Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1938-09-01, Page 6PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, tSEpTEIVIBER 1, 1938, Bois Brules "Haab," she broke in. "Tremble because I am just a wernan •and not an angel, just a woman not a star. We womefl ate mortals jest as men are. So,metianes we're fools as well as moo, tale just as you men are; hut I don't think we'te knanres quite so often, be- cause we're denied the opportsmity and hedged about and not tempted." As she gently stripped away the Ptetty bypocrisies with which lovers delude themselves and lay up store for disappointment, I began to ds - count that old belief about tri.lth and knowledge rendering a woman man- nish and arrogant and assertive. "You men marry women, expecting them to be angels, and very often the angers highest antbition is to be con- sidered a dell. Then your hope goes out and your Taith—" But, Frances," I cried, "if any sen- sible man had his 'choice of an angel and a fair, good woman—" "Be sure to say fair, or he'd 'grum- ble 'because he hadn't a doll," She 4aughed. "No levity! If he had choice of angels and stars and a good woman, he'd choose the woman. The star is mighty far away and cold and steely. The angel's a deal too perfect to know sympathy with 'faults and blunders. I tell you, Little Statue, life is only moil and toil, unless love transmutes the base metal a hard duty into the pure gold of enalloyed delight" "That's why I trentble. I must do more than angel or star! Oh, Rufus, if I can only live up to what you think a am—and you caa live up to what I think you are, life will be worth living." That's love's leverage," said I. Then there was silence; for the sun had set and the father was no longer reading. Shadows deepened into twi- light, and twilight into gloaming. And it was the hour when the brooding spirit of the vast 'Prairie solitudes fills the stillness of night with voiceleas eloquence. Why should I attempt to transcribe the silent music of the prai- rie twilight, which every plain -dwell- er 'knows and none but a plain -dwell- er may anderstand? What weeder that the race native to this boundless land bears the rustling of spirits in the night wind, the sigh of those who have lost their way to the happy hunt- ingoground, and the wail of little ones whose feet are bruised on the shadow trail? What wonder the gauzy north- ern lights are bands of marshaling warriors and the stars torches lighting those who ride the plains of heaven? Indeed, I defy a white man with all the discipline of science and 'reason to restrain the wanderings of mystic fancy during the hours of sunset on the prairie. There is, 1 affirm, no such thing as time •for lovers. I f they have watches and clocks, the wretched things run too fast; and if the son himself stood still in sympathy, time would not be long.. So I confess I had no record of time that night Frances Sutherland returned to her .home and. Mr. Suth- erland kept guard at door. When he had passed the threshold im,patiently twice, I recollected with regret that it was impossible to read theology in the dark. The third time he thrust his head in, "alind y'rselves," he called. "I hear men coming free the river, a pretty hour, indeed, for Visitin'. Frances, go ben and see yon back window's open!" "The soldiers from the fort," cried Frances with a little gasp. "Dona move," said I. "They can't see me here. It's dank. I want to hear what they say and the window is open. Indeed, Frances, I'm an expert at window-jam,ping," and I had 'be- gun to tell her of my scrape with Louis' drunken comrades in Fort Douglas, 'When 7 heard Mr. Suther- land's grating tones according the newcomers a cariouts welcome. "'Tis Eric and Father Holland and tLaplante," I shouted, springing to my feet and rushing to the doorway, but Frances ,put herself (before rne. ' "keep back,' she whispered, "The what he knows," she said softly, neat she waited for his answer. "The .daughter of L'Aigle," he , re- plied slowly and collectedly, all the while feasting upon that fair 'face," comes down the Red with her tribe and captives, many oaptive yowl -tee, They pass here to -night. They .canip oeth of the rapids, this side of the rapids. Last night I leave them. I run forward, I 'find Le Petit Garcon—how you call 'hlin?--Leetle Fellow? He take inc to the priest. ;He bring canoe bere. Ile wait now for carry us down. We mast go to the rapida—to. the catnal There my' .coritrattl My bargain, it is finished," and be shrug - ed his sheuldersa tfor Frances had removed her head ftern Whether Louis 'Laplente's excit- able nature were momentarily. 'unbal- anced by the .strobess of his feat, I leave to psychologists. 'Whether some premonition .of his impending fate had wrought ,uipen bins straagely, let Psychical •speculators decide. Or 'whe- ther Louis, the sly 'rogue, worked up the whole situation for the purpose of drawing ,Frandes Sutherland IMO the scene—Which is what I myself sus- pect—I refer to private judgment, and merely set down •the incidents as they occurred. That was how. ,Lottie Laplante tolki us of 'bringing Diable's squaw and her captives lbaok to Red River. And that was how Father Hol- land and Eric and Louis and iMr. Sutherland and myself came to be =thanking with a oamping outfit or a 'canoe -trip down the river. "Have the Indians passed, or are they to .come?" I asked as Mr, Suth- erland and Eric settledthemselves in a swift, dight carroe, leaving the rest of us to take our places in a larger craft, where Little :Fellow, guageing pleased recognition of me, acted as steersman. I saw Frances step to her father's canoe. "You're•no coming, Frances," be protested, querulously. "Don't say .that, father, I never disobeyed you in my life, and I ant comingl Don't tell nte not to! Push out, Mr. and she picked up a paddle and I saw the canoe dart swiftly forward into mid -current, where the darkness enveloped it; and we followed fast in its wake, "Louis," said I, trying to fathom the meaning of his wink, "are those Indians to come yet?" "No. Simpleton—you think Louis a fool?" he asked. "Why did you lie to them?" "Get them out of the way." "Because, stupid, some .ones they be 'killed to -night! The Englishman, the 'have a wife—he not be killed! Mademoiselle—she love a poor Mot— or break her •pretty heart! The father —he needed to stick -pin you hoth—so you never want for to fight each other," and Louis laughed low like the purr of water on his paddle -blade. ''Faith, lad,' cried the priest who had been unnaturally silent, 'because, I euptpose, he was among aliens to :his faith, "faith, lad, "tis a good heart ye have, if ye',d but cut loose 'from the binding past. 'May this night put an end to your devil pranks!" priest and Mr. Hamilton have been here tbefore; 'but father would not aet them in. The other man may be a De ..Meuron. 13e careful, Rufus! There's a price on your head." "Ho—ho--my Ursus Major, Prime guardian 'Ursa Major, ,first of the heavenly constellations in the north,' Insolently laughed Louis ,Laplante through the dusk. 'Let me pass, Frances," I begged, thrusting her gently aside, hut her trembling hands still .clung to my aem. "Impertinent rascal," rasped the irate Scotchman. "I'd have ye ender - stand my 'name's Sutherland, not Maj- or Ursus. I'll no bide y'r impu- dence! Leave this 'place—" 'The Bruin growls," interru,pted Louis with a laugh, and 1 heard Mr. Sutherland's gasp of amazed rage at the lengths a the Frenchman's inso- lence. must, dearest," I whispered, dis- engaging the slender hands from my arm; and I dung out into the dusk. In the gloom, my approach was unnoticed; and when I came upon the group, Father Holland had laid 'bis hand upon 'Ma. Satherland's shoulder and in a low, tense voice was uttering words, which—'thank an all -bountiful Providencel—have no sectarian 'limits, "And the King shall answer and say unto them 1 was a stranger and ye took .me not in: naked and ye clothed me not: sick and in prison and ye visited me not. Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least .of these, ye did it not to Then Louis Laplante saw me. There vras a long, low whistle. "Ye daft gommerel," gasped Mr. Sutherland, facing m.e with unuttera- ble disgust. "Ye daft gommerel? A' my care and fret, waste—gane clean to waste. I wash ne hands o' ye—" But Louis had knocked the Scotch - man aside and tumbled into my arms, half laughing, half crying and altoge- ther as hysterical as was his wont. "I pay hack at las', my comna.del Ha—old So5emacholy1 You thought the bird of passage, he .come not !back at all! But the binds return! So does Louis! He decoy-d.uck the whole cov- ey! You generous? No more not gen- erous than the son of a seigneur, mine enemy! You give lifq He give life! You give liberty! So does Louis! You help one able help himself? Louis help one not able help himself! Ha! She—near! She 'here! She Where I, Louis Laplante, son of a seigneur, snare that she -devil, trap that fox, trick the tigress! Ha—oll' tombstone! She near—she here," and he flung tua both arms like a frenzied maniac, "Man! Are you mad?" I demanded, uncertain whether he were apostro- phizing Diable's squaw, or abstract glory. "Speak .outl" I shouted, shak- ing him by the shoulder. 'These—are they all friends?' ask- ed Louis, suddenly cooled and look- ing suspiciously at the group. "All," .said I, still bolding him tby the shoulder.— "That—that thing—that bear—that tbrainhe a friend?" and Louis point- ed to Mr. Sutherland. "Friend to the core," 'said I, laying betb hands upon his shoulders. "Core with prickles outside," gibed Louis. "Louis," 1 commanded, utterly out of patience, "what of Miriam? Speak plain, man! Have you 'brought the tribe AS you promised?" It must have 'been mention of 'Mir- iam's name, 'for the white, .drawn face of Eric Hamilton bent .ever my shoul- der and ,fiery, glowing eyes 'burned into the very soul of the Frenchman. .Louis ataggered back as if red irons had been thrust in his face. "Sacredie," said he, tbacking against Father Holland, "I ani no murderer." It was then I ebserved that Fran- ces Sutherland had followed me. Her slender white fingers were about the bronzed 'hand of the French adven- turer, "Monsieur Laplante will tell us diOgaery;' and Eric wheeled about with a querulous demand. "What's wrong? Are they,ahead? I hought you said they .vvete 'behind," and he tamed' 'auepicionsly to •Ltd. 'Pla2Y1-tee.0 thought verong," said Louis, ever facile, with subterfuges. "You thought wrong, 'Mister High -and mighty! Camp here and •watch; they come before ,morning!" .,'"No lies to Me," .shouted 'Eric, be- coming 'uncontrollably excited. "If you mislead ns, your life 4:P1g-head! I no save your wife for hack chinl . Camp bare, I say," and Louis' 'fitful temper began to show signs of snlking. 'For goodness' eake, Brie, .clo, what y.ou'ee told! !We've made a bad enough business <if it—" . "Give the 'Erenchman a chance! Do what you're told, a say, ye 'blunder- ers! Troth, ,the Lord Himself 'could- n't ,bring success ,to such 'blundering idiots," was Father 'Holland's. corn - merit. "I'll take no orders free 'meddle- some people," began the Scotohrnan; bet Little Fellow had forcibly turned the prow of the canoe shoreward. I gave them A 'shove with my .paddle. Frances took the cue, anti while her father was yet scolding raised her paddle and had them close to the riv- er bank. "Get your tent up here," I called to conciliate them. "Then ,come to the 'bank and watch Mr the Indians." A bit of clean tgravel ran out from the clay cliff. "That's the ground," said I, as the other canoe bumped over .the ,pebbles. and I stopped 'paddling and dangled my hand in the water. Something in the dark .drifted wet and soft against my fingers. Ordinari ly such an incident would not have alarmed me; but instantly a, eltudder of apprehension ran 'through my frame. a scarce had courage to look into the river lest the White face of a woman should appear through the watery depths. .Clutching the water soaked tangle, I 'jerked it op. Some thing gave a rip, and my hand was Full saf shawl fringe. "What's that, Rufus?" asked Fath er Holland. "Dona know." I motioned him to be silent and 'held it up in the moon, light. Distinctly it was, or had been, red fringe. of my muscles, like champagne mi - "Do you think—" he began, then cooked and left in the heat. 'Peace' yourself, lad," said the priest. "The Lord is with us, but alron't you bungle." A long, bow whistle came through the dark, a whistle that was such a perfect imitation of the night hawk, no spy might detect it for the signal of a nunner. After the whistle, was the ,soft, ,ominous hiss of a serpent in the grass; and we were abreast of Louis Laplante and Little Fellow standing stock still sniffing forward as hounds might scent a foe, (To be ccmtinued.) Louis, he lead you to damp. The priest—he good say a 'little prayer, the Indian for fight;tLouis—for swear; Rufus—to snatch the 'English- woman, he goad at matching the fair, the -ha." He darted to the shore, calling Lit- tle 'Fellow from the canoe and leav- ing Father Holland and me 10 follovv as !best we ,could. We'll be& soon, Eric," I shouted. "We're 'going to get the lie of 'the land. Keep w.aech here," and I broke into a IVA SO Ike,* -up with the French, trapper and the Indian, Who were leading into the woods away from the river. I cottilld hear Father Holland puffing behind dike a wind- blown ra,cer. Abruptly the 'priest came to a stop. "By all the saints," he ordered. "Go back to the tent!" I turned'. A white ,form emerged from the foliage and Frances was be- side ane, "May I not came?" she asked. "No—dearest, there will be fight- ing." "Nlo — Lord—no," panted Father Holland coming up to us. We're not swapping one woman for another. What would Rufus do without ye?" "You are going for Miriam?" she questioned, 'holding my hand. "God speedd you and bring yeu back safely.' "Say rather—bring Miriam," and I 'unfastened the clinging band almost roughly. "Come on, slugs, sloths, laggards," commanded ,Laplante impatiently, and we slasheci into the ,thick of the woods, leaving the White figure alone against the shadowy thicket. She called out something, of which I heard only two words, "Miriam" 'and "Rufus"; but a 'knew those names were uttered in suppliation and they filled my heart with daring hope. Surely, we must succeed—for the Little Statue's prayers were following me—and I bounded on with a faith as b'u'oyant as the priest's blind trust. Thus we Tan through the moon - shafted woods pursuing the Iflitting, lithe figures of trapper and Indian, who scarce disturbed A fern leaf, Father Holland and I 'flounder- ed through the underbrush like ramp- ing elephants. Then I found myself panting as hard as the priest and enraging to .his arm for support; for illness had taken ell the bravery out And that night did! CHAPTER XXVIII I think, perhaps, the reason good enterprises fail so .often where evil ventures succeed, is that the good rnan blunders forward, trusting to the merits of his cause, where the evil manipulator proceeds werily as a cat over broken glass, And so, altogether apart from his senvices as guide, I felt Louis Laplante's presence on the river a distinct advantage. "The .Lord is with es, lad. She shall be delivered! The Lord is with as; but .dOn't you 'bungle His plans!" ejaculated Father Holland for the twentieth time; 'anel each time the French trapper looked .waggishly over his shoulder at me and winked. "Bungle!Pahl" Louis clapped his paddle athwart •the canoe and laughed a aow, sly, defiant laogh. "Benglel Pahl Catch Louis 'bungle his cards, ha, hal Trumps! He Play tramps—he hold his hand low—catreless—nodings in it—he keep quiet—nodings worth May in his hand—but his sleeve—ha, ha!" and Louis lau.gbed softly and winked at the 'fall moon. ''sThe •daughter of L'Aigle, she cuff Louis, she slap his cheek, she call him lum.p--lout—aloachl Ha, hal— Louis no fool—he are the 'claws of L'Aigle tonight!" At that, Little Fellow's stodid face teak on a .vindictive ,gleam, and he snapped out something in Indian ton- gue which set Louis to laaghing. Suddenly the Indian'spaddle was suspended in mid-air, and Little Fellow bent °Ter the prow, gazing at the moon -tracked water. "Sacrediel" 'oried Lends, catching up water that trickled through • his fingers, '"tis dried rabbit thong! 'They are ahead of es! They have passed while that Scotch mole was balk] We must . catch the Englishman," and he began hitting outwith his paddle at a great rate. We 'had overtaken Mr. Setherland's canoe within half an hour of 'Louis' PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical SEAFORTH CLINIC Dr, E. A. McMaster, MB., Gradu- ate of 'University of Toronto. J. D. Colgeheun, C.M., Grad- aate of Dalhousie University, Halifax. The Clinic is fully equipped with complete and modern x-ray and other up-to-date diagnostic anti thereuptic equipment. Dr. Margaret K. Campbell, M.D., L.A.B.P., Specialist M Diseases in 'infants and Children, will be at the Clinic last Thursday in every month from 31 to '6 p.m. Dr. F. J. R. Forster, Specialist in Diseases of the Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat, will be at the Clinic the finst Tuesday in every month from 4 to 6 p.m. Free well -baby clinic will ,be held on the second and last Thensday ifs ev,ery month from 1 to 2 pan. stopped. Our keel 'had 'rubbed bottom and Hamilton was springing Out o the other canoe. "Yes, a do," I, replied, choking with dread. "Thit is too terrible! kill himself! Go tip the bank with himl Keep him busy at the tent! Little Fellow and I'll pole for it. The water's shallow there—" "What do you think?" said the priest to Laplante. "T'inkl I never dirokl I finds Out." But aal the same, Louis' assurance was shaken aad he peered searching- ly into the river, "Aren't you •coming? What's your plan?" called Eric. "Certainly we are, but get this truck to higher ground, will you?" I !Imiat- ed out the carnet trappings. "I want to paddle out for something" "What is it?" he asked. "'Something lost out there. I lost it out of my hand." Frances Sutherland, I know, sus- pected trouble from the alarm which I could not keep ,out of my speech: for she pressed to the water's edge. "Get the tent ready," I 'urged, "What's the meaning of this mys- tery?" persisted Hamilton sharply. "What have you lost?" "Dena press him too 'closely. Faith, it may he a love token," •intedected Father Holland, as he stepped ashore; but he whispered in my ear as he pass- ed, "You're wrong, WI You're on the wrong track!" leaped back to the canoe, Little Fellow and the Frenchman following, and we paddled to the shallows where I had caught the fringe. I prodded the soft mud 'below and trailed the paddle back and forward over the clay bot- tom. Louis did 'likewise; hut in vain. Only soft ooze came up en the blade. Then Little Fellow etripped and div- ed. Of course it was dark under wa- ter, as it .always is dank ender the muddy Red, and the Indian 'could not feel a thing from which fringe .could have tripped. Had my jerk distarbed whatever it was and sent it rolling down to mid-ourrent? I asked Father Holland this when I came back, "Tush, faint -heart," he truuttered, drawing me aside. "'Tis only a trial of your faith." I said something .about trials of faith ,which I shall not repeat here, but which th'e majority of people, who are en the tenter -hooks of each trials, save said for themselves, 'Faith!, .Path!" exclaimed, Louis, joining our whisperedcoeference, Eric and Mr, tSutherland were 'hoist- ing a tent. "That shawl,' it mean nod- ings of things heavenly! It .only mean rag stuck in the mud and reds near - abouts here! I have told the Great 13ear and his .stlaal Englishman the radians not come till morning .They get tent ready and watch! You Ifollow Rogueing Potato Fields Rogueing is a valuable method for Ise eontrol o1 cerain degeneration Or "running .out" diseases of potatoes of virus origin. Rogueing implies the de- tection, lifting, removal and destruc- tion of virus infected plants. As a con- trol measure the .practice is oartictilar- ly valuable against the three common potato 'diseases, mosaic, leafroll and spindle tuber. These three .diseases produce characteristic symptoms on the potato ,plant, Mosaic diseases aro- duce a mottling effect in the foliage. Leafroll .causes a slight, general yel- lowing of the foliage, and an upward rolling of the leaves. Spindle tuber in- tensifies the green colour of the leaves, imparts an upright, staring ap- pearance to the plant, and causes the production of spindly or misshapen tubers with tbulging eyes. It has been shown that rogueing should be timely and systematic. Usu- ally, moiaic and leafroll can de de- tected in the field when the plants are about 'four 'inches high. At this stage of development the field/ should, be systematically examined row by row for the presence of sinus infested plants. Rogueing should be done pre- ferably on dank or dull days as the light conditions are then best for the detection of mosaic. On !bright days the operator should carry an umbrella or 'traverse the .p.otato rows in such a manner that his shadow ie cast over the plants immediately before him. The operator should carry some type of closed container, and when a dis- eased plant is detected, it should be lifted in its entirety with as little dis- turbance as possible and deposited in the container. Under no ciroumitan- ces should diseased plants be milled and left in the rows, nor should they be carried out and deposited on the headland. Diseased plants shotild al- ways be carried from the field and then immediately destroyed by burn- ing. Rogueing should be systematical- * practised at weekly intervals until the potato vines begin to ,mature. For Mether information write to 'the near- est Plant Pathological Laboratory. Want and For Sale ads, a week 26c W. C. SPROAT, M.D., F.A.t.S. Surgery Phone 90-W. Office John St., Seaway DR. H. HUGH ROSS, Physician ahd Surgeon Late of London Hob - Pita!, Leaden, England. Special ak- teittion to diseases of the eye, ear, nose ard throat. Office and aesidente :behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone Nd. 5; Residence Phone 104, DR. F. J. R. FORSTSR — Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. ,Graduate Medicine, University of Toronto 1097. 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. Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the •County of Huron. Arrangements catt be !made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed F. W. AHR:ENS, Licensed Auction eer for Perth and Huron Counties, Sales Solicited, Terms on Application. Farm Stook, chattels and real estate property. R. R. No. 4, Mitchell, Phone 634 r 6, Apply at this office. WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTR, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in • First -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP Mutual FireilISUrallee Cn HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice President, William Knox. Londeaboro; Secretary Treasurer, M A. Reid, Seaforth. AGENTS F. IVIaKercher, R.R.a, Dublin; John E. Pepper, Rai, Brucefield; E. R. G. 'Yarmouth, Brodhagen; James Watt, iBlyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm, Yeo, Holmesville. DIRECTORS Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No. 3; James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm No. 1; Frank McGregor, Clinton No. 5; James Connolly, God- erich; Alex McEwing, Myth No. 1; Thomas Moylan, SeafOrth No. 5; Wm. R. Archibald, Seaforth No. 4. Patties desirous to effect insurance or transact other bueiness, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their respective post - offices. In ,Eastern Ontario, Renfrew re- ports that harvesting is 10 days earli- er than usual, with yields only aver- age. Spring wheat orop there is al- most a complete failure dee to must Coronation Wheat, however, stood up 100%, against the rust and will yield from 20 to 00 'bushels per acre. The quality of grain in Grenrville will lbe good ,but 'the yield not heavy d,ue to clay weather .merst of Jane and Poly. Early ,potatoes there were a poor crop but late potatoes book better after re- cent rains. Jedge--2"The jury Prisoner --"That's I know you're too indleenced by what auclge—aYou can $10 or ten days." 'Prisoner (etitlit in 'foggy ,condition) "I'tl take the money, your honor." finds you .guilty." all right judge, intelligent to 1be they say." take your choice,