Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1940-08-08, Page 6PAGE SIX From The or 14 trt:1,1'e'. �ti�lY11 u'1` , k1 a+, Rr `141 Tense. cit 4lebee`s actor "You are not greater than I thought," said I. Ile professed to see but one mean- ing in my words, and answered, "It was, then. mere whim to see me do thio thing, a lady's curious mind, eh? My faith, I think your sea. are the true scientists: you try experiment for no other reason than to see ef- fect." f- fect" "You forget my deep interest in Captain Moray," said 1, with airy boldness. He laughed. He was disarmed. How could he think I meant it! "My imagination halts." he rejoined. "hiil- lenium comes when yen are inter- ested. And yet," he continued, "it is my one ambition to interest you, and 1 will do it, or I will say my prayers no more." "But how can that be done no more. Which ne'er was done before?" I retorted, railing at him, for 1 fear- ed to take him seriously.. "There you wrong me," he said, "I am devout; I am a lover of the scriptures—their beauty haunts me; I go to service—its dignity affects me; and I have prayed. as in my youth I wrote verses. It is not a mat- ter of morality. but of temperament. A man may he religious and yet be evil. Satan fell. but he ].clieved and he admired. as the r, giis. 11iit-En wisely Sew - wee zees:yfatter u t:; JIM:don. 1 tedleii' Yet:. Let tl:e; when I ant blow' MI.:r ai 1 ',hall Late ride alone. Happiness is the tux we ride to rover. you and I. though we find but a firefly in the end." "A poor reply." I remarked easily; "not worthy of you. "As worthy as I am of you. he re- joined: then he kissed my hand. Unconsciously, I rubbed the hand with my handkerchief. "I am not to be provoked," he said. "It is much to have you treat my kiss with consequence." March 25. No news of Robert all this month. Gabord has been away in itIontreal. I see Voban only now and *hen. and he is strange in manner, and can do nothing. Mathilde is bet :,err—so still and desolate. yet not. wild; but her memory is all gone, Nave for that "Francois Bigot is a .devil." My father has taken anew a se elle dislike to Monsieur Doltaire, lee:el to of talk that is abroad con- senting him and Madame (*unread. I see,: thought she was much sinned egsinst. but now I an sure she is r,ct to be defended. She is most deft ant. though people dare not shut their doors against her. A. change seemed to come over her all at once, and over her husband also. He is now gloomy and taciturn, now foolishly gay, yet lie is little seen with the In- tendant, as before. However it be, Monsieur Doltaire and Bigot are no longer intimate. What should I care for that, if Monsieur Doltaire had no power, if he were not the door be- tween Robert and me? What care I, indeed, how vile he is, so he but serve my purpose Let him try my heart and soul and senses as he will; 1 will 0118 day purify myself of his presence and all this soiling, and find my peace in Robert's arms This morning I got up at sunrise, How peaceful was the world! So still, so still. The smoke came curling up bere and there through the sweet air of spring, a snowbird tripped along the white coverlet of the earth. There was springtime in the sun, in the smell of the air; springtime everywhere but in my heart, which eeas.all winter, -I: seemed alone—alone —one, I felt the tears start. But that was for a moment only, I am glad to say, for I got my courage again, as I did the night before when Monsieur Doltaire place his arm at my waist, and poured into my ears a torrent of protestations! 1 did not move at first. But I could feel my cheeks grow cold, and some- thing clamp my heart. Yet had ever man such hateful eloquence! There is that in him—oh, shame! oh, shame! —which goes far with a woman, He has the music of passion, and tough it is lower than love, it is the poetry of the senses. I spoke to him calmly, I think, begging him place his merits where they would have better enter- tainment; but I said hard, cold things at last, when other means availed not; which presently made him turn upon me in another fashion. His words dropped slowly, with a consummate carefulness, his man- ner was pointedly courteous, yet there was an underpressure of force, of will, which made me see the dan- ger of my position. He said that I was quite right; that he would wish no privilege of a woman which was not given with a frank eagerness; that to him no woman was worth the having who did not throw her whole nature into the giving. Constancy.... that was another matter. But a per. feet gift while there was giving at ....—that was the way. "There ie something behind all .,• .. he said. "1 air. riot so vain ae in i] l:et .sly merits 11 mitre wort!(' in- t yee Bet d.vetien. my ad- .. •. x .he rely fere,. of reeve yeti, Be .m. need 1 -,1 v.:I• 1 r1_. _•.. to ii , .n lir. ..i i. 'e.li .10Yr -fere in my -. , Will 11•,1 think that this teldeh eouees me se is but pnw'rr p no;i side, u and effect upon the 1 other. Something in you called me to you. something in me will wake you yet. Mon Dieu. I could wait a score of years for my touch to thrill you as yours does me! And I will—I will." "You think it suits your honour to force my affections?" I asked; for 1 dared not say all 1 wished. "What is there in this reflecting 00 my honour?" he answered. "At Ver- sailles, believe me, they would say I strive here far a canonizing. No. no: think Inc so gallant that I follow you to serve you, to convince you that the way I go is the way your hopes will lie. Honour? To fetch you to the point where you and I should start together of the Appian Way, 1 would traffic with that, even, and say ] diel so, anti would do so a thousand tithes, if in the end it put your 'rand in mine. \'ilio. who can give you what I offer. can offer? See: 1 have given myself rte a hundred women in my tine --bat what of me? That which was a candle in a wind, and the light Went out, There was no depth. (10 life. in that; only the shadow of a man was there those hundred times. But here, now. the whole man plunges into this sea, and he will reach the lighthouse on the shore, or be broken on the reefs, Look In my eyes, and see the furnace there, and tell me if you think that fire is for cool corners in the gardens at Neu- illy or for the Hills 01—" He sud- denly broke off. and a singular smile followed. "There, there," he said, "I have said enough. It cane to me all at once how droll my speech would sound to our people at Versailles. It is an elaborate irony that the occas- ional virtues of certain men turn and mock them. That is the penalty of being inconsistent, Be saint or imp; it is the only way. But this imp that mocks me relieves you of reply. Yet I have spoken truth, and again and again I will tell it you, till you be- lieve according to my gospel." How glad 1 was that he himself lightened the situation! 1 had been driven to despair, but - this strange twist in his moodmade all smooth THE SEAFORTH NEWS for me. "That 'again and again' sounds dreary," said I, "lt might al- most appear I must sometime accept your gospel, to cure you of preaching it, and save me from eternal drowsi- ness" We were then most forttmately in- terrupted: He matte his adieurs, and I went to my room, brooded till my head ached, then feil a -weeping. and wished myself out of the world. I was so sick and weary. Now and again a hot shudder cf shame and misery ran tureugh me, as I thought of tnor- sieur's words to me. Put them hots int would, they eonJd an insult now, though as he spoke 1 felt the power o: his passion:. "If you had lived a thousand years ago. you would hove :.ived a thousand times," he eaid to rueone day. Sometimes I think lie spoke truly: 1 haye-a nature that 1.1••• :UNMAN 10 aril eloqueatce in life. Robert. I have bared my heart to thee. 1 have hidden nothing. In a few days I shall go back to the city with my mother, and when 1 can I will send news; and do you send me news also, if you meet devise a safe way, Meanwhile I have written my brother Juste to be magnanimous and to try for thy freedom, He will not betray me, and Ire may help us. I have begged Hint to write to thee a letter of reconcilement. And now, comrade of my heart, do thou have courage, 1 also shall be strong as 1 ala ardent. Having writ- ten thee, I am cheerful once more; and when again I may, I will open the doors of my heart that thou mayst conte in, That heart Is thine, Robert, Thy. Alixe, who loves thee all her days, leave found the names and places of the men who keep the guard beneath thy window. If there is chance for freedom that way, fix the day some time ahead, and I will see what may be done. Voban fears no- thing; he will act secretly for me. The next day I arranged for my escape, which had been long in plan- ning. XVII I should have tried 'eseape earlier but that it was little use to 'venture forth in the harsh in a (hostile country. But now April had come, and I was keen to make a trial sof eny'fortune. I had been saving food .for -a long time, little by little, and hiding it in the old knapsack which had, held my second enit of cloches. I had used the. 'little r1,00 for parching my food—Indian ode, for .whiell I had professed a '11113''. ;a my ]ailee. and lib.'ra':y . r of :'iris ,rhich hal ;e'en Mr. ' iWashiet len i -1 -e'er te. 'nv 'otter. and • atter L ,l,, le'Ii'7, i ;1 lett.. 'd - "t 111 1 (iii Vset're'll, lu.o whose - •• •—••••.4'.1 11-'1 .'tour— ..• ha I reel heut first. L.,: lc, Indian corn, the parching .,f 10 05e? ate, I had dried Tram and longue. and 'bread and cheese, 'en - 010111, by frugal use, (to last me a monh .at least. I knew it 'would he a journey- of six weeks or more to the nearest English setitlemeut, but if I could get that month's start I should forage for ehe rest, or take -nty fate a$ I •found it: I was used to all the 'turns of fortune now. inter 'knapsack 'grad- ually filled, and meanwhile I slowly worked Amy passage into the open world. Tlhere was fhe chance that my jailer would explore- the knapsack: hot after a time I lost that fear, for it lay hntouched with a blanket in a cor- ner, and I cared 'for my cell ,with any own hands. The realpoint of danger was the window, There .lay- -my w•ay. It was stoutly' barred with iron up and devil, and Shy bit, ;wert set in the solid 11111;ntone. Soon after I entered title prfaou'I sats that 1 n>1(41 cut a' groove in the «tette from stanchion to stan- chion, and then, 'by drawing together make au opening, lenge enough to let my body 'through, Far tools I had only a miserable 'knife with which I cut sty- victuals, and t!he smaller, 'but stouter one 'which Gabord had trot ta- ken from ,nee. There could the no .pounding, no chiselling, 'but only rub- bing of the hard stone. So hour niter hoer i rubbed away, in constant dan- ger 'af discvveny howeveer. My jailer had a trick of sudden entrance which rwotald have (been 'grotesque had it not been so serious •bo .me. To :pnavide age ain:et Ithe flurried ingmistion'of ibis eye I kept near ,me Ibread well •cihewed, ,with .which I filled the doe, oovering it 'with the 'sand I had nulb'bed or the ashes of any pipe, I !lived in dread of these entrances, but at ilasit L 'found ethat they chanced only within certain hours, and I arranged emy 'times of work accordingly. Once or twice, however, !being impatienit, 'I scratched the stone 'with some asperity and noise, and was rewarded by hearing my fellow stumibling in the hall; for he had as 'uncertain iimtbs as ever I saw. He stumbled upon nothing, as you have seen a rohiddirk) itself up by 'tangling of its feet. The first time that he carcase, roused by tthe'grating noise as the at (bellow, THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1 94 he s'taiinlbled in 'tree very ,oentre of the cell, and ife,ld upon hes knees, I nvroulld have eaughod if 'I thad 'dared, but 1 yawned over !the !book I had hastily snabdhed alp, and Muffed great 'whiffs from any pipe. I dreaded :lest he ,dhonld go to the window. He started ler it. 'but suddenly anode for any. couch, and dragged it away, es if looking to find a hole dug ;beneath it, Still I did not laugh at him, INA grave- ly 'watched thine and 'presently he .went away. At another time I was foolishly harsh with 'my tocols; but I knew now the time required by hint to conte ftp stairs, and I swiftly filled 'tic groove with 'bread, strewed ashes and :and over it, Dubbed it smooth, and was plunged in copy of !Montaigne when be entered. This time he went straight to the 'window, looked at it, tried the seanchions, and then, ,with an amused attempt at 'being 0unning and !tiding his own vigilance, be .asked ane, with laborious thypocrisy, if I had seen Captain Laney @a5'5 the window-. And so for eweeeks and ,weeks we ipdny- ed ]tide -and -seek with each other, At fast I lied nothing to do hut sit and 'wait, for the groove was cut, flue bar had roost to play. I could riot !bend it, dos it was fast at'rhe ;top; but ,ttnhen any hour of .adventure was .come, I would :tie a handkerchief round'the two Ileacs and twist it'with the 'piece .of hickory used 'for stirring 'rhe 'fire, Here was any engine of escape, and I waited 'till April should wind to its 'close, when I should, do 'the leoiter twealther, my ;my 'fortune .outside these walls, So time went on until one eventful day, even the SOth of April of tha year 1758, It was Paining and blowing when I Waked, and it ceased not all the day, coming to a hailstorm tow- ards night. I felt sure that my guards without would relax their vig- ilance, In the evening I listened, and heard no voices nor any sowed of feet, only the pelting rain and the whistling wind. Yet I did not stir till midnight. Then I slung"the knapsack in front of me, so that I could force it through the window first, and ty- ing my handkerchief round the iron bars, I screwed it up with my stick, Presently the bars came together, and my way was open, 1 got my body through by dint of squeezing, and let myself go plump into the mire below. Then 1 stood still a minute, and listened' again. A light was shining not fru' away. Drawing near, 1 saw that it came from tt small hat or leen-to. Looking through the crack, I observed. niy two gentlemen drowsing in the cor- ner: 1 was eager for their weapons, but 1 dared not mance the attempt to get tben6 201. they were laid betWee11 111.4r Ings, the• barrels resting against their shoulders, I .brew hack, and fur. :1 1(0113111. 1i:111.1,•11 10 get my hear. bee. 'Then 1 Made for a-c'n'u'rr of the yard where the wail was newest. tue. etbiug a inti at it, ea ugh the ,.rp. .wide dinienity Serallabl'•d 111., and speedily was ot'.a' and floundering in the mud. I knew well where 1 was, and at once started off in t1 florth- weste'ly direction, toward the Bt. Charles River, making 201' a certain farm -house above the town. Yet I tool: care, though it was dangerous, to travel a street, in which was Vo - ban's house. There was no light in the street nor in his house, no' had 1 seen any one abroad as I came, not even a sentinel, I knew where was the window of the barber's bedroom, and 1 tapped upon it softly. Instantly I heard a stir; then there came the -sound of flint and steel, then a light, and pre- sently a hand at the window, and a voice asking 'who was there. I gave a quick reply; the light was put out, the window opened, and there was Voban staring at lie. "'Anis letter," said I, "to Mademois- elle fixe ('uey." and I slipped ten louts into his hand also, The eon's he quickly handed back. "M'sieu'," said he, "if I take it I lake it I would seem to myself a traitor ---no, me But I will give the letter to nitt'in'selle:' Thenheasitecl use in; but I would not, yet begged hint, if he could, to have a canoe at my disposal at a paint below the Falls of Montmot'- enei two nights hence. "M'sieu'," said he, "1 will do so if I can, but I am watched. I would not pay a sou for my life—no. Yet I will serve you, if there is a way." Then 1 told him what 1 meant to do, and bade hien repeat it exactly to Alice. This he swore to do, and I cordially grasped the good wretch's shoulder, and thanked hint with all any heart. I got from him a weapon,. also, and again I put gold louts into his hand, and bade him keep them, for 1 might need his kind offices to spend it for me, To this he consent- ed, and I plunged into the dark again. - I had not gone far when I heard foot- steps coming, and I drew aside into the corner of a porch. A moment, then the light flashed full upon me. I bad my hand upon the hanger I had got from Voban, and I was (ready to strike if there were need, when Gabord's voice broke on my ear, and his hand caught at the short sword by his side. - - SEE GOOD/YEAR PATHFINDER TODAY ... ,BUY IT HERE ... NO DELAY! • You don't have to wait for the tires you need .. you don't have to bother about putting them on properly. Just drive in and we'll do the job today! Pathfinder has every Goodyear quality. KEN. MacLEAN EGMONDVILLE, ONT. "'Tis dickey -bird, alio!" cried he. There was exultation in his eye and voice. Here was a chance for him to prove himself against me; he had proved himself for me more than once. "Here was 1," added he, "staking for M'sieu' Voban, that he might come and bleed a sick soldier, when who should come running but our English captain! Come forth, aha!" "No, Gabord," said I, "I'm bound for freedom." 1 -stepped Porth. Hie sword was poised against ale, I was intent to make a desperate tight, "March on;" returned he, gruffly. and I could feel the iron in his voice. "But not with you, Gabord, 111y way lies toward Virginia." I did not care to strike the first blow, and 1 made togopost 11iin. His lantern ''ante clown, and he made a catch at my shoulder. 1 swung burl:• threw oft' nay cloak etel 1111 my weapon. - 1'heu w''• fought, Uy itnupee .lt troubled me, for it was leoee, deal ]sept .shitting, 1 'lord made eon!„• alter etreke, watehtltt. h. any, ;M, -,- Ave, muttering to himself a:; h' - struck turd po'riecl. 'i'lierc Was ;o, 11834,11 in itis eyes, hut he had the lust of lighting on kine, amt he was breathing easily and could have kept this up for hours. As w'0 fought 1 heard a cloth strike one in e hoose near, Then a cock crowed, 1 had re- ceived two slight wounds, and I had not touched 015 enemy. But I was swifter, and 1 calve at hint suddenly with a rush, and struck for his left ahoulder when I saw my chance, I felt the steel strike the bone, As 1 did so he caught my wrist and lung- ed fiercely at me, dragging me to him. The blow struck straight at my side, but it went through the knap- sack, which had swung loose, and so saved my life; for another and 1 had tripped hint up, and be lay bleeding badly, "Aho! 'twas a fair fight,” said he, "Now get you gone. I call for help," "I eau notleave you so, Calmed." said 1, I stooped and lifted up his head. "Then you shall go to citadel," said he, feeling for his small trumpet. "No, no." 1 answered; "I'll go fetch Voban." "To bleed Inc more!" quoth he whimsically; and 1 renew well he was pleased I did not leave him. "Nay, ]:ick against yonder door. It is Cap- tain Laney's." At that moment a window opened, and Lanoy's voice was heard. With- out a word I seized the soldier's lan- tern and my cloak, and made away as hard as I could go. "I'!l have a wing of you for lantern there!" roared Gabord, swearing roundly as 1 ran off with it. With all my might I hurried, and was soon outside the town, and com- ing fast to the farmhouse about two miles beyond. Nearing it, I hid the lantern beneath my cloak and made for an outhouse, The door was not locked, and I passed in. There was a loft nearly full of hay, and 1 crawled up; and dug a hole far down against the side of the building, and climbed in, bringing with me for drink a nest of hen's eggs which I found in the corner. The warmth of the dry hay was comforting, and after caring for wounds, which 1 found were but scratches, 1 had somewhat to eat from my knapsack, drank up two PROFESSIONAL CARDS MEDICAL SEAFORTH CLINIC Dr. E. A. McMaster, M.B„ Graduate of University of Toronto. J. D. Colquhoun, M.D„ O.M., Grad- uate of Dalhousie University, Halifax. TheClinic is fully equipped witle complete and modern x-ray and other up•to-bate diagnostic and thereuptie equipment. .Dr. Margaret - IC. Campbell, M.D., L,A.13.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. 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, B.A.,M.D. Physician and Surgeon In Dr. H. H. Ross' office, Phone 6J DR, F. J. R. FORSTER Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Graduate in Medicine, 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 Waterloo 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 Thunaday at- 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. AHRENS, LIcensed Auction. ear for Perth and Huron Counties, Sales Solicited, Terms on Application. Farm ;ztoelt, chattels and real estate property. R. Ii, No. 4. .Mitchell, Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this efliee, HAROLD JACKSON Liu stied in Huron unci Perth Cotin- ttce. Prime; rea.so !1110; satisfaction guaranteed. For information, write or phinle Ilarold Jackson, 65er12, Sea• forth central; liracetield 11.11.1. 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. Mrliercher, R.I1.1, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brncefield; J. F. Prueter, Brodhagetl; James - Watt, Blyth; Wen. Yeo, Hohnesville. DIRECTOIR.S Alex Broadfoot, Seaforth; William 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 - offices. eggs, and then coiled myself for sleep, It was my purpose, if not dis- covered, to stay where I was two days, and then to make for the point below the Falls of Montmorenci where I hoped to find a canoe of Voban's placing. "That new hat makes your face look short, dear." "Well, it's made my husband's face long enough, anyway"