HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1940-08-29, Page 6PAGE SIX
THE SEAFORTH NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1940
rut
From The
Manor
ouse
•sT+k xet,:.ugkfi, t
was ourious to know hew it than-.
reed 1 was set free of my dungeon, and
1 had the story !from 31ixe's lips; but
not till after 1 had urged her, for she
was sure her tale 'had wearied me, and
she was eager to do little oefices of
comfort about me: telling me gaily,
awhile she shaded the light, freshened
m_v pillow, and gave me a cordial to
drink. that she would secretly convey
me 'wines and a preserves and jellies
and such kicksha.ws, that I should bet-
ter get any strength.
"For you must know," she said,
'that though this gray hair and trans-
parency of flesh !become- you, ana,kiitg
your eyes look like two jets of :flame
and your lace to have shadows most
theatrical, a nubby cheek and stout
stand are snore suited to a soldier.
:Chen you are young again in body
these gray hairs seta:: render you dis•
=anguished."
Then she sat down beside me. and
sp.,4 toy hand. nluw looking out
,ete the clear light of afternoon to
,l farther chores 'd Levis, showing
'-I1 here and tia.r, nem a sudden
..:al eh rain. the maulelir, 's tercets
hal. ami tht 0,11; T,11, at. Lawrence
..-- caroti with ts.> taut brill",
_. ain.ar into ort foe,. wltil.• ! gaZeil
incus« tfetj _ , blue y •s
...tit ! hett
ti lir,tr •ti^ t:.,i' 1ttlrt in. i
eu to watch Mr. toz• with hi' she•
tet' ]ler own ail!ec.iute self, rice
trona all artiilce. lost in her perfect
a;turein-ss: a healthy. quiet souud-
: ss. a primitive simplicity beneath
tto- artifice of usual life Site had a
i:eautiful band. long, warm. and lir'ni,
and the fingers when they clasped,
seemed to possess and inclose your
own—the tenderness of the maidenly.
the protectiveness of the maternal,
She carried with her a wholesome
fragrance and beauty, as of an orch-
ard, and while she sat there I
thought of the engaging words:
"Thou art to me like a basket of
summer fruit, and 1 seek thee in thy
cottage by the vineyard, fenced
about with good commendable trees."
Of my release she spoke thus:
"Monsieur Doltaire is to be conveyed
overland to the coast en route for
France, and he has sent me by his
valet a small arrow studded with
emeralds and pearls, and a skull all
polished, with a message that the
arrow was for myself. and the skull
for another—remembrances of the
past. and earnests of the future—
truly an insolent and wicked man.
When he was gone I went to the
Governor, and. with show of interest
in many things pertaining to the gov-
ernment for he has been flattered by
r::y- attentions --me. poor little bee in
•'u- buzzing hive!t. can:«• to the guts -
of tate English prisoner. I told
it was I that pievcntr-til the
;:,,rt to his good ;_evernment by
iitag to General tilt.,:;,,aim to oak
your protection.
�? was intpte s�+i, 1..;z'1 01-.11,11 -n,-1t out
vain heart about t:, elute in die-
. :jay:. But I may i:r.r Lei] you of
..est --wily what eeme.alas yourself:
",•'t belongs to his'e!acne. When
was in his most iaia:ele mood, I
ew serious and told }aim there was
a danger which perhaps he did not
see. Here was his English prisoner,
who, they said abroad in the town,
was dying. There was no doubt that
Me King would approve the sentence
et death. and if it were duly and with
some display enforced. it would but
add to the Governor's. reputation in
France. But should the prisoner die
in captivity, or should he go an in-
valid to the scaffold. there would only
be pity excited in the world for him.
For his own honour, it were better
the Governor should hang a robust
prisoner, who in full blood should ex-
piate his sins upon the scaffold. Tine
advice went down like wine; and
when he knew not what to do, I urg-
ed your being brought here, put un-
der guard, and fed and nourished for
your end. And so it was.
"The Gover'nor's counsellor in the
matter will remain a secret, for by
now he will be sine that he himself
had the sparkling inspiration. There,
dear, Robert, is the present climax to
many months of Suspense and perse-
cution, the like of which 1 hope I
may never see again. Some time 1
will tell you all: those meetings with
Monsieur Doltaire, his designs, and
approaches, his pleadings and veiled
threats, his numberless small seduc-
tions of words, manners, aud deeds,
his singular changes of mood, when
I was uncertain what would happen
uext; tate part I had to play to know
all that was going on in the Chateau
St. Louis, in the Intendance, and with
General Montcalm; the difficulties
with my own people; the despair of
my pool' father, who does not littow
that it is 1 who have Rept him front
trouble by my influence with the
Governor. For since the Governor and
tate Intendant are reconciled, he takes
sides with General Mouteahu, the one
sound gentleman in office in this poor
country—alas !-'
Soon afterwards we parted As she
passed out she told me 1 might at any
lau' expect a visit from the Govern-
nt',
'fife Governor visited rue. Itis tri•
titu,te was narked by nothing se
1 ruuch as a supercilious retlttesy,
manner which said. Yeti nntstt
Vie,
am hot to be trifled with; aud
though 1 have you here in my OW
,•a B. it is that I (nay make at rine
towelling of you in the end. Ne
!email make of nit an example to
amaze and insti'utt' the nations
when 1 was robust enough to die.
1 might easily have flattered my-
self on being an object of interest to
the eyes of nations. I almost pitied
hint: He appeared so lost in eelf-
adntiratiou that he would never see
disaster when it came,
"There is but one master here in
Canada," he said, "and I am he, 1f
things go wrong it is because any
orders are not obeyed. Your people
have taken Louisburg; had I been
there, it should never have been
given up. Drucour was hasty he
listened to the women. I should allow
no woman to move me, I should be
inflexible. They might send two Am-
hersts and two Wolves against me, I
would hold my fortress."
"They will never send two, your
Excellency," said I.
He did not see the irony, and he
prattled on: "That Wolfe, they tell
me, is bandy-legged; is no better
than a girl at sea, and never well
ashore. I am always in raw health—
the strong mind in the potent body.
Had I been at Louisburg, I should
have held it as I held Ticonderoga
last July, and drove the English back
with monstrous slaughter."
Here was news. I had had un in-
formation in many months, and all at
tine." two great facts were brought 10
me,
"Your 1'xcellentry, thea, was at Ti-
rouderoga?" said I,
sent Menu -aim to defend it." he
replied pompously. "I told hien how
he most act. I was explicit, and it
came out as 1 had said: we were vic-
torious. Yet he would have den. bet-
ter had he obeyed nee in everything.
If I had been at Louisburg--"
I could not at first bring myself to
flatter the vice -regal peacock; for it
had been my mind to light these
Frenchmen always; to yield in noth•
ing; to defeat them like u soldier,
not like a juggler. But I brought my-
self to say, half ironically, "if all
great men had capable instruments,
they would seldom fail."
"You have touched the heart of
the matter," said he, credulously. "It
is a pity," he added, with complacent
severity, "tita.t you have been so mis-
guided and criminal; you have, in
BOMB things, more sense than folly,"
I bowed, as to a compliment from a,
great man, Then, all at once, I spoke
to him with an ah' of apparent frank-
ness, and said that if I must 'tie, I
cared to do so like a gentleman, With
some sort of health, and not like an
invalid. He must admit that at least
I was no coward, He might fence ms
about with what guards he chose, but
I played him to let me walk upon
the ramparts, when I was strong
enough to be abroad under all due
espionage. I had already suffered
many deaths, I said, and S would go
to the final one looking like a khan,
and not like an outeast of humanity.
"Ah, I have heard this before," said
he, "Monsieur Doltaire, who is in
prison here, and is to fare on to the
Bastile, was insolent enough to send.
me a message yesterday that 1
should keep you close in your dun-
geon. But I had had enough of Mon-
sieur Doltaire; and, indeed, it was
through me that the Grande Marquise
had him called to durance. He was a
muddler here. They must not inter-
fere
nterfere with tae; I ant not to be cajoled
or erossed in my plans. We shall see,
sve shall see about the ramparts," he
contintted "Meanwhile prepare to
'lie," This he said with such import-
ance that 1 almost laughed in his
face But I bowed with e sort of awed
submission, and he turned and left
the room
1 grew stronger slowly day by day,
but it was quite a month before Alixe
came again, Sometimes 1 saw her
walking on the banks of the river,
and I was sure she was there that 1
might eve her, though site made no
sign towards me, nor ever seemed to
look towards my window.
Spring was now fully come. The
snow had gone from the ground, the
tender grass was springing, the air
was soft and ]rind. One line clay, at
the beginning of May, 1 heard the
booming of cannons and a great
shouting, and, looking out, 1 could
see crowds of people upon the banks,
and many boats In the river, where
yet the ice had not entirely broken
up. By stretching from my window,
through the bars of which I could
get my hood, but not my body, I
noted a squadron sailing round the
point of the Island 99 Orleans. 1 took
it to be a fleet from France bearing
re -enforcements and supplies—as in-
deed afterwards 1 found was so; but
the re•enfo'cements were so small
and the supplies so limited that it is
said. Montcalm, when he knew, cried
out, "Now is all lost! Nothing re-
mains but to tight and die. 1 shall see
nty' beloved ('audit' no more..,
For the first time all the .English
'atonies had combined against Can-
ada. A'autdreuil and alontcalin were at
variative, and Caudreuil had, through
his personal hatred and envy of
:lloutrahn. signed the death warrant
of the euluny by writing to the col-
onial minister that Montcalut's ag-
ents, going for succour, wire not to
be trusted. Yet at that rnortlent. 1 did
not know these things, suit the sight
made me grave. tltottglt it made me
sure also that this year would ilud
the British bait eying this sante Om t•
eau,
Presently there 'ante word from
the Governor that 1 night walk upon
the ramparts, and I was takeu forth
for several hours each day; always
however, under strict surveillance,
my guards, well armed, attending
while the ramparts were, as usual,
patrolled by soldiers. I could see that
ample preparations were being made
against a siege, and every day the
excitement increased. I got to know
more definitely of what was going on,
when, under vigilance, I was allowed
to speak to Lieutenant Stevens, who
also was permitted some such free-
dom as I had enjoyed when I first
came to Quebec. He had private in-
formation that General Wolfe or
General Amherst was likely to pro-
ceed against Quebec from Louisburg,
and he was determined to join the
expedition.
For months he had been maturing
plans for escape. There was one
Clark. a ship -carpenter (of whom 1
have before written), and two other
bold spirits, who were sick of cap-
tivity, and it was Intended to fare
forth ohne night and make a run for
freedom Clark had had a notable
Plan. A wreck of several transports
had occurred at Belle Isle, and it
was intended by the authorities to
send )lint down the river with a sloop
to bring buck the crew, and break tip
the wreck. It was his purpose to atm
his sloop with 11r. Stevens and some
English prisoners the night before
she was to sail, and steal away with
her down the river. But whether or
not the authorities euspe'ted hint,
the command w.as at the last given
to another.
11 was proposed, however, to get
away en a dark night to some point
on the river, where a boat should be
stationed --though that was a diffi-
cult matter, for the river was well
patrolled and boats were scarce—
and drift quietly down the stream,
till a good distance below the city.
Mr. Stevens said he had delayed the
attempt on the faint hope of fetch-
ing me along. Money, he said, was
needed, for Clark and all were very
poor, and common necessaries were
now at exorbitant prices in the
country. Tyranny and robbery had
made corn and clothing luxuries, All
the old tricks of Bigot and bis La
Friponne, which, after the outbreak
the night of my arrest at the Seig-
neur Duvarney's, had been somewhat
repressed, were in full awing again,.
and robbery in the name of providing
for defence was the only habit.
I managed to convey to Mr,
Stevens " a good sum of money, and
begged him to meet me every day o
upon the ramparts, until. I aleo should
see my way to making a dart for
fi'eedont. I advised him int many
ways, for he was more bold than
shrewd, and I made him promise that
he would not tell Clark or the others
that I was to make trial to go with
them. 1 feared the accident of dis
closure, and any new 'failure on my
part to get away would, I knew, mean
my instant death, consent of ling 01
no consent.
One evening, a soldier entered my
room, whom In the half-darkness 1
did not recognize, till a voice said
"There's orders new! Not dungen
now, but this room Governor be
speaks for gentlemen front France.'
"And where am 1 to go, Gabord?"
" Whet'e yon will have fighting," he
answered,
"With whom?"
"Yourself, alto!" A queer smil
crossed his lips, and was followed by
a sort of sternness. There was some-
thing graver in his manner than
had ever seen. I could not guess 11
meaning. At last he added, pulliu
roughly at his mustache, "And when
that's done, if not well done, t
answer to Gabord the soldier; fo
God take my soul without bed -going
near Sillery—the west side of the
town was always ill guarded --anti
wait there with a boat. He should eee
me at e certain part on the ram-
parts, and well armed, we also would
make our way to Sillery, and from
the spot called the Anse du Toulon
- drift down the river in the dead of
night,
1 He promised to do all as I wished.
The rest of the day I spent in my
room fashioning ett'oage toys out of
willow rods. I lead got these rods
from my guards, to matte whistles
for their children, and they had ear-
n riec1 away many of them. But now,
- with pieces of a silk handkerchief
tied to the whistle and filled with air,
1 made a toy which, when squeezed,
sent out a weird lament. Once, when
my guard carne in, 1 pressed one of
these things in nay pocket, and it
gave forth a sort of smothered cry,
• like a sick child. At this he started,
and1 looked round the room in trepi-
dation; for, of all peoples, these Can -
adieu Frenchmen are the most super-
s etitious, and may be worked on with -
g out limit. The cry had seemed to
come front a distance, 1 looked
o around also, and appeared serious,
1
and he asked me if I had heard the
' thing before. -
but 1 will call you to account! That
Seigneu''s hone is no place for you."
"You speak in riddles," said 1,
Then all at once the matter burs
upon me, "The Governor quarters M
at the Seigneur Duvarney's?" I asked
"No other," answered he. "1n thre
days to go."
I understood him now. He had ha
a struggle, knowing of the relation
between Alixe and Myself, to avoi
telling tate Governor all. And now, 1
I involved her, used lies to effect my
escape from her father's house
Even his peasant brain saw my die
!lenity, the danger to my honour—
and hers, In spite of the joy 1 felt a
being near her, seeing Iter, 1 shrank
from the situation. If 1 escaped front
Seigneur' Dnvat'ney's, it. would throw
sttspiciuu 1113011 hint. upon Alixe, and
that made me stand abashed, Inside
tie Seigneur Dnvau'ttey's house I
should feel bound to certain calls of
honour concerning his slaughter and
himself, 1 stood long, ttththing. Grtb-
1n141 watching rite.
Finally, "tlabord," said I. "I give
you my word of honour that 1 will
not put Mademoiselle or Monsieur
Ouvaruey in peril."
"You will not try to escape?"
"Not to use them for escape. To
elude my guards, to light my way to
liberty—yes—yes—yes!"
"But that mends not. Who's to know
the lady did not help you?"
"You You are to be my jailer again
there?"
He nodded, and fell to pulling his
mustache, "'Tis not enough," he said
decisively.
"Conte, then,"said I, "I will strike
a bargain with you, It you will grant
me one thing, I wilgive my word of
honour not to escape from the seig-
neur's house."
"Say on,"
"You tell me I am not to go to the
seigneur's for three days yet. Ar-
range that mademoiselle may come
to me to -morrow at dusk—at six
o'clock, when all the world dines—
and I will give my word, No more do
I ask you—only that"
"Done," said he. "It shall be so."
"You will fetch her yourself?" I
asked.
"On the stroke of six. Guard
changes then."
Here our talk ended, He went, and
I plunged deep into my great plan;
for all at once, as we had talked, 1
came a thing to me which I shall
make cleat' ere long..I set my wits
to work. Once since my corning to the
chateau I had been visited by the
English chaplain, who had been 11
prisoner' at the citadel the year be-
fore. He was now on parole, and had
freedom to come and go in the town,
The Governor had said he might visit
me on a. certain day every week, at a
fixed hour, ail the next. day at five
o'clock was the time appointed for
his second visit. Gabord had prom-
ised to bring Alixe to me at six
The following morning 1 met Mr.
Stevens on the ramparts. I told him
it was my purpose to escape the next
night, if possible_ If not, I must go to
the Seigneur Duvarney's, where I
should be on parole—to Gaborct, I
bade him fulfil my wishes to the
letter, for on his boldness and my
own, and the courage of his men, I
depended for escape. He deciarecl
himself ready to risk all, and die in
the attempt, if need be, for he was
sick of idleness, He could, he said,
mature his plans that day, if he had
more money. I gave hint secretly a
small hag of gold; and then I made
explicit note of what I required of
him: that he should tie up in a loose
but safe bundle a sheet, a woman's
skirt, some river grasses and seeds,
some phosphorous, a pistol and a
knife, and some saltpetre and other.
chemicals. That evening, about nine
o'clock, which was the hour the
guard changed, he was to tie this
bundle to a string I should let down
from my window and T would draw it
up. Then, the night following, the
there moat steal away to that place It
"Once or twice," said 1
"Then you are a dead man," said
L
he; " 'tis a warning, drat!"
e i"Maybe it is not 1, but one of You,"
I answered. Then, with a sort of
1 hush, "Is't like the cry of La Jon -
e' gleuse?" 1 added. (La Jougleuso was
their fabled witch, or spirit of die-
d atst.er )
s He nodded his head, and turned
til to go, but came back. "I'll bring
help," he said, "She is the devil's
dant."
! 13e left with a scared face, and I
laughed to myself quietly, for 1 saw
. success ahead of ure. True to his
t word, he came back. It looked singe -
tar to see this big, rough soldier,
who was in most things a swaggerer,
so childlike. Ht'itit this you could
fetch him to his knees; with 11 I
would core 111111 that 1 might myself
escape.
TEN DIAMOND FACTORIES
To Set Up Famous Continental In.
dustry In England
Ten factories are to carry en in
I•ltrgiand the diamond cutting itncl
polishing industry which, until the
German occupation, was the monop-
(11y of Amsterdam and Antwerp.
The first of them, and the first
ever to carry out such work In Eng-
land, is now doing £200,000 worth of
business a year. Most of the workers
are skilled refugees and the man-
ager, an Englishman who has been
hiving iu Antwerp since 1912, has
conte back with a Belgian wife and
son to open up a new industry in his
own country.
During the two months before the
invasion of the Low Countries, Mr.
J. C. Ginder, now Chairman of the
!Birmingham Jewellers' Association
Export Group, flew to Amsterdam
and Antwerp eighteen times buying
up diamond cutting and polishing
machinery.
As the first Germans carne into
Antwerp the ldst part of his order
lay on the wharf. 1t was an essential
part of the plant and there were only
photographs of it, yet from these
photographs, drawings and office
plans were reconstructed and the
manufacture of the machines made
possible.
Britain through her control of the
South African sources of supply, al-
ready has a monopoly of the rough
diamond trade, and site may 11049 be-
come the world centre of the whole
diamond Industry.
leer lack of industrial diamonds,
used for' turning up aeroplane pistons
and similar precision work, Germany
is now badly crippled in her 111.111
merit manufacture, Britain's control
of this vital supply is definitely as-
sisting the progressive deterioration
of German guns and aircraft.
HITLER'S GIFT TO ENGLAND
U. S. A. Market of 40,000,000 Flower
Bulbs
Hitler is providing a generous diet-
ary to one considerable section of
Holland's living things.
Dutch cattle are growing fat on
tulip bulbs.
The Nazis have wiped out Hol-
land's fields of daffodils, hyacinths
and tulips, There is a ban on all bulb
growing, so Dutch stocits are now be-
ing destroyed or used up for cattle
feed. The cattle like tulip bulbs best,
The result is that England has just
offered U.S.A. 40,000,000 :English-
grown daliodil, tulip and hyacinth
bulbs for x260,000,
Little Holland, in Lincolnshire, has
already got 0,000 acme of bulbs: l'01"
some years now the Dutch growers
themselves have come to England for
the costlier specimens,
The British Ministry of Agriculture
ad ruled that not more than three.
PROFESSIONAL CARDS
MEDICAL
SEAFORTH CLINIC
Dr. E. A. McMaster, M.B., Graduate
of University of Toronto.
J. D. Colgtihoun, M.D., O.M., Grad.
uate of Dalhousie University, Halifax..
The Clinic 1s fully equipped with
complete and modern x-ray and other
up-to-date diagnostic and thereuptie
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. 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. Roes' 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 iu each month from 2 to
4 p.m. Also at Seaforth Clinic first
Tuesday in each mouth. -63 Waterloo
St., Stratford. Telephone 267.
MARGARET K. CAMPBELL, M.D.
London, Ontario
Graduate Toronto University
Licentiate of American Board of Fedi.
atrios, Diseases of Children
At Seaforth Clinic, last Thursday af-
ternoon, each month.
AUCTIONEER
GEORGE ELLIOTT, Livensed
Auctioneer for the County or Huron,
Arrangements can be made for Sale
Date at The Seaforth News. Chargee
moderate and satisfaction guaranteed
F. W. AHRENS, 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, 658r12, Sea -
forth central; Brucefield 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, Mctlercher, R.11.1, Dublin; John
E. Pepper. R.R.1, Brucefield; J. F.
Pruet.er, Brodhagen; James Watt,.
Blyth; Wm. Yeo, IIolmesville.
DIRECTORS
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.
quarters of last year's bulb acreage
should be sown, but the order will
probably, be cancelled as flower bulbs
to -day are more valuable to England
that cabbages.
Roosevelt, a great Hower lover, has
a magnificent display of bulb flowers
at Hyde Park, his New York home,
! His favorite is the tulip with daf-
fodils secoud.
W t d
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