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"