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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1932-08-11, Page 6AGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS. Revenge Mysterious 4 , D oyle ('Continued from last week). den for hint as r noticed his uncouth !nervous movements, his furtive glen I paciificd' her as well as I could, • ces and twitching features, " l� t would have believed that this slink tog, covering creature had once been a dashing officer, v ho hadfought--the battles of his country and had won the palm of 'bravery among the hos, of brave men around him? In spite of the ald soldier's' vigil- ance, we managed to hold communi- cation with our friends, Inrmedia'teiy behind the Hall there was a spot where the fencing had been so care- lessly erected that two of the rails could be removed without difficulty, leaving a 'broad gap, Which' gave us the opportunity for many a stolen in and led her home with me, where I took care that she should have some hot port negus before going to bed. 1 avoided the subject of the TT'^ -'her stones for fear of exciting her, and She dad not recur to it of her own ac- cord. I was convinced, however, from what I had heard from her that she had for some time back been making her own observations upon our neigh- bors, and thatin doing so she had put a considerable strain upon her nerves. I could see that the mere fact of the Hall being illuminated at night -was not enough to account for her ex= treme agitation, and that it must, terviev, though they were necessarily short, for the general's movements were erratic, and no part of the grounds was secure from his visite- weird or unpleasant impression 'upon tions. Iter :Lind. That was the conclusion How vividly Dire of these hurried which I sante to at the time; and I meetings rises before vie! It stands have 'reason to know now that I was out clear, peaceful, and distinct amid right, and that my sister" had even the wild, mysterious incidents which more cause than I had myself for be- were destined to lead up: to 'the ter - Hering that there was something un- rible catastrophe which has cast a cacny about the tenants of Cloomb- shade over our lives. I can rernem- ber er. that as I walked through the Our interest in the matter may fields the grass was damp with- the have arisen at first from nothing rain of the morning, and the air was higher than curiosity; hot events soon heavy with the smell of the: fresh- took a turn which associated us more turned earth, Gabriel was waiting for closely with the fortunes of the Hea- me under the hawthorn tree outside therstc'ne family. Mordaunt had taken the gap, and we stood hand-in-hand advantage of my invitation to -come looking down at the long sweep of down to the laird's house, and on sev- moorland, and at the broad blue chant oral occasions he brcrtfght with him isel which encircled it with its fringe his 'beautiful sister. The -fcur of us of foam. Far away in the northwest Wander over the moors together; or, the sun glinted upon the high peak of perhaps, if the day were fine, set sail \fount 'Throston. From where we upon our little skiff and stand off into stood we could see the smoke of the the Irish sea. On such excursions the steamers as they plowed along the brother and eieter would be as hap- busy water -way which leads to Bel- py and as merry as two children. It fast. was a keen pleasure to them to es- "15 it not magnificent? Gabriel cape from their dull fortress, and to cried, clasping her hands round my see, if enly for a few hours, friendly arm, "Ah, John. why are we not free and sympathetic faces round them. to sail away over these waves to- There could be but one result when gether, and leave all our troubles be - four young people were brought to- bind us on the shore?" gether in sweet forbidden intercourse, "And what are the troubles which Acquaintanceship warmed in friend- you would leave behind you, dear ship, and friendship flamed suddenly one?" T asked, "!fay I not know into :rove, Gabriel Bits'beside me now th:m, and help you to' bear them?" as I write, and she agrees with me "I have no secrets from you, John" that, dear as is the subject to our- she answered. "Our chief trouble is, selves, the whole story of our mutual as you may guess, our poor father'e affection is of too personal a nature strange behaviour. Is it not a sad to be more than touched upon in this thing for all of us that a man who has statement. Suffice it to say that, with- played such .a distinguished part in in a felt weeks of our first meeting, the world should skulk from one o•b- M'ordaunt Heatherstone had won the scure corner of the country to an - heart of my dear sister, and Gabriel other, and should ,defend himself ,with had given me that pledge which death locks and barriers as though he were itself will not be able to break. a common thief flying from. justice? I have alluded in this brief way to This is a trouble, John, which it is the double tie which sprang up be- out of your power to alleviate." tween the two familiiee, 'because I "But why does he do it, Gabriel?" have tip wish that this narrative I asked. should degenerate into anything ap- "I cannot tell," she answered frank_ proaching to romance or that I iy. "I know only that he imagines Should lose the thread of the facts some deadly danger to be hanging which I have set myself to chronicle, over his head, and that this danger These are connected with General was incurred by him during his stay Heatheratone and only indirectly with in India. What its n%tune may be I my own personal history, Itis enough have no more idea than you have.", if I say that after our engagement the "Then your brother has," ,I re- visits to Branksome became more fee- :narked, "I am sure; from the way in quent, and that our friends were able which he spoke to me about it one sometimes to spend a whole day with day that he knows what it is, and that us when business had called the gets- he looks upon it as real." eral to Wigtown, or When his gout "Yes, he knows, and so does my c'on'fined him to his room. As to our mother," she answered; "but they ,good father, he was ever ready to have always kept it secret from • me. greet us with many small jests ep- My, poor .father as very excited atpre- propriate to the occasion; for we had sent. Day and' night he is in an agony to secrets from hint, and he already of apprehension, but it will soon be looked;. upon us all as his children, the Seth of October, and after that he 'There were times when on account will be at peace." of some peculiarly dark or restless 'fit "Haw do you know that?'-" I asked of 'else general's it was impossible for .in surprise. weeks on end for either:. Gabriel or "By experience," said she gravely. Mordaunt to get away from the "On the 5th of 'October, these fears gno.umds..,The old man would even of his come to a crisis, For yeaes'back stand an guard at the avenue gate, he has been in, the habit of ;locking or pace up and` drown the drive, as Mord:aunt and myself tap in our rooms though, he steepeated' that attempts ani the date, so -that we have no idea had been made to penetrate 'his se- of whet occurs; • but we ,have always elusion. P,a'ssling of an evening 1 have routed that he has 'been, much reliev- seen his dark, grim figure .flitting ed afterward, and has continued to be about' in the shadow of the trees,. or comparatively in peace until that day caught a ,glimpse :df his hard angular began to draw round aga'in, face peering out .at me from' 'behind the bars. My i elart would often sad - THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1932 was drawing to a close. "By the wa clearest, why is it that yogi .light "u all your roonirs at night?" "You have noticed it then?" sh said. "It comes also from any father fears. He does not like to have on dark sor ter :m the whole house. I3 wanks about •a goad deal at night, an, inspects everything, Freon the attic right down to the cellars. He ha large lamps .in every room and ever corridor, even the empty ones, an he oorder s the servants to light then all at dusk" ani rather surprised that yo manage to keep your servants," I said laughing. "The maids in these pard are a superstitious class, and. thei in eaginations are easily excited b anything which they don't ,under stand," 'The enok and both housemaids ar .from (London; and are used to ou ways. We pay then: on a very hig scale to make up for an inconveni ences to which they may be put. Is rael Stake.,: the coachman, is the• onl one- nein conies from this part of th country, and he seems to be a stolid honest fellow, who is not easil scared." "Poor little; girl," ,exclaimed, look - o rp•,"dov,m, at the slim, graceful figure, by my side. "This.js .no atmo�sphere for you tp live in.' Why will you not let me rescue you from it? Why won't you allow me to go, straight -;and ask t the general for your':hared? At the worst he coiled only refuse,"' ,She turned quite haggard and pale at; the very thought. ',Tor God's ,sake, John," she cried earnestly,, "do nowt& ing of the kind: He would whip us all away in the dead of the night, and within a week we should be settling down again in some wilderness where we might never have a chance of see- ing or heading. from you again. Be- sides, he never would forgive us for venturing out of the grSun'ds," "I do'n't think that he' is si hard- hearted mean, ,I remarked. "I have seen a kindly look in his eyes, for all his stern face." "He can be the kindest of fathers," she answered: "But he is terrible when opposed or+thrwarted. ,Yon have never seen' him so, - and I trust you never atilt, It was that strength of will and impatience of opposition which made him such a splendid of- ficer, I assure you that in India every one thought a great deal of him, The soldiers were afraid of him, but they would have followed hlim anywhere." "And had he these nervous attacks then?" "Occasionally; but not neatly so' acutely. Ile seems to think that the danger — whatever it may be — be- comes .more imminent every year. Oh, John, it is terrible to be waiting like this with a sword over our heads— and all the more terrible to me since I have no idea where the blow is to come from," "Dear Gabriel," 1 said, tacking her hand and drawing her to my side, "look over all this pleasant country - aide and the broad blue sea. Is it not all peaceful and beautiful? In these cottages, with their red -tiled roofs peeping out from the' gray moor, live none but simple, God-fearing men, who toil hard at their crofts and beam enmity to no `man. Within seven miles of us is a large town, with every civilized appliance for. the preservation of order. Ten miles far- ther there is a garrison quartered, and a telegram would at any time 'bring down a company of soldiers. Now, I ask you, dear, in the name of common sense, what conceivable dan- ger could threaten you in this seclud- ed neighborhood, with the means of Help so near? You assure nee that the peril is not connected with your fa- ther's health?" "No, I am sure of that. It is true that Dr, Easterling, o'fStranraer, has been over to see him once of twice, but that was merely for sone 'small indisposition. I can assure you that the clanger is not to be looked for in that direction." "Then I can assure .you," said I, laughing, "that there,is no clanger at all. It must • be some strange mono- mania or hallucination. No other hy- pothesis, will cover the facts." "Would my father's monomania ac- count for .the Palet ornf, my brot'her's hair be'dug turned gray andany moth- er wasting aw-ay to a mere shadow:?" "Undoubtedly," I answered. "The long -continued worry of the general's restlessness and irritability, bat they have had no such effect upon me. The difference between' us Hes in the fact that they know this awful -sec- ret and we do' not." ' "My dear girl," said 1,, "the days of family,, apparitions' and that kind'- off thing are gone, Nobody is haunted nowadays, so we ,can ,putt that : sup- position out of the question: Having done so, what remains? There is, alb soiutely no other theory which• could even .be ,suggested. Believe me, the whole mystery is that the ,heat of India hies been toe mach for your poor 'fat'her's brain," \What 'she would ,liave answered I anatbt tell,' for at that Moment s'he nave a start as ilf some sound had fall-' n' upon, hier ear....A•s she looked round y, ep'prchensiveiy I suddeniy ,.saw lien p"features become rigid and her eyes fixed and 'dilated. Following the cllrec- c tion of her gaze, I felt a sudden thrill 's o'e fear pass through .me as I per- ceived a Mitran 'face surveying us• from r e f 'behind one of the ri-ees—a false d ever feature of v y o witch was dtstortecl s by the most malignant hatred and s anger. Feinting himself observed he y stepped out and: advanced toward es', d when I San' that it was none other n than the general himself. His 'beard was all a -:bristle with fury, and his u deep-set eyes glowed- from under' their heav'i'ly veined lids with a most s' Sinister and demoniacal brag }:tress, y CHAIPTER VT. Ilo.w• I Became to be Enlisted as One e of the Garrison of Clioomlber, ' ,r h' "To your room, girl!" he cried in a - hoarse, harsh voice, stepping between - us and pointing autheritaitively tow= y ard the house. He waited until Gab- e rid, with• a last fdightened glance at me, had passed through thegap, and y then he 'turned union me with an ex- pression so murderous titan' I step'pe'd back a pace or two, and 'tightened. nay grasp upon my oak stick. "You you —" he- sputtered; with his hand up to his throat, as tho'u'gh his fury were choking hem. "You have dared to intrude upon my priiv'acy! Do you thlinik 1 built this fence that all the vermin in the country tndght congregate rotund it! Oh, you have been very near death, my fine -fel- low!' You will never be nearer until your time comes. Look at this!" He pulled a Squat, thick pistol out of his bosom. "h1 you had passed through - that gap and set foot on my land I'd have let daylight into you I'•11 have no vagabonds bete! I know how to treat, gentry of that sort, w'heth'er their faces are black or white." "Sir,"' said I, "I meant no hart: by coming here, and I do not know how I have deserved , this extraordin:a'ry outburst. Allow me to observe, how- ever, that you are still covering me with your pistol, and that, as your hand is rather tremulous, it is more than possible that it may go off. If you don't turn the muzzle' down I shall be compelled ,in self-defense to strike you over the wrist with my stick." , "'What .the devil brought you here, then? he asked in a more composed voice, putting his weapon back into his bosom. "can't a gentleman' live quietly wlt-hout your conning to peep and pry? Have you neo.' busin'es's of Your own .to look after, eh? And my daughter how came you 'to know anything of her? and w'ha't have you been trying to squeeze out of her? It wasn't chance that brought you here." • have derived its importance in her eyes from being one in a chain of incidents, all of which had left a 'Then you have only ten days or so g to wait:," I remarked, for September e' "No," said T, boldly, "it was not chance which brought me here. I have had several opp'ortunitie's of see- ing your daugther and of appreciat- ing her many noble qualities. We are engaged to be married to each other, and carne up with the express inten- tion of seeing her," Instead of blazing into a 'fu'ry, as I had expected, the general gave a long whistle' of astonishment, and then leaned up against the railings. laughing softly to himself. "English terriers are fond of play- ing with worms," he remarked at last. "When we used to bring' them out to India they used to trot off into the jungle and begin sniffing, at what they imagined to he worms there. But the 1, worn turned out to be a venomous! snake, and so poor doggy paid the penalty. I think you'll find yourself in a somewhat analogous position if you don't look ant." • "You surely don't mean to cast an aspersion upon your own daughter?" I; said, flushing with indignation. "Oh, Gabriel is all right," he ans- wered, icarelessly, "Our family is not exactly ranee, however, which 3 should recommend 'a'young 'fellow to marry ito. And pray how is itthat I was not informed o'f this snug little ar- rangement of yours?" "4Ve were afraid, sir, that you• might separate us," I replied, feeling that penfe'ct candor was the 'beset pol- icy under the cincutnatan'ces, "It is possible ' that we were Mistaken, Be- fore conning' to any (final decision I implore you to remember that the happiness • o'f ;both of us is at stake. It is in your power to divide our bodies, but our. souls shall the for- ever united." "My good' fellow," said the general, in a not unkindly tone, "you don't know .what you are asking for. iTihere is a gulf 'between you .and any one of the blood of Heatherstone w'hic'h can. never Ibe bridged over." All trace of anger !head vanished now from. his Manner, anod given place to an ',airof somewhat contemptuous amusement. My family pride took fire at his words, "The gulf may ,he less' than than you imaginre II said coldly. "We are not: clad'hoplpense 'because ,we lige in this o'ut•.of=bhe-way place. . I ant 'of noble descent on io.ne slide, and my mother was •a iBuohan of ;Buchan. nassrre you that there is, no such 'dis:parity, be'twe'en us as you sten' to imagine." "Yost misunderstand elle," the gen- eral. answered. "It is op our nide oehait the .disparity lies 'There are reasons why ivy' daughter laabriel sihould 'live and clic angle, at would not be to your advantage to marry. her," "But sanely, sir," I persisted, "I the best judge of my own interests and advantages. iSinee you Make -this round 11 beco•nees easy; for r I S Y, do assure you that the one interest f : h overrides r all others is that tI should heave 'the woman I love for my wife. If this .is your only objection .to our match, you may sanely ,giive •us your consent, for any clanger gar trial which I may in'cu'r in niarryung`�Gabreel..t�nill not'weight with nnee one ifeather- weight„ "Here's a young bantam!" exclaim, ed the old soldier,: smiling at . my warmth. "its easy to 'defy danger wthen, you don't know what the danger is," "What is qt, then?" I asked, hotly, "There is no earth'ly' peril which wi\l drive -Inc drone ,Galbriel's side. ;Let nee lcnow* what it is and test me." "No, no. 'Thai would never •do,".the answered wiitha sigh, ,,andthen, thoughtfully, as if speaking his :rind aloud. "IIe has plenty of pluck, and is a avelll :grown tad'.too." He 'went one mumbling to hi'm'self with a va'can't Stale in his eyes as if he had forgot- ten my :presence. "Look here, West," he said pres- ently. "You'll eslc'use me if I spoke hastily a little time ago. Lt is the sec- ond otlime that S heave .had occasion to apo'logize to you a for the same of- 'feuse, 'Lt c'han't o'ocur again. I>am 'ra- ther over partitcullar, no doubt, in, •my desire for complete isolation; but ,I have good reasons for insisting on the point. Rightly or wrongly, I have got at into my head that some day there might he an organized raid upon my grounds. 111 anything of the sort should occur I suppose I might reckon 'upon your assistance ?" "With all -my 'heart." "So• that if ever you -got a message such as 'Come up," or even simply 'Cloomberl' you would know that it was an appeal for help, and. •,would hurry up immediately, even if it were in the dead 'of night?" "Most certainly I should," 3 ans- wered. "But alight I ask you what the nature of the clanger is which you apprehend?" "There 'wosildbe nothing gained by your, knowing. !Indeed, you would ha'rd'ly -understand it if I told you. I must hide you good day now, .for I have stayed with you top.' long, Re- member, I count upon You as one of the 'Cloanvber garrison now," "One other thing, sir," Isaid, hur- riedly, for he was turning away; "I hope that you will ,not be angry with, your :daughter for, anything which I have told you. I:t was for my sake that she kept it all seoret from you." "_All right,' he said, with his cold, estrutable ,smile, ''I ant not such an gee in the ,bosom of 'my family as ou seem to think. As to, this near - lege question, I should advise you s a friend to let it drop altogether., tit if that is impossible I must insist hat it stand over .completely for, the urn events may- take. Good -bey!" Ile lunged into the wood and :was quick - out of slight among the dense plan - it 0 y. a b p ly tation, !Thus ended this extraordinary in- terview, in which this strange man had begun by .pointing a loaded pis- tol at my breast and ,had ended by partially acknowledging the possibil- ity of my becoming his future sov- in-law. I hardly knew whether to be cast down or elated aver it. On the otic hand he was Likely, by keeping a closer watch over his daughter, to prevent us from comae inicaeing 'a's freely as we had done hitherto. Ag- ainst this there was -the advantage of braving obtained an im'p'liedconsent to the renewal of my suit at some fu- ture date. On the 'whole, I came to the cpn'clusmon as I walked thought- fully home that I had improved my position by the 'incident. But this clanger -- this shadowy, unspeakable danger—which appeared to rise up at every turn, and to hang day and night aver the 'towers' of Cloamber! Rack my brain' as I would I could not -conjure u.p any solution to the problem which was. ,551'1 puerile and inadequate. One fact struck ne as significant. Both the father and the son had assured rte, independent- ly of each other, that if I were told what the peril was, I would hardly realize .its signifi'cantce. iHow strange and 'bizarre must the fear be which can 'scarce Ibe'eepreesed in ,in- telligible language. I held up my hand in'the 'darkness before I turned: to sleep that night, and I swore that no power of -'nnan or devil sileouldl ever weaken my •love for thee- woman whose pure heart,il had had the .good fortune (To be Continued), "I -lad iany bites?" ,asked the passer- by. "Yds," telplied the fisher. "One Mos- quito and a couple of gnats." PROFES'SIONAI, CARDS Medical D.R. t. H. IkUIGIII ROSS; Physician and Surgeon. eon u g Late of London 'FIom•• pita]," Lon don, England. Sipeciral. attention to, diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and resi- dence behind. Dominion Bank. Office Phone No, 5; R • esadence Phone 1104. DR. F. J. BURROWS, Seaforth. Office and residence, Goderioh street' east of the United Church, Dorene for the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46, DR, C. IvIAOIOAY.e-C. Macke% honor graduate -of Trinity University' and gold medallist of Trinity Medical College; member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. DIR. F. J, R, F1O'PSTEIR—Eye, Ez'i Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medi- cine, University of Toronto um. Late Assistant New York Opfibhal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's• Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London, England. At Comm- ercial Hotel, Seafolbh, 31d Monday is.. each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, DIR. W. C, SIPIRIOIA'T. Graduate of• Faiculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London. Member of College of Physicians , and Sur-, geofre' of Ontario.. Office in rear ode Aberhart's drug store, Seaforth, Phone 90. .Hours 1.30-4 p.m,, 7.30si 4 p.m. Other hours by appointmen't. Dental DIR. J. A. MLTNN, Successor be. Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North— western University, Chicago, III, li— centiate Royal College of Dental Sur-. geons,- Toronto. Office over Sills' hardware, Main St, Seaforth. Phone.. 151. DR. F. J. B'EOHELY, graduate. Royal College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto. Office over W. R. Smith's grocery, Main St., Seaforth. P.hones, office 185W, residence 185J. Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements .can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charge& moderate acid satisfaction guranteed. WATSON AND REID'S REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY eallIke, (Succsaors to James Watson) MAtI'N S'T., SEAFORTH, ONT. 'All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed atlowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP Mutual Fire Co,.ralusuraucpp � G FARM . AND ISOLATED TOWN PROPERTY, 0 N L Y, INSURED• Officers John Bennewies, B'rod- hagen, ,President; Jas. 'Connolly, 'God- erich, Vice -'Pres,; D. F. McGregor, Seaforth No. 4, 'Sec; Treas, Dieectors-:Ge.Sec.-Treas. . R, McCartney, Sea - forth No. 3; Alex. Broadfoot, 'Sea - forth No, 3; Janes Evans, Seafartle No, '5 tRobt. ,Ferris, Rye +No. 1;; Jas. Sholdice, Walton No. 4; john Pepper, Brucefeld; ,William Knox, Londes- borough. Agents—Jas, Watt, Blyth No. 1; W. E. 'Hanchley';Seaforth; J. A. Murray, Seaforth No. 3; W. J. Yeo, 'Ciintom No. .3; R. G. IJ'arenuth, Bornholm, 'Auditors •= jas. 'Kerr, ISeaforth.e Thos. Moylan, :Seaforth No. 5. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be - promptly attended to by applications, to •any of the above natned officers ad- dressed to their respective poste offices. Cheapest of all Oils.—Considering. the qualities, of Dr. Thomas' Eclec- tric Oil it is the cheapest of all prep-- arations offered , to the public. . I•tis, to be found • in every drug store int Canada from coast to coast and all. country merchants keep it for sale, So, being easily procurable and extremely moderate in ,price, no one should be without a bottle of le: Want and For Sale Acts, 1 time 250^