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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1932-07-28, Page 6PAGE SU . THE SEAFORTH NEWS. Doyle OH;AP,TIER I. a, flames 1Folthengild West, student of law in the University of St. An'd- rew's, have endeavored in the •ensuing pages to lay my 'statement before the 'public is a concise and tbusiness-dike fashion, It is not my 'wish to achieve literary success; nor have 'I any de- sire by the graces of my style, or by the artistic ordering of my incidents, to tt'hsow a deeper shadow over the strange passages .off which I shall have to speak. iMy, highest ambition is that those who ;know something of the matter 'should, after reading my account, be able to 'conscientiously indorse it without finding a single paragraph in which I have either add- ed to or detracted from the truth. Should'.I attain this result, I shall rest amply satisfied with the outcome of my first, and prolbalb1y my last, ven- ture in .literature. It was my intention to write ou the sequence of events in due" order depending upon worthy hearsay when I was describing :that which was ibe- yond my own ,personal knowledge. I have now, however, through the kind co-operation of friends, 'hit upon a plan which promises to .be Mess oner- ous to the and more satisfactory to the reader. This is nothing less than to make use of the various manu- scripts which I have by me bearing upon ,the subject, and to add to them ,first-hand evidence contributed by those who had the best 'opportunities of knowing 'MajarlGeneral J, 'G. 'Hea- therstone. 'In pursuance of this de- sign ''I shall lay' before the public the testimony of Israel Stakes, formerly coachman at 'Cloomiber Hall, and of John Easterling, now practising at Stranraer, in Wigtowns'hine. To these I add a verbatim account extracted from the journal of the late John Ber- thier 'Heatherstone, of the events which occurred in the Thul Valley in the autumn of '411, toward the end of the first Afghan tear, with a descrip- tion of the skirmish in the'Ter.ada de - ,file, and of the death of the man called iGhoolab Shah, To myself I reserve the duty of filling up all the gaps. and chinks which may be left in the nar- rative. By this arrangement I have sunk from the position of an author to that of a compiler, but on the other hand my work has ceased to be o a story y and has expanded into a ser- ies of affidavits. chair of 'Sansorit in any of his native universities, and no demand any'w'here for the only mental wares which . ire' had to dispose af, we should: have been .forced to retire into genteel.pov- erty, consoling ourselves with the aphorisms and precepts of Firdousi, Omar Chiam, and other of his East- ern favorites, had. it not .been for the unexlpected kindness, and liberality of his half -(brother, Wt liam ,Farintosh, the Laird of Branks'o•md, fn Wig- tawns!hire, This 'William "Farin'to'sdv was the proprietor Of a landed estate the ac- reage of which bore, unfortunately, a ,most disproportional relation to its value, for it formed the bleakest and most !barren tract of land in the whole of a:Ibleak and barren shire. As a bachelor, however, his expenses had been small, and he had contrived from the rents of his scattered cot- tages, and the sale of the (Galloway' t - nags, which he bred upon the moors, 'My father, John 'Hunter Wiest, was a well-known ,Oriental and ,Sanscrit scholar, and his name is still of weight with those who are interested in such matters, He it was who first after .Sr. 'William Jones called atten- tion to the great value of early Peas- ian literature, and his tranlations .from both Hafiz and from Ferideddin Ater have earned the warmest commenda- tions from the Baron. Von Hammer- ,Purgstall, of Vienna, and other dis- tinguished ,Continental critics. In the issue of the Ottienta'lisches iSeienz - britt for January 18-, he is• describ- ed as "Der beru'hmte ,und• Behr gele- hrnte Hunter Vest von Editvburgh— a passage .Which I well remember° that he cut out and stowed away with a pardonable vanity, among the most revered family archives. IHe had been brought up to be a solicitor, or Writer to the Signet, as it is termed in Scotland, but his learned hablby absorbed so much of his time that he had little to devote to the p,ursuit of his profession. When his clients . were seeking ,him at his 'ehantlbers in George street he was buried in the recesses of the Advoc- ates' Library, or poring oversome moldy manuscript at the Philbsophic- al Institution, with his brain more ex- ercised over the code which,' !Menu propoun,ded•six hundred years before the birth off Christ than; over the knotty problems of Scottish 'law in the nineteenth century, ,Hence it can hardly be Wondered at that as his learning'accurnulated his practice dis- solved, until at the very moment when he had attained the zenith of his celebrity he had also .reached the nadir o;f his fortunes. There being no not only to live as a laird should, but to put" by a considerable suss in the bank. We 'lead heard little from our kinsman during„the days of our com- ,parative prosperity; but just as we were at our wits'.end, fhcre carne a letter like a ministering angel, giving us assurance of sympathy and suc- cor. In it the Laird of 'Btauksome told us that one df his lungs had been growing weaker for some time, and that Dr. ,Easterling, of ,Stranraer, haat strongly advised him to spend the few years Which were left to hint in some more genial climate. He had'de- termined, therefore. to set out for the South of Italy, and he :begged that we should' take up aur residence at Branksome in his absence, and that my father should act as his land ste- ward and agent at a salary which placed us above all fear of want. Our mother had been dead for seine years, so that there were only myself, my father, and my sister .Esther to con- sult; and it may readily be imagined that it did not take us long to decide upon the acceptance 'of the laird's generous offer. My father started for Wigtown that very night, while Es- ther and I followed a few days after- ward, bearing with us two potato - sacks full of le'arned *books, and such other. of our household effects as were worth the trouble and expense of transport, CHAPTER LI, Of The Strange Manner In Which a Tenant Came to sCdoomber. rBranksome might have appeared a poor dwelling -place 'when compared to the house of an English squire; but to us, after our long - residence - in stuffy apartments, it was of regal magnificence. The building was broad spread and low, with red -tiled roof, diamond -paned windows, and a pro- fusion of dining -rooms with stroke- blackened ceilings and oaken •wain- scots. In front was a small lawn, girt round with a thin fringe of haggard and ill -grown beeches, all gnarled and withered from the blighting effects' of the sea spray. IBelhind lay the scat- tered hamlet of Branksome-.B'ere—a dozen cottages at most—inhabited by rude fisher -folk who looked upon the laird as the natural protector. To the west was the broad yellow beach and the Irish sea; while in all other direr- tions the desolate moors, grayish green in the foreground and purple in the distance, stretched away in long lotw curves to the horizon. Very . bleak and lonely it was upon this Wigtown coast. A 'man might walk many a weary .' mile and`': never see a living thing except the white heavy flapping kittiwakes,. which screamed and cried . to each other with their shrill sad voices. Very lonely and very ',bleak! Once out Of sight off Brankgomie and there was n'o' sign of th,e works of man save only where the high white tower off Oloo•mber Hall shot up, like. the head- stone off some giant 'grave, from ;amid the firs .and larches • which girt it' round. ' This , great house, a mike or more fno'nr our d'w:ell}ng, had been built 'by a wealthy 'Glasgow merchant of• strange tastes and lonely habits: • • THUiRSDIAY, JULY 28,1932 but -at the time of our 'arrival it had canny tae meddle a vi' such things.” been untenanted' for many years, `and " "'Why, man,' I cried, "you don't Stood with . weather -blotched walls su'plpose a wraith carte here ,in 'a :gigl. and vacant staring windows looking What are those lights away yonder,. by the avenue gates?" "The lamps o' a gig, sure enough!" exclaimed my companion in a less lugubrious voice. "Let's steer for it, Master West, and speer where she hails frae.`'' 'BY this time night had closed' in save for 'a single Tong, narrow slit in tlie''wiesfwaird. 'S'tumb'ling across the moor together, we made our way info the 'Wigtown Road, at the point' where the high stone pillars mark the entrance to the ICloontlbei• avenue,. A tall dog -oast stood in front of the gateway, the horse browsing upon t'he. thin border of grass ' which skirted blankly oiit `over the hillside, Ehtpty and mildewed, it served only as a landmark to the fishermen, for they had found by experience that by keeping the laird's 'chimney and the •wh'ite tower of Clogmiber in a line they could steer their way through the ugly reelfwhich raises its, jagged back, like ilhalt of some sleeping anon ster, above tire troubled waters of the wind-slwiept bay. To this wild spot it was that fate had .brought my father, my sister, and myself. For us its loneliness h'ad no terrors. After the hubbub and bustle of a great city, and tihe. weary ,'task of upholding appearances upon a slender income, there was a grand so'u}-.'sooth'itug serenity in the long sky -line and the eager, air. Here i at least there was no neighbor to pry and ohatter. The laird had' heft ' his Phaeton and -two ponies behind him; with the aid of which my father and I would' go the round of the estate doing such light duties` as fall to an agent; while our, gentile Esther looked to -our' household 'needs, and *brighten- ed the dark •olid building . Su'ch' was our si'mp'le uneventiful existence until the summer night when an unlaoleed- for incident ocburred'•which arrived to be the herald ;'o'f those 'strange do- ings. which I have taken up my pen to describe,. It had been my habit to pull out of an .evening in the laird's skiff and to catch a few whiting which might serve for our supper. 0n this •well- remennbered occasion' my sister cane with me, sitting with her book in the stern -sheets of the boat, while I hung tmylinles over, the bows. The sun had sunk down .behin'd the rugged :Irish coast, ,,but a long bank of flu'slred clouds st11 marked the spot, and cast a glory upon t'he waters. The whole broad ocean -was seamed and 'scarred with crimson streaks. I had risen the boat, and was gazing round delight at th,e 'broad, , ;panorama shore and sea and, sky,_ whet my s ter plucked at my sleeve with a lit sharp cry of surprise. - ":S'ee,.John," she cried; "There is light in Clootnb'er Tower!" I turned my 'head and stared 'ba at the tall white turret . which ,peep out above the belt ,of trees: As I, gaz I distinctly sa'w' at ane of the wi chows the glint of .a, light, Which sn denly van'is'hed, and then shone o once more,from another higher u There it flickered for some time, a finally flashed past two successi windows u'ndern;eath before the tre obscured our view of it. I't was cle that some one bearing a lamp or ca dle had climbed up the tower .tai and had then returned into the bo of the house. "Who in the world can.it he!" I e claimed, speaking rather to myse than to Esther, for T could see 1 the surprise upon •her face that s had no solution to offer. "May some of the folk front Branksont Bare have wanted to look over t place." tMy sister shook her head. "The is not one of them would flare to s foot within the avenue gates," sh said. "*Besides, John, the keys a kept by the house-ageait at Wigto'w Were they ever so curious, none our people .could find their way in." 'When I .reflected upon the nassiv door and ponderous shutters whic guarded the lower story of Cloontbe I .could not 'but admit the force o my sister's objection, The uutimel visior mush dither have used .consid erable violence is order to force hi way in, or he must have,dbtain'ed pas session of the .keys, 'Piqued by th little mystery, I pulled for t'he beach with the determination to see for my self who t'he intruder 'niig'ht be, an what were his intentions, 'Leaving m sister, at Branksomej-and summon ing Seth Jamieson; .an old man -o' war's=man, and' one of the stoutest •o the fishermen, I set off acros's th moor with him through the gatherin darkness. "It hasna got a .guid name afte dark, you hoose," remarked my cam panion, slacicetiing his pace percept ibiy as I explained to him the nature of our errand, "It's: no' for , naething that him *ha owns it wunna gang within a S'cot'ch revile o't,". "Well, Seth, there is sotne one who has no fears about going into it,' said I, pointing to the great white building wlhieh flickered up in front Of us through the gloom. The light 'whichit had observed `from the 'sea was m'ov'ing 'backward and forward :Past the lower .floor'windolws, the shutters 'of . which'' had been removed I could, not see that a second fainter light followed a few paces behind 'the other. Evidently two indiv'idual's, the one with a l'atnp and the other with a candle or tjttsihl'ight, were mlak- ing., a ,careful' examination] of ' the. 'btaWdThg, "Let ilka man blow h'is aim p'ar- ribch," said Seth. Jamiies'ondoggedly, coming to a dead 's'top• 'What is 'it tae us if a wraith ora bogie ch'oose's tae talk' a fancy tae Cloomber? (It's no "It's a'rich't'1" said Jamieson; taking a close look at the deserted vehicle. "I ken it weed. It 'belongs tae Meis- ter M1dNeil, the factor !b'ady frac iW'ig town=him Who keeps the 'keys." "`Then we may as well have speech' from hien' now that we are here," II answered. "'They are ,coming down, if I am not mistaken.." As I spoke We heard the slam of the heavy dio'or, and within a flew minute's two figures the one tall and angular, the afthea,. short and thick, cani•e , toward us through the darkness. They were talking so earnestly that they did not observe ua until they had pa's'sed through the avenue gate, tGoad evening, IMr. MicNeil," said I, stepping ]forward and add're'ssing the Wigtown factor, with whom I had some slight acquaintance. The smaller. _df the two turned his face. toward me as I spoke, and showed me that I was not mistaken in• his ident- ity, but his taller companion sprang back and showed every sign of vio- lent agitation. ""What is this, McNeil?" I heard him say, in a gasping, choking voice. "'Is this your, promise What . is the meaning of it?" "Don't be alarmed, general! Dant be alarmed!" said the 'little fat factor in a soothing fashion,as one might speak to a frightened child. "This is young Mr. Fothergill West, of 'Brank some, 'though what brings hint up here to -night is maze,thanI can un- derstand. (However,. as : you are to be ,eighbors,,.I can't do better than take the opportunity to introduce you to each other. Mr. West, this is General Heatherstone, wiro is -about to take a lease of. Clootnlber Hall." I held out my band to the tall man, who took it in a 'hesitating, half-relu'c tart fashion, "I came up," I explained 'because I saav your lights in thewin- dows, and thought that something might be wrong, I am very glad I did so, since it has giwen me the chance af'making the 'general's acquaintance." 'Wh'ilst I was talking I' was con- , salmis that the new tenant of Cloom- fiber Hall was peering at me very closely 'thorough the darlkness. As I concluded he stretched' out a long tremulous arta' and turned' the gig- lamp in such a way as to throw a flood of light upon my face. "Good God, McNeill" he cried in t'lte same frightened voice as before. "the fellow's as 'brown as cho'cotlate1 He's not an. Englishman—you, sir?" "I'un a S'cotchman, born and bred," said 1, with an- inclination to laugh' which was only checked by my' new acquaintance's obvious terror. "A Scatchntan, eh?" said he with a sigh of relief. `°It's all one nowadays. You' nmst excuse me, sir.—,Mr, West, I'nm nervous; infernally nervous, Come along, MdNeil; we must be back in Wigtown in less than an hour. Good night, gentlemen, . good night!" The two cla'nibered into their places; the factor cracked 'his whip, and the high dog -cart clattered away. through the dankness, casting a brid- liamh tunnel of yellow light on either side of it, until the rumble • o -f its wheelb died away in the distance. "What do you think of our new neighbor, "Jamieson?" 1 asked after a long silence. "'Deed, Mr. West, the seems, as he says himself, to be vena nervous. Vraybe his conscience is bot o'order" s liver, more likely," said I. "He looks" as if he had tried his constitu- tion a bit. But it's 'blowing chill, Seth ntylad, and it's time;, both of us were indoors," rI bade my companion good night; and struck off across the moors for the cheery rucldiy light,'' which Marked the;paill'or windows off Br'ank- s'oni e. 'OHIAIP'TIER TIDI. Of Our Further Acquaintance With Major-IGe'neral J. B. Healtherstane, There was, ,as may well be imagined much stir among our .'mall commun- ity at the news that the Hall was to be inhab'i'ted once more, and con'sid- ,era'b•le speculation as to the new' ten- ants an'd' their objects in ohi'os'i'ng this parti.cular, part of thec'ountry for their residence, !1't speedily; became apparent that,. ,whatever their motives might be, they, had definitely deter- mined upon a lengthy stay; far relays of plumbers land of joiners came down from Wigtown, and there was ham- mering and repairing going on front moaning 'till n how quick the signs of the wind anld weather were effaced, unci the great square -set. house was all as spick- and-span a though' it ltad been ,erect- ed yesterday. There were abundant signs that;;tnouey was no -considera- tion to General IT-I'eathersttoite, amid that it' 'was, not on the 'sc'ore cif ro trenchnaent that Ile had taken up ;lis abode among' its. "It may be that he is devoted ',to study," suggested nay father; as we ut;,scussed the question at the break- fast table. 'Perhaps he has chosen this secluded spot 'to finish some magn114n1 opus inp'os, which l e is en- gaged, If t'h'at is the case, I slli'oul'd Abe happy Ito lethli nt'ha've the runof my library." Esther and I laughed at the grandi- loquent manner in which the Spoke of the two potato -sucks full of books. "It May be as you say ' said I, "but the •gen'erail ,did n.o't. strike .rue during our 'short interviiew`as being a iman who was' likely to ihiave 'any very pro- nounced literary tastes. '1'f S might hazard a guess, 1 Should say that he is here upon medical advice, in the hopes that the complete quiet and. the fresh, air- may 'restore' his shalttered nervous system. Lf you had seen how he glared at met and the twitching .of his 'lingers, you w'oluid have thought it needed, some iestoring." "I do wonder whether he h'a•s a wife and'a fa'miily," said my sister "Pfoor souls, how lonely they will be! Why; excepting ourselves, ' there is not a family that they -could . speak, to for seven tti'ales or 'm'ore."' "General Heatherstone' is a very distinguished soldier, remarked my father, • "Witty, papa, however carne you to know anything about 'h'im?" "Ah; my 'dears," said iiny father, smiling at us over his coffee -cup, "you were laughing at my library 'just now but you see it may be very useful at times," "As he spoke he took a red - covered volume fno'm a shelf and tur- ned Over' the pages. 'This is an Ind- ian army list Of three years back," he explained, "and here is the very gen- tleman we want—,Heathers'tone J. B, Cannrrattder of the Bath,' my dears, and `V.C.' think of that, 'V.iC,=`for- merely Colonel" ht the Indian Inifantry, 41st Bengal Foot, but now retired with the rank of major -general.' In this other column is a record o'f his services -'capture of Ghuznee and defense -of Jellalalbad, Sobraon, ;Indian mutiny and reduction of Ouch. Five 'tines mentioned in dispatches.' I think, my dears,' that we have cause to bepraud of our new neighbor." "It doesn't mention then whether he ismarried or not, I suppose?" asked Esther: "No," said my father,.' wagging his white head with a keen appreciation of his own humour. "It doesn't in- clude that under the heading off `daring actions'—though it very well might, my dear, it very, well might." All our doubts, however, upon this head were very Soon set at rest, for on the very day that the repairing and the furnishing had been completed I had occasion to ride into Wigtown, and II met upon the way a carriage which was -bearing General, Heather - stone • and his fainly to their new Nome. An elderly lady, worn and sickly looking, was by his side, and o'ppoaite him sat a young fellow albout my own age and a girl who ap- peared to• be a couple of years young- er.'I raised my hat, and was about to pass thetas, when the general shouted to his coachman to pull up, and held FIAIRIM AND ISOLATED 'DOWN his hand to mei I amid see now in the daylight that his face, althougltiPRIOIPIERfTY, 0.11 LY, INSURED • harsh and sltern,: was capable of as- Officers — John Beunewfes, Brod- 'a rod. 'aiming a not unkindly expression, hagen, ,President; Jas. Cotynolly, 'God - "How are you, Mr. Flotiaerg l erich, Vice -'Pres.; ID. F. MCGregc , West ?" he cried. "I meat apologize Seaforth 'No. 4, 'Sec.-Treas. to you if I. was a little brusque tlte. Directorsa-Geo, R. McCartney, Sea - other Tight—you will excuse an oLd forth. No. 3; Alex. Broadfioot, Sea soldier who has spent the ;best part 'fortth,No. 3; 'T,+ames'Ev'ans,' ISeafo : Of his life an, harness: All the same No. '5; IRobt, Ferris, Blyth !No. ; jos. Sholdice Waitmt you roust cohlfes's that you are rather 1 No. 4; John Pepper, dark-skin•ned,' for a S'ootchsnan" 03rucsfie+1d1 Wi}lion. Knox, Zondesr ""We have a ,Spani's'h strain in our borough. blood, said I, wondering at his re- Agents -Jas. Watt, Blyth No. 1' W. •curren'ce to the topic.. E. +Hin'ohley, ISe'afort'h; J. A, Murray, "That would, of course, accotinit fo''r Seafortrh''No, 3; W, J, Yeo, •Clinton it," he rem'arlkecl. "My dear," to his No..3; R. G. Jarmvth„ Bornholm wife, "allow me bi to introduce t. Po-IAuditans — Jas. Kerr, ;Sea'foc'th- thergill Wiest to you, 'This is my son Thos. Moylan, Seaforth No. '5. atari my daughter, We le'a've cone here in search of teat, Mr. West -complete' resit." ' ""And' you could" dot' possibly have 'to a beltter +place," said I. "Olt, you this k so?" he answered; "I suppose it is very quiet indeed, and very lonely. You might walk through these country lansa at night, 1` dare say, and never meet a' soul, eh?" 'Well, there are .oat many about after: dark," I said. • "And yolu are molt much troubled with vagrants or''wandering beg- gars, eh? Nat many tinkers or tramps or rascally gypsies -no vermin off that sort a'b'out ?" "I find it rather coded," Said Mrs. Heatherstone, drawing her thick seal- skin mantle tighter round her filguic. "We are detaining Mr. West, ,too." PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical DR.' H, HUGHRO�SIS, Physicist and Surgeon, Late of Louden Hew pital,' London, England,. Speeiai attention to diseases of the eye, ret,;, nose and throat. Office and anal= dence behind Dominion Banlc. Office Phone No, 5; Residence Phone 104. DR. F. J. BURROWS,' •Seaforh.'s.' Office and residence, Goderich strews, east of the United Church, 'Coronae' for the County of Huron. T'ele;pha t No. 46. DIR. C. MIA'OIcAY.—C, Mack.'I, honor graduate of Trinity 1Univetnitp and gold medallist of Trinity Medical[ College; 'member of the; College ,pi Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.' DR. F. J. R. h10'RISITER—Eye, Eat Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medi- cine, 'University of Toronto101 Late, 'Assistant New York Opbthel- I�ffi mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London, 'England. At Comm- ercial Hotel, 'Seaforth, 3rd' Monday in each - month, from 11 a.sn. 30 $ DIR. W. C. SIPiRlO'A'T.— Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, University' of Western Ontario, London. Mcisubae' of College ' of Flhysidians and Sur- geons of Ontario. 'Office in sear oe Aberhart's ' drug store, Seafor Phone 90. Hours 1.30-4 p,m., 7.3( -9 p.m. Other hours by app'ointimea& Dental DR J. A. M'UN'N, Successor to Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North- western University, Chicago, Ill. Li- centiate Royal College , of Menta[ Sur- geons, ur geons, Toronto., Office over Sills' hardiware, Main St., Seaforth. Phase 151. DA. F. J. BECH'ELY, gradtaate Royal College of Dental Surgeoaet Toronto. Office over W. R. Smith's grocery, Main St, Seaforth. Phone;office,185'W, residence 1$5J. Auctioneer. 'GEORGE ELIfi'OTT, Licenoeel Auctioneer for:the County of limey..Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges *moderate and satisfaction gurantee+d. WATSON AND REID'� REAL ESTATE AND IN'S'U'RAN'CE AGENIC' (Succssors to James 'Watson) MATIN S'T., SiEAF1OIRTH, ONT.All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates` : in First -Clave Companies. THE McKILLOP Mutual Fire Insurance Coe. OTa be Continued). fight, Iit was surprising Want and For Sale Ads, 1 time 255c Parties desirous" to effect insurance or transact other business, well be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above namedofficers' ad- dressed to their respective • poae offices, !Cheapest of all 'Oils.—Considering the qualities of Dr. Thomas' Edec- tric Oil it is the cheapest of all prep- arations offered to the public. It is to be found in every drug store is Canada from coast to coast, and all country merchants keep it for sale. Sia, being easily procurable and extremely moderate in ,price, no one should be without a bottle of it. 'A man Went to see how he could be cured of the habit of s'n'oring. "Doers your snoring disturb yaasr wife?" "`Dices it disturb my wide?" echoed; the'm'anr "Why it disturbs the whole congregation," 1 ailof