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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1910-01-14, Page 7' "There is no tilt t to get the lantern ready," she cried 'seizing it from its peg on the wall and proceeding to light it herseli'. 'Come on —we must see what those cries aneen. Stir yourself, man; a body might die if he waited for you to move from the kitchen fire o; a winter's night to come to his rescue." The old pian xnoved from his seat with alacrity, he knew by -the rising inflection of -Esther's ,nice that a ,severe •tongne- lashi k"• ivnswin storeijifor hiliin, • and he would; have o'hear allover again every 'rnista-1 to he HQ shade for the last elttar- ter of a century. Ho hated the cold blasts of the winter nigh -t•, but that—ay, anything was;tnore easily endured than a fierce scolding from old,Esthei' when her temper was up. 4. trot through the grounds will cool her. clown a bit," he thought, grimly. Hastily donning his hat and coat, and taking the lantern from her hand, he exelaimned: "Come on, we'll investigate the cries, crazy woman. Then mebbe you'll be satisfied to come in and sit by the fire, when we've both of the makin' of pneu- mony." But, quite as soon as they crossed the threshold, the shrill cry for help, from the direction of the gat; pierced even the old man's deaf ears. CHAPTER XII. olds am Esther, syou heard ure with chattering r„teeth,a leer eyes nearly starting from their sockets. The old man did not stop to reply to her; but, with all the speed his shaking limbs could command, he hastened down toward the gate, from whence the sounds seemed to proceed, closely followed by Esther. , Norine saw the friendly rays of the lantern as the two hurried toward her. Quite as soon as they were within ear- shot she cried out lustily: "Make haste, good people; there is a dying woman out here in the snow. You must not refuse her shelter. I,Ve must see if we can do anything to save hre." "You are right!" exclaimed the old man. "We cannot refuse shelter to any human being on a night like this; but —but it would never do for my mis- tress to be made aware of it. She—she has such peculiar notions." It took all three of them to convey the inanimate body up the path and into the warmth of the old-fashioned kitchen. Both recognized Norine as soon as t light fell upon her face, but at moment War gresnegmasieeprisei, intense shock—canm o them; for, airrowing back the veil from the face ` the unconscious woman, they beheld their mistress—Mrs. Barrison—the invalid re- cluse, who had not crossed that threshold to go out into the outside world for over eighteen years. The shock was so intense that old. Esther almost fainted outright. "Am I mad, or am I dreaming?" she cried. excitedly. "Is this any old mis- tres. or is it some stranger whose fea- tures resemble hers by some odd trick of nature? Will someone tell me?" Her husbandstood staring downinto the white, set face, quite as astounded and incapable of action as herself. "My good people," cried Norine, im- patiently, "you are wasting valuable moments ---quick, get hot water, warm blankets, and a little brandy, if you have it hi the house" Her imperative words recalled old Es- ther's scattered wits. The old man was sent in all haste for the required stimnu- lants, and while he was gone old Esther —aided by Norine's nimble fingers—soon divested the cold limbs of the frozen clothing, and in less time than it takes to tell it, she was placed on the lounge, wrapped in hot blankets, before the kitchen fire, to thaw out. But each moment old Esther seemed to grow more nervous and terrified, "How came she out in time cold and snow, and—and with you?" she exclaim- ed, tremulously, adding: "Some miracle has been wrought, osonte great miracle?' Norine smiled rather amusedly. "Where the old lady has been, or was going, is, of course, unknown to me," And she related simply and clearly just how she had happened along and found her, lying in the road by the gate, adding that the only miracle she could see was how she happened to choose that road to go home by, instead of the one she usual- ly took, despite the drifts. "Jt was tate that you should find her , and save her from .deatli, out in the cold and the bitter winter night," said old Esther, solemnly, looking into the girl's fair young face with an expression so strange, so uncanny, that Norine could never forget it. Wlien all that was possible -to be done for the hapless woman had been accom- plished, Norine took down her hat and coat,. remarking: "I must go now; nay grandpa and grandma will begin to feel worried about me. If I may I should ..eke to call in to -morrow for a few moments to see how the poor lady has 'gotten along." "Do, child, do," murmured old Esther, taking her hand and looking down into her eyes with that same strange expres- sion again, adding in an agitated voice: "She refuses to see pepple who may chance to come here, but—but when I tell her how you saved her life, surely she cannot'refuse to see you, little dear." Old Esther followed Norine to the door, still looking anxiously into her face, like one strangely fascinated. As the girl reached the threshold, she laid a hand on her arm, whispering tremulously: "Tell me, Norine Gordon, do—do you not know who it is whose life you have just saved?" "Certainly, you have just said that she was your mistress—Mrs. Barrison: whom the villagers often speak of." "What do they say of her?" queried old Esther, her hold upon the girl's arm tightening. "That no one, save the, oldest inhabit- ants of Hadley, have ever seen her; that she is a recluse; and—and they do say that she is a miser, and has pots and pots of gold hidden somewhere in the walls of this old stone house," replied Norine. "And do they speak of -of nothing else to you?" whispered old Esther, with in- tense eagerness. "No," returned Norine. "Did --did your grandma, or—or your grandpa never mention her to you? Ah, surely they must have done so" Norine shook her curly head. "No doubt that was wisest and best, but—but I cannot understand it," mut- tered old Esther, adding: "Of course, you will tell them about — about how you saved the poor soul's life, when you go home. If you do, will you give them this message, that old Esther prays that they will let you come to see Mr Barrison t once—even though i .ha last as well as st-. she pan yoi you for o ife. Yo never tell what may . 67 it— you can't, indeed, Promise ;,hat you will plead with them to let you conte." "It wiII.not need a prayer; they are good and kind; they will be sure to Wish me to come to see how the lady is." "God grant it," breathed Esther, fer- vently. Again Norine was 'about to pass over the threshold when old Esther's grasp fell detainingly on her arm. "Good -night, and God bless you, lit- tle Norine,"' she murmured. should like to make one request. You must not think it bold 'of ant old ser- vant like me. I—I should like to kiss you, just once, for the young mdther's sake, whom you lost so many years ago. You—you look like her, little Norine." The girl stopped short. "For my mother's sake," she repeated, tremulously, "and. you say I look like her. Did you ever see my poor, hapless young mother; and—and is it possible that you could have known her?" "Yes," replied odl Esther, `I—I knew her when she was a bonny lass like you are now, and—and I held her in my arms when she was a tiny little babe—a laughing, cooing ,mite—with eyes bluer than young violets in early spring, and hair more golden than the glinting sun. - shine." In an instant Norine's warm, pulsing young arms were around the withered old neck, andm laughing and crying in the same breath, she cried out: "You—knew iny—mother2 How wonderful! I ---I shall love you all my life fon' that. Do you knout that there is no one in the whole village of Hadley who ever saw my poor young mother, or knew of her, except grandma and grandma?" "That is small wonder," returned old Esther, "for she did not go out among the village folks, she spent most of her young days at school in San Francisco, and—and came only on vacations ta— to visit her mother; and it was on one of those vacation visits home that—But there, what • am I chattering about? Good -night, go quickly, Norine, and— and God bless you, child!". "I will be sure to come to you again,. to talk with you about my mother" MADE LikmtvA 611! I r. rL � y8. ARE SoAFiiaEs It is to the advantage of every housekeeper in Canada to use, them hlagic Baking Powder. Gillett's Perfumed Lye. Imperial Baking Powder., Gillett'a Cream Tartar. Royal Toast Cakes. • Gillett's Mammoth Bine. Magic Baking Soda. Gillett's Washing Crystal. MALE FOR OVER 90 YEARS (Eitabliebed leg) said Norine, gravely. "Grandpa and grandma cry so when they mention her, that I have never been able to ask them much about her." "Come, and welcome, child," responded old Esther. Norine turned away, flitting rapidly as a swallow out into the coldness and darkness of the night, She had scarcely proceeded a dozen rods up the road, ere she ran. directly into the arms of Clifford Carlisle, the man evho had sworn to himself that he must win this lovely wild flower, even though wedding her was out of the ques- tion. CHAPTER, XIII. "Norine!" exclaimed Clifford Carlisle, amazedly, "can this really be you, out in this fearful storm? 'Where on earth could you have been, little etre?" "In the first place," replied the girl I have been to the bedside of one of i C' u R jj You can .painiessl remove an c o H O U ks hard., soft or bleeding, ly applying y cern, flit ' 6, ogres, l mam's ti01'il .i�Xtraetvi' it never rt#aiS, leaves no scar, contains no acids; is harmless because composed only of healing gums end balms, Petty year+ 111 25c. b Cure t' liefuse substiti tea all di'uggsts PUTN`aM'S PAINLESS CORN EXTRACTOR ill, and, I would have beeu home long ere this had I not been detailed by—" • ."Fate!" interposed Carlisle, stopping the rest of the sentence on the girl's lips with a kiss, adding: ".bate was kind enough to detain you until I happened along, that we might hags a fewt bl}ss- ful moments tog'etlier. I ought to and do feel very much. obligedeto Fate." He could feel the ,little hand tremble in grasp. "Vest me tell you wha': brought rite out on this awful night, :brine" he murmured, '"and even as- I confess it, I hope you will not think •me in your heart a foolish fellow. I left the warm fireside of my room to wander past your cottage home, telling myself 1 would be amply repaid it I but caught a glimpse of your dear form upon the curtain. "Now I can see why that boon was denied me. I have found a sweeter and far greater pleasure in meeting you, in having a few delightful stolen mo- ments with the dearest little girl in all the world, with the dark sable of night drawn close. about us that no one may see how I strain her to my heart and kiss her beautiful lips over and over again until the sweet passion maddens me, and I vow that I would have walked twenty times:as far to be repaid at last by a few moments like these. But what about the old people 'who guard you more carefully than the crown jewels are guarded? How on earth did they happen to let you out 'at night, and alone?" "I was to have been home over two hours ago—before it was quite dark. If grandpa were not feeling so poorly he would have been out to met nuc ere this. I shall have to make all possible haste home to them, Mr. Carlisle" "I shall walk as far as the gate with you, Norine," he said, "and we can talk as we go along. I have so much to talk to ydu about." "Will it not be a long 'walk for you to return?" she asked, anxiously. "The distance can never be too far when we are beside those whom we love," he answered, softly*, "Yes, that is' the exact situatioai of of ,tars, Norine, sweet—I love yotps•o niad! so desper- ately, that I would wade hrough seas of ice, cross fields of bloo, to be with you for ons brief half hou . I had in- tended to take desperate 'chances to see you to -night, dear ,for I ave something to tell you °' - '+ ley the da cannot you g 130- Se as death— tract in pain, and the y eyes fill with great passionate tears, but isle could feel the girl's slender form sway to ane fro like a flower in a terrific gala. If he had not held her clasped tightle in his arms she would have fallen face downwt•rd in the deep snow. "You do care for me. Norine, or you would not take may going so deeply to heart as this," he murmured, hoarsely. "Do not delude yourself in, believing Send for free sample to Dept, 1. L., Na- tional Drug" & Chemical Co., Toronto. Muskrats, Raccoon, Red Fox Write for prices. W. C. CCFFA' `ll' ORIL41.4, ONT. 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Tti + OItLSTT CO,, i4 no. .;ento Ott. - the village children who is very, very O. w !It that you do not, sweet, for 1 assure you you do; your every atioti tells me so, There. there,do not' weep little girl: triose pretty eyes of yours were never made for teats." As he . had stated, he had much to say to the girl, but -once again fate in- tcrvened in the shape of Norine's old grandfather, Mica bad conte out, lantern in hand, into the 'letc�tmse cold and the darkness, to Search for the ewo lamb that was lost from the fold. - Clifford Carlisle heard his voice quite as soon as he beheld the twinkling light and a muttered imprecation broke foul his lips. "1 suppose I shall. have to leave you here, sweetheart," he murmured, ruefully, as be caught her ie his arms, and straining her to his heart, covered her face with such !tot, burning; passionate kisses, that it was little wonder her sweet, innocent young heart, ay, her very - sonl, seemed to go from her into his keeping in that thrilling, blissful, intense moment of entrancing love—a moment that seemed the height and the depth of eternity, "He spoke of glowing love --such love as lovers feel, In words whose course is equable and pure; No fears to beat away, no strife to heal The past unsighed for, the future. • sure." And even as he strained her thus to his heart, he was deliberately planning in his 'Mind a future whoch would be more cruel than death for beautiful Nor- ine, if she would but listen to his en. treaties. She was so different in her sweet, childish guilelessness from every other girl that he had ever met efore, that he did not feel quite sure of her, despite the knowledge that lie had won her heart. It was only when the swinging lan- tern came so near that he feared dis- covery that he tore himself from her clasp and fled backward through the darkness over the path which they had but just traversed. "How glad I shall be to get out of this place and start back to civilization the day after to -morrow," he muttered, swinging open, the gate and hurrying up the broad walk at a lively pace. - As he neared the house, he hear dis- tinctl3- the sound of excited voices from within, and with a guilty start he stood quite motionless, clearly exemplifying the trite and true old saw. "The guilty flee when no man pursueth." "What can be the matter in here 2" he muttered, undecided whether he should enter or not. "Can it be that my sins have found me out already. Sure- ly not. I---_" He did not have time to finish the sentence, for the door suddenly open• e.d and his valet rushed hastily out. "Stop! Where are you going. What's up in there?" inquired Carlisle, hastily id hoarsely, suddenly appearing before ran and bloc -' path. -4s it you Carlisle?" ex - ed the man, c t a quick breath relief; "the old lady am berry sick n dare, an' I'm sent for to fetch a doc- tor quick, sah!" Clifford Carlisle could not repress the excited exclamation that broke from his lips. "About to shuffle off this mortal coil at last, is she?" he cried, "Good luck seem, to come in a bunch," he mut- tered, as lie turned on his heel away from his valet and entered the house. In the wide entracne hall he paused, wondering if it would be best to steal up to his room without attracting at- tention, or to go directly up to lIrs. l3arrisn's apartment, saying that he had been out to mail a letter or some equal- ly feasible excuse for not hurrying soon- er to her presence. for, of course, they must have been to his room to call him to her bedside. Ile found Max, Barrison lying upon her bed, her face white as it would ever e in death, while old Esther stood by- the bedside, wringing her hands in the most intense grief and muttering strange, un- intelligible words which Carlisel could not quite catch. "What in the world is the difficulty, dear Aunt Prances?" he exclaimed, in a well -simulated tone of, alarm, as he sprang quickly to the bedside and bent over the sick woman. Was' it only his fancy that she shrank from him. growing icy cold under his touch, and that there was an expres- sion of intense horror in the steadfast gaze of the dark, burning eyes flaring upinto his own? "Why don't erou speak, dearest aunt?" he murmured. "I beg of you, do not keep your loving nephew in such excruciating suspense!" "She can't speak to you," exclaimed old Esther, be ginning to sob afresh. "Don't you sec that she is paralyzed." Somehow, she could not tell him how it happened; she never knew how it was that &he yielded to the sudden re- solve to keep her mistress' strange es- capade from this young man. With her unerring judgement, she plainly saw that Clifford Carlisle's in- terest in Mrs. Barrison's welfare was only assumed. "He expects to be heir to all her wealth," thought old Esther, "and I would not be surprised if he would only be too glad if the poor old soul would die and the soner the better pleased he would be." CHAPTER XIV. No, old Esther could not bring herself to tell Clifford Carlisle that her hapless mistress had been out in the cold and storm of that awful night—that she had crossed the threshold for the first time in many years. Perhaps her mistress might not wish it told. Clifford Carlisle did not think to ask how this state of affairs had come about he was so busy calculating what the re• suit of her present indisposition would be.: Paralyzed! Well, it would be a miracle, he told himself, if she , ever re- eovered from that. There was' one thing he must attend to, he promised himself, and that, too, before many hours should elapse—t. i Children's Chest Trouble Nurse Carrington Says Het Long Experience Proves th Safest Remedy is to U➢Et ON NE V LIN ! Every mother knows how difficult it is to get a young child to take a cough mixture. Seldom will one help unless given in large doses, and the result is to coml:l ately upset the stomaioh and make the child sick. Speaking of the promptest cure for ohest troubles and children's colds, Nurse Carrington says: "In all my ex- perience in nursing I haven't met any preparation so dependable as Nerviline. It is the ideal liniment. Every drop you cub on is absorbed quickly, sinks through the pores to the congested mus- cles, eases, relieves, and cures quickly, Especially for chest colds, pain in the side, stiff neck, earache, toothache, I have found Nerviline invaluable. In treating the minor ills of iehildren Nervilino used every year—this is it- self a burden of proof that it is the - ideal liniment for the home. Refuse any- thing your dealer may offer instead of Nerviline. Large bottles 25c, five for $1.00. Sold everywhere, and by The Ca- tarrhozone Co., Kingston, Ont. He took advantage of old Esther's mo. =eatery absence to whisper in the sick woman's ear: "Dear Aunt Barrison, is there an', thingyou would like me to attend to in this hour for you—any papers you would like me to look for in your writ- ing desk to sign? I do not wish to alarm you unnecessarily, but when a sudden illness comes to any of us it is always wisest and best to attend to anything of importance which we have left undone, such as, perhaps, the sign- ing of a will, or anything of that kind. You have only to clasp my hands, ever so slightly, to signify that you agree with me and wish me to bring you any such papers that may be in your desk." As he spoke, he bent over her, but he was scarcely prepared for the surprise he met with, for with all her strength, she suddenly sprang forward, grasped him by the shoulders, flinging him from her in a veritable frenzy of madness, her features working convulsively in her wild effort to speak, great flecks of foam ooz- ing from her rigid lips. If eyes could kill, Clifford Carlisle would have lain dead, slain by the horri- ble fire in the eyes that glared at him so luridly. He picked himself up with a muttered • curse. "Let me think what to do," he mut- "For some reason you have changed to- ward ane. You liked me this afternoon; to -night, for some unaccountable reason, you hate me. Ia =dt not so?" Frances Barrison nodded her head vig- orously. He stood quite still and looked down at her, baffled hopes and intense rage plainly stamped on his contorted face. "Let met hink what to do," he mut- tered, "Ah, I will take some strong brandy; there is nothing like it for for- tifying a man's brain in a time like this." (To be continued.) THE DOCTOR SAID 6�E COULD NOT LVE An Almost fatal Illness Following An Attack -of LaG rippe. The danger from grip is seldom over when the characteristic symp- toms, the fever, the headache and the depression of spirits, pass away. Grip leaves behind it weakened vital powers, thin, watery blood impaired digestion and over -sensitive nerves— a condition that makes the system an easy prey to pneumonia, bron- chitis, rheumatism, nervous prostra- tion and even consumption. • Too much stress cannot be laid on the importance of strengthening the blood and, nerves during convales- cence, and for this purpose no other medicine can equal Dr. Wiliams' Pink Pills, which contain the elements neces- sary to enrich the blood and restore weakened nerves. Mr „fames L. Whit- man, Mulgrave, N. S., says: "Following a severe attack of La Grippe I was com- pletely prostrated. The doctor who at- tended me said that my whole system had gone wrong. My heart was affected, my kidneys weakened, digestion impair- ed, and to make the trouble worse I had a hemorrhage of the bowels, and nearly bled to death. The doctor said I could not live, and told my wife to tell me that I had better settle up my world- ly affairs. I did not care to live, my suf- ferings were so intense. I could not sleep, any ankles and feet were swollen, and my complexion very yellow. Friends came to see me for the last time, and one of these, amore hopeful than the oth- ers, persuaded me to try Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. While I had but little faith that .they would help me, I decided to try them. Quite soon they seemed to benefit me, for my appetite improved and my heart became stronger. Contin- uing the use of the ptiis, it was not long before I was able to be out of bed, and after using fifteen boxes I am in good health for a 'man of my age. The doc- tor and those who knew of my case look upon me as a living wonder, as none of them expected me to get bet- ter.' You can get Dr. Williams' 1?ink Pills from any medicine dealer or by mail at 50 cents a box or six boxes for $2,40, from The Dr, Williams' Medicine Co., Brockville, Ont. • I. The . The woman who wears tri; , ,