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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1937-12-09, Page 6PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1937 Rose Meenie But what a strange sensation was cd look,'But what was this? Perhaps this ---when in the afternoon she went {he fancied she had not seen !ltim; per - out for a stroll with the smaller Ag- baps he had seasons for noNikishing atha—to feel that at any moment, at to be seen; at all events, after that the turning of any •corner, she might one swift •reeo>nition of her, he had suddenly encounter Ronald, That ew- suddenly slinfle away—Own some er-moving crowd had the profound- lane or other—attd whet ,'h1- went est interest for her; these rather forward, in rather a blind and bewild- grimy streets a continuous and nays- eyed fashion, behold! there was no terion: fascination, Of course the lit- Ronald there at all, She looked around tie Agatha, when they went forth —with a heart as if turned to stone-- front the house was for going up to but there was no trace of him, :4nt1 the West End Park or ant by Hill- then she went on. gather proudlyor head to the Botanic Gardens, so that perhaps. rather, trying to feel proud the pretty, young aunt should have a and hurt, Ibtit there was a gathering view of the 'beauties of 'Glasgow. Brit mist corning into .her eyes; and she Meenie had no difficulty in explain- scarcely 'knew ---.nor eared—whither ing that green slopes and trees and she was walking, things of that lkind had no novelty for C'Td4\IP'PER \SSVI, her; whereas crowded streets and As for him. he slunk aside hurried - shops and the roar of rah and carni- ly and all •ahached and dismayed. He ages had; and so they turned city- did not pause tintil he wax stile away wards when they left the house, and rmom any pursuit; and there was a went away in by Cambridge -street lowering expression on his face, and and Sanchiehall-street to Buchanan- his hand -shook a 'little. Ii-Tt. could only street, And was this the way. then. hope that she had not seen hint, in_ sheasked herself (and she was rather stantly he had seen her, lie knew that an absent companion for her little he dared not meet the beautiful clear niece) that 'Ronald would take on eyes, that ;would regard hint, and per- leaving his lodgings to get over to the haps mutely ask questions of hint, e•v- south side of the city. where, as she an if there was no indignant reproach understood franc his sister's letters, in them. For (luring these past few dived the old forester who was super- days 'he had gradually been 'becoming intending his studies. Rut there were -conscious of the squalor and degrada- 50 many people here!—and all seem- tion into which he had sunk; and ingly strangers to each other: scarce- sometimes he world rink back des- ly any two or three of then( stopping pairing, careless of what might be - to have a eliat together; and all of come of him or his poor affairs. Rut them apparently in such a hurry. 1r- always there was there in his roost gy11-street was even worse; indeed, (bat nt,ystie white token that Weenie she recoiled from that tunmltuous had sent hint; and at least it kept hili; thoroughfare: and the two of them thinking—.his consetcnec was not nl- turned •north: again. The lamp lighter lowed to slumber; and sometimes it ' was beginnhighis rounds; here and became .so strong: ton appeal to him -- there an orange star gleamed in the that is to say, he read into the nuts pallid atmosphere; here and there a sage such wild and :faring and fan - shop -window glowed yellow. \\'hen tis:tic possibilities ., that he wandd they got back to 'Queen's -crescent ince more resume that terrible strug= they found that \fr. Gemini!! had re- gin with the iron hands of habil that turned; it was his tea -time: and there bound 'him. was a talk of the theatre for the older "What is the mutter wi Ronaldr folk. Kate \lent -ie.< asked of ler cronies Well, she did not despair yet. For "11' !ttisna been near the ltnnse these one thing, she had not been anxious three 11' four days. "I'm thinking he's to meet 'Ronald ,luring that first frying to earn the lilaii''Ribbrm,,, said plunge into the great city, for Agatha old Mr. Jaap. was S' r wi h her. But tt that was merely he- ".\nd no thriving arc] 011'1, parr cause .the little ;girl had obtained a lad." ;aid 'Jimmy Laidlaw. "How 11 in holiday in honor of her aunt's coni the fnoutic's no the word, 13.'s just ing; thereafter shit went to school tv- :like the ghost 0' linlsel'," ery morning moreover, the household "1' Yell ye what, mistress," :said Mine happened to be a maidservant short, skipper, ,cho (vas omits-inn/mil/if with and \1r:. Gcmmil1 was busy; so that much satisfaction a large b'ake'r etnle •.1Yhs left t do pretty nitwit as int rim and water. "telt ,r -t thing she liked, and go about alone, And .re could du 11 1114 be just to take the her walks did not take her notch to lad io hand curl ntarrry ihim right off. the Botanic 'Gardens. nor vet to the He would have snit had)' to 'look at - West End Park and :Kelvin -grove; far :ter hint. and so won)d volt; as hand - rather .she preferred to go errands for some a couple ,is ever •stepped alone her sister; and often these .wined take lanlaica-,treet, Y'il take my oath." her in by Samchiehail-street ant the The husom widow laughed and top of Bnchatiait-street; and always, blushed; but .she was hound to pr,i.. her eyes were anxious and yet timor_ tt'st. sus, reeking and yet half -fearing to "Na. na, Captain. tT ken better than find. But where was Ronald! She tried that. .I'm no ;going to throw away a different hours. She grew to know ev- 'business like this nn any plait. 1.11 ery - possible approach to that lodging 'hide lily etin mistress for a while long in the Port Dundas -road. And she had er, ;if ye please," schooled herself now co that she And then Bother 'Paterson—who could search long thoroughfares with hall a handy gift of facile acgnics- a glance that was apparently careless cence--.struck in— enough; and she had so often pictur "That's right, 'Katie, dear! .Ye're ed to herself their meeting, that she slob a wise wouan. '1'o think ye'rl knew she would not exhibit too great throw away a splendid place like this. a surprise nor make too open a eon- and a ,splendid business, on any man, fes5i•on of her joy. And at last her patient waiting was rewarded. It was in Renfiel'd-street that she suddenly caught sight of him —a .long way off he .was, :but coming towards her, and all unconscious of her being there, far a moment het schooling of herself gave ° way some- what; for her heart was beating so wildly as almost to •choke her; and she went on with her eyes fixed on the. ground, wondering what she should say, wondering ,if he would find her face grown paler •than it used to be, wondering what he would think of her having sent him the bit :of white heather. And then she forced herself to raise her eyes; and it was at the. wary same" instant that he caught sight of her—though he was yet some "'Dear Ronald, 'tamely there is no quarrel 'between 116. 1f I have offended you, come and tell rite; don't go away and sulk. If 'I have done or said anything to offend yohi, I will ask your pardon—scan 1 do anything more than that? Your cousin and friend, KATE MIEINIZII1~S. Of course he had to answer such en appeal in .person; he went down *Nie next nroriting, "Quarrel, woman? W hat put that into your head? 111 there 'had been anything of that 'kind, 1 would have told you fast enough, 1'1' not one :of the skulking kind," Well, I'm very glad to ken we're just as 'good friends as ,before," said Kate, regarding him,"but I'rrt not glad to see the way ye're looking, Ronald, my lad Ye're not yaurelf at all, any mann—what's got ye whitey - faced, limp, shaky -looking like that? See here" She -went to the sideboard, and the next instant there was ort the table a 'bottle of champagne, with a couple of glasses, and a flask of Angostura .bitters. "No, no, Katie, lass, I will not touch a drop," said be; and ire rose and -took his nap in his hand. "You will not?" she said, "Von will 1101? \V'thy, :man, you're ill --you're ill, 1 tell yr. 1t's medicine." Ile gripped her by the hand, and took the bottle iron her, and put it down on the table; "If 1'nt ill, 'I deserve to be, and that's thr fact, lass. Let be .-let he, woman; I'm obliged to ye—sortie oth- er tittle," "'Hien if you winna, '1 will," she said, and .she got 'hol'd of the (bottle and opened .it and poured oat at glass of the foaming fluid. 'And. dinata I . ken better what's good for ye that; ye do yer el'?" said she boldly. ":\y,-11 ye wwre ruled by me, and drank nothing but what ye get in this house, there would be lit- tle need for ye to he frightened at what a wean alight drink. Ye rlinna leen your beat friends. my lad." "1 know ye wish 111e weed, Katie. lags," said he, for he did not wish to atipea:r ungrateful. "Inn I'm Netter without it." "Yes," said she, tauntingly. "Ye're better without sitting up a' night wi' a- lot n' roy'stering fellows. smoking had tobacco and • drinking whisky. \\'hat makes your face sae white? it's fusel -oil, if ye moon ken, !Here. Ron- ald, what ennui' lmrt a woman canna hurt a man 0' pour 'build—try it, and see if ye (Mina feel better. She out a hood clash of bitters intr, the .glass, and poured out the cham- pagne. and offered it to hint, lie rid not wish to offend her; and he hint- -elf dirt not believe the thing could Inlet him; he took the glass and slit - about a teaspoonful, and then -et it clown. Kan Menzies lacked at him, and laughed, and tool: hint by the :heed - der, and pushed him hack into iti- elta ir, "'There's a ratan for ye! \\'it1i11:, ynunp, laity;' ;elllin:u•y have we- hren. hreli ht tip it;" "1'11 tell ye lag he retorted, "11 gas one where they tan:rht folk n„ to force other folk to drink against their twill." Then it was different :raft fl0r onus ,where I was lironght op, for there when the doctor ordered any'ho,ty to talar Intuli.ine, they ,erre made to take it. And here's yoars," she said: Bud she stood before hint with the glass in her hand, She amts good-nat- ured: it would have been ntieracions to rcfnse; he took the glass from her and drank 1111' the contents. Now a .rias; of champagne, even ;with the addition of a little Augostara hitters, cannot he tolled a very pow- erful potion to tltoae aeim:t intact ht snelt things; but the fact was that he had not atinehed a drop of any alco, Judie fluidfor two (lays, and this seemed to go straight to the brain. I1 produced a slight, rather agreeable giddiness: a sense of t'onfort was dif- fused throughout the ystt'nt; he was not so anxious to .get a.—ay. And Kate began talking—,tipmbrat'•1;ng •h.ito for thinking that she wanted to see him otherwise than well and in this usual health, and declaring that i1 he would and make hint ntainteri And how- long 'he guided by her, there avould be no would it be 'before he ate and drank needfor hint to torture himself with ye tett o' ;rouse and ha'? --;;set him up total abstinence, and -to reduce hint - with a handsome wife and a splendid self to this abject state, The counsel bnsiaess thrown at his heed, and '(which w:as ntean't in 7!11-honesity)' fell scarcely for the asking! \a, na, Katie on yielding ears; 'bate brougtit sonic' ;woman, ye ken yartr own affairs het- biscuits; and filled herself tcr;than tisot: yc're no for anyone le glass. out another conte in and be nta'jster here," 'What's what it is," she said, bold- - ",1311t T am ,coiicernecf shout the ly "if you would be ruled by my ad - lar;`,"., sail! (Kate llenzie.s, a little ab- vice there would be no shaking hands 5enl1y, '^1-1e met w5' none but friends and white cheeks for ye. IFeetin bet - here. STT,• might fa' into worse hands, ter, are ye?—ay, ,1 'warrant yen T-Iere, "rooter up yei el', Mistress, and 'hoc roan, try this." a tltllc wi' hjiii, said the skipper, She filled his glass again, adding a nnldly. good dose of bitters. Kate Menzies did not do that; hut' "This one T wil'1, but not a drop he sante cumin s she wrote Ronald a more," said he, "Ye're a desperate brief note. And vera well .she could creature, ;ass, for making folk cont- fortable." "T ken what'se th matter wi' unit better than ken yoursel', Ronald, - writ e onald," write too ---m 1 rl't.ehing, free hand - distance off and for the 'briefest mn 1 .'ritirt, and gilt-edged was the paper, meat she 1ca•w his strange and -tart- and rose -pink was the envelope, said she, looking at intim shrewdly, "You're disap'lxtittted—you're out 0' heart -because thae fine American friends o' yours -hat forgotten you; and you've got Sick o' this new work o' yours; and you've got among a lot o wild fellows that are leading ye to the devil. Mark my words. Ameri- cans! Better let a man trust to liis aitt kith and kin." "\Veli, Katie, lass, 1 mann •selY this, that ye've justbeen ower kind to mei since ever 1 came to !Glasgow." 'Another glass, Ronald—" "'Not one drop—thank ye"—and this time he rose with the definite re- solve to get away, for even these two glasses had caused a :swimming in his head, and :he knew not dhow much ntoreshe i-1ght drink if he .stayed, ``Better go for 'a long -walk, then," said Kate, "ane!' come aback at three and have dinner with us. P11 soon put ye on your legs again'. Ltrust. to me." But when he went out into the open air, he found himself 50 giddy and half -dazed and bewildered that, in- stead of going away for any long walk. lie thought he would go back home and lie down. I'H•e .tett less hap- py now. Why had he {taken this ac- cursed thing after all =his resolves? And then it was—as he went tip Ren:field-street---that be caught itis first glimpse of Meenie, No wonder be turned and slunk ,rapidly' •aw=ay— anxious to hide anywhere—hoping that Meenie had not seen :hint, And what a strange thing was ' this-- Meenie in tGaasgoty town! Olt, if 'he could only he for a_ single Clay as once he had been—as she had 'l.noW11 hint in the .• happy times when life went fry like a laugh and a song --•'how won- derful it would be to go along these thoroughfares doping every moment to catch sight of her face! A doll tcncn?—uta, a radiant town, with mus- ic in the air, and joy and hope shin- ing down front the skies. But now -- Ile was a cowering fugitive—sick in body and sick in mind—trembling. with the excitement of this sudden meeting—tulcl anxious above all oth- er things that he :should get back -to the aeclnsion of Itis lodging unseen, Well, he managed that, at all ev enis; and there he sat down, wander- ing over this thing that had just hap- pened, \lramie in :Glasgow taw•nl— and why? And why had she sent him the white heathtr? Nay, the 'amid 11.11. donut but that she Itad heard; and w•ilat answer had he to give sippos.. Mg that some ,lay or other he Should meet her fare to face? '1Ton could he win back to his former state, so that he should not he ashamed to meet those clear. kind ryes? 1•f there were but some penance, now•. -no Matter what suffering it entailed --that would rrhiiteratc these last months and re- -tore !tint 1., him sse1f, how gladly would he tcelentuo that! lint it was not only thr bodily sirlrness—he he• lined he could mend that; he had still a line physique: and (11reli sulfite abstention from .stimulants. no matter with what areotnp.utving dc - ores -inn, (would iii tinge give hint inch his 'health ---•it was mental siekne'ss and honcie•ssne-s and remorse that had 1:o he ured; fold11 1 was that 1.: he attempted? Cir why :11(1.11,1 he at- tempt ii? What rare had he for the u ire? 'T'r, be acre, by 1 .1111 stop drinking. 1,-h illt,l : and he won't() •vithdsue himself from those wild {'ip811ions; curl 1,e n111 have a greater regard for his appe•arane:r•; 50 that if he should by chance nn'rt \lemic Iaee to fare, lte would not have In be altogether so ashamed. 11111 after? when sir ihad gone a5:n again? 1'nr u; coney he ass11111ed that ..he was merely here on a 11111 all this time. 1te ivas becoming mare and mere consrtons of how far ie had fallen-- of the e9lauge dial had some over 111mself and -his eircunt- aanres in these few month:; and a tn•ions fancy got. into his head that he yonld like 50 try t., realize what he I ad been like in those former days. 1 -le !rot out his blotting -pail of frag- nhents--ant those dedicated to .Medic, that had 'peen carefully- put ,aside— and about the very :first of 1hent that he chanced to light upnt% when he looked down the Hough likes, made him exclaim- 'Clod bless me, ,las T like `that— and no longer ago than last (January?" The piece was called "A Winter Sang"; and surely the man that could write in this gay fashion had an a:lt- 111141rd life and ;joy acid 'hope in his veins, and courage la face the :ward bleakness of the winter, aocl a glad lacvking_forw'a•rd to the corning of •tike Spring? Keen blows the wind upon CIehrig's side, And the snow lies thick on the heather; \rad the .shivering hinds are glad to hide Away from the winter weather. Chorus: Brit soon the birds will be - to sitig, And we will sing too, iny. dear, To give gond welcoming to the Spring, Ia the •primrose -time o' the yeas'! Hark how'' the black lake, Morn and Most, Thunders along its 'shores; And 'the'burn is, ,hard in the grip of the frost And white, snow-white are :the 11100(75, Chorus:. But soon the birds will be- gin to sing, eccc, 0 then the ,warm west :winds 'twill. blow, And all in the sunny weather, It's over the moorlaaids we will go You and 'I, my love, together. C'hgrus: And. than •tlie 'birds will be- - gin -to .sing, ' And we will sing' too, 10) dear, To give good welcoming to the Spring, In the primrose -tine -o' the Why surely the blood must has'e been dancing in his 'brain -when he wrote that; and the days white anti clear round him; a•nd life sherry and hope ,ful enough. And now? Well, it (vas 110 gladdening thing to think of: he 'liv-t- lessly put awaty the book. And then he rose and went and got a pail of water and -thrust his head in -to that ---nor he was glad to feel that this muzzy sensation wars going; and thereafter he dried and brashed his hair with a.little more care than usu- al; and put on a clear collar. Now, he began to put the !;tale room to -rights -and his -life in !Highland lodges had taught 'hint :lio(t to do that 'about as well as any nvannan could; and lie tried to Iirigh•ten -the .window -panes a little,• to make the .place look more cheerful; and he arranged the things on the mantel -shelf in linter order-•- wi•tlt the bit of white heather in the niiddlc. -L'hcn 11e came to his .briar - root pipe; and paused. He took it 11p. hesitating. 'Yes, my friend, you trust go too, he said, with firm lips; and he delib- erately broke it, and tossed -i the .frag- ments into the grate.' And then he remembered - that it wars nearly three o'clock, and as lie feared that Rate 'Menzies. Wright send some one of her friends to fetch •him, or even comm for hint herself, he pot on his call, and took a stick in his hand. and (vent out. 1n !half an 'hour or so lie had left the city behind him and was lost in that melancholy half- cnttnlry that lies around it mi the north; .but he eared little now !tow the landscape hooked; lie 1(115 (Pnn- tlering' what had brought :Meenie to Glasgow town. and whether she ha seen !lint, and what she had heard n PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical DIR. E. A. McMAiSTIEIR—Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Univers- ity 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 B7. Office fully equipped for x-ray diagnosis and dor ultra :short wave electric ;treatment, ultra violet sun lamp treatment andi infra red electric treatment. Nurse in attendance, hint, .\ltd at Traver-Much1 too? Well. they :night think the worst of hint there if they chose. Bit had \le, -n;' heard? Ile snareely kttrr how far he welt]: but in the dusk of the evening he 1r't: again- appreutchiug the city hy the tlreat Western (Road: and as the '0111 nearer to the houses, he i+tund aha+ the lamps were lit, and the great, trrSit settling' (10W/1 with the gloom of the night. Now lie feared no th• tc•ctinn: and so it was that tvlten lar arrived at 11 n-lm11e-51 111 he paused there. Should he vettuire• into Queen's- ere•-rent?—it was .batt a ,tone's throw away. For he mrttessed that Meenie must he staying with her sister; and het knew the address that slit. had giv- en 'hint, though he had never railed- nay, he had had the curiosity, once or twice in passing. -10 glance tat the bonne: and rashly enough he could now stake it out if he Arose- Il -Ie lusi- t•1tt•l for a second or two;. then lie stealthily made his way along the lit- tle •thoroughfare; and entered the crescent -but keeping to the opposite side front. Mrs. Geutmill's dwelling --- and' there quietly walked tip and down. !11e )'1)11)1 see the windows well enough; they were all of thein lit; and the house secured 1Carnh and com- fortable; \T -eerie would he at home there, and among friends, and her bright laugh would 'he heard from room to rrxhm. 'Perhaps they had company 'ton—since all the windows were lit; rich folks, no doubt, for the .Geminills were themselves well-to-do people; and Meenie would -be -made much of by these strangers, and they would come rotund 'her, tend the !beau- .. tiful Highland eyes would he turned towards then;, and they would hear her speak in her quiet, gentle quaint way 11 .11- .his guess that they might be entertaining friends wean twrntig. 13y - and -'by a cab drove up: in a few min- utes the door was opened; he yen hir- ed to draw a 'little bearer: Anil then he saw three figures -.one of them al - 111n51 assuredly'1cfeenic—come ora and enter -the vehicle. They drove off; no (011!11- they were going to some ,con- cert or theatre, lie thought; and he 11 as :Glad that Meenie ;van being auk tis511 and entertainer( so; and was.tmn- ong friends, And as for himself?-- "Weld," he was inwardly saying, a- ht resumed his walk homeward, "the dreams that look co fine when one i DR. @SILBtERRT C. JAR'R.OTT — Graduate of 'Faculty of Medicine, Un- iversity of WesternOntario. Member of :College of Physicians and'Surgeons of Ontario, 'Office 43 Goderich street west, Phone .3v. Hours 2=4,30 pm., 7.30 ,9 •pm, Other !hours .by appoint- ment. Successor to Dr. ,Chats, 'Maickay. DR. H. H'UIGIH ROSS, Physician and Surgeon Late of Lindon Hos- pital, London, Eng -land, Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, 'nose and throat. Office and residence behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone No, 5; 'Residence Phone 104. DR. F, J. BIURRO WS, .Seaforth. Office and residence, -Goderic'h street, east of the United Church. Coroner for- the County of Huron. Telephone No, 46, DR. IF, J. R. FORST'ER— Eye Ear, Nose and Throat, Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 1E97. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moore'field's. Eye, and 'Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London. At Commercial Hotel,, Seaforth, third Wednesday in eacla month from 1.30 p.m. to S p.m, DR. W. C. SPROAT Physician - Surgeon Phone 90-W. Office John St, :Seaforttl 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 Stook, 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., SEAF'OETH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -[sass Companies. THE ItcKILLOP { U Mual'Ara insurance CO READ OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President—Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth; ViceaPresident, Thomas Moylan. Secretary -Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth. AGENTS F. 7t cKercher, R.R.1, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brucefietd; E. R. G. Jarmouth, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm. Yeo, Holmesville. DdREOTIORS Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No. 3; Janes Sholdice, Walton; Wm, Knox, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm 'No, 1; ('rank MdGregor, Clinton No: 5; James Connolly, God- crick; Alex \fcrwing, Blyth No. 1; Thomas - \Loylan, Seaforth No. 5; Wm. R. Archibald, Seaforth No. 4. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will '66 promptly attended to by applications to any of the above -named officers addressed to their respective post - offices. up among the .hillsare knocked on the head sure enough when one comes to a town, ,I'll have no more to do with these Books; nor with the Widow Menzies and her friends either. To-niornow morning I'm ,off to the recruiting -sergeant.. -that's the -hest thing far rte now,, By the time -he had got Hoole, he was quite resolved' upon 'this. But there was a note lying there on the table for ,hItat. "That woman again," Ile said to himself. -",Rade lass, !I'm afraid you and I 'must part, 'but T hope we'l'l' 95110 good friends. (To Be Continued) 1., Want and For Sale Ads„ 1 week, 251c.