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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1940-04-25, Page 6PAGE SIX ,14,1\1 tiV 11:::;tt.t 4 Ir.F.1.;i ti ,1�• l�• •*. C t `• stikec From The r zte,,at,0 t :;`1V: fi.�� .11n'fv{ a .,.:;e res 'M..,1, 1 a r a \ t.l "Do not trouble to illustrate your meaning," said 1 patieutly. "Your phrases are clear and to the point." "You bolt from my words," he re- lorted, "like a shy mare on the curb: you take insult like a donkey on a 'tell -wheel. What fly will the English :ash rise to? Now it no more plays to c nay hook than au August chub," 1 could- not help but admire his '1 1'itit and the sharpness of his 1 peech, though it drew ale ink, a 1 weeper quandary. It was clear that he would not be tempted to friendli- 1 e e: for, as is often so, when men 1 -o said things fiercely, their lou ecce feeds their passion and con- n viuces them of holiness in their t cause. Calmly, but with a heavy tweet, I answered; "I wish not to find offence in your words, nay friend, for in some goad a, clays gone you and I had good ac- h quaintence, and 1. can not forget that It the last how's of a light imprison- to mens before I entered on a dark one in were spent in the home of your ly father—of the brave Seigneur whose - life I once saved." I am sure I should not have men - tinned this in any other situation—it , ar seemed as if I were throwing myself ch on his mercy; but yet I felt it was tie the only thing to do—that I must le bridge this affair, if at cost of some reputation. It was not to be. Doltaire, seeing that my words had indeed affected my opponent, said: "A double re. treatl He swore to give a challenge to -night, and he cries off like a sheep from a porcupine; his courage is so slack he dare tint move a step to his liberty. It was a bet, a hazard. He was to drink glass for glass with any and all of us. and tight sword for sword with any of us wlta gave hint •an e. Having, drank his wrlurage• 10 .-ath he'd now bio vs (It the t«re•i 17,i- W110 fw97o give inn oha11c•,' to vain his stake." His words casae slowly and biting- . y with an air of dimmable nem 9::v ar,ce. 1 looked round ate. Every !moan present Was full prong wit .vine. and a distance away, a gentle- man un either -ode of him, stood the Intendant, slttaling detestably, a keen. houndliko look shouting out of his small round eyes. "tat I bad had enough; I could bear no of funk more. To be baited like a bear by aitese Frenchmen -..,.it was aloes in my .laps. teeth! 1 was not sorry then thatlips, c•at itis :hese Words of Juste, Unvarley''s gave and 1ne n0 chance of escape from light- ing; though I wished it had been any sae,, ether man iu the room than he. It t'alin than was on my tougue to say that if a some gentleman would take up his alit quarrel I should he glad to drive woul mine home, though for reasons I had eared not myself to fight Uavarney, (when But I (lid not, for I knew that to carry that point farther might rouse So a general thought of Alixe, and I had a.war no wish to make matters hard for "One her. Everything in its own good time, the o and when I should be free! So, With- and out more ado, 1 said to him petha i breat "Monsieur, the quarrel was of was a Your choosing, not mine. There was a no need for strife between ms, and thev1 you have more to lose than I; more of friends, more years of life, more fungi gi hopes. I have avoided your bait, as you call It, for your sake, not mine fwd own, Now I take it, and (alta you, mon- can 1 sieur, show us what sort of fisher- least man you are."could I 1 All was arranged in a moment. As press we turned to press pass from the room to was the courtyard, I noted that Bigot was would gone. When we came outside, it was on th Just one, as I could tell by a clock with striking in a chamber near, It was and t side o cold, and some of the company slily- thou eyed as we stepped upon the white, forced frosty stones. The late October air unpar er bit the cheek, though now and then a plum warn,plump pungent current passed across Save a the courtyard -the breath from the At people's burnt corn. Even yet upon court/ the sky was the reflection of the lire, inside, befare and distant sounds of singing, 51)0ut• the M ing, and carousal came to us from the but w Lower Town. stark We stepped to a corner of- tbe yard Varneywas and took off our coats; swords were I fell' b handed us ---both excellent, for we had lied our choice of many, 11 was partial moonlight, but there were flit- ting clouds. That we should have light however pine torches had been brought and these were stuck in the wall. My hack was to the outer wall 1[ the courtyard, and I Hary alts In- endsnt at a window of the palace coking down at us. Doltatire stood a ittle apart from the other gentlemen u th, courtyard, yet where he could et. Uuvarlley and myself al Raven - age, Before we engaged, 1 looked in• eptly into my opponent's face, wind Ie,t>ured ]rim carefully with my eye, hat 1 might Have his height and fig - me explicit and exact; for 1 know how moonlight and lire distort, how the eye may be deceived. I looked for very button; for the spot in his lean, ealthy body Where I could disable int spit him, and yet not kill him -- 0 this was the thing furthest from y wishes, God knows. Now the dead- charaeter of the event seemed to impress hint, for he was pale, and the liquor he had drunk had given him dark hollows round the eves, t(1 a gray shining sweat was on his eek. But the eyes themselves were ry and keen and there was reek - ss daring in every turn of his body. I was not long in finding his quali- ty, for he came at me violently from the start. and I had chance 10 know his strength and his weakness fast. His hand was quick. his sight clean' and sure, his knowledge to a certain peint most definite and practical. his mastery of the sword delightful; but he had little imagine time he was merely a brilliant performer, he did not ('011ceive• I saw that if I put hint on the defensive I should have him at. advantage, for he had not that art of tine sWorrlsmtut, the prescient a(1.,10y (which foretells the. opponent's arlirn1 and stands prepared. There 1 had him as fatal advantage -could, 1 a'r h, give 1(1111 lust reward of hlst111 at ury pleasnm•. Fel a htst of 110.1(11110 go into no and it was rlifficut to hold myself hu eIl ark at all. nor was 11 easy 10 meet 111-1 hmeatllless and adroit ad - Then, too. remarks from the by. (1015 worked me up to a deep sort anger, and I cmtld feel Doltaire lag at nt= with that still, cold of his, an ironical smile. at his Sow and then, too, a ribald jest from some young rorrsterer neat', the fact that I stood alone among ring enemies wound me up to a t where pride was more active aught else. i began to press him ale, and I pricked him once. Then Jugular feeting possessed me. 1 al bring this to an end when I counted ten; 1 would strike Monte 7 said "tett," I began, and I was not then e that 1 was counting aloud. —two—three!" It was weird to nlookers, for the yard grew Still, you could hear nothing save ps a shifting foot or a hard ping. "Four — live—six!" There tenseness in the air, and Juste rney, as if he felt a menace In A seemed to lose all sense riness, and came at me lunging, ng with great swiftness and beat. s incensed now, and he must what fortune might send; one tot guide one's sword to do harm fighting as did we. tact lost blood, and the game go on no longer. 'Bight!" 1 ed hint shei'ply now, "Nine!" I impaling for the trick which end the matter, when 1 slipped e frosty stones, now glazed our tramping back and forth. Tying to recover myself left my pen 1,0 his sword. It came home, thong 1 partly diverted it. I was to ally knees, but thele, mad (10(1(41119 poral, he made ata. furious lunge, inial lie came on my upstretched sword. long gasp, and sank down. that moment the doors of the and opened, and men stepped one coming quickly forward the test. It was the Governor, argots de Vaudr'euil. He spoke, haat he said I knew not, for the upturned face of Juste I)u was there before me, there great buzzing in my ears, and ack into darkness, THE SEAFORTH NEWS IV. Mien 1 waked I was alone, At first nothing was clear to me; my brain was dancing in my head, my sight was obscul'ed, my body painful, mY een5es were blunted. I was in dark- ness, yet through an open door there shower} a light, which, from the smell and flickering, I knew to be at torch This, creeping into my senses, helped me to remember that the last thing I saw in the Intendant's court- yard was a burning torch, which sud- denly multiplied to dancing hundreds and then went out. I now stretched fortis a hand, and it touched a stone wall; I moved, and fellstraw under ate. Then 1 fixed 1113' eyes steadily on the open door and the shaking light., and presently it all crime to me: the events of the night, and that I was in a cell of the citadel, Stirring, I found that the wound in my body had been bound and caret} for. A loosely tied scarf round any arm showed that some one had lately left rate, and would return to finish the bandaging. 1 raised myself with difficulty, and saw a basin of water, a sponge, bits of cloth, and a pocket-knife. Stupid and dazed though I was, the instinct of self•preset'vation lived, and 1 picle ed up the, knife and bid it in nay coat. I did it, 1 believe, mechanically, for a hundred things were going through my mind at the time. All at once there rushed in un me the thought of Juste O111(11ney us 1 saw lain hast --how long ago was it.? his white face ;tweed to the shy, his aunts stretched out, his body dabbled in blood. I groaned aloud. Fool, foot! to tae trapped by these ly- ing French! To he tricked into play- ing their shameless games for llama, to have a broken body, to have killed the brother of the mistress of my heart, and so cut. 0(310lf off from her 1111(1 ruined nay life for nothing—for worse than nothing! I bad swagger- gered, boasted, had taken a challenge for ar bout and a quarrel like any hanger-on of a tavern. Suddenly I heard footsteps and voices outside, then one voice, louder than the other, saying, "He hasn't stirred a peg—lies like a log!" It (was Gabord. Doltaia'e's voice replied. "You will not need a surgeon—no?" His tone, as it seemed to me, was less careless than usual. Gabord answered, "I know the trick of it all—what can a surgeon do? This brandy will fetch hitn to his in- tellects, And by -and -bye m'ack'll go his spine—aho!" You have heard a lion growling on a bone. That's how Gabord's voice sounded to ane then --a brutal raw- ness; but it mune to any mind also that this was the (tan who had brought Voban to do me service! "Come, come, Gabor(, crack your jaws less, and see you fetch 11111 on his feet again," said Doltaire. "From the sents of the mighty they have THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1940 said that 110 must live—to die auoth day; and see to it, or the migb folic will say that you must die other day --hu a better world, my bord." There was a moment in which t only sound was that of tearing lin and I could see the shadows of t two upon the stone wall of the c rider wavering to the light of t torch; then the shadows shifted e direly, and their footsteps came towards my door. I was lying on back as when I calve t0, and, the! fore, probably as Gabord had left 1 and I determined to appear still in faint, TIe'ougil nearly closed eyell however 1 saw Gabord enter. Dolta) stood in the doorway watching as U soldier knelt and lifted my arm take off the bloody scarf. His mann was imperturbable as ever. Even th I wondered what his thoughts wet what pungent phrase he was suite to the time and to me. I do not kn0 to this day (which • more interest hint —that very ptmgency of purls or the mitten' events which inspir his reflections, He had no sense of r sponsibility; but his mind loved t eat, skill, and cleverness, and thong it was scathing of all usual ethi for the crude, honest life of the po it had sympathy. I remember renter] of bis in the 1narket•-place a year b fore, as he and I watched the pea5a in his sabots and the good -wife in ha homespun (loth." These are they," said he, "w'h will save the earth one day, for the are line it, kin to it. When they atr born they Ile close to it, and .wile they die thea. fall 00 height to rent. their !,raves, The rest- the. workf- are like ourselves i11 dreams; we d not walk; we think we fly, eve houses, over trees, over mountainsit and then one blessed instant t spring breaks, or the dream get twisted, and we go falling, falling, i1 at sickening fear, and, waking up, w find we are and have been of t11 earth all the while, and yet can make no claim upon it, and have no kin with it, and no right to ask anything of it---quello vie--quelle vie!" Sick as I was, 1 thought of that as he stood there, looking in at me; and though I knew I ought to hate him I admired him in spite of all. Presently he said to Gabord, "You3} come to me at noon to-morpow, and see you bring good news. He breathes?" Gabord put a hand on my chest and at my neck, and said at 0)1ee, "Breath for balloons—alio!" Doltaire threw a. cloak over his shoulder and walked away, his foot- steps sounding loud in the passages. Gabord began humming to himself as he tied the bandages, and then he rc'ach5(1 down for file knife to cul the flying strings, 1 could see this nut of a little corner of my eye. Aellen he did not final it, he settled back on his haunches and looked 111 1m', I could er ty nu- Ga - Ile en, he or - he 11- on lay '0• ue, a de re 1k' to er en •e, ng w ed 0, wd 0- a It CS, 00 is e - 1i t '1' 0 y it h r 5 t e e feel his lips puffing out, and I tv ready for the "Poop!" that can from him, Then I could feel hi stooping over me, and his hot si1.03 breath in my face. 1 was so near t unconsciousness at that moment 11 a 011(1(1011 anxiety that perhaps m feigning had the look of reality. I any case, he thought me unc0nsciou and fancied that he had taken th knife away with him; for he tucke in the strings of the bandage. The lifting my head, he Yield the flask t my lips; for which 1 was most grat fun—I was dizzy and miserably fain I think 1 came to with rather )1101' alacrity than was wise, but he we deceived, and his first words ever "Ho, ho! the devil's knocking; who' ('or ho1n0, angels?" 11 wasItis way to put all things a lusively, using strange figures an metaphors. Yet, when one was use to him and to them, their potent seemed greater than polished space and ordinary phrase. He offered me more brandy, un then, without preface, I asked hila th one question which sank back on 111 heart like a load of ice even as I see it forth. "Is he alive?" 1 inquired. "1 Monsieur Juste Dubarney alive?" With exasperating coolness h winked au eye, to connect the even with what he knew of the letter I hat sent to Alixe, and, cocking his head he blew out his lips with a seemlier laugh, aid said: "To (whist( the brother off to heaver is to say good-bye to sister and pact yourself to Feline!Peter." "For God's sake, tell Ino, is the boy dead!" I asked, myvoice cracking in my throe 1, "He's not mounted for the Joliette), yet," 11e answered, with a shrug, "but the Beast is at the door." 1 plied my man with questions, and learned that they had carried Juane into the palace for dead, but found life in him, and straightway used all means to save him. A surgeon mune, his father and mother were sent for, and when Doltaire had left there was hope that he would live. I learned also that Voban hacl car- ried word to the Governor of the deed to be done that night; had for a long time failed to get admittance to him, but was at last permitted to tell his story; and Vaudreuil had gone to Bigot's palace to have me hurried to the citadel, and had come just too late, Atter answering my first. questions, Claimed would say nothing more, and presently he tools the teeth front the wall and with a gruff g0od•night pre- pared to go, When i asked that 1 n light be left he shook his Head and said he harI no orders, Whereupon he left me, the heavy door clanging to. the bens were shot, and I was alone in darkness with my wounds and mis- ery :sly cloak had been p111' into 111e A5 le nl 1g 0 y Y h s e (1 0, 0 1. e s 0, 1- d y h d y 5 d 5 era Tie ('nntinuc•d.1 Great Lakes Cruises Delightful Holiday A delightful break in the long Z-3. trans -Canada rail journey and perfect summer cruises are combined in the services offered by the Canadian Pacific Great Lakes steamers. Two gleaming white ships, the "Assiniboia" and the "Keewatin" make convenient connections at Fort William and Port MONico]i, terminal points for their water journey of 542 en- chanting miles, and cruises are operated especially for vacation- fats who like the charm of the vast Inland seas, These two fine passenger ships travel westbound on Wednesdays and Saturdays; -eastbound on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The route of these "Circle Cruises," Mow from June 15 to mid-September, Is most interesting, Westbound from Port efeNicoll, the ship glides through beautiful Georgian Bay, past Manitoulin Island, and into 'Lake Huron, I1i sails up St, Mary's River, through Sault Ste. Marie to Lake Superior, largest of the Great Lakes, to Fort Wil- liam. il1Pam, The schedules provide for popu- lar week -end cruises from Sault Ste, Marin or either terminal point, half the length of the full cruise. Other delightful five-day cruise trips are made by the spacious cruise ship "Manitoba," 303 feet long, 2,676 tons and of steel con- struction, These erases from July 1 to August 26 are from Owen Sound and Poet MCNicoll to Port William but the route is via the North Inside Channel of Manitou- lin Island and there is a special stop at Mackinac Island, rich in stories of early explorers and fur ta•eders, Shipboard activities on all these vessels are patterned on those of an ocean liner — morning bouil- lon, afternoon teas, midnight snacks, impromptu parties, mas- querades, dances and moonlight promenades on deck. Pastimes include shuffleboard, deck quoits and, other sports. The ships are equipped with spacious' decks, cozy lounges and airy staterooms —the last word in luxurioils com- fort. PROFESSIONAL CARDS MEDICAL SEAFORTH CLINIC Dr, E. A. MoMester, MB., Graduate of University of Toronto, J. D. Co1guIioun, M,D., GM, Grad- uate of Dalhousie University, Halifax_ TheClinic is fully equipped with complete and modern x-ray and other up-to-date diagnostic and thereuptic equipment, Dr. Margaret K. Campbell, M.D., L,A.B,P„ Specialist in Diseases in Infants and Children, will be at the Clinic last Thursday in every month from 3 to 6 p.m. Dr, F, J. It, Forster, Specialist in Diseases of the Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat, will be at the Clinic the first Tuesday in every month from, 4 to 6 p.m, Free well•baby clinic will be held on the second and last Thursday in every month from 1 to 2 p.m, JOHN A, GORWtLL, B.A.,M.D. Physician and Surgeon In Dr, H. H. Ross' office, (Phone 5 J W. C. SPROAT, M.D., F.A.C,S, Surgery Phone 90-W. Office John St„ Seaforth DR. F. J, R. FORSTER Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Graduate in eledicine, University of Toronto, Late Assistant New York Ophthalmic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and Golden Square throat hospitals, London, Eng, At. Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 2 to 4 p.m, Also. at Seaforth Clinic first Tuesday in each month, -53 Waterlog St., Stratford- Telephone 267. MARGARET K. CAMPBELL, M,D. London, Ontario Graduate Toronto University Licentiate of American Board of Pedi- atrics, Diseases of Children At Seaforth Clinic, last Thursday a2• ternoon, each month, AUCTIONEER GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed' Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News, Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed F. W. AI•IRENS, Licensed Auction• ser for Perth and Huron Counties Sales Solicited, Terms on Application, Farm Stock, chattels and real estate property. R. R, No. 4, Mitchell, Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office. HAROLD JACKSON Licensed in Huron and Perth Conn - ties. 5 Price's reasonable; satisfaction enutranteed, bo' information, write or phone Harold Jackson 658r12, Sea forth central Brncefleld• Watson & Reid REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. The McKillop Mutual Fire Insurance Co. HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President, Wm, Knox, Londesboro; Vice President, W. R. Archibald, Seaforth; Secretary Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth. AGENTS F. MoKercher, R,R.1, Dublin; John. E. Pepper, R,R.1, Bruoefleld; E. R. G. Jarmouth, Brodhagen; James Watt,. Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm, Yeo, Holmesville, DIRECTORS Alex Broadfoot, Seaforth; William Knox, Londesboro; Chris Leonhardt, Dublin; James Connolly, Goderieh; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth; W. R, Archibald, Seaforth; Alex McEwing, Blyth; Frank McGregor, Clinton; Hugh Alexander, Walton, Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers. addresser] to their respective post - offices. An excited female voice came over the phone: "Two boys are trying to break into my room through the window." "Listen, lady, you've got the wrong number," answered a voice, "This isn't police headquarters, this is the Ifire department" "I know," she answered, "but my room is on the second, floor .and the,- need heyneed a ladder."