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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 •