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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1937-06-24, Page 6( PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS "How are you, Ronald?' ,said Mr .Hodson. 1I have brought soy daughter to see you,' 'Will ye step in. sir?' said Ronald. hastily, and with a terrible conscious- ness .0f his untidy 'appearance. Ay, in there -will ye sit clown for a few min- utes -and will ye excuse ole -I thought you 'werene coming till to- lmorrow--' 'Wel, 1 thotvght they might object to drivipg me on a Sunday. I can't make it out. 'Perhaps what I. have read about Scotland is not true. Or perhaps, they have altered of late years, Anyhow they made no objec- , tion, and here 1 am,' In the midst of 'these brief senlen- ces-each pronounced with a little ris- ing inflection at the •end --(Ronald ma- naged to slip away and get himself made e. lirtle more presentable. When he: returned,the apparentexcuse for his a'bsenfce was that he brought in some glasses and water and a bottle of whiskey; and then he went to a little r a h o,g a n y sideboard a n d !brought out a tin case of biscuits. 'You need not -,trouble about these things for us; 't' have just had lunch, Mr, .Hodson said. 'Perhaps the young lad --' said Ronald, timidly, and even nervously, for there was no Pilate handy, and he did •nd't know how to offer her the. biscuits, "Oh, no. I thank you,' she said, 'with a pretty gracious ensile; and be,hap- pened to meet her eyes just at that time; and instantly became aware that they ,were curiously scrutinizing and obsenvant, despite their apparent soft - •mess and lustrous blackness: Now Miss Carry • Hodson had an abundance of shrewd feminine per- ception and it was easy to see that this handsome and stalwart young fellow had been grievously disturbed, and was even now unnerved, through his having :been caught in disarray - on the occasion of a young lady visit- ing him; and accordingly, to a'ilow him to recover, she deliberately effac- ed herself; saying -not a word, nor ev- en listening. while her' father and he proceeded to talk a'botit the salmon - fishing, and about the distressingly line weather that threatened to inter- fere with ,that pursuit, She sat silent, allowing those ahservant eyes of hers to roam freely round the room, and indeed wondering how a man of his occupations could so have ,contrived to rob his home of all distinctive char- acter and to render it so clearly com- monplace. There .was nothing wild or savage about ,it; not the skin of any beast, noir the plumage of any bird; everything was of a bourgeois neat- ness and respectability - the orna- ments on the mantle -shelf (conspicu- ously so; and what was strangest of all --though this will scarcely be be- lieved -was that two roebucks' heads that adorned the .wall, in a country where roe abound, were earthenware casts, and bad casts, too, obviously hailing from (Germany. She observed, however, that there were a good many books about -some of them even pil- ed in obscure corners; and to judge by the saber character of 'their cloth binding she guessed then to be of a rather superior class. The pictures on the •walls were 'some 'cheap reprints of Landseer; a portrait of the Duke of Sutherland, in Highland !garb; a view ;' .' of Dn'nrob:in .Castle; and a photograph of Mr. Millais' •`101-cier of (Release,' After awhile she began to know .. ''(without -looking) that the young -man 'had assumed sufficient courage to glance at her from time to time; and she allowed hien to do that; for •she consid-ered that the people in Regent - street had fitted her out in Highland fashion in a suii cieetly accarate way. But it soon appeared that he was talking about her; and what was this wild proposal? 'It seems a pity,' he was saying. 'if the .filch are taking, no to have two 'boats at the work. And there's that (big rod o' your., sir, you could use that for the trolling: and let the young lady have one n' your ,grilse reads. Then there's mine -she - can v have that and welcome---' 11 'Yes, but the ,gillies 'Oh, 1'11 take a turn thyself; I'm no en busy now. And 1 can get one o' rhe lads to jend a hand.' - "Do you hear this, Parry?' her fa- ther said. 'What, papa?' '.Ronald wants you to start off sal niott-'fishing to -morrow, in a boat all to yourself--.--' 'Alone?', - ''Why, mol He says he will go with you, and one of the lads; and yoti will have all the best advice and ex ierience-1 don't think it's fair, niy- eelf--,but it's very good-natured any - :And do you think there's a chance of my catchinga salmon?' she said, eagerly. and sate turned her eloquent olaek eves, all lit up with pleasure full upon hell. '011, yes, indeed,' said he, docking ,town, 'and many and many a one,- I am sure, if we could only get a little wet weather,' 'bit'!' she exclaimed, '11 d caught a salmon, I'd have it stuffed right away---' 'With sage and onion;;. I suppose,' her father said, severely. - :And we begin to -morrow? Why, it's just too delightful -I was looking forward to days and clays indoors, with nothing but books. And 11 *shall really have a chance--' 'I think you might as well thank Ronald for his offer,' her father said. 'i should -never have thought of -it,' Well, she -hesitated; for it is a dif- ficult thing to make a formal -little epeecll when it is asked for by a third person; but the young keeper quickly laughed away her embarrassment. 'No, no, sir; well wait for that till we see how our luck turns out. And we'll have the 'Duke's boat, ill 111(1, that Duncan says is the lucky one: you'll have to look sharp, or we'll have the biggest show on the grass at the end of the day.' Mr. Hodson now rose to take his leave, far 'he wanted his daughter to walk down to the shores of the loch where they were next day to begin their labors, And thus it was that Miss Carry -who had looked forward at the most 'to sitting in the boat with her father and looking on -found lier- se'lf pledged to a course of salmon - fishing, under the immediate guidance Ind instruction of the young keeper; tad she had noticed that he already talked of the occupants of the Duke's 'mitt as 'we' -assuming that he and .he were in a sort of partnership, awl pitted against the others. Well. it would be amusing, she thought. She also considered that Ire was very food -looking; and that it wattle] be pleasanter to have a companion of that kind than a -surly old boatman. She imagined they aright easily be- cante excellent friends -at least, she was willing enough; and he seemed civil, and good-humored, and modest, and altogether the arrangement pro- mised to work very well. CHAPTER X.11V, There was a good deal of bustle in the inn next morning; 'Ronald busy with the fishing -tackle for the second boat; luncheon being got ready for six; and the gillies fighting as to which should have the landing -net and which the clip. In the midst of all this. !Miss 'Carry -looking very smart in her Highland costume, Tam o' S'ha,ntes and all -came placidly in to breakfast, and as site sate down she said - "Papa, dear, I met such a -pretty girl,' 'Have you -been out?' he asked, 'i011ly as far as the bridge. -S met her es f was coming hack. And she looked so pretty and shy that f spoke to her: T think she was a little ifritttiit- eneel at first; but anyway I got to know who she is -the doctor's daugh- ter. Oh, you should hear her speak the accent is so pretty 01151 'gentle. \Vell, its all settled. papa; Um just in love with the Highland people. from this mit.' - - 'There'; safety- in. numbers,' obser- ed her father, grimly; and then he raceeded'to explore the ,contents of e {he covers, When they were ready to go down to the loeh then fiord that the men had already set out -Halal but Ronald, who had remained behind to see if there was nothing thriller he could carry for the, young lady. So these started toge't'her; and of course all the talk was about the far too (fine weath- er, and t'ite chances al getting a fish or two in spite of it, and the betting an the rival .boats. '\Miss Carry listened in silence; so far site had heard or seen nothing very remarkable about the handsonme young keeper who had sr. impressed her father. He spoke frankly and freely -enough, it is 'trate (when he was not speaking to her), and he was recounting with some smite_ sarcasm certain superstitious beliefs and- practices of the people about there; .bat, apart from the keen look of his eyes, and the manly ring of his voice, and the easy swing of itis voice, and the easy swing of the well=built figure. there was nothing very noticeable about hint. She thought his keeper's; 'costume rather. picturesque, and weather -worn into harmonious color; and wondered !tow men in towns had conte to wear the eneiglrtly garments of these present day.;, -And so at last they arrived at the loch; and found 'that the gillies had got the rods fixed and everything ready; and presently the black boat, with Mr, Hodson and hie two gillies, was .shoved off, and 'Ronald, 'before :taking the young lady '10 step into the green boat ---the Dunce's boat- MIS showing her what she should do if a salmon should attach itself to either of the lines: "I don't feel like catching a sal- mon somehow'," she remarked. "I don't think it can be -true. Anyway you'll see 11 shan't scream." She stepped into the boat and took her seat; the rods were placed for her; the cable was shoved further into the water, and then 'Ronald and the young lact got in and took to the oars. Miss .Carry was bidden to pay out ono of the lines ,slowly as they moved away from the 'bank; and in due course site had both lines out and the two rods fixed at the proper angle, and the reels free. She obeyer) all his imsttneti0115 without haste or confusion. She was a promising pupil. And he wondered what nerve she would show When the crisis came. Now it may he explained) -for the x•ne it of those .inexperienced in such longe that these fishing cables have a cross bench placed about midway between the stern and the thwart (te- mpled by the stroke oar; and the -usual custom is far the fisherman to it oit this bench facing the steso,.su that he can see both rods and be ready for the first shaking of the top. But Miss Carry did not understand this at all. In entering the cohle she naturally took her place right astern, facing the rowers. It never entered her head to be guilty of the discourt- esy of turning her :back on them; be- sides, Ronald was directing her with his eyes as much as with his speech, and she mutt he alble to see hitt; ntereot•er he did not tell her ..he was sitting the wrong way; and then again was not the first signal to be the shreiking of the reel? ---and both reels were now under her observa- tion, so that she could snatch at eith- er rod in a second. The consequence ,d all this was that she and !Ronald -ate face to face -not more than a yard and a half between them --their eyes exactly on a level -and when they spoke to each :ether, it wail very distinctly miter vier augen, for the hay at the how was mostly hidden. "Papa, dear," she said to her father that evening, "he is a very nervous mans,, "Who?" "Ronald," -Nonsense. He is as hard as nails. He don't knoww what nerves mean." 'He is a very nervous man,' she in- eisted (and hadshe not been study- ing hint for a whole day?). 'His eyes throb when you meet them suddenly, Or rather, he semens to 'know they are very powerful .and penetrating -- and he does not like to stare at you - so you can see there is a tremor of the lid sometimes as he !oaks up -as if he would partly veil his eyes. •It's very outdoes. He's shy -like a wild animal ,almost. And that pretty girl I stet this morning has something of that look too.' 'Perhaps they're not used to having the cold gaze of science turned on them,' her father remarked, dryly, 'Is that ate?' 'You may take it that way.' '"('hen you'.re quite wrong: It isn't scienee at all. It is an active and ben- evolent sympathy; 'I. ant going to make friends with everyoneof them. Ronald says her name is :Miss :Doug- las-- and S mean to call.' 'Very well, then,' said her (ather, who left thisyounglady pretty mach -the mistress of her own actions. However, to -return to the fishing: the morning did not promise well, the weather being too :bright and aver, though 'there was a very fair freeze -of a curious sultry character for the middle of -Marche -blowing up from -the south and making- a gaud - ripple on the loch. Again and again the tw•o beats crossed each other; and the cry was- 'Northing yet?' j And the answer - 'Not a touch,' 1 By this time Miss -Carry had 'got to know a good deal about the young 'keeper whose eyes were so directly on la level with hers, He had 'been to Ab- erdeen, and to (Glasgow, and to Edin- burgh; but never Dalt of Scotland? - no, Had he no wish to see London and Paris? Had he no wish to see America? -why, if her came over, her father would arrange to have hint put in the way of seeing everything. And perhaps he might be. tempted to stay? -there was such opportunities For young men, especially in the west. As for her, she was most communi- cative about herself; and apparently she had been everywhere and seen ev- erything-,+ex'ceplt Stratford -on -Myon: that was to be the climax; that was to be the last thing they should visit in l•ttrope-•-and then on to Liverpool, and hone. She had been a great devil longer in Europe than her father, she said. Her mother was an invalid and could not travel;, her brother George -ejoidge, she called him) was at school; so she and a schoolfellow of hers had set out for Europe, accom- panied by a maid and a courier, and had 'most seen everything' from at. Petersburg e0 Wady Retie, Ansi all this .and more she told him with the black soli eyes regarding* hint open- ly; and the pale, foreign, tea -rose tinted face full of a friendly interest; and the pretty, white, delicate small tinges idly intert.wisting the huff - colored gloves that she had taken 01' at his request, Inver-Muclal, Ciehrig, Hen Loyal, the straths and woods around d looked to hint ;mall and con- fined au this tiwet nrcrning. She seemed to have brought with her a viler atmosphere, a larger air. Anal for a young girl like this to know so much --to have seen so much --and to talk so simply and naturally of going here, there, or anywhere, as if dis- tance were nothing, and time nothing, and money nothing; all this puzzled hint not a little. She must have cour- age, then, and daring, and endurance. despite the pale face, and the slender figure; and the small, white, 'blue reined hands? Why, she spoke of running. over to Paris, in a'boet a fortnight's time, to he present at the wedding of a friend. Just as any one about here would speak of driving o" to 'Tongue and returning by the mail - cart next day. Suddenly there was a quick, half- suplaresseci euclantatian, 'There heisd-eethere he is!' And all in a second, as it seemed, Ronald had 'flung his oar back tie the lad behind, .seized one of the rods and raised it and pat it in her hands, and was rapidly reeling in the line, \Vhat WAS happening she could hardly tell she was so 'bewildered. The rod that she psinfally held upright ,was being violently shaken -- now and . ag+tin there was a loud, long whirr of the '•eel and IRO flak, was by her Shoel- ess she knew, 'but not speaking a word --and site was wildly endeavoring 1-, recall all that he had told her. Then there was a :sudden slackening of the line -what was this? 'Ali right,' said he, very quietly, 'Reel in now -as quirk aa ye ran, please.' V\'s'll, she was reeling in as bard as her small and delicate wrist was able to do --and in 001th ,she was too be- wildered to feel excited; and above a111 other earthly things was she an- xious that she shouldn't show herself. a fool, or scn•eaol, or let the thing go -when all at once the handle of the reel seemed to he whipped from her grasp; there 'was a long whirring shriek of the line; she could hea-r .0mewhere a mighty splash (though she flared not look at anything but what was in her hands), and at the sante moment site fancied Ronald said, with a quiet laugh - 'We've beat them this time -a clean fish!' 'He '!s not away?' "Away -not a bit.' `Do you thinlie we'll get hint?' she said, 'breathlessly, 'We'll hold on to him as long as he holds on to us,' Ronald said; and she heard hint add to himself, 'I would rather than !five shillings we got the first fish!' 'Bult this thing is so heavy!' she pleaded. Never mind -that's right -that's right- !keep a -good strain on him - w'e'll bring him to Nis senses.' ,Again there was a sudden slacken- ing of the line; and this time she ac- tually saw the animal as it sprung in- to the - air -a white gleaming curved thing-ebult instantly her attention was on the reel, That's it -you're doing !fine,' he aIIl, with an intentional quietude of cone, so that site might not get over - nervous and make a mistake: Then he made, her stand up -and fortunately the coh'le WAS rocking but little; and he moved her left hand a - little higher up the rod, so that she should have 'letter leverage; and she did all that 'she was bid mutely arid„ meekly, though her•.aran was already beginning to feel the heavy strain She vowed to herself that so long as the could draw a breath she would not give in, The other boat was passing-ebiet of course at a respectful distance, 'Hill on to hint, Carry!' her fatti- er called, - - She paid no heed. She dared not ev- en 'loo'k in Itis direction, The fish scented to he following ftp the •coble now, and et was all that the slender wrist coulcl clo to :get in the line so as to keep the prescribed curve on the rod. 'And then she had to give way again; for the salmon went steadily anci slowly down -boring and sulking -aal they pulled the boat away a bit lest he should suddenly come to the surface and 'be alter conte dangerous cantrip. She took advantage of this period of .q'u'iet to pass the rod from her left •hand to her right; -anti that relieved her arm a little; and she even ventured -to say - "How long 'is he going on like this?: '\Ve'll give him his own time, Miss,' Ronald said. 'Don't call me Miss,' she said, with a little vexation, `I -I 'beg your pardon -what then?' 1011, anything you hike, iblind you catch me if I ball into the water,' 'The truth was she was a little bit excited; and desperately anxious that her strength should hold otrt; and ev- en permitting! herself an occasional gleam of hope and joy and triumph. Her first salmon? Here would be tid- ings for the girls at home! If only the beast - would do eomethi e, -or show signsof yielding -anything rather than she should have to give in, and weakly resign the rod to uRonald1 :\s for him, he stood almost tonching her shoulder, "Nn, no,' said he, 'there's no fear o' • your falling into the crater. We've gat to get this gentleman out first.' And then her feeble efforts at talk ing (meant to show that she was not excited, but having exactly the con- trary effect) all went by the board. Something was happening -she knew 1101 what -something wild, terrifying, violent, desperate - and apparently unite near -and all the line was slaok now --and the handle of the reel slack, in her frantic efforts to turn it with an impossible quicknes-and her heart was choking with fright. For why would this beast spring, and splash, and churn the water, while the line seemed to go all wrong, and ct-erything become mixed? But her trembling fingers got the reel to work at last; and she would as quickly as she could; and by this time the sal- mon. had disappeared) again -and was bearing an even, dead strain on the rod, but oat so'heavily as before, 'My gracious!' she said -she wee quite 'breathless. It's all right,' he said, quietly -tut he had been pretty breathless, too, and for several seconds in blank des- pair. The fish began to show signs of yielding -that last fierce thrashin;g' of the water had weakened hint. She got in more and more Zine -!Ronald's instructions being of the briefest and quietest -sand presently they could see a faint gleam in the water as the gib fish sailed this way or that. But still, she knew not -what he night 1101 do, Thal terrible time had been alto- gether unexpected. And yet she knew -and her left a -nm was gratefully conscious -that the strain was not so heavy now; the line was quite short• and she became aware that she was exercising more and more power over her captive and could force hint to stop his brief and ineffectual rushes, [Once or twice he had come quite near the boat -sailing in on his side, as it were --and then sheering off again at the sight of then!; but these efforts to get away were growing more and more feeble; and at last Ronald called - 'We'l'l try him -this tine -give hint the butt well -that's right -lift his head --now—' -and then there visas a quick stroke of the clip, and the great ntons!fer was in the boat, and she sank down on to the 'beach, her arms limp andtrembling, but her hand still grasping the rod. And she felt a little inclined to .laugh, and to cry; and sh•e wondered where her fa- ther was; and she looked on in a daz- ed way its they killed the fish, mild got the plrantonl-minnow out of its mouth, and pro.ceecied to the weigh- ing of the prize, `Eleven pauncis and a half -well done, the Du'ke's boat!' iRonald cried. 'Is it your (first salmon, Miss 1 -Tod - son?' ' 'Why, certainly,' 'You'll have to drink its health, or there'll .be no more luck for yoit this season,' said he, acid he reached !back for a- pocket -flask, 'But where is my father?' she said -elle was anxious he should -hear -the news, - 'Gi' said he coolly, 'they've been logo a fish 'for elle last len minutes; I woslelna -te'll ye, In case it night this tract ye.' - 'Have they got one?'' she cried, 'They've got something --and `I din- ts think it's a` kelt from the way THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1937, PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical DR. E. A. McMA'STiER-Graduate of the. Faculty of Medicine, Univers- 'ty of Toronto, and of the New York Post ,Graduate School and Hospital. Member of the College of Physicians and 'Surgeons of Ontario. Office on High street, Phone 27. Office bully equipped for x-ray diagnoses and 'for ultra 'short wave electric treatment, ultra violet .sun lamp treatment and infra u•ed' electric treatment. Nurse in attendance, - DR. 'GPL'B'E i)7 C. JA'R'R OTT -- Graduate Graduate of 'Faculty of Medicine, Un- iversity of Western -Ontario. Member of ,College of Physicians andSntrgeons of Ontario, 'Office 413 Goderich street west. Plhone 3P„Hours 2-4,30 p.m., 7.30;9 .p.m, Other hours by appoint ment. Successor to Dr. Chas, 1Ma'ckay ISR. H. IIUGH 'RIOS,S, Physician and. Surgeon Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and residence behind Dominion Baffle. Office Phone No 5; 'Residence Phone 104, DR. F. J. BURROWS, Seaforth, Office and residence, 'Goderic'h street, east of the United Church, Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone No, 416, DR, F. J, R. FORSTER- Eye Ear, Nose and Throat, -Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 11397, Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorebleld's Eye, and 'Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London, At Commercial 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, 1Seafortt 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. AH,RENS, Licensed Aucition_ eer for Perth and Huron Counties. Sales Solicited, Terms on Application. Farm Stock, chattels and real estate property. R. R. No. 4, .Mitchell. !Phone 0314 r 6. Apply at this office, WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ON -T, All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE McKJLLOP Mutual Fire Insu auce C� HEAD OFFICE-SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President -Alex, Broad -foot, Seaforth; Vice -President, John E. Pepper, •Brucefield; Secretary - Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth. • AGENT'S F. McKercher, R.R.1, Dublin; John E. Pepper,,R,R.1, Brucefieid;'E. R. G. Jarmouth, Brod'hagen; juries Watt, Blyth; C. F. 'Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm. Yeo, Holmesville. DIRECTORS Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth N,o, 3; James S'holdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm N'o, 1; John Pepper, Bruce - field; James Connolly, Goderich„ Alex, McEwing, Birth No. 1; host - 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 ,post -- offices. they're working.' She clapped her hands in de'ligh't„ Yes, and that involuntary little -a'ct'ion revealed to her what rhe diad not known 'before -flint one of her I6ngcrs was pretty badly cut, -and 'bleeding. 'What's this?' she said, but she did not *heed much -now that the. 'grea't beautiful gleaming fish lay in the bot- tom of the boat. Ronald cared a great deal more. He threw aside the .flask. A cut? -it was his own stu•piclity was the cause of it; he •ottght to have 'known that her deli- cate fingers could not withstand the whirring oat of the line; he sho,.rld have allowed her to 'keep 0.0 her gloves. !And nothing would do 'hut that- she must carcfitally ,bathe the uV:0und in the fresh water of the loch; and he produced a piece 0'f pilaster; and then ,he cut a -_trip off her band- Icerchief and bonne! tip the ,finger so. (To Be Continued)