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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1940-05-23, Page 6PAGE SIX 1v i Y S CHAPTER VII I have given the story here as though it had been thought out and written that Sunday afternoon which brought me good news of Juste Du- varney, But it was not so. I did not choose to break the run of the tale to tell of Other things and of the passing of time. The snaking took vie many. many weeks. and In all. that time I had seen no face but Gabord's, and heard no voice but his as he came twice a day to bring me bread and water. He would answer no ruestions concerning Juste Duvarney, r Veber', or Monsieur Doltaire, nor tell me anything of what was forward the town.' He had had his orders precise enough he said. At the end of all my hints and turnings and ap- proaches. stretching himself up, and turning the corn about with bis foot ,but not crushing it, for he saw that i prized the poor little contradest. he would ray: "Snug. snug. quiet and warm! The . 'siest nest in the world—aho!" There was ne coaxing hint, anti at. !at I desisted_ I had no light, With • resolution I set my mind w see in spite of the dark. and at the end of a month I was able to note the out- lines of my dungeon; nay, mare. I was able to see my little field of corn; and at last what joy I had when. hearing a little rustle near me, I looked closely and beheld a mouse _'inning across the door! I straight- way began to scatter crumbs of t•reud. that it might, perhaps. cone ear me --as at last it did, • have not spoken at alt of my woutils, though they gave me many painful hours. and I had no attend- anee but my own and Gabord's. The wound iii my side was long healing. r.:' it Was more easily disturbed as 1 turned in my sleep. while 1 meld .ase my arm at all times. and it ante on slowly. My sniferings drew , na my flesh, my blood, and my spit- .: s. and to this was added that dis- raae inaction. the corrosion of soli. 'Aide. and the fever of suspense and mcertainty as to Alixe and Juste Du• Carney. Every hour. every moment that I had ever passed in AlixFs pre- sence. with many little incidents and ,renes in which wo shared. passed t,efm'e me ---vivid and cherished ph. - tures at the Mind. One of -those in- I ••idents I will set (Iowa here. A year or so before. soon after :este Duvarney carte from Montreal, brought in one day from hunting a young live hawk, .and put it in a •: zi:^'e. V."he-n I Came the next morning, r.iixe not the. and asked nee to see what he had brotiglit. There. beside - 'the kitchen door. overhung with otning-glories and flanked' by holly- :oeks. was a large green. cage, and in • :t the gray -brown hawk. -'Poor thing. -iter prisoned thing!" she said. :.auk how strange and hunted it s. t hex hie hers stir! and • 'i :slit ,:r; your en , end I. 'V- .,n :sli\.\'IcalL :11 d,3‘1 'rant 111e ill that t •uiav net :rot -el n•:! ..;rr 1' :n th ;,en v rtii. _Ai' i.'.• ::,rl l >t1u1 1111-. •uiy a t Itn d ho are ,.t? 'What s •,rant 'with me? There r a lire within my .read. it ,at so my eyes.. and I turf, away, -What ear, yon 'want with me'?'' She did not speak .these -Words all at once as 1 ita:e written them here, but little by little, aS eve stood there talking beside the ,eaee. Yet, as she talked ,witch me, her mind .was on- the bird, her 'fingers running gip and down -the ,caige chars 'soothingly, her • voice now and again interjecting soft 're- ,flections and cactantatinn. '"Shaul 1 ,set 11 freer I asked her. She turned upon me and replied, "Ah, monsieur, 'I ,hoped you Would— ,without my asking. You are .a prisoner too," ,she added; "One captive should reel for another." "And the freeman for [bath," d an- swered ;meaningly, as I ,softly opened the cage. • :she did not drop her eyes, but raised them shining honestly and frankly to mine, and said, "I wished yon tie chink chat." Opening the rage door wide, I Ball- ed the little captive to freedom. But while we stood close by it would not stir, and the look in its eyes became wilder. 1 moved away. and Alixe fol- lowed rate. Standing beside arc old well we waited and watched. Presently the hawk chopped front the perch, hop- ped to the floor, then with at wild spring was gone, ftp, tip, up, and was away over the maple woods beyond. lost in the sun and the good air, 1 know not quite why I dwell on this scene. save that it throws some little light upon her nature, and shows how simple and yet deep she was in soul, and what was the fasltiott of our friendship. But I can perhaps give a clearer insight of her character if I here Set down the substance of it let- ter written about that time, which came into my possession long after- wards. It teas her custom to write her letters first in a book, and afterwards to copy then[ for posting. This she did that they [night be an impulse to her friendships and a record of her feelings. Alixe Duvarney to Lucie Litbiniere. Quebec C10'. the 1itlt of May, 1766. My Dear Lucie: I wish I knew how to tell you all I have been thinking sancta we parted at the door of the i.'rsutines a year ago. Then we were going to meet again in a few weeks. and now' twelve months have gone! How have I spent them? Not wicked- ly, I hope, and yet sometimes I tvnn- det' if Stere St. George would quite approve of me: for I iavv wild spirits now and then. and I shout and sing in the woods and along the river as it I were a toad youngster hone from seined. I1ttt indeed, that is the way I feel at times, though again I ant so quiet that I am frightened of myself, 1 ant a hawk to -day and a mouse to- morrow. and found of pleasure all the time. Ah, what good day's I have had with ,lust,: Yon remember hunt be- fore be went to Mentreal'. He is gay, fall of fancies, as brave as can be. and plays and sings swell, but he is very tutt•heaerlt'd, and likes to play the tyrant. \\'e have some bad encounters now and then. But we love each other better for; Ic respects me, and he does not become spoiled, as you will see when you conte to us. I have had no society yet. Sly mother thinks seventeen years ton few to warrant my going into the gay world. I wander will my wings he tory stronger. will there be less danger of scorching then rat tw'euty'•six? Years do not make us wise; one may be as wise at twenty at at fifty. And they rte not save us from the search• in:r. I knob- more than they guess how cruel tate world may be 10 the itomeentas tee -the other. 00e Bala not live within sight of the intend - ant's palace- and the Chat.ati St. Loris wilhnnt learning inertly thing.,; and, for myselt, ttorgh i Winger for all the jevs of life, I do net fret be- cause my motliit' holds the hack from rh,, gay doings in the town. I have my long walks, my fishing and row- ing, and sometimes shooting, With ,J,tsti- and nay sister Georgette, my thawing, Painting, MUSIC, needlework. and my housework. Yet I ant not entirely happy. I do not know quite why. Do you ever feel as if there were some sorrow fat' back itt you, which now and then rushed in and flooded your spirits,. and then drew back, and you could not give it a name? Well, that is the way with me, Yesterday, as T stood in the kitchen beside ottr old cook Jovin, she said a kind word to Inc; and my eyes filled, and I ran up to my room, and burst into tears as I lay upon my bed. I could not help it. I thought at first it wa.S because of the poo' hawk that Captain Moray and I set free yesterday morning; but it could not have been that, for it was free when I cried, you see. Top know, of course, that he saved my father's l life, some years ago? That is one reason why he has been used so well in Quebec, for otherwise no one THE S 1 + OR.TH NEWS could have lessened the rigours of his captivity. But there are tales that he is too curious about uur gov- ernment and state, and so he may be Rept Ouse jaitod, though he only came here as a hostage, 1 -Ie is much at our home. and sometimes walks with Juste and Inc and Georgette. and accunipauie s my mother in the streets. This is not to the lilting of the Intendant who loves not my father because be is such a friend of our cousin the Governor. If their lives auti characters be anything to the paint the Governor must be in the right. In truth, things are in a sad way here, for there is robbery on every hand, and who can tell what the end may he? Perhaps that we go to the Lngtish after all. Monsieur Doltaire--- you do not know him, 1 think—says, "If the English eat us, as they swear they will, they'll die of niegt'ims, our affairs are so indigestible." At an- other time he said, "Better to be English than to be damned." And when some one asked him what he meant, he said, "Is it not read front the altar, 'Cursed is he that puttettt his trust in man'? The English trust nobody, and we trust the English," That. was aimed et Captain Moray, who was present and I felt it a cruel thing for hint to say; but Captain Mo- ray, smiling at the ladies, said, "Bet- ter to be French anti damned than uof to he French :at alt,'' And this pleased Monsieur Doltaire, who does not love hint. I know not wiry, but. there are vague whispers that is act- ing against the Englishman for causes best known at Versailles, which have nothing to do with our affairs here, 1 do believe that Mon- sieur Doltaire would rather a clever tiling than get tent thousand francs. At such times his Price lights up, he Is at once on his mettle, his eyes loot[ almost fiendishly beautiful. He is a handsome mut. but he is wicked, and I do not think he has one little sense of morals. I do not suppose he would stab a man in the hack, or re- move his neighbour's landmark in the night, though he'd rob him of it in open daylight, and call it "enter- prise" --a usual word with hitn. He is tt favourite with Madame Commal. who influeuc•es Bigot most, and one day we may see the boon compactions at each other's throats; and if either fails, I hope it may he Bigot, for Monsieur Doltaire is, at least, iso robber. Indeed, he is kind to the poor in a disdainful sort of way. He gives to them and scoffs at tltent the sante moment: a bad nnut, w'itlt just enough iaturacl kindness to natio:' }tint dangerous. I have not seen much of the world, but some things we know by instinct; we feel them; anti I often wielder if that is not the way we know everything In the end. Sometimes when I take my long walks, or go and sit beside the Falls of \lnittntorenci. looking out to the great pity on the Heights, to dear ISIe Orleans, where we have our pretty villa rave are to go there next week for tlti't'e months ^- floppy summer mouths,, rap at the blue sky and into the deep woods, 1 have strange feel- ittgs. wltit•tl afterwards become thoughts; and sometimes they Sty away like butterflies, but oftener they stay with me, and I give them a little garden to roans in --you can guess where. Now and then 1 call then[ out of the garden and made them speak, and then I set down what they say in my journal; but I think they like their garden hest. You retttetttbet' the song we used to sing Ott rchnol1 "•\Vtt,oe do the - stare grow", little Gamine.? The orchard of suns, my little Garaiue. Will you take us there some Clay ' —If you shut year eyes.' quash little Gamine, 'I will show you the way to go '1'o the or( -hard of suns and the garden rat 11100118 And the 111.111 where 1111. slat's d❑ g ru cw, -..- id 11, H1118 hays tit,• Children of Sietei„ guard, And they have 00 pity at tall— Yrul longi tint stumble. you must not speak. When you cone to the orchard wall "'Tb,• gato-> live larked,' gtmnth little titn'ttine. `But tb,- Way- 1 ant going to tell? They i<ey of yam' heart will open them all: And there's where the darling dwell 1' " You may not care to read these lines again, but it helps to show what I mean: that everything is in the heart, and that nothing is at all it we do not fuel it. Sometimes I have spoken of these things to my mother, but she does not see as I do I dare not tell my father all I think, and Juste is so much a creature of snoods that I am never sure *whether Ire will be sensible and kind or scoff, One can not bear to be laughed at. And as for my sister, she never thinks, she only lives; and she looks - it—looks 1 beautiful, But there, dear Lucie. I must not tit'e you with my childish 1 philosophy, though I feel no longer a child. You would not know your friend. I can not tell what has come over - me. Voila! Tomorrow we go to visit General Montcaim, who has just arrivedin His 'Majesty, King eiconte \'1, sh:ottn as die made •itis nte>_nora'hl'e sitccich in Winnipeg on May 24, .1939. His historic address 00 Vitt': occasion, preserved in sound ley the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, will the iu THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1940 the prograntnle " lie nelemail The Empire", to he ,presented .over the National Network of the,CBC on Fri- day„ 1\day 214, from 'SJ00 to •9.00 loam. I DST. the colony. Bigot and his gay set are not likely 10 be there. My niothel'in- sists that I shall never darken the floors of the Intendant's palace. Do you still hold to your former purpose of keeping a daily journal? If so, I beg you to copy into it this epistle and your answer; and when 1 go up to you: dear manor house at Beatrice next summer, we will read over our letter's and other things set. down, and gossip of the changes eohtc-' since we met last. Do sketch the old place for the (as will 1 aur new v11111 ((1 clear Isle Orlean141, and make in- terest with the good nurtt to bring St to me with your letter, since there are no posts, no postmen,' yet be. tween here and Becuce, 'J'lte cu't' most kindly hears that to you, and says he will gladly be our messenger. Yesterday he said to me, shaking Itis }read in a whimsical way, "Hut no treason, mademoiselle, anti no heresy or schism." I ant not quite sure what he meant. i dare hardly think he had Captain Moray in Itis mind, 1 would not for the world so lessen my good opinion of him tis to think him sus- picious of me when no other dare; and so I put his words down to chance hitting, to a humorous Be sure, dear Lucie, 1 shall not love you less for giving me a prompt answer. Tell we of what you are thinking and what doing, If Jute can Inc spared from the Governor's estab• lishnteett, may I bring him with Inc next summer? He, is a diffit•ul1, spark- ling sort of fellow. but you are set steady -tempered, so full of tact, get- ting your own way so quietly and cleverly, that 1 aunt 811'e 1 should find picov of strawy for the bricks of my house of hope, my castle in Spain! Do not give too notch of my share of thy heart elscw'here, and continue to think of rue, my dear Lucie, thy friend, loyal and loving, Alixe Duvarney. 1'. S, ---Since the ahnve was written WO have visited the. General. Both Monsieur Doltaire and Captain Mntn)' were present, but neither took notch note of me....141ouSieur Doltaire not at all. 'Th nae who either hate each outer lovingly, or love hatefully, I knew not whit'ti, they are so biting, yet 80 ft'it•naly to each other's cleverness. though their style of word -play' iS so different: Monsieur Doltaire's like a bodkin -point, Captain Moray's like a musket -stock a-chtbbtn. Be not, sur- prised to see the British at our gates any chty. Though we shall beat them back 1 shall feel no less easy because I have a friend in the enemy's cant)! You may guess who. Da not smile. He is old enough to be city rather. lie said so himself six months aunt. Alixe ('HAPThIR VIII (labnrd, coating in to me one clay after I had lain clown to sleep, said, "See, m'siett' the dormouse, 'tis holi- day -eve; the King's sport comes to- morrow." I sat tip in bed with a start, for I knew not but that my death had been decided on without trial; and yet on eceenrttl thought I was sure this could not be, for evy rule of military con- dnct was againt.rst 1t, "Whosed Holiday?" asked 1 after a moment; "and what is King's spurt?" "You're to play bear in the sti -its to-tllat'row---which is sport Mr the Jiang,," he retorted; "we lead you by a rope, and you dance the quickstep to please our ladies all the way to the Chateau where they bring bear to drum head." "Who sits behind the drum?" I questioned. "The Marquis de \'aucircuil," he re- plied, "the Intendant, Master Devil. Doltaire, and the little men." By these hist he meant officers of the ealotial soldiery, So, then, at last I was to be tried. to he dealt with definitely on the abominable charge. 1 should at least again see light and breathe fresh air, and feel about me the stilt of the world. For a long year I had heard no voice but my otvn and Gabo>'d's, had httd no friends hutmy pale blades of corn and at timid mouse, clay after day no light at all; and now winter was at hand again, and without fire and with poor food my body wits chilled and starved, I had had no news of the world, nor of her who was clear to me, nor of Juste Duvarney, save that he lived, nor of our cause. }ant sucecedhig the thrill of delight 1 ]tad at thought of seeing the open world again there curate a reeling of lassitude of indifference; I shrank front tate jar of activity. But presently I got upon my feet, and with a little' air of drollery straightened out my clothes and Melted a. handkerchief across my gaiters. Then I twisted racy head over my shoulder as if 1 were noting the shape of my hack and the .set of my clothes in u mirror,aid thrust a leg out in the matinee of .11 exquisite. I had need 10 do some mocking tiring at the moment, or I s'llc>ill(l have given 1t'ny to h'alt's like a watilatt, so suddenly weak had I be- come, Garrard lfiti'st out laughing. An idea rune to Inc. "I must be line to -morrow." said 1 "I must not shone my jailer'," I rubbed my beard—I had none when 1 came- into this dungeon tired. - "Alto!" said he. his eyes wheeling. 1 knew he understood mc, 1 diel not speak. Int kept on running my ging', ors through my beard. 17b Be C"ntinned.4 [\'ant. and For Sale Ads., 1 week 25c This view ,of Their Majesties wav- ing from the Iplat'form of the Royal Train dm in;g their visit to Canada <t year ago is engraved on the memories of 'Canadians ,from -coast to coast, ,Other memories will the revived 'by rebroadcasts .of highlights of the Roy- al 'J'our, arranged Ihy ithe-•CB,C Feat - 'ares Department. '!'Mese broadcasts will Ibe .beard over the C:RC':s ;Nat - lolled Network franc 0.30 to 9;00 pain, EDST ,on May 117, ,May .30 and ].tine 6, and item 0,00 to 9.00 p.n1J t?tD,ST on May 24. PROFESSIONAL CARDS MEDICAL SEAFORTH CLINIC Dr. E. A. Mcklalter, M,B., Graduate of University of Toronto. J. 1). Colquhoun, M.D., C.M., Grad. unto of Dalhousie University, Halifax, The Clinic is fully equipped with complete and modern x-ray and other up•to-date diagnostic and tbereuptie equipment. Dr, Margaret K. Campbell, MD., L,A.II,P,, Specialist in Diseases in Infante and Children, will be at the Clinic last Thursday in every month from 3 to 6 p,m, Dr. F, 3, R. 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. GORWILL, Physician and Surgeon In Dr. H. H, Rosa' office, Phone 52 W. C. SPROAT, M.D., F,A.0.S. Surgery Phone 90-W, Office John St„ Seaforth DR. F. J, R. FORSTER Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto, Late Assistant New York Ophthalmic and . Aural Institute, Moo'efield's Eye, and Golden Square throat hospitals, London, Eng, At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 2 to 4 mut, Also at Seaforth Clinic first Tuesday in each month, -53 Waterloo St„ Stratford. Telephone 267. MARGARET K. CAMPBELL, M.0, London, Ontario Graduate Toronto University Licentiate of American Board of Pedi- atrics, Diseases of Children At Seaforth Clinic, last Thursday af- 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 Ir. W. AIIB.ENS, Licensed Auction• eer 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 Coun• ties, Prices reasonable; satisfaction guaranteed. For information, write or. phone Harold Jackson, 653r12, Sea - forth central; Bruceiield R.R.1. 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. Mcliet'cher, R,R,1, Dublin; Sohta E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brucefleld; E. R. G. Jarmouth, Brodhagen; James Watt,. Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine;. Wm, Yeo, Holmesville. DIRECTORS Alex Bnoadfoot, Seaforth; WilIlaittr Knox, Londesboro; Chris Leonhardt, Dublin; James Connolly, Goderich; 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 addressed to their respective post- officee, Private Smyth was in trouble - again. Called before the commanding officer, be was aocured of insulting the sergeant -major. "What's your excuse this time?" he was asked, "I didn't mean to insult him, sir," replied Smith. "All I said was that if looks could kill he ought to be careful with the mirror when ha shaves himself."