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The Seaforth News, 1938-07-21, Page 6PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS., THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1938. 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111.1111.11110.1111111.111 Bois Brines 'with a jealous pang. She was fumtblinig among the intricate draperies, wheri women ,conceal pockets, and presentl'$r brought out something in the +palm of her ihand. "1. wouldn't have him 'kn'ow how 'foolish I am,' and she laid the thing gently :against her •dheek , Now 1 had never given Frances' Sutherland a gift of any aort whatev- er; and my heart was 'pierced with anguish that 'cannot 'be described. 1 was, indeed, falling over a precipice and her arms ,were not 'holding me (back but dragging me over. • Would that I like the dreamer,'could awaken with a start In all oons,eience I was dizzy .enough and every ipressure of that 'hateful object to her face bound me faster fn a 'dungeon of utter hope- lessness. My sweet day -dreams and midnight rhapsodies trooped back to mock at ere. I •fent that I must bow broken under anguish or else steel myself and shout (back cynical deri- sion to the Whole •ran troop of tor- tured regrets. And all the time, she was caressing that thing in her hand and looking down at it with a fond- ness, • 'which I—poor fool—thought that I alone could inspire. I suppose if I could have crept away unobserv- ed, I would have gone tram her pres- ence hardened and embittered; ibnt I exist play out the hateful part of eavesdropper to the end. She 'opened the hand to feast her eyes on the treasure, and 1 craned for- ward, playing the sneak without a pang of shame, but the dusk foiled me. Then the law, mellow, vibrant tones, whose very music would have intoxicated .duller fools than I -'tis ever a comfort to know there are greater fools -brake in melody: "To my own dear love (rant her ever .loyal and devoted knight," and she held her opened hand 'high. 'Twas my birch - bark message which Father Holland had carried north. 'I suddenly insane with a great overcharge of joy, that paralyzed all motion. "Dear love—wherever are you?" asked a voice that thro'btbed with Tong- ing. Can any man blame nie for break- ing through the thicket and my reso- lution and discretion and all?" "H•ere beloved!" I sprang 'from the bush. She gave a' cry of affright and would have fallen, but my arms were about her and my lips giving silent proof that I was no wraith. What next we said I do not remem- ber, With her head on my shoulder and I doing the only thing a man could do to stens her 'tears, I 'com- pletely lost track of the order of things. I do not 'believe either of us was calm enough for words for sone time after the meeting. It was she who regained mental poise 'first. "Rufus!" she exclaimed, breaking away from me, "You're not a sensi- ble man at all.' 'Never said I was," I returned, "If you do that," she answered, ig- noring my remark and receding farth- er, "I'll never stop crying." "Then cry on forever!" With womanly ingratitude, •• she promptly called me "a goose" and other irrelevant names. The rest of our talk that evening 1 do not intend to set down, In the first place, it was best understood by only two. In the second, it could not be transcribed; and in the third, it was all a deal too sacred. We did, however, 'become imper- sonal for short intenvals. "I 'feel as if there were some storm in the air," said Frances Sutherland, "The half-breeds are excited. They are riding past the setlement in scores every day. 0, Rufus, I know something is wrong." "So do I," was my rejoinder. I was thinking of the strange •gossip of the Assiniboine encampment. "Do you think the Bois-Brules would plunder your ''boats?" she asked innocently, ignorant that the malcon- tents were Noe -Welters. "No," said 'I. 'What boats?" "Why, Nor -West boats, of course, canting up. Red 'River from Fort Will- iam to go up the •Assiniboine for the winter's supplies. They're corning in a few days. My father told me so." "Is Mr. Sutherland an H. B. C. or Nor' -Wester?" I asked in the slang of the company talk. elon"t know,"she~ answered. "I don't thinks he- "knows himself. He says there are numbers of men like that, and they all know there is . tc be a raid. Why, Rufus, there are mer down the river every day -watching for the Nor' -Wasters' Fort William express." "Where do the lien come from?' I questioned, vainly trying to patcl +ame connection between 'plots for i aid on the 'North-West ,boats am ,lots for a fight by Nor' -West fol owcrs, ."From Fort Douglas, of course," "H. B. C.'s, my dear,. You must g > Fort Doulgas '‘at .once. There •wi e a ,fight. You mast go tom•orro `ifh your 'father, or 'with me to 'gh't," I urged, thinking 1 show' ke myself off and notify my coin' •y• of the intended pillaging. "With you?" she 'laughed, "Fath I was inclined to regard the report strength of will; 'for she was so near as a fairy ,tale. If the half-breed's' I could have clasped her in my arms were arming and the !English watch -i without an .effort to refrain from doing so. "Heigh -alto," said a low voice with ripple of a sunny brook tinkling over pebbles, "but it's a long day—and a long, • long week—and a long, long, long month—and obi—a century of years since—" and the voice broke in a sigh. I think—though 1 would not set this down as a fact—that a certain small foot, which once stamped two strong men into obedience, now vent- ed its impatience at a twig on the grass. By the code of eastern pro- prieties, I may not say that the dain- ty toe -tip first kicked the offensive little branch and then crunched it deep in the turf. "I hate this lonely country," said the voice, with the vim of water -fret against an obstinate stone. "Wonder what it's like in the Mandane land! I'm sure it'•s nicer there," Now I affirm there is not a youth living who would not at some time give his right hand to know a wo- man's exact interpretation of that word "nicer," For my 'part, it set me clutching the branch with -such fer- ocity, off snapped the thing with the sharp splintering of a +breaking - stick. The voice gave a gasp and she jumped aside with nervous trepid- ation. "Whatever—was that? I am—not frightened," No one was accusing her. "I won't go inl I won't let myself be frightened! 'There! The very idea!" And three or four sharp stamps fol- lowed in Buick succession; ,but she was shivering. "1 declare the house is so lonely, a ghost would be live company." And she looked doubtfully .from the dark !rouse to the quivering poplars, "I'd rather be out here with the tree - toads and owls aitd bats than in there alone, even if they do frighten mel Anyway, I'm not frightened! It's just some stupid hop -and -go -spring thing at the base of our brains that makes us jump at mice and rats." But the hands interlocking at her back twitch- ed and clasped and unclasped in a way that showed the automatic 'brain - spring was still active. "It's getting worse every day. 3 can't stand it much longer, looking and looking till I'm half blind and no one but Indian riders all day long. Why doesn't he come? O'hl I know something is wrong," "Afraid of the Metis," thought I, "and expecting her father. A 'fine father to leave his daughter alone in the house with the half-breeds threatening a raid. She needs some one else to take care of her." This, on after thought, I know was unjust to her father; for pioneers obey neces- sity first and chivalry second. "If he would only come!" she re- peated in a half whisper. , "Hope he doesn't," thought I "Far a week I've been dreaming such fearful things! I see hint sink- ing in green water, stretching his hands to me and 'I can't reach out to save hint, On Sunday he seemed to be running along a black, awful preci- pice. I caught him in my arms to hold him back, but he dragged me over and I screamed myself awake, Sometimes, he is in a (black cave, and I •can't find any door to let him' Mit. Or he lies bound in some dungeon, and. when I stoop down to tut the cords, he begins to sink down, down, down through the dark, where I can't follow, I leap after him and always waken with such a dizzy start. Oh! I know he has been in trouble. Some- thing is wrong! His thoughts are reaching me •aid 1 am so gross and stupid I can't hear what his spirit gays. If 1 could only get away front things, the clatter of everyday things, hat dull one's inner 'hearing, perhaps might know! T feel as if he spoke in- foreign language, hut the words he ses I can't make out. All to -day, he as seemed so near! Why .does he no' inc home to Inc?' fui, the distrust of the Hudson's Bay men was explained. A nomad himself, the Indian may be willing enough to share running tights over the land of his fathers; but 'when the newcomer not only usurps possession, but im- poses the yoke 'of laws on the native, the resentment of the dusky race is easily fanned to that ,point which civ- ilized men call rebellion. S could readily understand. how the Hudson's Bay proclamations forbidin•g the sale of ,furs to rivals, when these rivals were friends by marriage 'and treaty with the natives, roused all the blood- thirsty fury of the Indian nature. Nor'-Westers' forts were 'being plun- dered. Why should the Bois-Brules not pillage Hudson's Bay posts? Each company was stealing the cargo of its rival, as boats passed and repassed the different fonts. Why should the half-breed not have his share of the booty? The most peace loving dog can be set a -fighting; and the fight - laving Indian finds it 'very difficult indeed, to keep the peace. This, the great fur companies had not yet real- ized; and the lesson was to be driven home to them with irresistible force. The halfabreeds alto had news of a 'priest 'bringing a delirious man to Fort 'Douglas. The description seem- ed to fit Hamilton and Father Hol- land, Whatever truth might be in the rumors of an uprising, I must ascer- tain whether or not Frances Suther- land would' 'be safe. Leaving Little Fellow to guard our horses. at sun- down I pushed my canoe into the As- sinihoine jest east of the rapids. Pad- dling swiftly with the current, I kept close to the south bank, where over- hanging willows concealed one side of the river. As I swung out into the Red, true to the Bois-Brules report; I saw only 'blackened chimneys and ruined walls on the site of Fort Gibraltar, Head- ing towards the right bank. I hugged the naked cliff on the side opposite Fort Douglas, and trusted the rising mist to conceal me. Thus, 1 slipped past cannon, pointing threateningly from the Hudson's Bay post, recross- ed to the wooded west bank again, and paddled on till I caught a glimpse of a little, square, whitewashed house in a grove of fine old trees. This I knew, from Frances Sutherland's de- scriptian, was her father's place, Mooring among the shrubbery I had no patience to hunt for 'beaten path; but digging my 'feet into soft clay and catching branches with both hands, I clambered up the cliff and found myself in a thicket not a stone's throw from the door. The house was in darkness. My heart sank at a pos- sibility which hardly framed itself to a thought. Was the apparition in the Mandane lodge .same 'portent? Had I not 'read, or heard, of departed spirits hovering near loved ones I had no courage to think more. , Suddenly the door flung open. In- voluntarily, I slipped 'behind the bushes, but dusk hid the approaching dtgure. Whoever it was made no noise. I felt, rather than heard, her coming, and knew no man could walk so silently. I't must :he a woman. Then my chest stifled .and I heard my own heart=beats. :Garments !fluttered past the branches of my hiding -place. She of whom I had ,dreamed by night and thought by day and hoped whether sleeping, or waking, ,paused, not an arm's length away. Toying with the tip of the (branch, whioh I was prigging for dear life, she looked •languorously through the foliage towa'ids the river. At 'first I thought myself the victim of another hallucination, but would not stir lest the vision should vanish. Then I trembled all the more, for my sudden -appearance : might alarm her. I should wait •until she went "back to the house—another of my brave vows to keep myself in hand l—then walk noisily, giving pule, warning, and knock at the door. The keeping of that stesolutio+n demanded all my. "Mighty fond daughter," thought 1, will be 'home in an hour. Are you sure a'b'out �a fugJa'tl" "Q•uite, said I, trembling dor her safety. This certainty .of mine has been 'q'u.ted to prove premeditation on The Nor'-Westers' part; bat I' meant nothing of the 'sort. I only felt there was unrest on both aides, and that site most be 'out of harm's way. Truly, I 'have s'ehdiom had 'a -harder duty to performthan to leave Fran- , ccs .al'one in that dark house to go and indorm my .company of 'the picot Many •sanies I said good-Iby before going to the canoe and thnes •unnmb- eyed ran back from the river to .epea't some warning. and •necessitate another farewell. "Then good -by for the twenty- first," I said. I declare now, as 1 declared before the 'courts of the land, 'that in hasten- ing to the Portage with news of the Hudson's Bay's intention to inter- cept the Nor'-Westers' 'empress 'from Fort William, T had iso ether thought but the faithful serving 'of my com- pany. I knew 1w'h•at suffering the de- struction of 'Souris 'find entailed in Athabasoa, and was determined our brave fellows should not starve in the naming winter ,through my negli- gence, Could 1 foresee that simple act of mine was to let loose all the 'punish- ment the Hudson's Bay :had been heaping asp against the day •of judg- ment? CHAPTER XXI What tempted me to moor opposite the ruins of Fort Gibraltar? What tempts the 'fly into the spider's web and the fish with a wide ocean for play -ground into one small net? I know there is a consoling fashion of ascribing our ,blunders to the inscrut- able wisdom of a longss.uffening Pro- vidence; but common-sense forbids I should call evil good, deify my errors, and give thanks for what 'befalls me solely through my own'fault, Bare posts hacked to the ground were all that remained of Fort Gib- raltar's •old wall. I had not gone many paces across the 'former court- yard, when voices sounded from the gravel -pit that had once done duty as a cellar. The next thing I noticed was the shaggy face of Louis La- plante 'bobbing above the ground. With other vagabond wanderers, the Frenchman had evidently 'been rum- maging old Nor' -West vaults. "Tra-la, comrade," he shouted, leap- ing out of the ,cellar as soon as he saw me. "I, Louis Laplante, son of a seigneur, am resurrecting. I was a Plante! Now Pm a Louis d'or, fresh coined from the golden vein of dazz- ling wit, Once we were men, 'but they drowned us in a wine -barrel like your lucky dog of an English prince. Now we're earth -goblins re -incarnate! Be- hold -gnomes of .the mine! Knaves of the nethermost depths, tra-lal Vam- pires that sack the blood of whisky - cellars and !float to the skies with dusky wings and dizzy heads! Laugh with us, old solemncholyl See the ground spin! Laugh, I say, or be a hitching -post, and well dance the May -pole round you! We're vampires, comrades, and you're our cousin, for you're a bat," and Louis applauded his joke with loud, tipsy laughter and staggered up to me drunk as a lord. His heavy breath and (bloodshot eyes testified what he had found under the rubbish heaps 'of Fort Gi'braltar's cel- lar. ,Embracing me with the affection of a long -lost brother, he rattled on with a befuddled, meaningless jargon. "So the knife cut well, did it? And the Sioux did not eat you by inches, beginning with your 'thumbs? Hal 'fres hien! Very good taste! You were not meant for feasts, my solentcholy? Some men are monuments. That's you, mine 'frien'l Soma ere cham- pagne bottles that 'uncork, zip, fizz, froth, stars dancing round your head! That's me! 'Tis 1, Louis Lar plante, son of .a seigneur, ant that champagne 'bottle!" Pausing for breath, •he drew himself erect with ridiculous pomposity, Now these are times when the ,bravest and wisest .thing a brave and wise man can do is take to 'his heels. I have heard my Uncle Jack MacKenzie say that vice and liquor and folly are bes frustrated by 'flight; and all three seemed to be embodied in Louis La plante that night. A stupid sort o :uriosity made me .dally . with .th' nischief brewing in him, just as th ly ,plays with the spider=web, or •th ish with .a baited hook "There's a 'fountain -spout in Nor'' Vest vaults for those who •kno 'here to tap the spigot, eh, Loutsi. asked. "I'm a IIodson's Bay man and se colaq'uei-or comes the 'tribute," r rned Louis, sweeping me a court rw. "I (hope such a 'generous •can•quer •aws all the tribute Elie deserves. if u remember how you saved my 1i ice from the Sioux, Louis?" `Generous," shouted the Frenr ,n, drawing 'himself tip proud' ^nerous to nine enemy, alwr gnificent, 'grand, superb, as 1 nes the son of a seigneur! Now. y you (back, rich, well,' generous." "Nonsense, Louis," 1 expostulated. "'Tis I who am in your debt I owe my life twice over. ',How shell I '.pay you?" and I made to go down to any canoe, "Pay me?" demanded Louis, thrust- ing 'himself •a'cross my path in •a men- acing attitude. "Stand and pay me Puke a man!" "'I atm standing," I fait hed "Now, how shall I pay you?" in "t S mike !" ordered Louis, 'launching out .a !blow which I• barely .missed. "Strike, I say, for kicking me,`'the son of a seigneur, like a pig!" At ,that, half a dozen mnore drunk en vagabonds of the Hudson's Ba Y service reeled up from the cellar pit; and I (began to 'un'derstan'd 'I was in far as much mischief as a young man could desire. • The fellows were about us in a circle, and now, that it was 'too late, I was quite prepared like. the. fly and the Dish to seek safety in light. "Sink his canoe," suggested one; and D saw that borrowed craft swamped. 'S'tri'ke! Sacrediel I spay you back generous," roared Louis, 'How ran I, Louis Laplante, son of a seigneur, strike a man who won't bit baok?" "And haw can I strike a man who saved my' life?" 'I urged, trying to m'ol'lify him, "See here, Louis, I'm on a message for my company to -night, I can't wait. Some other . day you. can pay me all you like ---not to -night, some -other -time—" "Some -odea -timet No—never! Some- oder-time—'tis the way 1 pay my own debts, always 'sone -oder -time, and 1 never not pay at all. 'You no some- odertime me, comrade! Louis knows some -oder -•time too welly He quit his cups some -oder -time and he never quit, not at all! And he go home some -oder -time, and he never .go, not at all! And he settle down with a wife and 'become a grand seigneur some - oder -time, and never settle down at all!" "Good night, Laplante! I ,have bus- iness for the company. I must go," I interrupted, trying to ibrusb through the group that surrounded us. "Sp have we business for the com- pany, the Hudson's Bay 'Cornp.any, and you can't go," .ohimed in .one of the least intoxicated of the rival trap- pers; and they closed about me so that I had not striking room. "Are you men looking for trouble " I asked, involuntarily fingering my pistol belt. ";No—we're looking for the Nor' - West (brigade billed to pass from Fort William to Athabasca," jeered the boldest of the crowd, a red»faced, mid- dle-aged man with blear eyes. "We're looking for the Nor'-Westers' ex- press," and he laughed insolently. "You don't expect to find our bri- gades in Fort 'Gibraltar's cellar," said I, backing away from them and piec- ing this latest information to what I had already 'heard of plots and con- spiracies. Forthwith I felt strong hands grip- ping both my arms like a vise and the coils of a rope were abort me with the swiftness of a lasso. My 'firat im- pulse was;' to struggle against the out- rage. hut I was !beginning to learn the service of open ears and a closed mouth was often more valuable than a fighter's blows. Already I had ascer- tained from their otvn lips that the Hudson's Bay intended to molest our north -bound brigade. "Well," said d, with a laugh, which surprised the rascals mightily, "now you've captured your elephant: what do you propose to do ;with him?" Without answering, the men sham- bled down to the landing place of the fort, jostling me along between the red-faced man and Louis Laplante. "I consider this a scurvy trick Louis," said I. 'You've let me into a pretty scrape with your idiotic heroics about paying 'back a fancied grudge. To save a mouse from the tigers, Louis, and then feed him to your cats! Fie, ratan! I like your son -of -a - seigneur ideas of honor! " •"Ingrate) Low -born ingrate." snap- ped the Frenchman, preparing to strike one of his dramatic attitudes, "if I were not the son of a seigneur. and you a man with bound arms, you should swallow those words," and he squared up to me for a second time, "If you won't fight, you shan't run away—" "Off with your French brag," or- dered the soberest of the Hudson's Bay men, catching Louis by the scruff of his coat and spinning him out of the way. 'There'll be neither fighting nor running away. It is to Fort Doug- las we'll take our fine spy." The .words stung, but I thuffl'ed my indignation, "I'll go with 'pleasure," I returned thinking that Frances Sutherland and Yamilton and Father 'Holland were rood enough company to compensate 'or any 'captivi'ty. "With pleasure, an( tis not the first time I'll have fauns riends in the 'Hudson's Bay fort," At that 'speech, the red -'faced man vho seemed to Ibe the ringleader, eyee to narrowly. We all embarked on r ickety raft, bhat would, I declare are d•rowi}ed any six sober menwis lsked their dives on it; but drunk mar PROFESSIO•NAL CARDS Medical DIR. E. A. MoMLAS'TIER—Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Univers- ity of Toronto, and of the New York Post Graduate S'c'hool and Hospital. Member of the College of Physicians and 'Surgeons' of Ontario. Office on High street. 'Phone 27. 'Office filly equipped for x-ray diagnosis and far ultra short wave electric treatment, Ara violet sun lamp .treatment and infra red electric treatment. Nurse in attendance. O'' IAR.ILB G E RT C. IAR ' R TT J Graduate of 'Faculty of Medicine, Un- iversity of Westeaa +Ontario. Member of College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Office 43 Goderich street west. Phone 317. ,Holies 2-4.30 pan., 7.30=9 •p.m. Other hours by appoint- ment. Successor to Dr. Chas. 'Mackay, DR. H. HUGH ROSS,Physician and Surgeon Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and aesidence behind Dominion Bank. Office Phone No- 5; Residence Phone 104. DR. F. J. BURROWS, .Seaforth. Office and residence, ,Goderich street, east of the United Church. Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46. DR. F. J. R. .FORRST!ER—:Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 1097. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moore'field'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. W. C. SPROAT, :M.D., F.A.C.S. Surgery Phone 90-W. iOffice'John St., Seaforth Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the 'County of Huron. Arrangements can be ena'de for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AH!REtNS, Licensed Auction- eer for Perth and Huron, Counties. Sales Solicited. Terms on Application. FarmStock, chattels and meld estate prgperty. R. R. No. 4, Mitdheil. ?hone 634 r 6. Apply at this office. WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST„ SEAFORT1 , ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in (First -Glass Companies. THE McKILLOP • Mutual. Fire Insurance Ca HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. OF1FICERS President, Thomas Moylan, Sea= forth; Vice President, William Knox, Londeaboro; Secretary Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth, AltiIENTS. F. MaKercher, Rad,. Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brucefield; E. R. G. Jai -mouth, Brodhagen; .James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm. Yeo, Holmesville. DIRECTORS Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No. 3; James S'holdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm No. 1; Frank 'McGregor, Clinton No. 5; James Connolly, God- erich; Alex McEwing, Blyth No. 1; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth No. 5; Wm. R. Archibald, Seaforth 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. and children seem to do what saber, grown folk may not dare, (To be continued) "Do you remember when mothers used to !tide the stepladder in order to keep the cbiid•ren out of the jam?" "Yes. And now 'they hide the ear keys," Traveler: "Why have timetables if your trains are always late?" Conductor: "Of what use would our waiting -rooms be if the trains were always on time?" "Haw did the wedding go off'?" "Fate, until the 'parson asked the bride if she'd ,obey 'her itarslb'and. "What happened then?" "She replied, 'Do you .think I'm crazy?" and the bridegroom, who was in -a sort .of daze, replied, 'I ;do,' "