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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1940-09-05, Page 6PAGE SIX THE SEAFORTH NEWS e.r,W,d'r rn.,�.5 .,-,4.iao of •kn. r lA ''x .se.:::�` ..4eile From The se \NI At trine o'clock I was waiting by the window and et en as a bugle sounded 'lights out' in the barracks and change of guard.: ".et the string down. 'Mr. Stevens sac t arottrrd, of the c:hateandint as the %ie'4t rllrJr' sentin- el d.s:ti're•rtd. :atrache,; a btn•clie to tl. -trot* i I fret , 1- :a:' 'e:: T ., ,.,. a -n c.?fT1S. 1 :e1:.° aosene. and, lnntreart , c rat:•a.:. he awe, :meet a new and ,ret „tv_ e tie` .. - • - . fl r -,vos there. = c : I ]mew 1 try r; itt the ribe ,and Tedi -nigh killed Stun." "But what say you to !Ma'nn'seate Durvarney coming to 'hitt that day, and again yesterday with Gabord " "Well, well, wthc knows. Banuboir? This morning I say to Nanette, tVhy is't, all in one moment, you send me to the devil, and pray to meet me in Abraham's son: too?' What think yc,u she answer me? (Why, this, nay i:amboir: '\Wlty is't Adam loved his wife and swore her rtaw•it before the Lard also. all in one moment ' Why Ma ntse'ae tttnvarney does this or Haat is not for muddy -brains like oars. is some whimsy. They say that :site^ nlore rntrie is about the tI'•,- aat'ut Sa Jean Baptiste. T rI:aps she of him a •magic sok." X-. rasa If ' e the magic Petit i'-.. :he t:trntal us int . ntte s yld ma like hien. 1 .. 1 t t'rty they say. and _. ..,e Y.- ....1- - -d hit: as a pigeon's 14:'t .star,'. Nor did he ever •t i - Gabon', r .ao aught but laugh at -hey ytltin• they lid to him. The tins they put w • uld not stay. and :road:1. ...trthe -va. ,et against the wall to he ri'ta the sa.a, the .i it':n- stepped—the minute his shooting Tossed. Theta i1'sieu' Doltaire come, and say a man that could do a trick like that should to do another. Ansi he did 11. ,f<'r \I'sieu' 1•> 'claire is gime to the Bastile, Voyez, this Englishman is a damned heretic, and itis the wicked arts." "But see, B'amnboir. do you think the e] .,...n:. . .. .., r,.,.. the r t.,.. : : fished t +esc r. y ,Vin; ... 'inc , .ti 'Cit, to :ais- le aa vr. .. .ca. r... r.athorities. I ante: c .4C s.. , of an invalid. =no are, T.7c!1! :lay enterprise n, t;a .,..' stil7 thin. and :vtrrn cast -t spells:' "What means these sounds .from hisroom!" So. so. Yet if he he a friend of the devil. La Jongleuse would not conte for him, 'hat—" Startled and excited, they grasped each other's arms. "But for ns=for us!" "It would he a work of God to send 'him to the devil," said .Bamboir in a loud whisper. "He has given us trowbie enough. IVW:ho can tell ,what comes next? Those damned noises in his room. eh—eh?' Then they whisper 'together, and presently I caught a 'fragment, by which I understood that, as we nvalk- ed near she edge of the cliff, I should be pushed over and they would snake it appear that I had drowned myself. They talked in low tones again, but soon -got louder, and presently I knew that they were speaking of La 'J+ong- leuse; and Bamboir—the fat Bamboir, .wino the surgeon had said mould some day die of apoplexy--nwas 'rash enough to say that he had seen her. He des- cribed her accurately with the spirit of the shorn raconteur. "Hair so black as the feather in the Governor's hat, and +green eyes that flash aim, and a brown face -with skin all scales. Oh. may saints of heaven, when she pass I hide any head, and 1 go cold jike stone. She is all covered. with long reeds and lilies about ,her head and shoulders, and blue -reel sparks fly up at every step. Flames .go round her, and she (burns not her rate—not at all. And as she go I 'hear cries that make me sick, for it is. 1 -aid, some poor man in 'torture, and I think perhaps it is jacq'ues Vi'l.lon. perhaps jean Rivas, perhaps Ange'le Damge che." In my mind 1 con nien-ded this eat Bamiboir as an excellent story -!teller, and thanked nim for his true 'picture of La Jongleuse. wham, to my regret, I had never seen. I would not forget his stirring description, as he should see. 1 'garc point to the tale Iby squeezing an inflated toy in his pock- et. with my arm, while any !hands re- mained folded in :runt of me; and it was as good as'a play to see the faces of these soldiers as they sprang to their 'fet, etaring renal in dismay, 1 'myself seemed 't6 wake with a start, and, rising t0 my feet. 1 asked ',vha:t meant the noise and their amazanent, We were in a spot where we could not easily be seen from any distance, and no one was in sight nor .were .we to be remarked from /he 'fort. They exchanged looks, as I started back to- wards the chateau, walking very near the edge of the cliff. A spirit of 'brav- ado carne on ane, and 1 said musingly So 1sat .:nor. ,. v.nvoarite =eat en tie ;.!ifs, syr against solitary tree, fi..erl in fie- rocks. , gazed lone on tib river, and my grards. stoutly armed. str,t•ra near, watching me, and ta.iktnc in caw tones. Eager to hear their gneiss. I appeared to .sleep. They 'came nearer, and. f: cir.;g Ines sat upon a large sto•, e. and. cressiped freely goneerraines the strange sounds heard in my roam at ehe chateau. "Ste eau, my Eamntir," said the lean to the fat soldier. "rhe British captain, he is to :be carried off in burmnig flames by r.at La Jongleuse. i\We shall come in ont morning, find a smell of stili bur only. and a circle of red on the fk.,.r where the imps danced before La 1c'ngleuse said to them. "CTI: 'with darlings, and away!' n '•'.3fj At this B'bntbt.ir shook his mead, and answered. Tw.mcrrcw 1'11 •go to the Governor ane fell him what's °orating. My wife, she fails upon any neck this morning. '_=trgose.' she says. 'twill neer, the trierhe;: and his coll- ege to drive La Je.ngleasa out of the :grand chateau. ' "Bit yes. it is the Ring's 'house. though his •most +Ji,ristian (Majesty lives in France. Tht ".fargntis de Van- dreuil stands for the King. and we are sentinels in tite King's house. But. my 'faith, I'd rather ,be fighting ag- ainst Frederick, the Prussian ,near, than watching this marl Englishman." "But see yo•u, my 'brother, that En- glishman's a devil. Else h'ow has he not been ,hanged tong ago He has vile arts to' blind' ail. or he'd he sitting there, It is •well krnwr. that 'M'sieu' Doltaire, ever. the Kin'g's son -his mother worked in the fields like your Nanette, Batnboir—" 'eOr your 'Lablancht, my friend. She has hard hands. with 'warts. and red 'knuckles therefrom— " "Or your Nanette. Banrboir, with nose that,blisters in the am -inner, as she goes sw(Inlgeing flax, andswell- ing feet that sweat in sabots, and chin •ehrnst out from carrying pails upon her head--" "Ay, -like Nanette and like Lafalan- the. this pleasant 'mother of •M'sien Doltaire, ,and maybe no such firm Ihreasts like Nanette---" "Nor such an eye as has Labian.ohe, Well M''sien:'' Doltaire, ,who could overdue them all, he could not kiln this (barbarian. And Galbord you know well 'how they 'fought, and the tbladk horse and this rider name and carried him: away. iWby, the youm'g ,M'cieu' Dutvarney had him on his 'knees; the blade at his throat, and a sword flash but from the dark --they Ray it was the devil's—end 'to'o'k him to thein as we walked: "1st would Ibe easy to throw you horh over the ,cliff, but 1 clove you 'boo Toll. 1 have proved that by making toys for your children," 1t was as cordial to me to ,watch 'their faces. They heath drew away from the cliff, and grasped =their fire- arms apprehensively. "My Nod; said Btrndboir, 'those 'toys shall he tt'urned to -ni'g'ht! Alph- onse has the sanalIpnsx -and Susanne tits croup—damned. de•vill" he added Suri:*osis°, slopping Sonw,ard 't+0 me v;+a: grin raised, "111—,--" 1 .l,r liege he would have shot me, h;n1 -rbet I said quickly, "1f'syou did L err, to me you'd cotne to the rope. Tin tinrrrnor 'would rather lase ,. baud than my life." I pushed down Itis musket. "Why �lti�udd yon 'fret? h ant leaving the chateau to -morrow for another pris- on. You feels, d'ye think I'd harm the .children,? I (know as little of the devil or La Jon'gl•euse as do you. 'We'll solve the witches of'these sounds, you and I, to -night. I'f they come, well shay the Lord's Prayer, and make the sacred gesture, and if it goes not, we'll have'a priest to drive out the 'whinning spirit," This quieted 'them, and I was glad of it for they looked bloodt•h''irsty enough, and though I had a weapon on rte. there was little use in seeking fighting or flight till the auspicious moment. They were not satisfied, 'however, they nvatc'hed me diligently s we same on to the 'chateau. 1 could not bear that they he fright- ened about their children, so I said: ",Make rue a sacred oath, and I will swear ,y it that those toys will do your children no harm," We got back to 'the chateau with- out more talk, and I was locked in. while my guards retired. As soon as they had gone I ,got to work, for my are4t enterprise was at hand. Ar ter. o'clock I was ready for tic venture. When tire critical moment eatne, I was so arrayed that my dear- est friend would not have 'known me. My object was to conte •out :upon my g uards as I.a Jcugleuse, and, in the fright and confusion which should Tollow, make my escape through the eoeridors and to the entrance doors,. past the sentinels, and so on out. It may be seen now why I got the wom- an's garb. the :sheet. the horsehair, the ,p'luostprnorus. the reeds, and such things: Why I secured the knife and pistol may ,be conned likewise. Upon the lid ,of a small stove in the room I placed my saltpetre, and 1 rulblbed the horsehair on my 'head with phosphor- us, also on my hands, and face, and feet, and on' many Objects in the room, The knife and pistol were at nay hand, and as soon as -the clock ,had struck ten I set my toys availing, Then I knocked upon' the door with solemn taps, hurried back Ito the stove, and waited for the door to open 'be- fore 1 applied the snatch. I heard a 'fumbling at the Sock, then ,the door was thrown 'wide open. ASl'vas ,dark - fleas in the hall without, salve a spluttering candle which Bamboir held over his head, as he and his del - low; 'deadly pale, peered into the chamber. Suddenly they gave a :cry, for I threw the sheet ,from any face and shoulders, and to their excited imagination La Jton'gteuse stood Ibe- fore .thein. .all in'blames. As I started 'down on them, the coloured fire .flew up, :making the 'room all blue and scarlet for a :moment. in ,which I must have looked devilish indeed, with staring eyes and -outstretched chalky hands, and wailing cries com- ing from my robe. I moved s'wi'ftly, and Bamboir, without a cry, dropped (like a log. (poor 'fellow, he never rose again! the apoplexy 'which the surgeon pro- rni;cd had come), his comrade ,gave a cry, and sank in a heap in a corner, mumbling a prayer, his face stark with 'terror. i ,passed him, came along the cor- ridor and clown one staircase, with- out seeing any one; then two soldiers. appeared in the half -lighted hallway. Presently a door opened :behind me, and one came out. By now the phos- phorus light +haddiminished a little, hot still I was a villainous picture, for in one hand I held a 'small cup, from nvhiclt suddenly sprang red and blue fires. The men fell (back, and I sailed past then:, but I had not gone - far down the .lower staircase when a shot rang after incMand a 'bullet ,pas- sed by my '.head. Now I came rapidly to the outer door, where two more sentinels stood. They s'hran'k ibaok, and soddenly one threw down • his musket and ran; the other, terrified, stood stock still. I passed him, ,open - • ,the 'dear, and came out upon the Intendant, who avas just 'alighting arum .his carriage. The :horses sprang away, frightened at sight of me, and nearly threw Bigot to 'the (ground. I tossed: the tin cup with its 'chemicals .fires bull in his ,face, as he 'made :a dash for me, He called out. and drew his sword. 1 wish'e'd not fight, and I sprang aside; but he made a gals at ane, and I drew my pistol and -was about to lire, when another shot :came from the hallway and struck him. He +1 ell almost at my PRELUDE TO "THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN" Carmen from Uri -den Dmty Stetrh Nr: sa,labta $•r antah Isles & e' t.A. +feet, aria I dashed away into the dark- ness. Fifty feet ahead I cast one gl- ance back and saw :Monsieur 'Cour- nal standing in the doorway. I was sure that his second shot had not been meant for rite, but for the Intendant— wifld attempt at a revenge long de- layed, for the worst o'f+wrongs. I ran on, and presently came full upun five soldiers, two of them drew their pistols, 'fired, and missed. Their comrades ran away howling. They 'barred any path, and now I 'fired too, and 'brought one down; then came a shot from behind t'hean, and another fell. The last one took to his heels, and a moment later I had Qty hand in that of Mr, Stevens. It was he mho had fired the 'opportune shot that rid me of one foe. We cause quickly along the river brink, and, skirting the cit- adel, got clear of it without ,discovery, Though we could see soldiers hurrying past, roused by the firing at the chat- eau. In about .half an Scour of steady run- ning, with a dews bad s'tomtbles 'and falls, we reached the -old 'wfndmaill alb- ove the Anse du Foulon at Sillery, and tame plump capon our waiting comrades. I had stripped myself of ,my 'd'isguis'e, and rubbed the phos- phorus from urty person as we came along, but enough remained to make one an ,uncanny'fi'gure. It had been kept secret from these people that I was to go with them, 'and they sullen- ly kept their muskets ,raised; 'but .when Mr. Stevens told the.nt who I was they were agreeably surprised. I at ,once took :command of the enter- prise, saying 'firmly at the same time that I 'anu•ld shoot the first man who disobeyed my orders. I was sure that 1 could 'bring them to safety, but any 'will was !toys They took any terms like men, and swore to stand thg me. XXII We were five altogether—M•r. Stev- ens, 'C'lark, the two Boston soldiers. and myself; and presently ,we came down the steep passage in the cliff to where our craft lay, secured Iby my dear wife—a Ibircth canoe, well laden with necessaries. Our craft was none too large for our party, Ibtnt she must do; and safely in, we pushed out up- on It'he current, which was in our fava OUT for the tide was ,going out. My object was to cross the river softly, skirt the Levis shore. pass the Isle of Orleans, and so steal down the river. There was excitement nearby as 'we Could tel'\ ,from the lights .flash- ing along the shore, (and boats soon began to patrol the (banks, ,going swiftly up and -down, and extending a line around to the St. 'Ohariles River towards Boatupont. It was well 'for 'us the night was 'dark else we had never run that igaons tet. But we 'were lucky emcstigh, Iby hard to -addling, to (get past the town on the Levis aide. 'Never were 'better boatmen. The paddles dropped with atgreeceble (precision, and no (boats- tveannis :rattan. was needed bo :keep my Mellows to their basic. 1, 'whose sight :was 'bong 'tisained to elasSeness, could see a great distance mound us, and so 'could !prevent a trap, though once or :aloe we let nr came shaft with the tide. lest our paddles should be heard. I could not padsie :enc. I had so lit- tle strength. After the Orleans was Passed I drew a •i'reath of relief, and played :,he part of captain and ''boats - ,wain merely. Yet ,when I looked back at the tea -a an those strong heights. and saw the bonfires bairn to warn the set- tlers of our escape, sane the tig;h''s s'parklin'g in many homes. and even fancied I could make otnt the light shining in my 'dear wife's window, I h ad 'a strange feeling 't3 loneliness. There, in the shadow of my prison +walls, ,was the dearest thing on earth to nae. °tight she not to the with me She had begged to come, to share with me these dangers and hardships; but that I could not, would not grant. She would be safer with her .people As for as desperate men bent on es- cape, we must face hourly peril. Thank 'God. 'there was monk .to da. 1-lottr after hour the swing and dip of the paddles went on. No one showed weariness, and when d'a'wn broke slow and soft over the eastern hills 'I mot- ioned my good boatmen towards the shore, and 've landed safely, 'Lifting our frigate tip, we carried her into a Ithieke't, there to rest with its till night, twhen we ,would :sally forth again itnto the friendly dankness. 'Vire were in no distress all that day, for the weather was fine, and we 'had enough to eat; and in this case were ave for ten days 'and nights, ,though indeed some of the nights were 'dreary and very cold, for it was yet :but the beginning of May. It might thus seen that we were leaving danger well .behind, after having ',travelled so many heavy lea- gues, ib'it it was yet several hundred miles to Louisburg, am destination, and we had escaped only immediate danger. We passed Isle ,aux Cotudres and the Isles of Kamarasika, and now nye ventured tv day to ramble the woods in search of 'game, which was most plentiful. In this tgord outdoor life my ,health came slowly aback, and I should soon the able to (bear equal tasks with any of any comrades. Neve e r mean led (better friends, though I have seen a'dventunaus service near an'd far since that 'time. Elven (the gen- ial ruffian Clark was amenable, and took sharp reprimand without revolt. Sentenced To One Month-- Convicted onth—Convicted previously of dangerous driving and remanded for sentenee, Robert Gooier, 17, East Wawanosh Youth, was last week sentenced to 36 days in jail at Goderich. Accused was the driver of the car in which his school chum, Archie Mason, same age, was killed in a motor accident on July 29. The light sentence, Mag- istrate Makins said, was prompters by the fact that Walter Mason, father of the dead boy, had pleaded for len- iency for Gooier and also the accus- ed's good record, It was simply a ease of too much speed ill a light roadster on a gravel road coupled with inexperience. Govier will not be allowed to drive a car for two years. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1940 PROFESSIONAL CARDS MEDICAL SEAFORTH CLINIC Dr. 17. A. McMaster, M.B., Graduate of University of Toronto. J. D. Colciuhoun, M,D., C.M„ Grad. utile of Daibousie. University, Halifax. The Clinic is 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 Thm'aday 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 5 J 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 mouth from 2 to 4 p.m. Also at Seaforth Clinic first Tuesday in early mouth, -53 Waterloo St., Stratford. Telephone 267. MARGARET K. CAMPBELL, M.D. London. Ontario Graduate Toronto Uuivereity Licentiate of Amerieau hoard of Pe11. atrics, Diseases of Children At Seaforth Clinic, last Thursday af- ternoon, each month. AUCTIONEER GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron, Arrangements can be made for Sala Date at The Seaforth News. Charges 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; Brucefleld 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, McKereher, R.R.1, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brucefield; J. F. Prueter, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; Wm. Yeo, Holmesville. DIRECTORS Alex Broadfoot, Seaforth; William. Knox, Londesboro; Chris Leonhardt, Dublin; James Connolly, Goderich; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth; W. R, Archibald, Seaforth; Alex McEwing,. Blytb; 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. "THE TABLE TALKS"—NEW Thrill -Packed Serial Novel The opening instalment of "The Table Talks", startling and dramatic story of exciting escapades and of di- abolical deeds by Jonathan Staggee, well-known author of "Murder by Pre- scription" and other popular novels, begins—ILLTISTRATED IN COLORS —in The American Weekly 'with the September 8 issue of The Detroit Sunday Times. Be sure to read this breathtaking novel 1 •