HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1928-09-27, Page 6A. Colonial's Romance
ii By J. ADDISQN PENNE.Y
Connie Blantyre had one of the ten-
derest hearts in the world, full of
gentle pity and love for all thigs
'helpless, weak and frail, so, to those
Who knew her, it was a matter of little
Wonder that she stuck to her post as
'Clerk to the firm of I3ruiitou and Bryce,
wholesale provision merchants, I,Idin-
t'•burgh, long after her fellow -employees
had left for "something with more
life to it." But Connie could not bear
to leave aged, dejected and inefficient
Mr, Bryce in the lurch. "Don't you,
see how helpless he is?" she used to
say. "He's old, too, and the last sur-
vivor. 'Somebody's got to stand by
him." Well was she aware that his
affairs had reached a desperate pass.
Stili, she held on, and towards the
close of this bright spring afternoon
"No, there isn't," declared Mrs,
Blantyre. "Time flies, and its for mar-
rying—the sooner the better it you're
to marry•at.all, Nothing rt'ould please.
me like seeing you in a home of your
own, however small, with a. strong
man between you and the world,"
"Yes, if ,one.gets the right kind of
man," murmured Connie, "but there
are still.ali sorts floating around. Ono
gots to know that in an office."
Mrs, Blantyre. smiled.; "The wrong
sort will never be attracted, to you,
Connie dear. ]'m euro of that."
"Nothing of any, sort has been at-
tracted to me up till now," laughed
Connie, as she filled the kettle for tea
and set it ou the cooker, "so I'll just
have to hustle round and try to find
work in another office."
It was a task far more difficult than
looked round the tidy little office with either the girl or her mother had
woman in her~ bonnie brown eyes, imagined, her previous post having
"There, now, that's everything been 'obtained through the business
straight," she said to herself. "Led- college in which she had been trained.
gars up-to-date, letters ditto, drawers For six weeks her days were spent in
cleaned out, papers filed, and all rub -replying to advertisements and in be-
bish thrown away. I'm sure he'll be lug interviewed, nor was elle long in
charmed, and there isn't a neater spot discovering how much her fidelity to a
in the city, although I say it myself. feeble firm, had cost her.
I'm only sorry I've had so much spare You must have seen how things
time," and she glanced ruefully at the were going," was the remark flung at
clock, which showed that an hour still her constantly, and it was invariably
remained ere she could put ou her followed by the question—"Why didn't
things and go home. She had just you look out for yourself earlier in
settled down to watch the stream of .the day?" What she did not know
traffic in the street below when Mr.
"was that her quietly sedate manner
Bryce opened the door, au expression and the gentle expression of her face
failed to inspire confidence in
of unwonted agitation on his lined and her as
worried face. I a smart, up-to-date, managing business
Can you spare a moment?" he woman, which she undoubtedly was,
asked, and, with a little smile at the but this world is still too apt to judge
irony of his request, Connie followed by the outward appearance, to its own
him into his private room. 1 infinite loss. Then her mother's
"I suppose you've already guessed anxiety and disappointment affected
how things are going to finish up her loving heart deeply, adding to her
here," he began. "We've little chance `gentleness a touch of sadness, which
of holding out much longer in the face :further lessened her chance of suc-
of growing competition, and those cess. Each evening, as she returned
great combines have hit us hard, so to report a fruitless search, mother
I'm closing down while I've still some -and daughter became more and more
thing left to live on." dispirited, and, as springtime merged
"Oh, I'm sorry," exclaimed Connie, int the blaze of golden summer days,
"hut, of course, you must do what both felt tired, disheartened and
seems best for yourself. That means, crushed beyond all telling.
though, I've got to go, I suppose," she "I don't think I'll ever get suited,"
added tremulously. said Connie one evening, almost in
Mr. Bryce nodded. "You needn't tears.
come back after to -day. There's "I wish you had left Brunton &
nothing left for you to do here. I'll Bryce's years ago, along with Irene,"
pay you a month's salary, so consider observed her . mother. "That girl
yourself on holiday, and I hope by the knew what she was about, and you,
end of that time you'll be suitably too, might have foreseen this ending."
fixed." He then spoke approvingly of "I had an idea that the business
her ability and .attention to duty, ,wasn't healthy," Connie confessed,
handed her' a testimonial and a "and that Air. Bryce was long past
cheque, bade her good-bye, and the his best, but I think that was why I
bewildered girl was halfway down the stayed on. You see; mother, he was
street before she realized that her just particularly helpless."
work for the firm had come to an Oh, Connie, Connie," her mother
abrupt end, and she had practically sighed. "I'm afraid that tender heart
joined the ranks of the unemployed. of yours will prove your undoing un -
She crossed the west end of Princes less something happens. I wish I
Street without seeing it, and made her could see you safely, in the care of a
way up Lothian Road and past Toll- good, kind husband."
cross with her heart and mind in a Connie tried to laugh, but the at -
tumult. Was this all her reward for tempt was a failure, and next day she
long and faithful service? Thrown replied to no advertisements, nor did
out at a moment's notice! At last she speak of interviews. Mrs. Elan -
she reached .the quiet street where she tyre, seeing that the girl was on the
lived. and before she unlocked the verge of losing heart, took no notice,
entry door she strove with all her but kept her occupied with household
might and main to pull • herself to -tasks, and of
gether. •
"This will be a nasty shock for dear
mother," she "reflected, "and it's up to
me to take it lightly for her sake."
Then, her feelings somewhat master-
ed, she ran nimbly up the three flights
of stairs leading to her home.
"Oh, mother darling, I've such news
for you," she called. f'I'ni getting a
change of work."
The mother listened to her story
with sore sinking of heart.
"Mr. Bryce has done quite decently
by you, dear, but I wish lie hadn't
sprung it on us so suddenly. Wher-
ever are you to get another post? It
seems that. nearly every girl in Edin-
burg is either clerking or typing hun-
dreds in for any vacant job."
"It's hardly as bad as that," laughed
Connie. "The whole town's crammed
full of offices, and girls are always
:leafing to be married or to try some-
thing else,"
"I wish you could try something
else," sighed her mother. "Out in the
country you were plump and rosy, but
now you're pale and thin. It has been
such a struggle here for both of us
that I often wonder if we did the right
thing coming into town."
"Why, mother dear, what else could
we do? Our hoose went with dad's
work, and we had to let the new pee-
ple in. Besides, how could we stay
with him not there?"
"I believe you're right, darling,
Perhaps we'll never feel settled any-
where again. Ten years to -morrow,
Connie, since we lost him." And she
stooped to see to something in the
oven, and thus liicie from the girl her
tear-filled eyes:
"So it is," returned Connie softly.
"I was just fifteen."
"Life would have been a different
thing for you had your daddy pulled
through that dreaded pneumonia. I
often picture the lovely times we.
night have hack."
"Don't think of them, mother. We've
got each other, you and I; and we're
going on all right, just line."
"Yes, Connie, we've kept our heads
above water and. have not burdened
our relatives, only I do so want you
to have as much love and happiness
in your young life as I had in mine;
an ou
d ve no opportunity of
YPri meeting
Y
anyone, what with your work and
helping: fine after hours with the'
lodgers' supper and all, At your age
;I was married.
Connie i „ ,.
CoI a aughed. I in in no hurry
to marry. Thero's plenty at time
ajieafl." rrbr a . , ark
A AMSON'S ADVENTURES—By Q. Jacebsson..
i T'S eci
('E RFECT
Fir
u
a makeshift in here at times." But usually worked alone, but, after tea,
Connie and Angus sat hours on end
over order books, address lists, ship-
ment correspondence and cable codes.
Sometimes she was his guide in and
about the city streets, and she it was
who introduced him to the heads of
many important business houses. So
well was she paid for her work that
Mrs. Blantyre could afford to engage
daily help in the house, and little won-
der was it that her heart turned in'
burgh, but I'm Australian through and grateful thanks to the kind providence
through, though my name's Scotch who had thus turned the tide of mis-
enough—Angus Hamilton." fortune from their door, and who had
As they sat round the tea -table, he sent:to them this young man with. his
explained his business in Britain. "I bright smile and happy outlook on
represent an Australian produce firm," life. Soon he was dear as a son to
he said, "and I'm drumming for busi- her. She loved to attend to his wants
nese all over this little old planet. If' and care for his belongings, and, if
I can open up a connection here in only Connie and he— But Connie's
Edinburgh you'll see me starting an heart seemed quite untouched.
office and warehouse just in a crack."
"Oh, how I wish you would buy up
she threw open the kitchen door.
"Pine," he exclaimed, as he walked
right in. "Jolly! Quiet topping! A
real Scottish living -room, just as my
mother described," and he glanced
around with satisfaction.
"Then your mother's Scotch, like
ourselves," remarked Connie.
"My father, too," and, turning to-
wards her, he smiled in the frankest;
friendliest way. "Both born in Edin-
"There's nothing but friendship be-
tween us," she declared, "and, for all
& Bryce's, and take me on I know, he may have a girl in Ana-
Bruntonas clerk," said Connie wistfully. "I'm I trills. Don't, for any sake, imagine
homesick for ledgers and invoice ,things, mother, but let's be happy
books." And before she knew what v:lile we may."
she was about. she was pouring into "Well, every man has, his - way, my
the ears of this stranger the whole dear," commented her other, "and,
story of her business experiences dui- though Angus is frank and free, still
ing the past six years, Her mother on some points he's reserved. He
noticed with pride how bright and ani- never speaks of his folks.'
mated the girl's face became, and how "He tells us very little that mat- certainly love hint, but he's too robust
her dark eyes sparkled and glowed tens,"„observed Connie. "He's seen ever to arouse even her pity."
as she talked of the things with which Mr. Bryce umpteen times, but I know "It's fixed up finally now for sure,"
she was familiar. She noted, too, the nothing of what's happening there, he announced one evening, as they sat.
Brun -
eagerness with which the young man and lately he's been decoding all his down to work. "We're to run Brun -
co
country
spoke nu date, n the listened, and the dawning admiration cables himself." !.ton & Bryce's under my name, but, of
country at 110 distant date, and of in his eyes, as Connie voiced her re Still, in spite of these- small mys- course, T won't be here, so I' guess
happy days of long ago—anything to gret for the old office furniture. "1GIy teries, their happiness was the most wo'il look out for a good manager.
cheer their drooping spirits and re it!" wonderful thing. Angus made no now, and in a short time I'll quit and
Neve the strain upon their anxious clear old. desk, how I loved she
chill wind blew along Princes Street,
swirling the dead leaves down from
the trees in its gardens to race along
the pavement among the feet of pass-
ers-by, Angus came home in a taxi,
bringing with him all the office books
belonging to the firm of Brunton &
Bryce.
"We're taking over the old man's
business, such as it is, and sure, Con-
nie, it's your help I'm needing now, if
ever, for I've got to look into things
thoroughly before reporting to head-
quarters."
So now, night after night, the dark
head and the fair ono were together
bent over the ledgers, while Connie
tried to prove that Mr. Bryce's chief
weakness lay iu a reluctance to buy,
the warehouse being always empty,
so that he was unable to supply
goods ordered, and his customers had
perforce to go elsewhere, and soon the
young man was convinced that, were
things restored to a proper footing,
business would return with a rush.
"I'll see my dear old desk, table and
cupboard once again," she cried joy-
ously.
"It's hopeless," thought her mother,
as she sewed by the fire, "for if Angus
were old, ill, weak, rickety like the
table, or falling to pieces, she would
hearts.
Lunch was barely over when the
door bell rang, and Irene Duff, Con-
nie's former business colleague, came
running upstairs, her usually happy
face sadly clouded.
"We've had bad news from my
brother Tom this morning," she said
breathlessly. ' "His wife's seriously ill,
and mother's going off at once. It's a
long journey, too, all the way to Oban,
but it can't be helped."
Mrs. Blantyre and Connie expressed
sympathy. Then, "What about your
lodger?" asked both simultaneously.
"We've a new one," explained Irene.
"He came only last night,'and mother's
wondering whether you could take
him off our hands for a bit, till we see
how things go on."
said, "and every clay I think of the other acquaintance, and all his free
poor, worm-eaten cupboard, and the' ;time was Spent with Connie and her
rickety wee table. Will anyone ever mother. Thejr enjoyed long, merry
care for them again?" outings in motor 'bus or train, went
At length—"I need your help," he
to. cinemas, plays, concerts, and en -
began. "Connie, I engage you on the joyed occasional meals in the best
spot as my 'assistant, full time job. tearooms and hotels. He seemed to for ever. Suddenly she felt sick and
I'll pay you well, and, with your aid,
I'll plant both feet on Scottish soil. I
guess I'll, take a note of Mr. Bryce's
address this minute, and see him about
these premises at once. I've sure
landed at the right spot, and we'll
soon get things humming."
• 'it ereafter, for many • weeks, the
little fiat- was one of the busiest, hap-
piest; brightest homes • in .Edinburgh.
During the earlier part of the;day each
"We've nothing but the little back
bedroom vacant," said Mrs. Blantyre.
"Oh, that'll .do well enough for him," .
Irene assured her. "He's the home-
liest chap ever, and won't expect
much, I'm sure. Came into the kit-
chen this horning and cleaned his
own shoes. He'll give no trouble, and
your cooking will be a treat to him.
Bye-bye. I must hurry, or I'll be late
for my office," and she was out and
downstairs before either could utter
another word.
He arrived in time for tea—a slim,
sunburned, alert young man, with an
attractive smile, pleasant manners and
a colonial accent.,
"I'm sorry I can't give you a larger
room at present," said Mrs, Blantyre,
"but perhaps this will do In the mean-
time, and I'm sure the young married
couple in the front rooms won't mind
you having meals with thein."
"This room's just right," he said
gaily, "and, if you don't mind, I'll eat
with you, and make myself at home.'
I've been round the world, and I'm
tired of hotels and boarding-houses, 1
As for ordinary rooms, it makes me
sick to be penned up inV small space
and expected to stay there, I guess
the young married couple would
rather eat alone, at least, I should in
their circumstances, and I'd feel in
the way every minute. I'ni a home
bird, though yeti mightn't thick it to
look at me, and it's home life I'm long-
ing for," •
"You'll .find its very 'plain ,folk," and
Mrs, Blantyre shook her liead, "and
I'M afraid things are pretty much ofy
trek for home."
"Home! Australia! In a short
time!" It struck like a knife -thrust
right into the core of Connie's heart.
It was going to end, this pleasant time
which she had imagined would last
lavish all his spare money on them,
and was often taken quite seriously
to task on tiie subject by Mrs. Blan-
tyre.
"You'll never be able to marry," she
told him frequently.
,;,Never, unless the right girl learns away down on the under side of the
to love me,", he once returned wist- world. He looked so young, so boyish,
fully, and from that moment hope beat so pitifully helpless, sitting there. He
high in the another's heart. was poor, too. Of that she was cer-
At last, one autumn day, wheu a tain, and he had been able to save
nothing, with his heavy business ex-
penses and spending so freely on her
mother and herself.
"Angus!" she called in a voice of
despair. "Don't go. Stay and manage
Brunton 8c Bryce's yourself, and I'll
be your clerk at my old pay." And,
slipping her hand across the ledger,
site laid it softly upon his own.
IIe caught, grasped and hel dit,
warmly, firmly. "I must go, little
girl," he' said. "They've cabled for also his prelude to combat. Hunting
me." alone, the lion stalks in a silence more
terrifying than any roar. The `killing
roar' is a product of human imagina-
tion."
British Goods in Canada
faint. Life. without . Angus—why, it
was unthinkable. That dear, fair
head, that sunburned face and sunny
smile. She could not let him go across
those cruel, raging seas, amid all sorts
of unknown dangers, to that far land
Link' With Past to Go
to go, tint; ---how can I leave Mother?"
"I guess we'll manage to take yoUY
mother •along with us, dear,' and give
her as , good a time . as ,ourselves."
"i3ut, darling, you can't afford it'1
observed Connie. "You're only a tra'
Yeller on commission, you know."
"Yes,; but my, boss Happens to be
dad; • and ,I'M hiS only son. Iie's this
particular little ,1.ustralian Produce
Company."
"Is he a, millionaire?" gasped Con,
pie,
`"Something along that lino," laughed
Angus, 'so you're going to quit led-
ger's and take to story books after
this. 1 didn't telt you, because T made
up, my mind that my girl was going
to love me for myself, and I wanted
to live the simple life for a little
while." '
"Oh," exclaimed Connie, "life has
changed. into a fairy tale, and you're
my prince," "
"You're my princess, beloved, and
we're going to marry and live happily
ever after, like the rest of them." And
he drew her dark little head close to
his ,big waren heart.
You Just Can't Tell
What a Fish Will Do
How a hooked brown trout behaved
in an unusual situation is related in a
true "fish" story of fisherman's luck
by Seth Briggs in "Field and Stream."
"Recently," writes Mr. Briggs, "a
friend, in fishing over some well known
brown-trouttwater, carne to a place on
the river where a barbed-wire strand
had been thrown across the stream.
This wire was suspended about nine
inches above the .surface of the water.
The sides of the stream were rocky and
precipitous, necessitating a detour
through the brush if one wished to
ccmtinue on, as it was virtually im-
possible to wade further on •accouni.
of the heavy head of water.
"The angler decided to turn back,
but at that moment a good trout rose
about six feet in front of the barbed
wire. To cast upstream over the ob-
struction, hook the fish if it should
rise and then net it on the down-
stream part without becoming en-
tangled seemed ridiculous. But who
can resist the lure of a r'irsing fish?
`The cast was made. The trout took
the fly promptly, turned, ran down-
stream, and then leaped ' and neatly
cleared the wire. Shortly after it was
netted in the open water."
Mr. Briggs further tells of what
happened to the fisherman who took
first• prize; in the Small -Mouth, Black
Bass Division of the 1927 Prize Fish-
ing Contest. In that instance, the
fine bass, which was later landed, took
the live frog bait, and when the angler
struck, hook and snell parted. Then,
contrary to the old tradition which
would have the fish scared "skinny,"
he cai.ie right back and grabbed the
next frog. And that small mouth black
bass weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces!
When Lions Roar
Meaning cf Lion's Call De-
scribed by African Hunter
W. S. Chadwick, a hunter of lions
for.. twenty-four years in the African
bush, makes some interesting observa-
tions in an 'article in the September
issue of "Field and Stream" on the
habits of the king of beasts.
"During all the `years of my ac-
quaintance with Leo by night and
day," says 'this authority, "I have =
never heard him utter what I should
term a `roar.'
"At evening and at dawn he gives
vent to a long -drawn, plaintive grunt
of vast volume .and far-reaching
range but produced with nearly closed
mouth and an upward lift of the stom-
ach to the spine, similar to the action
of a pair of bellows. He utters it to
call his nate or troop for the night's
hunting. At dawn in satisfaction of a
full stomach—or lament at an empty
one—as he goes to his lair.. It is
neither challenge nor roar, but a hunt-
ing and • thanksgiving song.
"When disturbed while lying on a
kill or angry at attempts at robbery
by other lions, he opens his mouth
wide and emits a harsh; full-throated
volume of furious sound which, while
pregnant" with ferocity and menace,
lacks the depth and volume of his
usual tones. It carries barely half a
mile, even in the silent night. It is
"Why, Connie, hour are we to know
who's been waiting for him all this
long time?" remarked her wily mother
reprovingly, before slipping out to look
for her thimble, missed at that mo-
ment.
The girl withdrew her hand. ' Saskatoon Star (Lib.) : The sale of
"Connie! There's no one waiting British goods in Canada depends to a
for me but mother and dad, and I considerable degree on the efforts of
guess they're thinking of you, too, for British manufacturers themselves. A '
'you've crept into every letter I've few have set an example by establish -
written home since coming to live here ing branch factories in this country
—you and the work you've done for and making known their goods to the
the company, and the great little pal Canadian public. They have reaped
you've been to me." I benefits which point the way to suc-
"We've had a gorgeous time," falter- cess in this market for other British
eel Connie; then down went her head !'producers.
on the pages of the open ledger, and
she sobbed.
Ina moment his arms were about
HudsonRoute
The Bay ou
Calgary Herald (Ind, Qom.) In
` r ..:::• „.;;>; her, and he raised her tearful face till
vestigations carried on in Elie Hudson
it was 'hear his own,g
;�3 ""'::'"':'`rt•. Bay •.during the present season: itldi-
a�} "'Sweetheart, it's nothing to rite. cafe the of safe. nevi anon in
'nn':;�•H.. r. ..t-;yx•.'v`•:<ii:::::t.�4r, ,,al. ?.: .: ,_. period.g
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4/,. :..n........:.< .. r..r :... r .:.... ,3• level time we're ilii to have, right,
:r • .r /•F.4. \ .).•.:. � g the. northern waters m�be 1
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• Vie;...}2 `•G}:<•'.:•:>'� `'
lr ft•I' field fl i
o behind. " I love you, Connie, couldn't of, the Hudson Strait in early July by
LiSHEb live without you, so I'm taking yen steamers proved conclusively that no
HISTORIC TRAINING SHIP' WILL BE DEMO away from those grey skies to son" C
11,M.S, Impregnable,b nil the'eta y s of the which has for many _ . serious ice conditions prevailed at that
built in y frigate,shine and Happiness, and the jolliest time, This is at least one mouth
years been used for a training ship - for British tars, according to admiralty little home in the world."
' earlier than was thought' possible e
reports, is to be broken up,. 1 "Angus, 1 levo yen too, and I 'want yens or two ago,
OW, 0 VO ea 0 eav ng you
taggiatniMIMMINIMMODIMIIIINIIIII
than formerly aticipated. The passage