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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1945-05-17, Page 3LOUiS ARTHUR CUNNINGHAM CHAPTER I Madame Fabre-Lusingnan tem- porarily finished admiring her wrinkled visage in the silver - backed hand glass, straightened her fine lace cap, hitched her bed jacket up around her bony shoulders and yelled, "Entrez!" in a voice that had often evoked applause in la Comedic Francaise, in the best theatres of London and New York. She tried it again in a higher key as the door was slowly opening and, finding her voice with a lovely timbre this morning, went on to curse the war, the timesall things in general; especially life here at the Chateau Philibert, now that all the servants had gone to fight or to do war work and there was left only this ancient jackass, Rudolph and the aged Florian, the gardener, who was deaf and sullen. • Rudolph entered with a tray on which were coffee in a grand silver pot, Tokay grapes, crescent rolls and a fresh copy of La Presse. More war news to spoil her day. * * * "Madame!" Rudolph stared at her piteously; he looked as if he were about to cry. Rudolph, who had been her butler these last ten years, who in all that time had lived behind a wall of silent servi- tude and respect. The mask of the menial was gone now. She saw only an old man, tired, broken, afraid. "What is it then, my old one? Do not goggle like a Gaspe cod- fish. Rudolph," said the old dame pettishly. "What the devil is the matter with _you?" • "The paper, madame. The—" "Oh, Lord, but the man is mad. What paper? I know the wallpaper is ugly, but my husband would have a pattern of cupids and rose. wreaths. Or do you mean La Presse?" "I mean La Presse, madame. 1 mean--" "Yes, it is stupid. But—" "This — this, madame—" • The butler's shaking finger pointed to the picture on the first page. It was that of a smiling pretty girl and two little ones, a boy and a tiny moppet with, long thick curls. the caption said: "Princess Meri- del of Gratzen, with her little cou- sins, Pol Martin and Rosine, ar- rive in Quebec to seek refuge with rich uncle in Canada," * * * lvladame looked from the picture to Rudolph and her thick gray - black brows, wriggled like cater- pillars. "So what?" she had ac- quired this elegancy from the Am- erican radio. "So what?" "I, madame" — Rudolph drew a deep breath and there was — oh, nihiacle! — sweat upon his fore- head — "I am the rich uncle in Ca- nada." "I come front Gratzen, madame,' continued Rudolph miserably. n'here I was the Baron Rudi do Morpin. There I was—" "Ah-" Madame jerked herself" higher up on the pillow and took an Egyptian cigarette from the ivory box on the taboret, Rudolph lighted it for her. The glittering Men Are Working T. Exhaustion ' Chronic fatigue and nervous ex- haustion are getting men down . , . down in health and down in resistenee to cold and other ailments. It is high time for a build up with Dr. Chase's NERVE, FOOD, the Vitamin Bi tonic, It will help to steady your nerves and help you to sleep better. It will help you to digest your food and to regain energy and vigor. Ask for the new econ- omy size bottle of Dr. Chase's Nerve Food fills,—tiects. 180s—$l.50 ISSUE 19-194t; black eyes- studied him through the smoke. `Continue, baron." He bowed stiffly. "It was a poor little country, Gratzcit, We of the ruling family had nothing. And I -- well, I was—" "You were the — what is it we say? — dark mutton." * * * Rudolph bowed his white head. "I was the black sheep madame. I was exiled. I was very young then. I vowed to them all that I would become a great man, ,that I would be wealthy, that I would own a chateau that would make the castle of Gratzen look like a cow -shed. So, madame—" he faltered. He bit his lip. He looked miserably out at the great green park, the wonder- ful gardens and vast lawns of the Chateau Philibert, which the bis- cui•tmade millions of Jean Pierre Goossec had created high up here in the loneliest part of the Lauren- tian Mountains. All this had conte to Jean Pierre's widow, whom in youth he had adored on the stage as Mimi Fabre. Ah, he had adored his Mimi, had little rolypoly Jean Pierre. The memory of the way he had loved her, cherished her, watched over her, seen never a change in her in the years, made her gentle not.. "Continue, my friend," she said. "I like to hear this — this phanta- sy. Rudolph drew himself up. He was no longer the butler — no need for that self-effacing mask any more — he was the Baron de Morpin. Baron Rudi. "So, when I cline to this grand place, this -Cha- teau Philibert, I —I made them - think, those in Gratzen, that it was mine. I had pictures of myself tak- en as T stood in the great doorway, in tdie park, by the mirror lake, in the grand salon. The under chauf- feur was a good man with his- ca- mera. Always I was dressed in my morning coat and striped trousers. like a gentleman. I have letter pa - .per and envelopes with my name and crest and Chateau . Philibert, St, Didier des Montagnes, Quebec, on thein. I never dreamed that I would be found out. No one - in Gratzen ever had money enough to come. to America, Now little Meridel and these children, Pol Martin and Rosine, conte to ine for succor, for food, for shelter. To hie-" He turned away. "I shall pro- cure you some fresh coffee, ma- dame, I ant sorry — so sorry." "Bring some brandy," said ma- dame, "along with the coffee," When Rudolph had gone she hopped muttering, out of bed, a queer, skinny old creature in bright crimson pyjamas. Old of face, old of body, with an unruly crown of curly white hair that .gave her; with the strangely young and vivid black eyes, an elfin, gamin look as if she were a little girl made up for a play to portray an old, old lady. When Rudolph returned she was reclining on her chaise longue at the door opening onto the bal- cony, wearing a 'morning gown of peach -colored silk and blue mules with great white pompons. "My successor will be one, I trust, who is not a liar, the leader of • a double life, a deceiver how- ever innocent of — of helpless chil- dren," "Yes," said madame absently. "Yes, we'll see that we don't get any more kings in disguise or grand lamas masquerading as !louse boys." "But you will permit hie to stay until the children conte? It will not be easy to—" "Don't be a fool, baron l Don't be a gross imbecile! Of course you will stay, When I spoke of your successor I meant very simply — a pian to bottle. You, of course, will stay on." "But how—" (To 13e Continued) Modern Etiquette 13y Roberta Lee 1. When trying to reach sortie- one on the tcleehone, and the pee - son is not there, should one ask that he call,' or should one call again? 2. Is it wise to wire or write in advance for hotel acconiiiiodations when going on a vacation? • 3. What would be considered tile.. supreme accomplishment of a hos- tess? 4, When interrupted in the mid- dle of a business conversation by the telephone, is it all right to ask the person to "hold the line"? 5. When a man takes a woman to t•inner, shodld he give her order to the • waite, befere giving his own? 0. Who should act as hostess when a woman's club is giving a luncheon? Grows Her Own Mrs. Peter Giesbrecht of Chilli - week, B. C. is an enterprising wo- man who believes in growing her own silk stockings. Por the last two years, Mrs. Giesbrecht has supplied her fanc- ily with silk socks and stockings with the silk from silkworms she raises on her own mulberry trees, ANSWERS 3. It is better to leave your name and number and ask that he call you. 2. Yes, it is wise to do so, to avoid possible disappointment; and one should ask for a prompt reply. 3. To give a perfect dinner. 4. It is better to explain and ask if you may call again in a few minutes. Yes, 'always. 6. The president of the club. Apple Pie Order: .Ilepzibah Started It Our cominon expression,."In ap- ple-pie order," goes back to the days of the' Puritans Hepzibah Morton, housekeeper of note, made a practice of baking several dozen 'apple pies on Saturday, says the Christian Science Monitor, These pies were supposed to last her . fa mily through the coining week. Furthermore, she saw to it that they would stretch over the period for which they were intended. Be- fore placing it upon the pantry Shelf, she labeled each pie with the name of the day on which it was to he eaten. With this ar- .rangeinent complete, her pantry tills said to be in apple-pie order. Apple-pie order is as good a thing today as it was back in the time when housewives baked 'pies by the dozens. Moreover, it applies to many things other than pies. If we have an orderly, apple- pie arraugcment of our household affairs and effects we will save va- luable time and energy. It's good thing also to keep our clothes in apple -Vie order. If our garments are carefully brushed and cleaned and put away in the pro- per places when not in use they will last longer and look better than if we are careless about them. Bread Basket Delight There's nothing like a batch of home-made Yeast Rolls! Fresh, warm, and light, they're a classic favorite among breadstuffs. ' Then why don't you make them more often? Let the family know that something special is in the offing as soon as they open the door and whiff that old fashioned fragrance of home-made bread baking. Save -A -Day ROIIs are just what their name implies, You can mix the dough the day before and store it in refrigerator. When you're rea- dy to bake, take out just enough dough for the rolls you want for one meal and use the rest another day. Comes meal time, it takes on- ly fifteen minutes to bake a hot fresh batch of rolls while the rest of the food is being prepared, This recipe for Bran Save -A -Day Rolls brings results that taste as good as they look in the picture, Save -A -Day Rolls cup shortening • %. cup sugar 2 cups bran 2 teaspoons sail1 cup boiling wet 2 eggs, wellbeaten 2 cakes compressed yeast 1 cup lukewarm water 6 (or more) cups sifted flour. 'Put shortening, sugar, bran and salt in large mixing bowl; add boiling water and stir until short- ening is melted. Let stand until mixture is lukewarm. Add eggs and yeast which has been softened in lukewarm water. Add half the flour and heat until smooth; d remaining flour, mix well. Let rise until double in bulk; punch down. Forth balls of dough to till greased muffin pans about half full. Let rise in a warm place until double in bulk. Bake in a moderately hot oven (425° F.) about 15 minutes. NICILES 13y Gwendoline P. Clarke Last Saturday news was flashed around this continent that the war in Europe was over .. , that Ger- many had capitulated , , agreed to unconditional surrender. By the time these words are printed that news may be an accomplished fact, but last Saturday it was nothing more than a rumour — a rumour that was like a dress rehearsal for the closing scene of the greatest dramatic tragedy of our time, A rehearsal which gave us , some idea of what public reaction will be like when real news of victory is announced to a waiting world. Ifow did you feel about it? This is what happened here. Partner and I were both at home — quietly reading. The phone rang ... a friend asked "Are you listening to the radio? ... No? ... Then you had better turn it on it sounds as if the war is really over." So we turned it on — and I don't need to tell you what we heard — the announcer concluded his newscast by saying — "We will interrupt this program from time to time to bring you further news." Well, the same news and the same concluding aiinatiitce- ment was given about every ten minutes. * * Partner became frankly scepti- cal. I wanted to believe the broad- cast was based on authentic infor- mation but even at that I couldn't work up any great enthusiasm. Even if the news tie true I didn't feel as if lI could get really excited. It left isle with a peculiar numb- ness — and I have spoken to friends since who felt just the same way —.so different from the sense of elation which I, rernereber as be- ing pretty general at the conclu- sion (?) of the last war. I suppose when one has kept one's fears and emotions'undcr rigid -control for so many years it is impossible to turn them loose, as it were, at a mo- ment's notice. Queer, isn't it, that even at a most serious time, a comic element often seems to find its way in. Even last Saturday, there were one or two little incidents in connec- tion with the peace rumours tl at were really amusing — that is if one could see the funny side of things. * ,1' '8 There was a political meeting in town that night. I thought of it directly I heard the peace rumours and wondered if the news would filter through to the convention hall, and if so what would happen.. I don't know whether it did or not but this little gem was overheard in one of the stores. Said one cus- tomer to another — "Say, we just got word that the. war in Europe is over. I don't know whether it is right or not — but any way don't let on I told you. We're not saying anything about it until after the "'ineeting, If they got wind of that bit of news in the hall there wouldn't be anyone left to hear the speakers!" Oh — oh ... politics again. * * * Well, there is one rumour 1 would like to hear — and that is a rumour to the effect that warm, dry weather is on the way. Even if it were only a rumour I would still like to hear it. It would at least give one a cheery feeling while it lasted. Last week 'was just about the limit. I think 104 should go down in history as "the year of the monsoon spring". Pulp for Autos Some 50,000 American auto -no - biles will be wanted annually in Sweden in postwar days, a Swed- ish leader states, and Sweden wants to send America . large quantitcs of wood pulp. JOYFUL ACCLAIM greets the hostess -who serves de - helot's, stimulating Max- well House Coffee. Avail- able at your grocer's in art All Purpose Grind that suits any type of coffee maker. CANADIANS TESTED EQUIPMENT IN WINTER MANOEU\'SES c. is .4!!`'y w Y e trosAr ' 1. K. .}: �. p+:�p""i:'.`'�` C �. ... ..... - � `w •• ' :::mit ,�..� �` ,,,..�;. •u,.•. During the past winter, troops of the Canadian Army, made up of various arms of service have been on battle exercises in the region of North Prince Albert Sask., to determine the mobility of troops and equipment under winter conditions. Upper left: A ration box and a petrol tin do for a barber chair in a tented barber shop. Upper right: A "casualty" being towed into a Field Dressing Station on a specially -built ski -sled. Bottom. left: A camp site of an infantry "irigade workshop of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers with camouflage nets against a snow backgroud and lower right:B.igadier G. A. H. Trudeau, takes the salute as ski troopers march past upon completion of the battle scheme.