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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1932-06-16, Page 6THE SEAFORTH NEWS. THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 143 wesassemmmassammesm 0D mos John Uri Lloyd ('Continued from Last Week.) at all and do you no harm. Yak' mag- nify your misfortunes; you misjudge P bear you no iU will for that" she answered. "I was partly at fault, and I am sorry 'for my last remark; I did not give the rose to Red -Head." "I already know that, .and yet I thank you for telling one. IBM why did you tantalise me, what object had you in deolining to give me the sec- , on6 rose, why did you irritate me by leading me to believe that you intend- ed to ntend-edcto give it to him?' t't irn I not a girl? - Why should you take that so seriously? Had you the discernment of a girl you would not have asked me to give you the second rose; it was foolish in me to proffer you, unasked, the first one." "Let the matter drop. I have one of the roses and Red -Head did not get the other. 'Susie, twice only in foiir years have I called at your home tb meet you; at neither time did I get _ a chance to tell you why I made the wlsdt.'a "Nor must you tell me now.,, "`Susie, I'll not leave you this time without having my say. I—" "Please. Mr. Drew," she interrupt- ed, "first listen to me." "Go on, Miss Susie. But when you. have finished I shall tell you what twice before I have tried to say." Nott heeding me, she continued: 'I am a lonely girl reared by the ne- groes, I have been wild and careless, but am se no longer. If I have a father, he has no child in me. My mother was shot during the war, I cannot remem- ber her. Youth has been in my case a Strange story of negro lore and super- stition, of human neglect and inhtuman loneliness. I remember less of pleas- ure than of trouble, less of kindness than of ru.d.eness. I am ,prematurely old in some things, but this is not toy fault; no other girl in Stringtown has had cause to think as have"I of things that crulsh the joys of childhood. No girl companion ever crosses the thres- hold of my home, nor do I meet any in their own. Why should I be young? Mr. Drew, to think as I have done since I was taught my place among people is to learn more of some things than many who are much alder know. To feel the undeserved touch of shame is to realise what shame really is. Ta meet the shrinking eye and the withdrawn hand, to hear the sneer of the heartless tongue, brings care and sorrow that brushes youth away early. 1 am alone with Cupe and. Dinah; nearly as old in feeling, 1 sometimes imagine, as are they. You have been kind in thinking of me. I don't know why you act as you do, but you are in- discreet and have no right to injure yourself and wrong me by persisting in your visits. I wish to be left alone; and while I feel deeply grateful for your good will, I cannot pennait any further attention," "Susie, you wrong both of us by thi's idle talk. You are a girl, and yet you take life as seriously as if you were a full-grown woman." "Cares and thoughts that are bred of snubs and sneers have cut off my "Never, unless Duty Calls, Shall I' girlhood. I have already told you that. Return to Duty - I have no mother to take a mother's ' 1 ii part for me; I must be a woman. I My patient, loving ,mother, whose know some thingls too well to require life had been a constant sacrifice for information from others concerning her sots, once a source of deop hurnil- them, and one of these is that you iaibion, now an object of Pride, sat ;that have brought me much trouble." afternoon in the little roam sewing by "I, Susie, I?" the centre table. I entered with quick "Yes, you. It was you who asked step, with happy (heart, with no that I might be ediucated, who led me !gi'vin'g& concerning the result of my to receive the instruction that en- mission. The fulfilment of my desires abled toe to understand my position in had .leen to her a source of great .life. were "I'the wild ignorant girl I: pleasure heretofore; she had never should have been but for your inter- °denied me a request that was right ference, I might now be hapipy with •and ' that could be conceded. the negroes, knowing nothing con- "Mother"—II said, seating myself corning the world nor of wh'at others beside her •c1iair, "I ar. now ewenty- h;ave and are in the world, nor yet of one years of age, !I :have a good ,posi- vihat I am myself. You did a wrong, tion with .advancement , certain, and Mr. ,Drew, in thus showing me what Where I shall :win yet higher honours. other gipls are, and in picturing any In order to propane for the course I otter disgrace and alxsalhrte.. helpless -have mappedapped obit,I .must leave String- ' nless. I could not have felt these things town in a few days. ,Before ;going, hod you left me in ignorance." • however, I wish to speak with you "1116s--" concerning a very important subject." "Nothing but Susie, if you please," "Go on, my son," said she, layarllg she indenjeoted, observing that I hesi- aside her 'sewing. bated, "Mother, you know that I have °Slusie," 1 co'nbinued, "these things been offered an assistant position in that you 'brood over, eenceru, me not .chemistry, ,1 hope to make better home then this for you inafew years and to •give you a life of peace and rest ,For toe you have.worked your, Ifimgv s sore, have slaved 'since 1 can remember." "You must 'first make a happy holne foe yourself, ,niy, boy; that should be your ob'jec't, one to which, ,in case of necessity, your odd mother may cone and end her days. 'But for a time at least I Shall' not think of leaving Stringtown., Look forward to a home of your own; seek aio higher ambition. You will some day :meet' one you 'can ask to go •with you to the end of your journey, and be with you, to love you and be loved. This I hope to see accomplished before diel' "I leave met her already; mother," I said in elation, "and I carne to ask Your pemnission' to speak to her, to get your blessing on both of us and your favour for her." "So soon, my ,•s'on l Are you not 'hasty? I thought and spoike of 'the fu- ture. I had no suspicion of this' love;. you did not tell ,ire that you' had found a sev'eeteheart in the North." "Nor have I." "And yet you keep no company with ;Stringtown girls." "No, and small not. I am in love, but my lave is neither in ,the, North nor in Stringtown. I love the girl who lives with Cupe and Dinah, the girl called Susie." My ,mother ,dropped the garment she held, in her 'hand. "You do not mean it, Sammy." "Mother, I speak the truth. I love Susie better than life." "Susie who?" The question was cruel. 'My mother, she to whom 1 came in absolute con- fidence, she, too, • empha'sised the word 'who', :and as unmercifully as any Stringtown girl had done. I stood up in anger, :indignlition for the first tiane toward nay mother entered my heart. "'Who?' why, Susie, only Susie, and I who am concerned .most of any care for nothing else. Some day she will be ,Susie Drew, and then I'll beat the face of the man who says 'Susie •who' to Mme, and I"11 teach the—" but 'nay mother had spoken the word "who" -I did not finish the remark. "My son, you Hurst listen to your 'mother: Have you asked the girl to marry you?" "No." "She is ,an adventuress,—yes, worse, a girl without .character, one who has no friends among respectable people, who is shunned by the village . girls and neglected by the .village boys, Her history is one of shameful birth, if, report speaks true; to he disgraced ply birth is a lasting stigma unforgiv- able. Subsequent environment has added nothing to remove the stain,— she has been negro -bred. 'Listen to your mother, nay dear boy, see her no more." "And this from you, another!" "Yes; I :am old enough to speak advisedly. You are young, a pretty face excites what you think is love,- it is puppy love, nay child, and when the face is out of sight will soon fade away. You cannot realise that to mar- ry that girl will be to blast your life and disgrace your mother, How did this artful adventuress entangle you? IS1te's a dangerous girl. Surely the vil- lagers do not know of the affair, or else I would long since have known of it." "Mother, 1 cannot take this kindly, even iron you. I must have 'my say. I am no longer a child. Susie is as pure and holy as was ever •girl or wo- man. She has been ,unfortunate in, birth; she does not know her father, much to his shame, and not to her disgrace; her life has been a dreary, lonely one, and her companions have been her books and the negroes. From -the one she has !profited, the others have served her well,—be it said to their credit and to Stringtawn's dis- credit. You say that_I am possessed by 'puppy love,' that when the face is gone the love will fade. That 11 not so. You <say that to marry Susie will he to blast my life, that my marriage to the girl will disgrace you, my mot'her. And why? Because of an unwritten law that scoundrels make, aild society :follows, .that reaches even such as you, and does not discredit you, who seek to save discredit from your son. You called' that ,girl an adventuress, 'but the facts are that your sol made the advances: I sought her, but she gave no encouragement. I forced my attentions on her, and she met thein coldly. She has been wronged by you. I must say this, even' to you, mother:" I sank Oil my knees by 'her side, and as if I were again a child, buried my 'face in her lap, 'while .tears, born olf humiliation, • indignation, disappoint- ment, and sorrow, gushed ,from my eyes. She gently stroked ivy hair, back and forth,, as she had been wont to do when I was a child. "Heed the words of your mother, !Sammy. Disgrace that falls upon and fingers over the name of woman can never be brushed away. "But she has done nothing wrong, this forlorn girl; she is 'helpless." 'The world ,makes ,no allowance for mien and .omen u w you waiting your friends and hurt those who would be your friend's. I speak from 'my heard, Susie; .you wrong me too, and to prove it I shall tell you now what came twice before ,to say. I-" "Stop," ; she cnield "before you fin- ish the words you intend to speak, I would ask—have you spoken to your mother?" (Surely the girl knew what I in- tended to ask. Her manner showed that, and now my heart leaped, for her tone was not that .of one offen'd'ed or unfriendly, but rather of earnest ques- tioning. • ".No; but she will make no objection to-" "First ask her, and if she makes no objection, you may come to the cabin and finish the question tyou would ask of me. Promise to do this," she pleaded. "You have my promise, 'Susie, but you need have no question concerning the result. I shall' return to-night— yes, this very afternoon. I'll tell you then that which I have started three times to say." She shook her head. "You will not cone back to -night, neither will it be to -morrow nor yet the next day. No, never. You +may meet -me by accident, I may come to you—+Oup'e rayls that I'll kneel on the floor and with tears in nay eyes beg justice df yo'u-but whether this is true or not you will never come to me with these words on your lips again." "You wi'il never come again," she continued; "others have burned away, none are left but Red -Head and my guardian -none, and you, too, will come no more. Farewell." Her hand trembled as I again claslped it, and now its, touch was cold. Her eyes met mine, and I saw that they were filled with tears. "May I have the flower you wear in your Papel ?" she asked. "Why do you ask that of 'me?" I said, "Take it, though, and if ever you need a friend, one who will grant your. every wish, you who claim that you have no friends, need but show that flower to mac, Whatever it may be, and wherever I may be, you have but to ask," "Thank you, and farewell, Me. Drew. You have been kind to me, but very thoughtless I think about your- sekf. I forgive you the wrong you have done in the unsought education that shows one my position. But I wish that it•cou'ld'be forever lost" I stood in silence. She turned and walked up the path the way I came, vanishing around the clu•mtp of hazel, and then I turned toward Stringtown. Now came again to my mind the vis- ion that the ,mirror pictured; all I had seen therein had been repeated, veri- fied, and in addition my ear had now heard the conversation that the mir- ror failed to give. • OHAPTER LIi II thefact that the girl' is not at /auk; she is, unfortunate, and must accept the odipm that rests upon her name. Does not the.Bable say words to the effect that the sins of the parents shall be visited upon the children?" "Dlon't make toe hate the Bible, naotlier I" "My child 1" "Listen now to me; mother. I arose and seated myself/ on any chair, cairn, composed. "I shall? leave IStrimigtonvn to-might—yes, this very might. My vacation scarce comment- ed, ,ends to -night. Never, unless duty ca11t shall' I return to Stringtown, unless': you give me permission to go to Susie as a suitor, free to as'Ic her to be my wife, or unless Susie pearnits me to ivisit her. I have, made a fool of myself in my usual way, ---that of thoughtlessly acceding to a reques't that I should never have granted. I 'initended to asks Susie to be my wife to -day, and thento ask your blessing; 'but thinking only ' that you would ap- prove of it, I agreed to ask your con- sent first." "Thank the Lord, my ,chi' ld, .that some far-seeing ;friend, one who coir- preb'ends the effect of social disgrace, has prevented this terrible mistake. Whoever he or she maybe, my'heart- felit thanks and gratitude go out to him or her. Had you not made this promise, you might now have been in the toils of this adventuress." "You 'have bles'sed the girl,; for th'i's' II thank you," I said, but added no further word of explanation. Then I arose and s'trade back and forth ac- ross the little room. Suddenly I turn- ed to my another: "I shall take the bus this evening for my new position. My trunk is scarce unpacked. I shall leave String - town no'w." OHiAIPTiER IJIV 1: girls, and she in 'mine, I' vvoulcl_-prob- ably sirup her as notes: I aril 811,111111C CI. Th!e oiark I' of shanie.'res!ts over my life, The'soci'al rubes that govern people cannot be changed, nor shotai'd they;` for to selax social vigilaurce world lie to open the door to crime and. immorality, I have racked nay brain over the matter, have read and studied social science, and although I ant young, the sdlbject has disturbed nm for years. -You have nay thanks for your, gbod will --thus, I nave told ybat before, You will !merit them the' more if you look to your own future, and forget the past, so far as it concerns me. 'Undo your hasty, thoughtless p'l'edges, sttive xe to'excel in good deeds,' and leave the negro -bred girl Susie to li'ass in peac.whenever chance d aty leads her. Mr. Drew, you are far above me. Of 'all the persons I know, IRed-IHead alone stands in ac'tua1 syim tpathy and on an equality with' usc'h as I. Let, then, nay life be 'spent in sym- pathy and on:ati equality with such as must in touch, let the 'mended ' sen- tence you 'have three times comment- ed resit unfinished forever, Very, truly yours, Susie." While I- was reading the letter the driver stopped the team in order to arrange a defective ,piece of harness on one of the horses, ,and as I raised my eyes I saw Red-IHead 'beneath a tree by the right-hand side of the road. Tall, -erect, lithe, he stood not more than twenty feet fr'om.,rne, gaz- ing directly into my face. A sensation akin to pity liar the young man came over tine, .a kindly feeling for one ne- glected as .he had been. I raised my hat politely and bowed. But he, 'witih- out any recognition whatever, gazed stoically into my face and whistled. Then the devil Touched my lie:art, and in a low tone, that was`,more effective (because Of 'th'is fact, I asked: "Why do you not go back to the mountains; cannot youhandle a Springifield rifle yet?" He made no reply, and I con- tinued': "How about that nioun•tain- feud? Holcomb will get tired of wait- ing for you to grow bigger." Indifferent to the taunt, he stead motionless. The 'coa'ch now moved an, and as it did so I spoke the ,meanest words I over used: "You're: very will- ing to talk fight, you who dare not go back to the mountains where lives old man Biolcomlb," But even this brought no reply; like a statue he remained in the shadow, .watching the stage on which I sat, .watching it until around a bend in the pike the lumbering ve- hicle disappeared from his view. CHAPTER LV Professor Samuel' Drew PRO:FESS'IONAL CARDS Farewell to, ,Susie I stepped into my room and wrote a note which, hastily sealing, I ad- dressed with the sihrrple word "Susie." (What else could I have used, what 'else but "Susie *Who' " Then I called a boy from the street and paid him liberally to deliver it immediately, !The letter was permissible, for al- though I had agreed not to call on her, I had not promised the girl that I would not write. Love letters, I' have heard, are not as a rule very edifying to others. This, my first, last and only .love letter, I shall, however, ven'ture' to reproduce. "Dear Susie: Yota say that:I wrong- ed you in inducing Mr. Wagner to educate you, To this I take no excep- tion. You. think .that you have 'been led by that -education to see yourself disgraced. With that I take issue. By reason of it you ipereeive better the sins of men and women whoa ,make social taws to oppress the Weak and protect the strong, toelevate the vil- lain ofa father and damn his inno- cent c'hild. 1 shall leave Stringtown this afternoon on the evening bus, and !by your command I go without call- ing on you. You induced lie to prom- ise to leave to nay mother a question that concerned anys•elf more than all others, you 'bound me to an oath that cannot break, but which your dis- .cri'mitva'tive eye foresaw would lead to my defeat and to •my present dis- tress. For this 1 blame you. Let, then, my charge against you balance the one you hold against me. And now to the future: I leave Stringtown anx- ious to complete the sentence which, incomplete as it is, I shall hold .sacred until my mother gives me the privil- ege of returning to your side or until you permit me to come and finish it. I obey my mother because you com- mand it, otherwise I' should firmly in- gist onusing my awn good will; you know what that will is. I solemnly swear that it shall never changewliile lisle lasts, Yours, Samuel Drew•" Then I turned to help my mother pack the trunk that a few days prev- iously came with me from .the North. In a short time it was strapped and rolled to the gate. I bade her farewell, and at last 'as the shadows lengthened started for thebus which, delayed by an accident, late that afternoon rolled into ,Stringtown. As I mounted the box to the familiar seat beside ' the driver, old 'Cope shuffled to my side and thrust a letter into my hand, then left me without a word. The ,four-in- ihan'd rolled off, stopped a moment be- fore nay ,mother's door, where my trunk was thrown aboard, and theq„ rumbled on again. Once more ,I sa(w miiother standing with 'handkerchief to her eyes, but this time I, halt that hard she cared more for her boy and l!es's for the traditions of society, joy might ibolth have 'brightened her face and gladdened .my heart. YI'hen .I o'pe)ied the letter that ]ties now before my eyes: "Mr. Samuel Drew. Dear Friend:. dn. reply to your fetter, it is my opin- ion that you' •wronged your mother. ,She should not be blamed for laving you too well to permit you to disgrace yourself. I am 'en•fortun'alte, through' sLo act of my o'wn it is true, but yet unfontunalte, and I know it. Were 1 ih ilio place of one of your Stringtown Medical DR. H. HUGH ROSS, Phyeiciaa and Surgeon. Late of London MIS, pital, London, England. Specisi. attention to diseases of the eye, ens., .. nose and throat. Office and mit-- deuce esat.deuce be'hind Dominion Bank. Office'' Phone No. 5; Residence Phone NC DR. F. J. BiURIROIWS, Seaforth.: • Office' and residence, Goderich street,. east of the, United Church. Comae s - for the County of Huron. Telepbomc- No. 46. . DR. C. : MIACICIAY.—C, honor graduate. of Trinity University and gold medallist af. Trinity Medina!` College; ' member. of the College of. Physicians and Surgeons of Decide. DIR. F. J. R. TO'RSITEIR-Eye, Et Nose and Throat. Graduate is cine, University of Toronto 189P: Late Assistant New York O'phtbal. mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's, Eye, and Golden Square throat bocpir- ta'ls, London„ Englandt At Contes ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3r& Monday km each month, from 11 aim. to 3. p.m DIR. W. C. SIPIRIOAT.—Gradttate a.f Faculty of Medicine, University GC Western Ontario, London.. Member of College of Physiciansand Sao - geons of Ontario. Office in rear sr Aber•hart's drug , store, Seafortkc Phone 90. Hours 1.30-4 _pm., T.36t -9 pan. Other hours by a.ppointactest. (Into the University I stepped with embittered heart and rebellious spirit. Ambition still possessed me, but not such ambition as Should have an'innat- ed a poor widow's son with my ,prospects. The Iprolfessor whom I was to assist greeted me kindly, and I found ham to be a charming old man, engrossed in the lave of his science. !He toolk pains to introduce me at ,once to those of his colleagues who stili lingered about the University, al- though most members of the faculty were now enjoying their vacation eise- tv'here. "You ,please ,nee very- much, Mr. !Drew," he remarked during our first audience."Not many young men would sacrifice their summer vacation as you have done in order to acquaint themselves :with the •exacting,details of a new work. It speaks well for your future, for while genius is often useful and sometimes leads to fortune, the men who make successes of their lives are those who work While others rest. Surely it must have required more than a little self-sacrificing on your part to leave your mother, your friends, your-" he glanced slyly out of thecorners of his eyes—"your sweetheart! "Let it pass," I answered; "forget that I came before duty called Inc. I shall do my utmost to credit m'y!setf to the future." •. • (To he continued,) .Complete in itself;' Mother Graves' Worm Externeleatar does not require the assistance of any outer medicine to make it effective. It does not fail to .do its work. 'Want aavd Dental DIR. J. 'A..MUN'N, Successor to Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North. - western University, Chicago, NI. Li— centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. Office over Sian" hardware, Main St., Seaforth. Pismo 151. DR. F. J. BECHELY, graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons* Toronto. Office over W. R. Snsitf e'. grocery, Main St., Seaforth. Phones, office 185W, residence 1851, Auctioneer. GEORGIE ELUIIO'TT, !f icetauea4 Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Stale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guranteed-' WATSON' AND REIDuS REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGEtocr (Succssors to James Watson) MAI'N ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Chas Companies: THE 1Ncl{II.LOP Mutual Fire Insurance Cog FARM AND IISOLATED TOWN PIR1OIfE'R!TY, O IN Y, IIN'SUR]BD Officers — John 'Benitewies, 'Brod- hagen,,'President; Jas. Connolly, Gail erichys Vice -Pres.; D. F. +MdGregor, 'Seaforth No. 4, Sec.-Treas. Directors—'Geo. R. McCartney, Sea - forth No. 3; Alex. Broadfoot, ` Sea- fonth-No. 3; 'James Evans, Seaforth No, '5; lRobt. •Ferris, 'Blyth !No. 1; Ise. Slholdice, Walton No. 4; Jh!ha 'Pepper, IBrucefiebd; William 'Knox, Landes - borough. Agents—Jas. Watt, Blyth No. 1;+W: E. tHin'chiley, 'Seaforth; J. A. Murray. Seaforth No. 3; W.- J. Yeo, 1 Clinton No .3; ,R..'G. IJanmuth, Bornholm. (Auditors — Jas. 'Kerr,. ISeafoetbm Thos. Moylan,'lSeefortlh No. 5. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact Other business, wid& be promptly attended to by applicatfonis to -any of the above named officers ad- dressed to their, respective pose Or Sale Ads. 1 tine 2'Sc, offices. 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