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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1937-06-03, Page 6PAGE :SIX MEW Rose Meanie ;c'od-morning, doctor," he cried. 'hares; far these, when wounded, will ' ('food-nlornin'g, 'Ronald,' said 'the :frequently dodge into a hole among other, turning round. :He was a big the rocks, like a rabbit, baffling 'dogs anti men, and (iying a miserable death, Moreover, there was no need to take risky shots. The tn'o guns were post- ed 'behind a stone or small hillock, lying 81 'fnil length on the •grovn•d, only Their brown -capped heats and the long barrels being visible. '!'hen the faint tildes in the distance be. came somewhat louder, with sticks rattled on rocks and stones flung here and there: presently, on the sky -line of the plateau. a small object coMear- ed. sitting upright and Clark against the sky then it calve shambling leis- urely along, becoming bigger a11(1 'big- -,er and tv:hiter and whiter every Inn- ntent until at length it showed itself almost like a rat, but not running stealthily like a cat, rather hopping forward on its ungainly high haunch- es; and then again it would stop and sit up, its ears thrown tback, its eyes not looking at anything in front of R. it; .snow-white 'body, and here and there a touch of bluish -brown, offer- ing a tempting target for a pea -rifle. But by this time, of course, minter - ons others had come hopping firer the sky -line; and now as the loud yells and shouts and striking of stones were disc at head there was more swift running, instead of hobbling and :pausing', among the white,fright- ened creatures; and as they cared for nothing in front (in fact, a driven hare can not gee anything that is right ahead of it, and will MIR against: your boots if you hap•pe1 to be stand- ing in the way), but sped noiselessly across the withered grass and hart: clumps of heather—hang! went the tinct barrel, and then another and an- other, as quick as ehngcrs could un- load and reload, until here, there, and everywhere, but always within a eer twin radius front the respective pmts, a white object lay on the hard and ,vintry ground. The beaters cause up to gather them' together; the two gens had risen from their cold quer. ters; there were fotind to be thirteen hares all told ---a 4ftit4 sufficient num- 'ler fir this ,part --and not one had crawled or hobbled away wounded. But we will now •descend for a time front these bleak altitudes and return to the little hamlet, which seemed to lie there snugly enough and sheltered in the hollow, though the wind was hard on .the dark and' driven loch. some :tour or so after the shooters and .heaters had left, :Weenie 1)0114las .ante aloe to ,Ronald's cottage, and. of enure, found .Maggie the sole or- :upaut as she had expected. She was eery bright and cheerful and friendly, and spoke warmly- of Ronald's kind Hess in, giving her father a day', •ho (1(119" "Me mother was a little angry," she said, laughing, "that he should go away just the first thing after coating home; but you ,know, ,;4faggie, he is so fond of shooting, an'cl it is a not always he Can get a day, especially at this time of the year, and 1 ant very glad he has gone, for yon know there are very few who have to work so hard," "I wish they may cone upon a stag, said the little Maggie, with reokless and irresponsible generosity, "Do goo know, Maggie," said the eider young lady, with a shrewd smile 011 her race, -".1 am not surethat my mother likes the people about here to he so kind; she is always expecting my father to get a better post ---but I know he is not likely to get one that will suit him as well, with the fishing and ,hooting, There 'is the Modal— the gentle:uteu art the lodge let hint have that all the spring through: and hen ,the loch is not let, he can al- ways 'have a 414y by writing to Mr. C rawford: and here is Ronald, when the hinrjs have 10 he shot at 'Christ teas, and .;n on, Arid If the t\nleriean gentleman take; the, shooting a, well as: the loch, surely he will ask my fa- ther to go with him a clay or two on the bill; it is a lonely •Chi g shooting man, somewhat corpulent, with an honest, wholesome, ruddy face, Soft brown eyes. and an expressive mouth, that could temper his very apparent goad -nitre with a little mild 584- • 855111. "You're c01114 hack in the nick of time," the Weeper said—for well he knew the doctors keen love of a gun, "I'm thinking of driving some of the far tops the day. to thin (1014.1 the hares a bit; and I'm sure- 'e'd be -glad to lend us a hand," "Man, I was going hone to my bed, to (ell ye the truth," said the doc- tor; "it's eery little sleep l've had the last ten days." "What is the use of that?" said Ronald; "there's aye plenty o' dine for sleep, in the winter." And then 'the heavy -framed occu- pant of the dig -cart glanced up at the Tar reaching heights of Clebrig, and there was a grins smile on his nrotttlt. It's all very well," ,said he, "for her - 1'111 -stomached young fellows like yon to face a 11i11 like that; but I've ,got 'weight to carry, Men; and --" Come, conte, doctor; it's n0 the first time you've been on Clebrig," Ronald said—the could see that ),lee- nie's father wanted to be ,persuaded. ""Besides, well no try the •highest tops up there --(there's been too ,much snow; And I'll •tell ye how well make it easy for ye-tPwe'll row ye down the loch*and •begin at the other end and work home—there, it's,,a fair offer," 1(t n•a an offer, at all events, that. the big doctor could not withstand. "Weil,: 14.11," said he, "1'11 just drive the'dog-cant along and see hots' they are at hwite: and then if the wife lets me out of her clutches, I'll conte down ,to the loch -side as fast as I 'can." Ronald turned to one of the stable - lads all of whom were transformed into heaters on this occasion). - "Jimmy, iu.st rim over to the house and fetch nm' gun; and hid Maggie pix twenty cartredge:s—number -1 she knows where they are—into the bag; and then yr can take the gun and the cartridee-bag down to the boat, and be giving- her a bale -out till I .come down. I'm going along to the farm, to get two more lads if 1 can: tell the doctor 'I'll no he long after him, if he gets down to. the inch first." Some quarter of an hour thereafter they set forth; and a rough pulpit was down the loch, for the wind was blowing hard, and the waves - were •coming ;broadside on. 'those - who were at the oars had decidedly the best of it, for it was bitterly cold; but even the others did 1101 seem 10 mind much—they were chiefly oc(.n- •picd in .scanning the sky -line of the hilts! a habit that one naturally falls into in a deer country) while 'Ronald and the doctor, seated in the stern, were mostly concerned about keeping 'their guns dry. In due course of time they landed, made their way through a wood of young birch -trees, follow- eal the channel of a ,burn for a space, and 'hy-and-by began to reach the up- per slopes, where the plans for the first drive were carefully drawn out and explained. tNotc it is unnecessary to enter into details of the day's achievements, for they were neither exciting nor chlfh- ,cult nor daring. It MIS clearly a case of shooting 'for the pot: although )Ro- nald, in his capacity of keeper, was anxious to have the :mares thinned down. knowing well enough that the over -multiplying ('f them was as cer- Lain to bring in disease as the over- stocking ..f a mountain farin with sheep. But it may be said that the sport, such as it was, was done in a workman -like manner, In Ronald's •case each cartridge meant a hare— and no praise to him, for it was his •bnsiix,s.. As for the doctor, he was not an excellent shot, 'Mit he exercis- ed a wise and humane discretion as well, Nothing 14(011d induce him to by one's self. Well, now, Maggie. did fire at long range on the off chance you pet°the curtains tip again in Ron - of hitting: and this - is all the more all's room • laudable in the sheciting'of mountain "Yes; 1 -did," was 'the "answer; "ail THE SEARORTH NEWS he did trot tear diem down this time, for I told Whim you showed me how to hang them; bot 11e has tied hack sothat they might just as well not be there at all. ('01:14 and'see, 114•eenie dear." She led the way into her 'brother's 0'011); and there, sure enough, the window -curtains (which were wholly unnecessary by-filesway, except from the feminine .point of view, 1for there was certainly not (telt too m'u'ch light corn- ing in by the solitary -window) had been tightly looped and - tied •back, so that bile view down the loch should he unimpeded. "No matter," said .:Weenie; "the window is not so bare -looking as it used to be. And I suppose he will let then remain up now," ""Oh yes, whenhe was told that you had something to do with theta," was the simple answer. Mecnie went to the wooden mantel- piece and pot the few things there straight, just as she would have tl•one in her own room, 'blowing the light white peat -dust off them, and arrang- ing them in neater order. "I 'wonder, now," she said, "'he does not get frames for these 'phtotographs; they vat! be -spoiled 'by finer imarks end the dust," Maggie said, shyly: -That w'as 4911;11 he said to me the other day; but no about these—about the one yon gave me of yourself. He asked to see it, and i showed hint how careful I was wrapping it tip; but be said no—the first paelcrrlan that cause throe;gh I was to get 14 frame, if he had one, and glass too, or else that he would send it in to In- verne.as 10 he framed. But you know, Meenie, it's no near .so ole'-looking.— or anything, anything like so -nice- Iookin as you are." "Nothing. could he that, 1 am sure," said 1lccnfe, lightly; and site was casting her eyes about the roans, to see what further improvements she could suggest. - - .lnt Maggie had grown suddenly si- lent, and was standing at the little writing -table, apparently transfixed with astonishment. It will .be re1114111- heresi that when Ronald, in the mor- ning, heard ti,at the doctor was at the lour of the inn, he had hurriedly has- tened away to intercept hint and that, snhsequently, in order to save time, he sent hack a lad for his gun and cartridges, while he went on to the farm. And it was this last ar- rangement that caused hint to-evei'- look- the fact that he bad left his writ- ing materials --the blotting -pad and everything ---lying exposer: on the table: a piece of neglect of which he had scarcely ever before been gitilty- An(i as ill luck would- h -ave it, what must she see lying 'before her, among these papers, but a letter, boldly and cons,pienousde ad(ire sed, t'\\'ell!" he 1x1181(1)4(:, as she too f( lin, "M wile, here is a letter 10 yon! why' didna he send it along to n:?" . ".\ letter for me?" .\Iconic said ( 011 a Utile surprise, "No! why should Ronald write a letter to n107- 1 see hint about every. day." "lint look!" \Icenie took the letter in her hand, aid regarded the address, and laugh- ed. "It is very formal," said she. "There here is no mistake about it. Miss Wilhelmina Stuart Douglas' --when was yI ever called that before? And 'I mer-111:idal, Sntherlaudshire, X. B.' He should have added !Europe, as if Ile was sending it from the moon, Well, it is clearly meant for me, any- way—oh! and open, too—" Weil, the next minute all the care- less amusement fed from her face; her cheeks grew very white, and a frightened, startled lock sprung to her eyes. She caught the first few lois--- 'O wilt them be my dear lover ('3deen!e and 11le n ) t) wilt thou he my ain love? (111y sweet 11eenie)"— anclthen it was with a kind of shiver that her glance ran over the rest of it; and her heart was beating so that she could not speak, and there was a mist before her eyes. Maggie,' she managed to say at length, and she hurriedly folded up the paper again and placed it o•n the table with the others "1 should not have read it—it was not meant for int it was not - meant that I should read it --come away, cable away, li"nggie," 5,1111 took the younger girl oft of the room, and herself shut the door lh(nrly although her fingers were all trem'b'ling, 'Maggie," she said, "you Hurst pro- mise never to tell any one that you gave me that letter—that I saw it—" "Ti::t what is the matter, :Weenie dear?" the smaller ,girl said, in bewild- erment: for she rau)d see by time strange half -frightened look of Miss 1)oltglas's face th4r4 something- scri- ms had happened, - - "Well, it nothing it is nothing," she forced herself to say, "It will be all right, I shouldn't have read the letter -sit was not meant for 314 to see--hittif yon say nothing about it. no harm will be done, That's all; 'THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1937, that's all. And now I am ,going to see if the children are ready that are to go 'by the mail -car." • "But '1 will go with you, ?Weenie," Then the girl seamed to recollect herself, and she glanced round at the interior of the cottage, and at the lit- tle girl, with a curious kind df look. "N'o, no, not this morning, Maggie," she .said. "Yon. have -plenty to do, Good-by—good-by." And she stopped' and kissed her, ansI ,patted h•er on the shoulder, and left, seeming' 8nxiou, to ,get away and be by herself, Maggie remained there in consider- able astonishment. What had happen- ed? Why should she not go to help with the children? and W11y good -by —when Weenie would be coming al- ong the road in less than an hoar, as soar as the mail -car had .left? And all -about the reacting of something contained in that folded sheet of pa- per, T-Iowever, the little girl wisely resolver:' that, whatever 11'8S in that letter, she would .n•ot seek to know i4, nor would she speak of it to any one. since Meenie seemed .40 anxious on that point; and so she -set about her domestic duties again, .looking forward to the end of these, and the resumption of her -knitting of her brother's jersey. Well, the -win'ter's day went by, and they had done good- Work on the hill. As the dusk of the afternoon be- gan to creep over the heavens, they set out for the lower .;lopes on their tray home; and very heavily weighted the lads were with the 1(1111e creatures slung over their barks on ;ticks. Bert the dusk was not the worst part of this descent; the wind was now driv- ing' over heavy clouds from the north. and again and again they would be completely enveloped, and unable to see anywhere mote than a yard from their feet. 1n these circumstances Ro- nald took the lead; the doctor coming next, and following, indeed, more by sound than shy sight; the lads bring- ing up the wake in solitary tile, with their heavy load: thumping on their backs. It was a ghostly kind of 'pro- cession, though now and again the close veil around them would be rent in twain, and tliey would have a glim- pse of something afar off—perhaps a spur of lien Loyal, or the dark wa- ters of Loch \lei:lie .studded with its small islands. Long before - they had reached Inver!Mtula(l Black nicht had fallen; but now they were on easier ground, end at last the 11 rill fuating of the road echoed to their measuredi tramp, as the in'visi'ble company mar- ched on and down to the warmth and welcome lights of the inn. The doctor, feeling (himself 50111e - thing of ar truant, rid not stay, but went on to itis cottage; but the oth- ers ctnered the inn; ted as Donald forthwith presented Mrs. 1111rr1y with loth a dozen Of tate hares, the k i landlord was right willing to call for rale for the heater., who had had a ,' hard day's work. Nor was Ronald in a hurry to get home: for he heard that Maggie was awaiting him in the kitchen, and so he incl 11•r, :Murray had a pipe and a chat together, as was their custom. Th en ; ht. • sent for his sister. Well, Maggie lass," said he, as they set out through the dark, "died you see all the bairns safely 4111' this morning?" "No, 'Ronald," she said; :Weenie 'did not seem to want me, so I stayed at home," "Anti did ye find Harry sufficient company for ye? !But I suppose 1111ss Douglas came and stayed with ye for a while." "No, Ronald," said the little girl, in a tone of some surprise; "she has not been' near the house the whole day. since the few minutes in the morn- ing." '1011," said he, lightly, "she may have been busy, slow her father is conte hone. IAnd ye mann try and get on wd' your lessons as well as ye can, lass, without bothering Ills Douglas too much; she canna always spend so Much time with ye," The •ittle girl was silent. She was Thinking of that.strange occurrence in the morni,1g o'f which she was not to speak; and in a vague kind of way she could not but associate that with 111een!e's absence all that clay, and also with the unusual tone of her good -'by," But yet, if there'were any trouble, it would speedily pass away, .Ronald would put everything right Nobody could withstand luno—that was the first and last article of her creed. And so, when they got home, she 'proceeded cheerfully enough to stir up the peals, and to cools their joint supper hi a manner really dell: ful for one of her years; and she laid the cloth, and put the candles on the table, and fiad the tea and everything ready, 'Then they sat down; and Ron- ald . 4vas in very good spirits, and talked to her, and tried to amuse her. But the little Maggie rather wistful- ly looked hack to the brilliant even- ing before, \viten Meenie was with then!, and perhaps wondered whether there would -ever :again be a supper party as joyful and 'friendlyappy .as they three had been and hap- py when they were all .by themselves in the big gaily lit bare, .CIT AIPTIE•R X1Pl, T'he t1'ee•r-hied adjoining the Iken- els was a .gloomy 'p'lace, with its bare walls, is lack of tight, and 1, s. ondoceis-looking cross -hearts, ropes, and pulley for hanging no the slain deer; and 'the morning -was dark and lowering, with a !bitter wins! howling along the glen, and sometimes 'hring- in.g with it a shanp snlu'rr of Sleet tram the •northern '11iUls. But these things did not •seem to affect Ron- ald's pi•rits 'ntu:ch as he stood there, in his shirt -sleeves, and bare -headed, sorting out the hares that were lying on the floor, and ,determining to whom such and such a (brace or cnn- ple of brace should be sent. (hour of the ,plumpest be h'ad already selected for Mrs. 'D'ouglas (in the vague hope that the nsef0l present night make her a little more placable), and 1111 was going on with his ch•oo•sing an•(1 setting aside—sometimes Righting a pipe—sometimes singing carelessly .— "'O we aft hae met at e'en, hone 'Peggie, 'O, "On the banks o' Cart sae gree 'hon•nie Veggie, O, Where the waters smoothly ri .hear aneetit the roarin' lino, Far free busy strife and din, boon (Peggie, •O." ie n, n, !e —when the little Maggie cable steal- ing in, "'Rol ilei •site said, with an air of 4111roa(.h, "why are ye .going ahom on such a morning without your jack- ('1, 11.11 81 bare -Beaded, too?" - "Toots, touts, lassie, it's a fie morning.," said he, indifferently, "It was 1leenic .said I was not to let you ,do such foolish things," 111, little lass ventured to say, difbidenti'. Of course, this ,put a new aspect nn the case; but be would not admit as much directly. "Oh, well,"' said her, "if you bring ole •int my coat mill 1)0nn(4 1 will pit 1110111 on, for I'm going :101411 10 thr Doctor's with •t•w'o or three of tilt hares." And then she hesitated, "Ronald," said she, "'I will take them to 1lrs. Douglas, if you like." 'You?" said he. "For 1 would give 'them to her with a nice -message from yon; and—and- if you take then:, ;you will say as thing at a11; and where is the compli anent." ilowi4er, as it Turned out, \[r, Douglas was not the first of the fail ily he was fated to meet that nmtnum 'fie had scarcely left the deer -she when he perceived 'Moode covin along the road; and this was an atls picinu., and kindly event; for sonic how the day seemed to go- by nun :smoothly and evenly and contented: when he had chanced to meet \lee ode in the -morning, and have a ie minutes' chat with her about affair in general, and an assurance that al va•s going well with her. So he wen forward to meet her with a ligh heart; and he thought .she would h pleased that he was taking the hare to her mother; and perhtp., too, h considered that they might be a lit tle more frank in their friendship, of ter the exceeding good -fellowship n the night of the children's party. !He went forward unsuspectingly. "Good -morning Mb's Douglas:' said he, slackening in his pace. fou naturally they always stopped for a. few seconds or minutes when they met tile's. But to his astonishment bliss I)ou- glas did not seem inclined to stay• ler eyes dere bent on the ground as site carne along she but timidly half lifted then: as .she reached hint; and '"4rn1d-morning, Ronald!" she said. and would have passed on. And then it seemed as if, in her ;great ember - ta. snh4nt, she did not know what to (lo, She stopped; her face was suffus- ed with reel; and she hurriedly—ant yet with an effort to appear uncon- cerned— "I enePcl e Maggie is at home?" -oh, yes," said he, and her manner was so changed that he also scarce 1111..!•\-'11,1'd4.1(84 to , oHis, - again ssayhe :ars to goinillg' on, and again she lingered -with a sudden fear that -s1te might he thought un- gracious or Unkind. "-The children all got away safely yesterday morning," said slie — but her eyes never met itis; and. there was still tell-tale color in her cheeks. "So I heard," :he answered, - "I am sure they !must have enjoy- ed the evening," she said, as if forc- ing herself to speak, - And then it suddenly occurred to him—for this encounter had been all ton brief and bewildering for any proper understanding of it—that per- haps her mother had been reproving her for being too friendly with the ,people about the ion anad with him- self, ancf this the was only'caising he:- embarrassment erembarrassment by detaining her, and so he said— „ (To Be Continued) Soft Bacon The further expansion of C1 ba'- con trade with Great Britain depends ;o a large extent upon aivaiity. -if11- prov'ennent• Recent advicesfrom the • PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical - DR. E. A. Mc'MAIS'T1ER—Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Univers- ity of Toronto, a:,d of the New York Post :Graduate School and Hospital Member of the College of Physicians an'd 'Surgeons of Ontario, Oltfice on High street: Phone 27. Office fully equipped for x-ray diagnosis and for ultra 'Short wave electric treatment, ultra violet sun lamp treatment and infra red electric treatment. Norse in attendance, DR. GILB'1JRT C. J,A'R'ROTT — Graduate of Pawky of Medicine, Un- iversity of Western Ontario. M'em'ber of College of Phy'si'cians and'Snirgeons of Ontario. Office 43 Goderich' street west, Phone 311, Hours 2-4.30 ,p,m,, 7.30-9 p.m. Other 'hours by appoint. mens. Successor to Dr, Chats. Mackay. DR. H. HUGH ROSS, Physician and Surgeon Late of London Hos- pital, London., England, Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, pose and throat. Office and residence behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104, DR. F, J. BURROWS, Seaforth, Office and residence, •Goderich street, east of the United Church, Coroner for the County of Huron, Telephone No. 416. - DR. F. J. R. FO'RSTER-- Eye Ear, Nose and 'i hroa•t, Graduate in Medicine, University of Taranto 1597. Late Assistant New- Yorlc Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London, At Co•nunercdal Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 1.30 p.m. to 5 p,m, DR. W. C. SPROAT Physician - Surgeon , Phone 90-'W, Office John St. Sea.fort5 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- 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, WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFQRTH, ONT, All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. (IcKILLUN MOuai Fire Iasu'rance Cc HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont, OFFICERS President—Alex, Broadfoot, Seaforth; Vice -President, John E. Pepper, Brucefieid; Secretary - Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth, AGENT'S F. McKercher, R.R,1, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brucefie'ld; E. R. G. Jarmouth, Brodihagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. P. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm. Yeo, Holmesville. DEREOTORS Alex, Broadfoot, Seaforth No, 3; James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm N'o.1; John Pepper, Bruce - field; James Connolly, Goderich; Ales. Mc,Ewing, Blyth No. 1;. Thom- as Moylan, Seaforth No. 5; Wm. R. Archibald, Seaforth No. 4. 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 p'ost- offices. British market criticize our supplies on the store of underfi•nis'h in a large percentage of bacon sides, as indicat- ed by softness a'nd !flabbiness. This soft flabby bacon is most likely the product of under.f'nished - hogs, of which there are considera-ble numbers being marketed at yards and plants in Canada at the present time. The remedy 'lies frith the ,producer in :mold- lug ,bacic unfinished hogs. In most cases, another week or so on feed •would put onthe finish so necessary 'for the making of firm bacon. All hogs of 'bacon and select weights should be ,properly :finished 1 at their weights. Underinish. ;is as detrimental as oversihtfsh', and in this ' •case is a very ecrio:us a,bstacic.'to efforts being Made 'td ,popularize Canadian 'bacon with the British consumer. "Every hog raiser is ,asked to co-operate to the best of his ability. .