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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1938-05-26, Page 6PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1938 Bois •Brules 111111111111111111111111111111111111•1111111 'Now about those ,stolen despatch -stripped from me end I should be est We want to know the truth! Were trapped indeed. you drunk, or were you not? Who has' "Good -thy, old boy!" .and I grippe them?" 'Captain 'McDonell aaraigned Hamilton's hand. "IS he stays, he' the Frenchman with a dire of ques- tion's that would have ,00nfused any other culprit but Louis. "Eric," I whispered, taking advan- tage of the respite offered by Louis' examination. 'We found !Laplante at Point a lla Croix. He was drunk. He confessed Miriam is held by Diable's squaw. Then we discovered someone was listening to the -confession and pursued the elavesadro.pper into the bush. When we came back, Laplante had been carried off. I found one of .canoemen had -your lost fowling - piece, and it was he who had listened and carried off the drunk sot and tried to send that spear -bead into me at She Sault. 'Twas Didble, Eric! Father Militant!, a priest in our 'company, told me of the white woman on Lake Win- nipeg. Did you !find this'-" indicating She spear handle--4'there?"-"there?" Eric, cold, white and trembling, gaily whispered an affirmative. "What that all?" "All," he answered, a strange, fierce look coming over his face, as the full import of my news forced home on .him. "Was-was-Laplante -in that?" he asked, gripping my arm in his ,anwounded hand with iforebod- ing force. "Not that we know of. Only Diable, But Louis is friendly with the Sioux, and if we only keep him in sight we may track them." "I'll -keep -him -in sight," mut- tered Hamilton in low, slow words. "Hush, Eric!" I whispered. "If we harm him, he may mislead us. Let us watch him and track him!" "He's asking leave to go trapping in the Sioux country. Can you go as trader for your people? To the 'buf- falo hunt first, then, south? watch here, if 'he stays; you, there. if he goes, and he shall tell es all he knows "lHush, may," I urged. "Listen!" "Where," Governor McDonell was thundering at Laplante, 'where are parties that stole those despatches?" The question brought bothHamilton and myself to the table. We went for- ward where we could see Laplante's face without being seen by his ques- tioners. "If I answer, Your Honor," began the Frenchman,' taking the captain's bluster for what it was worth and holding out doggedly for his own rights, "I'll be given leave 111 trap with the Sioux?" "Certainly, man. Speak out." "The parties -that stole -those des- patches," Laplante was answering slowly. At this stage he looked at his interloeutor as if to question the sin- cerity of the guarantee and he saw me standing screwing the spear -head on the tell-tale handle. I patted the spear -head, smiled 'blandly back, and with my eyes -dared him to co cn. He paused, -bit his lip and flushed. "No lies, no roguery, or I'D have you at the whipping -post." roared the governor. "Speak up, Where are the parties?" "Near about here," s.tarnmered Louis, "and you may ask your new turn -coat." I was betrayed! Betrayed and trap- ped; but he should not go free! I would have shouted oat, but }Tamil - ton's hand silenced me. "Herel" exclaimed the astounded ;governor, "Go call that young Nort- VVeaterl If he backs sip y'r story, be was Cameron's secretary, you can go to the buffalo 'hunt" That response upset Loois' bear- ings. He had expected the ,governor would refer to me; !but the oommand let lhim out of an awkward place and he darted from the room, as Hamil- ton and II supposed,-timpletons that we were with that ragtret-to find, the young Nor' -Wester. This turn of affairs gave me my change. If the young Nor' -Wester and Laplante same together, my disguise as a Hthlander and turn -coat would be orth-West brigades, to be sent on f a free trip -two thousand five hundred • miles to Montreal "A safe voyage to ye," said Dun- can .Cameron, conunartder. of Nor'- Wes.tet:s; as the ex -governor :of Red River settled himself in a canoe. "A safe voyage to ye, mon!" "And a prosperous return," was the ironical answer of the dauntless ruler over the Huds,on's Bay. "Sure now, ,Rtafus," said Father • Holland to me a year afterwards, "'twas a prosperous return he lied!" Fortunately, 1 had my choice of scouts, and, by dangling the pros- pects of a lb.uffalo hunt before La • Robe 'Noire and Little iFellow, • tempted them to ..corne with tne. CHAPTER XII. VVIten the iprima-donna of, some. vaintful city tsills her ibirdssong above the 'foot -lights, or the 'oremema moans out the sigh might -winds through the forest, artificial 'towns- folk applaud, Ye lt a nesting -tree, a thousand leagues from thy discords,' gives forth !better rill:isle with deeper and higher message -albeit the sang ster sings only ,from love of song. The fretted folk of the great cities cannot underetand the 'witching fas- cinations of A Wild life in a wild, free, tameless land, Where Gods own hand ministers to .eye ,and eat. To fare sumptuously, to dress with the faultless distinction that in arks wealth, to 'see and above all to be seen-tliese are the empty ends for which .city men •engage in a anad, fev- erish parsait of wealth, trample one another •down in a strife more ruth- less than war and gamble away ;gifts of mind and soul. These are the things for which they barter all freedom but the .name. Where one •sacceeds a thousand fail. Those with higher aims count themselves, happy, indeed, to possess a few scpaare feet of canvas,' that truly represents the !beauty dear to them, !before weeds had undermin•R ed and overgrown and choked' the temple of the soul. That any one should exchange 'gilded. chains for freedom to •give manhood shoulder swing, to be and to do -without in- fringing on the liberty of others to be and to .cle-AS to such .folk a mattir of no small wonderment For my part, I know I was counted mad by old associates of Quebec when I .dhose the wild, life .of the north 'country. But each to his taste, say I; and all this is only the opinion of an old trader, Who loved the work'.of nature more than the work of .man. Other voices may speak to other men and teach them what the waterways' and forests, the plains and mountains, were teaohing me, If "blogies" and 'les," the lore of school and market, comfort their 'souls -I -be it so, As for me, it was only when half a continent away from the jangle of learning and gain that I began to stir like a living thing and to know that I existed, The awakening began on the westward journey; but the new life hardly gain- ed full possessionbefore that cloud- less summer day on the .prairie, when I followed the winding river trail south ,of .the forks. The Indian scouts were far to the fore. Rank grass, high as the saddle -bow, swished past the horse's sides and rippled away in an anbroken ocean of green to the encircling horizon. Of course allow- ance must be made for a man in love. Oth.er men have discovered a world- ly] of 'beauty, when in love; but I do not 'see what difference 'two .figures on horseback against the •southern sky- line could possibly make to the shim- mer of purple above the plains, or the fragrance of prairie -roses lining the trail. It seems to me the lonely call of the meadow -lark high overhead. - a mote in a sea of blue -or the drum- ming and •chirruping ',cif feathered' creatures through the green, could not have sounded less musical, if I had not been a lover, But that, too, is only an opinion; for one glimpse of the forms before me 'brought peace into the whole world. Father Holland evidently saw me, for,,,he turned anti waved. The other rider gave no sign of recognition. 'A touch of the spur to my 'horse and I was abreast of them, Frances Suther- land curveting her cayuse from the trail to give me middle place. 'Arrah, me hearty, here ye are at last! Och, but ye're a skulkin' wighi," called the priest as I saluted both. "What d'y' say for y'rself, ye ,belated rascal, comin' AO tardy when ye're headed for 'Gretna Green - Ochl 'Twas a laps= linguae! 'Tis Pembina -not Gretna Green -that I mean." Had it been half a .century later, when a little place. calledGretna sprang up on this very trail, Frances Sutherland and I need not have flinched at this reference to an old- world IVIecca fot runaway lovers. But there was not ,Gretna on the Fembina •trail in those days and the Little Sta- tue's cheeka were suddenly tinged deep red, while I completely lost my tongue. 'Not a word for y'rself?" continued the priest, giving me full benefit of che .mischievous spirit working in him. "He, who .banded the foe in his den, now meeker than a lambkin, mild as a turtle-d.ove, timid as a pigeon, pen- your game. When he goes, he's mine Good luck to ns both. You'll coin south When you're better." Then I bolted throngh the maii hall thinking to elude the ,cann Soots, but saw lboth men in the stair way waiting to intercept me. VVIten ran down a flight of side stairs, the dashed to trap me at the gate. At th doorway a man lounged against me The lantern light .fell on' a pointe beard. It was Laplante, leanin, against the wall for !support and shak ing with laughter. You again, old tombstonel W'hith er away so fast?" and he made t 'hold me. 'Vitt in a burry myself! l\al last night tinder a roof, hal ha! Wai till I make my grand farewell! W both did well, did the grand, Ito! ho But I mast leave a fair demoiselle!" "Let go," and I threw him off. "Take that, you ramping donkey you Anglo-Saxon animal," and 11 aimed a kick in my direction. Thoug I could ill .spare the time to do it, turned. All the pent-up strength from the walk with Frances Sutherland rushed into my clenched :fist and Louis Laplante went down with a thud across the .doorway. There .wa the 'sis'h-rip of a knife 'being thrus through my boot, but the blade 'brok and I rushed past tire prostrate form Certain of waylaying ane, the Seat were dodging about the .gate; but by running in 'the shadow of the ware house to 'the rear of the court, I gave both the slip. I had no chance to re conn.oitre, but dug my hunting -knife into the stockade, hoisted myself up the wooden wall, got a grip f the top and threw myself over, escaping with no greater loss than boots pull- ed off ,before climbing the palisade and the Highland cap which stuck last to a picket as I alighted below. At dawn, bootless and hatless, I came in sight of Fort Gibraltar and Father Holland, who was scanning the prairie for my return, came running to greet me. "The tip-top o' the mornin' to the renegade! I thought ye'd been scalp- ed -and so ye 'have been -nearly - only they mistook y'r hat for the wool o' y'r crown. Boots gone tool Out wid your midnight pranks.' A succession of welcoming thuds accompanied the tirade. As breath re- turned. I gasped oat a brief account of the night. "-And now," he exclaimed triumph- antly. "I have news to translate ye to a sivinth hiven! ,Och! But it's clane cracked yell be when ye hear it. .Now, who's appointed to trade with the buffalo hunters but y'r very self?" It was with difficulty I refrained ircnt embracing the bearer of such good tidings. "Be easy." he commanded. "Yell need these demonstrations, I'm think - in' -hunting one lass and loin' y'r heart to another." We arranged he should go to Fort Douglas for Frances Sutherland and I was to set out later. They were to ride along the river -path south cif the forks where I could join them, 1, my- self, picked out and paid for two .ex- tra horses, one a quiet little cayuse 'with ambling action, the other, a muscular •broncho. I had the 'satis- faction of seeing Father Holland mounted on the latter setting ,out for Fort Douglas, while the Indian pony wearing an empty side-saddle trotted along in tow. The information I brought back from Fort Douglas ,delayed any more hostile demonstrations against the Hudson's Bay. That very morning, before I had .fiaislied breakfast, Gov- ernor McDonell rode over to Fort 'Gi- braltar, and on eondition that Fort Douglas he left unmolested gave him- self up to the Ner"-AVesters. At noon, When I was tiding off to the buffalo hunt and the Missouri, I saw the cap- tain, smiling and debonair, embark- ing -or rather !being embarked --with sive as a -Whimpering robin that's :lost his mate—" "There ought to be a law ,against he jokes, of the clergy, Sir," 1, inter- rupted tartly. 'The Takes aren't funny and one -daren't hit back." "There ought !to be is law against lovers, me helarty," laughed he. "There're • always funny, end they can't stand a crack." "Against all men," ventured Fran- ces Sutherland ,wilth that instinctive, womanly tact, vvitich whips recalcit- rant talkers into line like a deft driver reining up kicking 'colts. "All men should lbe ,warranted safe, not to go aff." "Unless there's a fair target," and the priest looked us over significantly ,and laughed. If he felt a ,gentle gui .an the ram, ,he yielded not a jot. Un- luckily there are no .curb -bits, for hard -mouthed talkers. "Rufus, I don't -see that ye wear a ticket warranting y'e'll not go off," he added merrily. '1Red became redder on two faces, alaci hot, hotter with at least one temper. MAnd womankind?" I managed to blurt out, trying Ito second her efforts against our 'tormentor. 'What guar- antee against ,dangers from them? The pulpit silenced ---though that's a big contract -mankind labeled, what f or 'women :0' "Libeled," she retorted. "IVIen say we don't hit straight enough 'to be dangerous." , "The very reason ye are danger- ous," the priest 'brake in. "Ye aim at a head and hit a 'heart! Men away ye go to 'Gretna Green-ochl It's Pem- bina, I mean! Marry, 3717 ,ohildren—" and the paused. "Marry! -What?" I shouted. There- upon Frances 'Sutherland !broke into peals of laughter, in which I •could see .no reason, and Father Holland winked, . "What's wrong with ye?" asked the priest solemnly. 'tFaith, no advice I'm giving; but as 3 was remarkiag, marry, nty children, I'd sooner stand !before a man not vvarr.anted safe than a woman, who might take to shying pretty charms at my head! Faith, me lambs, ye'll learn that I speak true." -As Mr. gack MacKenzie used to put it in his peppery reproof, I al- ways did have a knack of tuntbling bead first the instant an opportunity offered. Ibis time I had :gone in 'heels and all, and now came tip in as fine a confusion as any 'baaltful bumpkin ever displayed before his lady. Fran- ces Sutherland had regained her com- posnre mid 'came to my rescue with another attempt to take the lead front She loquacious churchman. • "I',m so grateful to you for arrang- ing this trip," and .she turned directly to me. "Mn -m," blunted 'Father ,Holland with merriment, before I could get a word in, "he's grateful to himself for that sante thing. 'Faith! He's been thankin' the stars, especially Venus, ever since he got marching orders!" "How did you reach Fart Gibral- tar?" she persisted. "San's boots and cap," I ,promptly replied, 'determined to be ahead .ol the interloper. "Sans 'heart, too," and the priest flicked my broecho with his whip '.and knocked the ready-made speech, with which I had honed to silence him, clean out of my head. Frances Suth- erland took to examining remote ob- jects on the horizon.. Hers Was a nature not to be beaten. , "Let us ride faster, she suddenly proposed with a glance that boded roguery. She was off like a shaft from a how -string, causing a stamp- ede of our horses. That was effect- ive. A hard gallop against a stiff prairie wind will stop a stout man's eloquence. "Ho Youngsters!" exclaimed the priest, coming abreast of -us as we reined up behind the sceuts. "If ye set inc that gait -whew -I'll not be left for Gretna Green -Faith -it's Pembina, I mean," and he puffed like a cargo boat doing itself' ,proud. He was 'breathless, thereline safe. France( Sutherland was :tat disposed to break the accumulating , silence. and I, for the life of me, could mat think of .a single remark approtii:iate for a party of three. The' ordinary commonplaces, that ,stop -gap con- versation, refused. to come forth. T rehearsed a multitude of impossible speeches; +but they stuck behind seal- ed lips. "Silence is getting heavy, Rufus," he observed, enjoying our entbarralts- rnent. Thus we jogged forward for a mile or more. "Troth, me pet lambs:" he remark- ed, as 'breath returned, "ye'll both bleat better without .mel" .Forthwith, away he rode fifty yards ahead, 'keeping that ,distance beyond ,us for the rest of the day and only calling over his shoulder occa- sionally. • '100111 :but Y'r ,bronrchos are sloW'l Don't be telling me y'r Ibronches are not slow! Arralt, me hearties, be making good use o' the honeYmoon, -I mean afternoon, not 'honeymoon. Marry, me •children, 'but y'r bronchos are lbog-spayined; and spring -halted. tliggle-jo.ggle faSter, with ye, ye ras- ca1s1 Faith, I see ye out o' the tail o' any eye. Those bronchas are nosing a bit too close, I'm thinkin'l I'm go- ing to turn! I ,warn ye fair-treadyl One -shy -off there! Tvvol-fhavo ,a care! Three -I'm ,coming! Pour - prepare!" And !he would glance back with Shouts of ,droll laughter. "Get epp! We ,mustn't ,clisturb them! Get eppl" This to his own ih•orse ,and, off he would go, humming, to the laay.,IfObs hie of his hag. "Old angel!" .said under my breath. He was right. Talk no laftger lag- ged, whatever our lbronchos did; !but indeed, all we said was better heard by two than three. Why that was, I cannot tell, for our words were strung together on things common- place eimagh; and load hearts, as well .as mystics, have a key to unlock a ,world of ,rneaning from aneamingless words. Tufts of poplars, wood js- lands on the prairie, -Skulking .coyotes that prowled to the top of some earth mound and uttered their weird cries, mud -colored .badgers; hulking 'clums- ily away to their treacherous holes, gophers, sly fellows, propped On mid- get tails ,pointing fore -paws at us - these land other ccitrinton things stole She hours away. The sun, clipping else to the sky -line, shone distorted through the warm haze like a huge blood shieid, Oar ahead our scouts were pitching tents on lground well back from the river to avoid the mosquitoes swarming above the water. It was time to encamp for the night. Those long !June -nights in the far north with fire .glowing in the track of a vanished sun and stillness •brooditve over infinite space -have a glary, that is peculiarly their own. lOnly a sort of half-darkness lies 'between the ling- ering sunset and the early sun -dawn, At nine 'o'clock thesun-rim is still above the western prairie. At ten, one may read by daylight, and, if the sky is clear, forget for another hour that night has begun. After supper, Father Holland sat at a distance from the tents with his back carefully turned towards tis, a precaution on his part for which I ,Was not ungrateful. +Fran- ces Sutherland was throned on the boxes of our quondam table, and I was reclining against saddle -blankets at her feet "Ohl To be so forever," she ex- claimed; gazing at the globe of solid gold against the opal -green sky. 'To have the light, always clear, just ahead, nothing :between us and the Tight, peace all about, no care, nO weariness, dust quiet and beauty like this -forever." 4`Lilce this forever! I ask nothing better," said 1 with great heartiness; but neither her eyes nor her thoughts were for me. Would the eyes looking so intently at the sinking sun, I won- dered, condescend to look at a spot against the sun. In desperation I me- ditated standing up. 'Tis all very well to talk Of storming the .citadel of a closed heart, but .unless .telepathic implements of , war are perfected to the same extent as modern arma- ments, permitting attack at long range, one most .first get within shooting distance. Apparently I was so far outside the defences, even my design was unknown. "I think," she began in law, hesi- tating Words, so clear and thrilling, they set rny 'hean„ t beating wildly with a vague expectation, 2 think hea,ven must be very, very near on nights like this, don't -you -Rufus?" I .wasn't .thinking, of heaven at all, at least, not the heaven she had in mind; but if there is one thing to make a man swear white is 'black and black white and to bring him to in- stantaneous ‘agreement with any statement whatsoever, it is, to.hear his Christian name so spoken .for the first time. I sat up in an electrified y that brought the fringe of lashes down to hide those gray eyes. "Very near? Well rather! I've been in lieven all day," I vowed. "I've been getting glimpses of paradise all the way from Fort William--" "Don't," she interrupted with a flesh of imperious nature, which I knew. "'Please don't, Mr. 'Gillespie." "Please don't Mister Gillespie me," said I, piqued by a return to the for - mai. 'If you .picked up !Rufus by mis- take from the priest, he sets a good example. Don't drop a good habit!" That was my first step inside the °V`R • t`wIrtkiss," she answered so gently fell she might disarm and slay me if she would, "Rufus Gillespie" --that as a return .of the aid spirit, a com- promise lbetween her will and :nine - "please don't begin saying that sort of thing -there's a whole day before l'is--" "Ansi you think I can't keep it up?" ,"Y*011- haven't !given any ,sign of failing. You know, Rufus," She added consolingly, "You really must not say those things, or 'something will be hurt! You'll make •me hurt it." "Something is hurt ansi needs mending, Miss Sytherland--" "Don't Miss Sutherland me," she hrolce in with a laugh, 'call me Fran - PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical DR. E. A. McMASTER-Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Univers- ity of Toronto, and of the New. York • Post Graduate 'School and Hospital. Member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Office, on High street. Phone 27. Office fully bqnipped for x-ray ,diagnosis and !for ultra ,Short wave electric treatment, Ara violet sun lamp treatment and infra red electric treatment Nurse in attendance. DR. GILBIERT C. JA'R'RIOTT -- Graduate of Faeulty of Medicine, 1.50- iversity af Western !Ontario. Memlber of College of l'hysitians and Surgeons of Ontario. 'Office 4.3 'Goderich street west. Phone 317. Hours 2-4.30 pm., 7.30-0 p.m. Other 'hours by appointment. Successor to Dr. Chas. rMackay. DR.. H. 'HUGH ROSS, Physician and Suageon Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special at- tention to diseases df the eye, ear, nose ael. throat. Office and aesidence behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104. DR. F. J. BrCIRTJOWS, .Seaforth. Office and residence, ,Goderich street, east of the United Church. Coroner for the County of 'Huron. Telephone No. 46. DR. F. J. R. FORS'TER- Eye Bar, Nose and Throat 'Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 1897. Late Assistant New YOrk Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and 'Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London. At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third 'Wednesday in each month from 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. DR. W. C. SPROAT Physician - Surgeon Phone 90-W. Office John St ISeaforth Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made' for Sale Date at The Seaford] News. Charges moderate anti satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AHIRENIS, Licensed Auetion- eer for Perth and Huron Counties. Sales Solicited. Terms on Application. Farm Stock, chattels and 1481 estate property. R. R.. No. 4, iMitdhell. Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office. WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE . AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James 4,Vatson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTIL ONT. All kind a cif Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class .Companies. THE, •MtKILLOP Muttialfirelfidance Go HEAD OFFICE--SEAFORTH, Ont. . -OFFICERS ,President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice President,. William Knox, Londesiboro; Secretary Treasurer, M. A..Reid, S'eaforth, AGENTS P. Mcdaercher, R.112.11., Dublin; John E. Pepper, 11.,IR:1, Baucefield; E. It G. jiarrnoutla Brodlhagen;. James' Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm. Yeo, Holmesville. DIRECTORS , Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No, 3; James Sholdice, Walton; Wm, Knox, Londesboro; George Lemthardt, Bornholm No. 1; Frank !McGregor, .Clinton No. 5; James Connolly, God- erich; Alex Mewing, Blyth No. 1; ThOmas Moylan, Seaforth No. 5; Wm. R. Archibald, Sealforth No, 4. Parties 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 respective post - offices, ces; and if something is hurt an.d needs mending., I'm not .a tinker, though my father and the priest -yes and you, too -sometimes think so. But sisters do 'mending, don't they?" and she laughed my earnestness off as onewould puff out a candle. "No-ano---!no-not sisters that," I protested. "I have no 'sisters, Little Staaue. I ,wouldn't know bow to act with a sister, unless she were somdbody else's sister, you know. I can't stand the sisterly :business, Prances—" "Have you suffered much from the sisterly?" she asked with a merry twinkle. (To be continued) Send us the names 01 your visitors. •