Tons of war material are being made front the
wrap metal8, rags, paper, bones and the waste
collected from Canadian homes.
Carry on the good work—every day of every
week. Help win this war at your own back door.
ISSUED ItY DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL WAR SERVICES
t
'CLEAN OUT" tD
,CLEAN P" N HITLER
Jean hesitated,
"1 really don't see why I should
bother yqu any further," she Pre-
tested,
"It's no trouble," he assured hes'
gravely as he held open the door of
his car for her to get in, 'It's the
greatest pleasure."
"You didn't tell me," he continued,
eliding into the driving seat of her
aide, "that you were coming to stay
in smelt a perfectly heavenly spot as
Holtfot demo,"
"Well," returned Jean slowly, "I
didn't tell you because I didn't know
it myself."
He turned and looked at her in
some sm'prtse.
"Do you often arrive in places
without knowing that you're going
there?" he wanted to know.
"Not often," Jean admitted, "but
I've done it this time. Officially I ant
staying at Kilmanton a perfectly
horrible place, fifty miles away from
here, with my perfectly horrible
aunt, Mrs, Sands Actually I am
stopping here to help rue a boarding
house."
The look of bewilderment on
David's handsome face did not
lessen,
",Supposing you try explaining
things a little" he suggested. in tones
of mild amazement,
So Jean explained everything, all
about her aunt's objects .nabla+ child-
ren, their opportune attack of
scarlet fever, the fact that. she had
Wednesday, November 26t1>;, 11142
got into the wrong train in her
hurry the previous evealug, and of
her arrival at Upton House,
"So now you understand all about
it," she told hint, "do yon blame me
for what 1 have arranged ?"
'No;' he said gravely, "1 don't
blame you a bit, but 1 think you may
find that you have bitten off rather
more than you can chew, and that
Mrs. Roberts may prove to be a
hopeless person,"
"I think she's only a pathetic one,"
replied Jean, after coesiclet'ing the
point for a moment, "and the twins
are perfectly sweet, But here we
are at the station, Now please don't
trouble to wait because I can quite
easily get a taxi back to Upton
House."
"It's no trouble," he repeated.
"I told yon that before. Now where
is this luggage of Yours. In the
cloakroom? Let's go and find it."
-On the way back to Upton house,
a drive which David could normally
have accomplished in about a min-
ute, aaad a half, but which most
unaccountably took hire nearly ten
miunates on this particular occasion,
be counselled Jean once .morn to be
careful in her dealings witn Mrs.
Roberts.
"After all," he concluded "you
don't know anything about her—"
"Oh, yea I dot" returned Jean
eagerly. "I've got the slation-
master's word for it that she is a
most respectable person"
TO BE ION'PJJNIJ14D.
K+ le •:+•:+•:• ep t b'tri %` 3t11,4114i 4:s14.°:N:•e!•.
1 ..
t`•
11s11kess - surds' fax. -
4 4 ' Allan A. Lamont
44 Agent for -Fire, Windstorm
424 Get particulars of our Special
AutomobileAutbe IPolicytce
4;4 A Policy
434 Queen St. for farmers.
a4, Brussels Phone 657
1
,z W. S. Donaldson Licensed Auctionee,
for the Counties of Huron and Perth
phone 35.tr-13 — — Atwood, Ont
All Sales Promptly Attended to
-----CHARGES MODERATE---_
For Engagements. phone 31 'The Brussels Post' and they
will be looked after immediately.
WILIAM SPENCE
Estate. Agent, Conveyancer
and Commissioner
GENERAL INURANCE OFFICE
MAIN STREET, — - ETHEL, ONT.
Viriumemmoseireualczeineeminaw
;% W. D. S. Jamieson, M.D., C.M., L111 CC
> a
424 Physician and Surgeon
toe Coroner
Office 'Hours -1-4' and 7-8
° p.m.
a. Also 11-12 a.m. when possible.
Saturday evenings until 10 p.m.
A444 Sundays - - Emergencies and by appointment only.
♦Home 'calls in forenoons and 4 - 6 p.m.
Asussosssmassantamsoatuesaissemassommaimisnommommum
y Chas. 1', Davidson
24 Insurance Agent For
ALL KINDS OF
♦ Automobile and Fire Insurance44
Accident and Suckness
6 ♦ Agent for Great West Life Insurance Co.A
4`4 'PHONE OFFICE 92X
XRESIDENCE 87-8-2 - Brussels, Ont,
4''
4:4
.2°
e2i
.•2•
4±4
°♦20
f s•
4i'
4C4
4s0
420
4�4
44
2;
•
4.
,
e=t
4
4*4
iii
0
44
:2«i
''
Harold Jackson
`•. SPECIALIST IN FARM AND HOUSEHOLD 8ALE8. jZ�
(Licensed in Huron and Perth counties)
°y4 1,44PTJCBS PEASONABLE; SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
asa Fos' information, etc., write or phone Harold Jackson, 12 on Kt, i
• rseaforth; RtR. 1, Brimfield. 4
4♦ Make arrangements at The Brussels Post or Elmer D. Bell, ��1QQQ
It
°i� j
et ! .1 Barrister Mae.
♦♦ �'!
'2' FURNITURE t i•
•44 ..,.o a�n.�o�,n .,rte.nrnsn�„�n�.o•M„�n�nwv,�nrn�o�o.Mw�. i
••FUNERAL AND AMBULANCE SERVICE
i4
411.111.
D. A. RANN
a=4 Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.
424 u�.nMMn.Mu�nru."o�o01"n n�n�n.•.�a�n�,,.�a+,..�,1.
.r r.
'1
i=� PHONE 36 or 85 ---_ BRUSSELS,
4f' 't".' JAMES McfjADZEAN , ;:, . ,
♦♦ ' lorwrtck Mutual Fa. Insuriipcel ,,' i ,
3;--I,e.. r
4t• Hartford Windstorm, Tornado Insuttutce i „
44 it
4�i Automobile Insurance 1
444 PHONE 42 P. O. BOX 1 �
4 TURNBERRY ST. x BRUSSELS1. ONT. '+' ”
1 1+ ,44.4+ +.+.+.+.#+.444+4 2a4�f►O~RNiNite � a1 s. .
is