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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1938-05-05, Page 6PAGE S X. THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, MAY. 5, 1938 "Pray don't apologize," answered the marble vaice, Then the girl laugh- ed, 'Really you're -worse than I thought, 'when I heard 'you bungling over a ,bcat. 1 didn't mind your rude - mess, It was funny." "'Oh!" said I, abashed. There are situations in which conversation is im- possible. "I didn't mind yeur euelenees," she repeated, "aad —and — you mustn't mind mine. Homesick people aren't— arena—respensittle, you iknow. Ah! Here are the torcheel Give me one. I thank you --Father Holland—is it tot? Please rother them down till we reach the river, or we'll be followed." She was off in a flash, leading us through a high growth of rushes across the flats. So I was both recog- nized and remembered from the previ- ous night The thought was not dis- pleasing. The wind moaned dismally throngb the reed. I did not know that I had been glancing nervously behind at •every step, with -uncomfortable re- collections of arrows and spear -heads, till Rather Holland exclaimed: "Nfiy, boy! You're timid! What are you scared of?" "The devil!" ,and 1 spoke truthfully. "Faith! There's more than yourself runs from His. 'Majesty; but resist the devil and he flee from you." "Nat the kind of devil that's my en- emy," 1 explained. 1 told him of the arrow -shot epear-head, and mirth left his ma.nner. "I knew him, 1 know him Therc'e no greater ecound-el between Quebec and Athabasca." aMy devil, or yours?" "Yours, lad. Let your laughter be turned to mourning! Beware of him! I've known more than one murder of his ,doing. Eh! But he's cunning, so cunning! We can't trip him up with proofs; rand his 'body's as slippery as an tel or we rnight—" Rut a loon flapped up from the rushes, brushing the priest's face -with its wings. "Holy Mary save us!" he ejaculated Panting to 'keep op with our guide. aReitb! I 'thought awes the devil him- self!" "Do you really 'mean it? Would it be right to get holld of Le Grand Dia- ble?" I asked. !Frances Sutherland had slackened her pace and we were all three walking abreast. A dry vane crushed noisily under 'foot and my head elticked down as if more arrows had 'hissed past. "Mane it?" he cried, "mane it? If ye knew all the evil he's done ye'd know whether I mane it" It was his tustom when in 'banter to drop from English to his native 'brogue like a anerry-an drew. 'But, Rather Holland, I had him in my power. 3 struck hien. bet I 'didn't kill him, more's the <pityl" "An' who's talking of •killina ye young cut-throat? 1 see, get howld of his 'body and when ye've got howld of his body, I'd further advise aettin' howld of the tbut end of a .sapiin'—" "Rut, Father, be was my canoeman. I had shim in my power." Instantly lie squared rtnind throw- ing th.e torchlight on my face. 'You can't stay alone," Objeeted Fa- ther Holland. "I shall stay alone, and I've .had iny way otece 'already to -night," had ;hung on our Tear and the weft seemed to be dogging als ib'ack to the Father ,Flollected mieed his torch and could ,see Teething on *he water 'but the glassy relfleotion icif our own aortas. He seal it 'was a phaatom boat I thad seen; and, 'truly, visions of Le Grande Diable :had haunted nee so persistently of late, I 'could iscar.cely trust my eenses. !Frances .auttherland's torch 'suddenly appeared .waving above the flats. a put entisole to the oar and before we had landed &he called out— "Art Indian's 'canoe shot past a mo- ment ago, Did you ,see it?" "No," returned 'Father Holland. "I think we did," said 7. e, "But eve don't wish to lose one wo- man in .finding another," I protested. eGeee she 'commanded with afuri- ous little stamp. "You lose timel Stu- pids10Do you think I stay here for no- thing? 'We may 'have been ,followed .anel I shall stay here an,d .waechl hide in the rushee! Go!" !And there was a second stamp. That stamp of a feat no larger than a boy's band cowed .two strong men and sent us rowing meekly across the river. -"Did ye ever—did ever ye see such a little termagant such a persuasive, conernandin,g little queen of a termag- ant?" asked the priest almost breath- less with emprise . "Queen of courage!" I answered back. She must have smothered her toach, for 'there was 110 'light among the reeds when I locked back. We crossed the river slowly, listening between oar -strokes for the paddle -dips of ap- proaching canoes. There was no sound .but the lashing of water againet the pebbled shore and we lay in a lit- tle bay ready to dash across the 'fleet's course, when the boats should •come abreast. We had not long to wait. A canoe nose cautiously rounded the headland canting close to our boat. Instantly I ehout our skiff straight across Sts path and Father Holland waved the torches overhead, "Hist! Hold haek there—have a care!" I called. "Clear the wayl" cane: an angry or - kr from the clerk, aClear—ar fire!" "Fire if you dare, you Mole!" I re- torted, knowing well they would not alarrn the fort, and at .edged nearer the boat. 'Where', Eric Hamilton?" I de- manded. curse on you! None of your busi- ness! Get nut of the way! Who are you?" growled the voice. "Answer--quickl" I urged Father Holland, thinking they would respect holy orders; and. I succeeded in hump- ing my .craft against their canoe. "atrike him witth your parldl e, man" yelled the eteersman, who was beyond reach. "Give 'irn a bullet" called another. -For shame, ye saucy divils!" shout- ed the priest, shakieg his torch aloft and displaying Ids garb. "Sbaine ye, threatenin' to shoot a missionary. Ye'd be much better shaman' respect to the 'Church, Whur's Eric Hamil- ton?" he demanded in a fine show of indignation, and he ,caught the edge of their craft in his right hand. "Let go!' and the .steersman threat- eningly raised a pole that shone •steel- ahod. 'Let go—is et ye're ordenin' nie?" thundered the holy, now in a tower- ing rage, and he !flaunted the torch over the crew. atHogild y'r imp'dent tongues!" he shouted, shaking the ca- noe. "Be civil this ,minette, or I'll spin ye to the bottom, ye load of cursila "Had him in yam power—knew 'braggarts! Faith an' ,ut's it therty meal what !he'd done--and—and—dichat?" yeti make for the fushl'Faine answers "And didn't," said I. "But you al- ye give polite questions! How d'y roost make me wish I had. What do know wetre not here to warn ye about you take traders for?" the fort? For shame to ye. Whur's '5You're young,"seteid he, "and I Erie Hamilton, I say?" take traders for wihat they are—' Some of the canoemen recognized "'But I'm a trader and I didn't—" the 'priest. Conciliatory whispers pass - Though a !beginner, 1 wore the airs of ed team man to anan, a veteran. "Hamilton's far ahead—above the "Benedicitel" he cried, "The Lord falls now," answered the ;steersman. shall flee your avenlgerl He shall della- "Then, as ye hope to save your er that one into the power of the soul," warned Father Holland not yet punisher!" appeased, "deliver this young reaan's aBeneclicitel" he repeated. "May ye message!" keep as clean a 'conscience in this land "Tell Hetteilton," I ,cried, "that she as you've !brought to it." whom he seeks is theld eaptive 'by a "Amen, 'Father!" said 1. band al Sioux on Lake Winnipeg and '',Here we are," exclaimed Frances to make baste. Tell lam that and ,he'll Sutherland as we emerged from the reward you well!" reeds to the brink of the river, where Father Holland relaxed his grasp. •a skiff was moored, "Go, be quick! IV the paddles dipped ,down and :the ca - stay here! 'Twill 'be !better without me, noe was lost in the darkness. ,The .1-11.alson's Pay are keepieg olose lelore than once I thought that a to the fistasborel" ,ehadavvy thing like an iIndian's boat wanden-that a .curious ',change came over our .crews? The men atile swore; but :they did it ender their breath. Fewer yarne of a quality, which need not be specified, were told; and icer- tain kinds of jokes were no lentger 'greeted with a loud gmcfltaw. Still we all thought 'ourselves mightily ielaused by that eliminative bundle of indepen- dence, and sortie took to turning the back of their beads in 'her direction when he ,chanced to .00nte their way. 10ee young spark 'said something about the Little Statue being a prig, which we all invited him to repeat, bee he declined. ;Had the played the co- quette .under the ineocent mask of sympathy .and tall other guiles with which gentle slayers ambush strong hearts, a dare affirm there ,would have been trouble ,enough and to spare. Sui- cides, fights, insults and worse, a have witnessed when some fool woman -with a fair 'face came .arnong .such mem "Fool" woman, a say, rather than ',false"; 'for to nay mind. 'falsity in a woman may not be compared to fol- ly for the atter be -deviling of men. With our ,guiding star at the prow of the tore ,canoe, we continued to wind among countless islaitcls, through narrow, rocky channels and ,alang those endless water -ways, that stretch like a tangled, silver chain 'with 'meter- ald ljewels, .61 the way from the 'Great Lakes to the plains. Somewhere along Rainy !River, where there is an oasis of rolling, wooded :meadows in a des- ert of iron rock, we pitched our tents for the night. The evening air was fragrant with the odor of summer's early flowers. I ,could n.ot but marvel at the almost magical growth ie these far northern latitudes. Barely a month bad passed since .F..nove enveloped the earth in a winding sheet, an.d I have heard old residents say that the win- ter's frost penetrated the ground for a .depth of four feet. Yet here we were in a very tropic of growth run riot and the frost, which still lay !beneath rhe tipper soil, Was thawing and moist- ening the succulent roots of a wilder- ness of green. The meadow 'grass, swaying off to the .forest margin in billowy ripples, was already knee- high. The woods were ail impenetrable mass of foliage from the forest .of ferns about the broad trunks to the high tree -tope, nodding ,and 'fanning in the night ,breeze like .coquettish dames in an eastern 'ballroom. 'Everywhere— at the river beak, where our tents stood, above the long grass, and in elle forest—clear, faiet and delicate, like the bloom of a fair woman's cheek, or the pensive theme el some ,drearn fugue, or the sweet notes of some, far- off, .floating harmonies, was an odor of hidden 'flowers. A tradera nature is, of necessity, roegh in the grain, ;bet it is not cermet with the fevered joys of the .gilded c1tie. Even we could feel the call of the wilds to come .ancl seek. It was not surprising, therefore, that after sapper father and datighter should etroll away from the encampment, anm in arm, as 'usual. As their .figures 'passed into the woods the girl brolce away from her 'father' arm and stooped to ihe grourul. •. "How can a ehank you for .what you Save done?" I was saying to Frances Sutherland as we entered 'the fort by the sally-p'ort. "Do you Teeny want to 'know how?" "Do I?" I was prepared to offer dra- matic sacrlfice. "Then never think ,of it again, nor know me any more than if it 'hadn't ha,p,pened--" 'The 'conditions are hard." "And—" 'aAnd what?" a asked eagerly. "And help me tack the 'way I came down. For if my father—ohrif my fa- ther knew—he would kill men "Faith! So he ought!" ejaculated the priest. 'Risking .such precious treas- ure among vandals!" Again a piled tip the lbenches. From the bench, she ,stepped to the bucket, and from the ibeeleet to my shoulder, and as the light weight left my shoul- der for the window sill, meknown her, I 'caught the :fluffy skirt, now be- draggled with the night clew, .and kiss- ed it ,gratefelly. "Oh—ba—and oh -ho and oh -ho," litunmed dtbe priest. "Do I scent ma- trimony?" "Not unless it's in your nese," I re- turned 'beefily. "Shaw me a man of all the 'hundreds' inside, Father !Holland, that wouldn't go on his marreembenes to a woman who :risks life and repute - floe, which is .dearer than life, to save another woman!" "Riess you, me hearty, if he wouid- na he'd be a villain," said the priest. CHAPTER IX. I frequently passed that window above the stoop next day. Once I saw a face looking down on me with sech withering scorn, I 'Wondered if the dis- graceful scene with Louis Laplante hall !become noised about, and I hast- ened to take my exercise in another part of the ,courtyard. Thereupon, others. paid silent homage to the win- dow, 1;,.ta they likewise soon tired of that parade ground. Eastern notions ol propriety still eking to me. Of this 1 had immediate proof. When our Tough crews were preparing to re -embark for the north, I was shocked beyond measure to see this frail girl come down with her fa- ther to travel ia our company. Not counting her father, the priest, Dun- can Cameron, Cuthbert Grant and my- self, there were in our party three- score reckless, ,uneunbed adventurers, who feared neither God nor man. I thought it strange of a father to ex- pose his daughter to the bold gaze, coarse remarks, and perhaps insults of sech men. Before the end of that trip, .1 was to learn a lesson in west- ern chivalry, which is not easily ex- plained, or forgotten. As father and daughter were waiting to take their placein a boat, a shapeless, flat- footed evoman, wearing moccasins— probably the half-breed wife of some trader in the fort—ran to the water's edge with a parcel of dainties, and kissing the girl on both .cbeeks, wieb- ed her a 'fervent God -speed. 40h!" growled the young Nor - Wester, who had aeen careied from the 'bankpiet hall, and now 'wore the sour expression that is the aftermath of lbanquets. "Look at that fat lump. of a bumble -bee ,distilling honey from the rose! There are others who would appreciate that sort of thing! This' is the wilderness of lost opportunities!" Tha girl seated 'herself in a .canoe, where the only mien were !Duncan Cameron, her ,faelier and the native voyageur:a. and I dare vouch a score of young traders groaned at the sight of this second lost opportunity. I warrant there was not a young man of the eight crews who did not regard ,that in,arble-cold face at the prow of the leading canoe, as his awn particular guiding star. And ehe white face beneath the broadabeimmed hat, tied down itt each side in the eashion of those days, was as serenely lemon- scious tef es as any star of the 'heav- enly .constellations. Te she 'saw there were objects ,behind her canoe, and that the objects were living 'beings, and 'the living 'beings men, she gave no evidence of it. Nor was the Little Statue—as we had got in the 'habit of calling ber—aeartless. In spite ,of the fears which she 'entertained for her kern &other, her filial affe,ction eyFes a thing to turn the lads .of the crews quite mad, Scarcely were we aehore at the different 'encampments aefore father .anel daughter would strati off arm in aem, 'leaving the whole :brig- ade envious and. disconsolate. Was it the influence ,of this slip of a 'girl, 1 upon the ,group ea quieldy the gamibler eesteaely bedtime to tuck the teal -tale cards ender his lauckekin smook, "Ian thinking ye've sJl1 developed a mighty suadea interest in lbotany. Are there any bleeding heares in Ibe bush?" 'boy. here.maa here,." .su,gtgest.ed the "It all cones of the Little Statute!" declared the big trapper. "Obi 'You Soil yam .Stating zed Statute! Why can't you. say Statue'?" Wthy can't you say ,Statue?" asked the lad with the pomades scorn loa yofslh- 1 knowledge. , aTecause, olt, babe with the ,chick- enadown," ar6wered. the man, giving his corrector a thud with his broad palm and sticking heroically by his slip .of .the tongue, "I says the words I means end .dan't play no prig. She don't pay more attention to y.oe than if you 'wee a stump, that's why slhe's a :statue, airat it? And the iellogave got to stretch their necks to coine up to her ideas of what's proper, that'e why she a ,stature, ain't it? And riot a man of us, if His Reverencell ex- cuee .me dor .saying so, dare let Met it cuss .afore !her. That's why she's a statute, ain't it?" And ,when .w.aaked off to the bush with as great a show of indifference' as a ,could muster, I heard the priest crying aEravola to the man's defence. How •canne it that I was in the woods slushing through damp mold up to my ankles in iblaok epee? I no danger had any fear of an anabashed enemy; for Le Grand 'Diable, the knave,' had for feited 'his ,wages and .deserted at 'Fort William He was ,not seen after the night of the meetin.g with the Hud- son's Bay canoe eta the diats. I drew Father alolland's attention ta this, and the 'priest was no longer so s.ce,ptie about that phantom boat. Bra it was not of these things I thought, as I tare a .great strip of thar,k from the trunk .of a birch tree and twisted the piece into a 'huge ,coraticopia. Nan had I the slightest expectation of encount- ering father and daughter in ehe woods. That [marble face was too much in earnest for the vainest of men to suppose its indifference as stinted; and no matter how .fair the eyes, no man likes 'to .be looked at, by eyes that do not see bine or see him only as a 'blur ,on the laaciscape, that marble 'face stood for mach that is clear to the roughest al hearts and about which linen do not talk. So I went on Packing 'damp moss into the bottom of the .bark .horn, arranging frail lilies and night shades about the rit71 andlaying a solid pyramid of vi- olets in the ',centre. The mold, through which II was floundering, seemed to merge into a bog;. but the lower reaches were hidden by a thicket of alder 'bushes and scrub willows. I mounted a fallen eree and tried to get cautiously down to some tempting Illy -pads. !Evidently some one else on the other side of the brush was after those same bulbs;. aor ,1. heard the sucking sound of steps plunging through the mire all water and innid.. - "Why, 'Gillespie," called a voice, "eeliat iu the world are you doing here?" and ahe boy emerged' throegh the .wililows gaping at me in astonish- ment. "Jiust what I want to know .of you," said L He presented a comical' figure. Ilie socks and moccasins had been tied and slung mound his neck. With trous- ers rolled to his knees,- a batful of waterlines in one hand and a sheaf 01 fern in the other, he was wading through the swamp. 'You see," he began sheepishly. "f thought .she couldn't—couldn't .ccin- veniently get these for herself, and it would he kind of nice—kind of nice -- am know—to get some ,for "Denat explain," I ;billeted .out. "I van trying that same racket anyself." "You know, Gillespie," lie continued quite ,confidentially, "when a man's !been away from his mother and sisters .for years and years and years---" "Yes, I 'know, babe; you're an octo- genarian," I interrupted. "And feels bit eelf vying' letterly to the bow -wows without ,and stop -gear to keep 'him .from 'bowling clean to the bottom, a person feels like doing s.omething decent .f.or a girl like the Little 'Statue," and the youth plucked half a dozen yellow flowers as weld as the ,00veted white ones. "Have some Von yoar !basket," said he, His face was ipuokered Mae .pathetic gravity. "Ita so hanged easy to go to the ibove- wows out here," he adde<1. "Not so easy as in the towas," I in- tenjecteid. "AM but I've been there, gone ell through 'ern in 'the towns," he explain- ed. "That's wily ;the pater paalced me Off to Phis wilderness." And that, thought a, is way the west gets all the ,credit for the Wild oats gathered in old lands and sown io the new world1 gulled hini tip Ito the log sin 'which 1 was balanced, and .seating himself he dangled las feet down and began eo souse the mud off his toes. "Sayl" he ,exclaiMed. "How are you goingto gee 'me to ?her?" "Take .thein to the tent." . .GilleePie, then you, take misauc,along, too, will you? There's a. PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical DR. E. A. MeMASITER---Graduate of the Flactaty of Medicine, Univers- ity of ,Toronto, and of the New Yoak 'Post ,Geadvate School an.d Hospital, Member ca the College of Physicians and Surgeons ,of Ontario. Office on High street Phone 27. 'Office 'fully equipped for x-ray diagnosis and dor ultra abort wave eleotmic treatment, nirtra violet 'sun lamp treatment and infra red electric treatment. Nurse in atterrdance. "Pickin' flowers," was the laconic remark of the trader, 'who had helped me with Louis Ieaplante an the 'beach; and 'the man lay back 'full length against a rising laical to .drink in the delicious freshness ,af the night. .Every man of us watched the vanishing forms. "Smell vialets?" asked a heterogen- eous combination af sun -brown and buckskin. "This ground's a . perfect wheat - field af violets," exclaimed the whisk- ered youngster. "Lots o' Mayflowers and night- shades in the !bush," declared a ragged Man, who was •one ea the worst gamb- lers in camp, and Was now aimlessly ahullfling a greasy, thethumbed pack of cards. a0b!" .came simultaneously atom half a dozen. Personally, it struck me one might pick flowers 'for a certain purpose in the bush without being ob- eerved. , "Mayflowers he jure!" scoffed the boy. "Aye, babel Mayflowers in acne! May is June in these here re.gions," asserted the man. "Ladies -and -gentle- men, too, many's you cotild pick in the bush l" "Ladies -and -gentlemen! Sounds fen- ny in this desert, don't it?" asked the lad. "What are ladies-andegentlernen?" "Don't you 'know?" continued bhe gamblere unfolding a .curious lore of flowers. "Those little :p:olev, 'white things, split ate the .middle with a green head ,on top—grow under 'fern's, Conte on. .Cards are ready! .1aalio's go- ing to play?" "Dern itl Tbem's Dutchman's breeehes!" exelaiinecl the sun -brown- ed trapper. '0 Goll! aa that Little Stature ands any !Dutchman's 'breech- es, 'she :that's so scared ea us men! 0 Goll! 'Won't she blesii?.. Say, babe, why don't eaa fill ye- hat with 'cm anel put '5111 lam her tent?" and 'the big trap- per set up a hoarse ,guffaw enlace' led a general chorus. Then the men ,gath- ered emen.d to play. "Faith, lads!" interrupted elle ;voice of the Irish priest, who had 'come DR, GILBERT C. alARROTT — Graduate of Facalty of Medicine, Un- iversity of Westesn Ontario. Member a College of Physicians and'aurgeons of Ontario. Office 43 Goderich street west. Plhone . Hours 2-4.30 pan., 7.30-9 p.m. Other hours thy appoint- ment. Suctessor to DS. amis. aviackary DR. H. HUGH eoss, Physician and Surgeon Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special at- teneion to diseases cef the eye, ear, nose arid throat. Office and aesidence behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone No. S; Residence Phone 1014, DR. F. j, BURROWS, Seaforth. Otfice and residence, ,Goderich stiget, east of the Ufrited, Church, Coroner Von the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46. DR, F. J. R. FORSTER-- Eye Fear, Nose and Throat Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 1a97. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and 'Golden Square throat hospi- tals, Loadon. At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 1.30 p.m. to 5 p,m. DR. W. C. gPROAT Physician - Surgeon Phone 90-W. Office Jahn St Seaforta Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be 'made for Sale Date at The Seafarth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Autation- eer for Perth and Beam Counties, Sales Solicited. 'Perms *a. Application. Farm Stock, chattels and ;At estate prnperty., R. R. No. 4, .Miachell. Phone 634 r 6. .Aaply ait this office. WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAPORTH, ONT. kinde .of, Insurance risks .effect- ed at lowest rates in ,FirsteClass Companies. THE NicKILLOP Mutual Fire Insurance Co HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. . OFFICERS President, Thomas leloylan, Sea- forth;.Vice President, William Knox, Londesiboro; .Secretayy Treasurer, M. A, Real, Seaforth, AGENTS . F. lefeaKercher, RJR.% Dublin; John E, Pepper, Raa.1, Baucefield; E. R. G. Yarmouth, Beadaagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F, Hewitt, Kincardine; Yea, Holmesville. • DIRIECTORS Alex. Broadfaot, Seaforth No, 3; James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm No, 1; Frank 'McGregor, .01intan No..5; James Connolly, Gcid- erich; Alea MdEwing, Blyth No. 1: Thomas lvfoyian, Seaforth No. 3; Wm R. Archibald, Sealforth No. 4. Perties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their res,peceive post- oaficeit good fellow! Dal" He was drawing on his socks. "Noe much I will. If there's any proxy, you can take mine," I weturned. "Say! 'Do you think Father Holland would take 'em up?" Hse had tied Isis moccasins .and was standing. "Can't say I think he woulel." "He'd diet you bear about it to alt eternity„toce wouldn't he?" reflected the led. ''Corne on, then; bet you go firet" And he 'followed me An) the log, both of us feeling dike .shaeneefaced schoollbays. We Oak into the tent, the one tent of all .others that hadin- ferest for as that night, and ,deposited otir !burden of Illowers on the email of !buffalo robes. (To be continued) Send tts the names of your visitors. eraille„