HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1892-12-30, Page 6neseeeten -
re:
•
bONALD ROSS Of HEIMRA.
BY WILLIAM BLACK.
CHAPTER VL-Conetoroart,
•
She spoke in,a proud and hurt wayand
her lips trembled for an instant ; it wits
clear that she considered she bad not de-
served this ill -usage.
" No, no, no,Mery." her friend protested.
"You are unjust, as far as Mr- R0S3 is con-
cerned* anyway. For one thing, it is very
likely that the poor people about here were
accustomed to look to his mother for little
comforts when they fell ill, and he may be
trying to carry out the steno kind of thing,
in_ the only way that would occur to a man. '
Then a demure smile came into Kathchen's
eyes. "But I wilt be honest with you,
Mary. I don't think it is done to spite you
at all, although your family have wrought
him and Me sufficient wrong. But if- you
were to ask me if it wesn't done with a de-
termination to spite Mr. Pardie-in return
for the deatruotioa of the illicit stills -well
you see, people may act from various moi
tives, and I shouldn't be surprised if that
had something to do mill it. As for steal-
ingthe hearts of the pe,ople-if you knew
the entities loyslty and devotiort of the
Highlanders towards certain of the old
families, you would hardly think it neces-
sary that Mr. Ross should have to make use
of any bribe-"
64 Bat why should they hate me 1" Mary
exolainted, and Kathchen bad no enewer.
three going -oh to the village, a' tell me al
about your own circumstances. I want to
know how I can be of help to sthe people
here. I have not came to Lochgarra to raise
rents and collect money and take it away
and spend it in London. I want to live here
-ifthe people will let me; but / donat
want to live among contipuous enmity and
ill -will."
"Aw, yes, yes, to be •sure, to be sure
now !" said Archie, in the moat amiable
way, and Mary was entirely grateful to
him for his sympathy -it wane° unex-
pected.
"Tell me about your own circumstances,"
she went on. "Is there anything I can do
for you and the other lobster fishermen ?"
"Aw, Cosh !" he cried (but it was the
whisky that was responsible -Archie him-
self meant to be moat polite). "Would
Miss Stanley be doing this bores, now -
would she be writing a letter for 'us to the
Fishery Boord ?"
"Ob, certainly," she ausweied, with
promptitude, "if that will be of aeiy serviee
to you. What about ?"
And here Big Archie (Gilleasbuig Mor, as
they called him) in his eagerness to tell hie
tale, stopped short and deposited the lobater,
box in the road.
"lt's this way now -that there will be
meaty a broken head before long if something
is not done. For they are comi from ahl
quarters to the lobster fishing-stranchere
that hef no business here at all; and they
are building huts; and where there is a hut
there will soon be a house; and it does not
require the wise man of Mull to tell anyone
of the truth of that, Yes, and they will be
saying they.hef the right from the Fishery
Board; but as I am thinkiog that is noth-
ing but lies; for how can the Fishery 13oard
give strenchere the right to come here and
build huts on the crofts above the shore -
aye, and going on, and paying no rent,
either to Miss Stinley, or to the crofter, or
to any one? And Gillie Ciotach and me,
aye, and two or three of the young lads, we
were saying we would tek sticks and atones,
and drive them into the sea -aye, though
there might be a bluidy nawse here Or there;
and others would be saying no, that it was
dancherous to do anything against the Fish-
ery Board. And nrould Mies Stanley be for
sending a letter to the Board, to ask if it is
lies those people are telling us, and whether
they can come and build a hut whenever
they like ?"
"Certainly I will," said she. "Only
there is to be no fighting and bloodshed,
mind. Of course, the space occupied by a
hut is a very trifling matter -.I suppose what
you really object to is those strangers com-
ing to your lobeter ground ?"
"Aye, &let that !" said Big Archie,
eagerly.
"Very well, It seems to me quite ab-
surd to think that the Fishery Board should
have given any one the right to build huts.;
however, I will enquire; and then, if I get
the answer I expect, you must go peaceably
and quietly to those people and tell them
they are mistaken, that they have no right -
from the Fishery Board or from anyone' else,
and that they must leave-"
" Evictions," said Kathohen, under her
breath; she saw trouble corning.
"Quite peaceably and quietly, you under-
stand," Mary. continued; "there mint be
no broken heads or anything of that kind;
you must tell the people what the Fishery
Board says, and thentliey will see that they
are bouerd to go."
"Ay , aye, °hist whatever Miss Stanley
pleasesi" said Big Archie; and therewith he
shouldered the heavy lobster box again and
resumed bis patient trudge, while he pro-
ceeded 'to give Miss Stanley some further
information about those marauding fisher-
men and their evil ways.
But when they were nearing Lochgarra,
Mary, who had been rather silent and ab-
stracted for some little, time back, said to
him :
"1 suppose you have a boat, Mr. Mac-
.
Nicol?"
i"Aw, aye, and a fine boat, too," said
Archie. "And if Miss Stanley herself
would be wishing for a sail, I would bring
the boat round from Camus Bheag."
" That is what I have just been thinking
of," Mery laid -they were now coming in
eight of the sea, and she Was absently look-
" Don't you have anything to work at ?"
Mary mad to the tall and rather good-look-
ing young fellow who was standing looking
on at the womenend girls gathering the sea -
tangle.
"My father has a croft," he made answer,
in a listless way..
"Bat wouldn't you," she said, in a very
gentle ana beeiteting manner, so as not to
seem impertinent, " wouldn't yod rather go
sway and Pnd some work for yourself ?"
"Aw, well, I was at Glasgow, and I Was
getting- twenty shillings a week there!'
"And ,you did pot Linty ?"
"Well, I could not live therm" he said,
simply enough. "It is no titie getting
twenty shillings a week if you can not live
in a piece, and in a few yeere I would be
dead if I was living in Glasgow. I am
better to be odive here than dead in Glas-
gow."
"Then perhaps you couldifo to the East
Coast fishing ?". she suggesteta.
"Wo, 1 ant not going there now. I wae
there one or two years but it did not pin
And don't you do anything ?" she ask'
again.
Well, in January I am in the Nave'
Reserve,"
"And the rest of the year yoti don't ce.
anything?"
"WolI, my father has a croft" -and that
Was abont all the information she could ex-
tract from him:
As it final effort she said to him timidly :
"If were to try to get you it boat and
nets from the Government, would it be of
service to yon?"
"It would need eight of a crew," said he,
- with an obvioua lack of interest 'a and I
would not be knowing where to find them."
However, a great surprise was in store for
her, before getting back to Lochgarra on
this occasion she actually encountered a
human being who received her proffered
friendliness and good will with cheerful and
unhesitating gratitude, and responded with
a frank comradeship which quite won her
Inmate It is true the man was drunk, but
at first she did not perceive that, and, in-
deed, she Was ready to make ample allow-
ances in her eager desire to establish pleas-
ant relations with anybody, after the dis-
heartening coldnesit she had just experienc-
ed at Minard. This man whom she and
Kathohen overtook on their homeward way
was a huge, lumbering, heavy shouldered
giant, with a prodigious brown beard and
thick eyebrows, whose deepset gray eyes
(though a little bemused) looked at once
intelligent and amiable. On his shoulder
he had hoiated a rough wooden box, and as
he tradged along he smoked a small black
clay -pipe.
"Good day to you !" said Mary to the
giant.
"Aw, good deh,good deb, mem !" said he,
with a broad grin of welcome and he in-
stently put the pipe in his pocket.
"That iir a heavy box you. are carrying,"
said she, "1 wish I were driving and I
would take it along for you."
"Aw, it's glad I am I hef something to
carry," said he, in a strong Argyleshire ac-
cent, "and I wuss thinking that mebbe
Miss Stanley herself would be for tekkin a
lobster or two from. me, for the houee. Aw,
not be charging Miss Stanley much for
thena-no' nor anything at ahlaf Miss Stan-
ley wouldbe for tekkin a lobster or two from
THE HURON EXPOSITOR.
'My Lords and Gentlemen' or only Gentle-
men ?"
"I don't know," said Kathoben • "1
should think a Gentlemen ' would be safer.
So, in happy singleness of purpose, Msry
proceeded to write her letter about the alien
lobster fishermen -little thinking to what
that hinocent action was to lead; then she
went and quickly got ready; and by-and-by
the two girls were on their way down to
the beach, aocompanied by the gigantic and
messive-shouldered Gilleasbuig Mor. Big
Archie, if the truth must be told,- was
moodily silent this morning; the blot being.
that On the previous evening he had wound
up the datiti promiscuous indulgence by
"drinking sore, as they say in those parts;
and now his physical conscience was troub-
ling him. But if his ooneersation was limit-
ed to monosyllables, and if he wore a sad
and depressed look, he was, nevertheless,'
most kind and assiduous in hie attentions to
the two ladies; and, when he had rowed
thein out in the dingy and got them en-
sconced in the stern of the bigger boat, he
did everything he could for their comfort,
considering the rudeness of their surround-
ing. And presently, whea the anchor was
got up, Big Archie came,aft to the tiller.
The young lad lay prone on the bit of deck
forward to keep a lookout; and Mary
and her companion knew that they were
now pledged to the euterprise, whatever
might 031118 of it.
Indeed, the two girls were themselves
ratherinclined to silence. It watt a gloomy
sort of morning; there was even a threaten-
ing of rain brooding over the distant bead -
lands„ and the dark sea lapped mournfully
around them, with not a single swift -glanc-
ing flash of white. But the light breezo Was
favorable, and they made steady program',
unfamiliar features of the coast -line be
-
conduit visible on the right hand and on the
left as they made farther and farther out to
sea.
It seemed a, long and weary time -given
over to drea,mings and doubtings, and
someWhat anxious forecasts. But all of a
sadden Mary was startled by the voice of
the skipper.
a' Witt Miss Stanley be for goiog into
Heitnra ?"
And then for the moment hercourage fail-
ed heir.
"What do you say, Kathchen? Do you
think -we should send a message -before
calling-?"
Oh, Yes, certainly," said Kathcheh,with
eageiness. "That is certainly what we
ought to do."
Oh, very well, then," said Mary, turn-
ing to the steersman (but there was a flush
of self-conscious shame on her cheeks) "you
need not take us to the house; we will
merely have a look at the island, and some
other day we will come out when we have
told Mr. Ross beforehand."
"Very well, mem," said Big Archie,hold-
ing Ion the same course, which was taking
them by the south aide of the island. ,
It was an angry looking coast -steep and
sheer -a long, low, heavy surge breaking
monotonously along the black rocks. But
when they got round the westward trending
headland, they gradually came in sight ,of
the sheltered waters of, the little bay, and of
the sweep oi silver beach, and the solitary
cottage perched on its small plateau. And,
of eourse, R.athelien's eyes were fall of in-
,tenitest interest, with something, too :of
apprehension ; for this (according to
Purdie) was the pirate's den -this was the
home of the outlaw whose deeds by night
and day, by sea and shore, had gained him
so dark a renown. But Mary's attention
had been attracted elsewhither. She was
regarding a white marble slab, placed high
on the top of the cliff, facing the western
seas.
'a Look, Kathchen," she said, in rather a
10* voice; and then she turned to the silent
little bay before her. "Poor woman !" she
said. "It was a lonely place to live all
these years."
Presently Mary bethought her of the er-
rand that had brought her so far, and she re-
pented of her irresolution.
"Can you take us into the -bay, Mr. Ma
Nicol ?" said she, without staying to consul
Kathohen.
"Aw, yes, mem, zurely."
"For it is a long way to have come, and -
and I am anxious to see Mr. Ross."
"Aw, very well, mem," said Archie, at
once altering hie course.
And then shesaid, looking all aroundthe
bay:
"But where is the yacht ?"
" Is it Mr. Ross' yacht, mem? It was
lying in Cantu Bheag when I wins coming
aweh last evening."
"And was Mr. Ross on board ?" asked
Kathchen, with a quick sense of relief.
"Indeed, I am not zure of that," laid
Archie; "for mebbe he wusssending the
men over to the mainlsnd, and himself stay-
ing on the island."
"In any case, Kathohen, that need not
matter to you," Mary interposed. 'a you
can remain whre you are, and I will go up
to the house by myself. Why should. you
bother about my business effeire?" ,
This with a view of the OM that was not
likely to commend itself t� Kathohen, *ho
(meld nerve herself on occasion. When the
lobster -boat had come to anchor, and they
had gone ashore in the dingy, she proceeded
to walk up to the house 'along with her
friend just as if nothing unuseal was hap-
pening to her. She kept watch -furtively;
:but her outward air was one of perfect self-
possession. As for Mary, eh° was too deep-
ly engaged in thinking how her complaints
and demands were to be framed to beed
anything else at this moment.
.They knocked at the door, and again
knocked; after a little while the old woman
Martha appeared -the surprise in her face
being obvious testimony to the rarity of
visitors to this remote island.
"le Mr, Ross at home ?" Mary asked. .
It was a second or so before Martha- re-
covered from her amazement -for she had
not seen the lobeterboat appear in the bay,
nor yet the strangers come ashore. ,
"Oh, no; he is over on the mainland,"
said the trimly -dressed old woman. "What
a peety-what a peety !"
Mary WWI rather taken aback; however,
she said : ,
"It is not of much consequence, fer, if
he is on the main land -or if he is in the
neighberhood-I dere say I shall be able to
see him before he returns to Heimra."
And then she was about coming away
when Martha interposed, with Highland
courtesy.
"But would not the leddiea come in and
sit dawn for a little while -and hef some
tea, or a little milk, or something of that
kind? Mr. Ross very sorry when he
knows -to be sure -and a great peety him
not here-"
Oh, thank you," said Kathchen, (whose
face had lightened considerably when she
heard of Donald Ross being absent), "it is
very kind'of you; and I am sure I shall be
very glad to &vitt& glass of milk, if you will
be so 'kind." •
Kathchen wanted no milk; but she
suddenly saw before her a chance of having
her curiosity satisfied without risk I,. she
would be allowed to see what kind of a
lair this was in which the savage out-
law lived. And so the unsuspecting
Martha led the why; and the two young
me-"
"Ob, these are lobsters," said she, with
the most friendly interest.
"Aye, chist that," said the giant.
"And you will be sending them away by
the .1 -nail cart?" she asked. •
"Aye, chit that -it's to Landon I am
sending them."
Oh, really," she said, "All the way to
London? Well, now, I wander if you
would think me inqusitive or impertinent if
I asked you how much you get for them ?"
How much ? Aw, ohist two -and -six-
pence the dissen," said he in tit good-natured
fashion, as if he hardly expected to get any-
thing.
But Mary was most incligna,nt.
'a What 7 ' she said. a a Two -and -sixpence
he dozen ? It's monstrous! Why, it's
!downright robbery' I will write to the
'London papers. Two-and-mixeience a dozen
!-and a angle lobster selling in London for
'eighteen pence or two shillings, and that a
'small one, too. Isn't it too bad, Kathchen?
I will write to the newspapers -1 will not
allow such robbery."
" It is a long web of communication,"
said the big, heavy -shouldered, good-natur-
ed looking man. "And Mr. , Corstorphine,
he paying ahl the carriage and sending me
the boxes."
"1 will get you twice as mtioh as that for
the lobstera," said Mary, with decision, "if
I sell them among my own friends. I will
guarantee you twice as much as that, and I
will pay the carriage and get yoa the boxes,
What is your name ?"
"Archie Ma,cNicol, mem," said he, but
the whisky had made him talkative, and he
went on "1 am from Tarbert, on Loch
Fyne; I am not from among these people
here at ahl. These people, they are not
proper gehermen-aw, they are afraid of the
sea -they will not go far out-[ hef seen the
East Coast men coming along here and tek-
kin the herring from under their very eyes.
There is One of the Government boats that
they got, and it is not paid for yet; and it
belying half covered with sand at Achim
-
cross, and no one using it at ahl. Aye, and
the curers willing to give elevenpence apiece
for ling. Aye, and I was into Loch Hourn,
and I got fifty °rens of herringand 1 wass
curing them myself."
"But wait a moment," said Mary, to
whom this information seemed a little con-
ftwed. "If you are not tired, won't you
keep on your way to the village and we will
talk with you' You see I am anxious to
get all the information I can about this
place, and the people here don't BOOM to be
very, communicative -although it is al-
together in their own interests that I
ShOtIld like to make enquiriesBut they
appear to be afraid of me -or there is some
quarrel,' or ill -will, that I don't under-
stand-"
"A quarrel with Mies Stanle ?" said the
lobster fisherman, deprseatingly-for he
was in a raellovr and generous mood. ' "No,
no -he would be a foolish mam that would
be saying that !"
• ing out towards the horison.
"Very well," said Mary, as they were all
first glance told you this was no common
person who looked at you tio calmly. Mary
said nothing; Katlichen said nothing; but
they knew who this was -the likeness was
too obvious.
And as for the other contents of the
room ?-well, there were neither guns, ner
rode, nor splash -nets, nor anything else con-
nected with fishing or shooting, legal or
illegal; but there was an abundance of
books in the shelves that lined three walls
of the apartment. Moreover, there was one
volume lying on the table before thetn-be-
sidei a wooden pipe. They regarded this
for some little time; but it was Kethchen
who spoke first. .
"Mary, Would it be very impertiraent if
I looked ?"
Mary Stanley laughed.
"1 don't know," she said. "Moat peo-
ple do pick up things when they are left in a
room, But we are in a peculiar position.
We are here without the coneent of the
owner."
"Yee, that is so" said Kathchen, resign-
edly, and she remained still.
But she continued looking towards the
book in a wistful way,
"It's only the title I should like to see,"
she began again. "What harm can there
be in that?" If Mr. Rose were here himself
I would take up the book in a minute -yes, I
would ! What do you say, Mary ?"
" Well," add Mary, frankly, "1 really
should like to know what kind of literature
commends itself to a personliving in a strange
place such as this. But at the same time
we are not his guests -we are intruders -or
if we are guests, we are the housekeeper's
guests, and it is but fair to her we shouldn't
pry into secrets."
Kathchen had risen and gone aorose to the
table; perhaps" it would not be breaking the
hive of hospitality if she ehould get a
glimpse of the title of the book without
actually laying hands on it ? Bat the back
of it was away from Mai light. In these
desperate circutnstances Kathohen yielded
to temptation • she hastily snatched up the
volume, glanced at the title, and as quickly
returned to her seat again.
16 Good graclious !" tad she. "That is
fine entertainment for a lonely island -los -
hue Williams's Real Property ?"
"A law book ?" said Mary, with her face
becoming suddenly grave. I hope tbere
is not going to be -any trouble -a .lawsuit
is a dreadful thing-"
"Oh no, I understand what that means,"
said Kathchen, "1 know quite well. That
is one of the books my brother had when he
was reading up for the Bar -I remember it
because I spilled some ink over it. and he
made me buy himenother. I wonder, now,
if Mr. R028 is reading up for the bar?
Wouldn't that be a blessed dispensation of
Providence for you,Mamie-if he were to go
away and shut himself up in the Temple,
and leave you Locbgarra entirely in your
own betide, shooting and fishing and every-
thing ? Only," she added, "1 don't quite
understand how such a wild savage as Mr.
Purdie described to us would be likely to
get on with the Judges. I am afraid there
would be scenes in court.
Kathchen had suddenly to cease; for
there was the elderly Martha, carrying a,
large tray amply provided with homely and
wholesome fare -oat -meal cake, soda scones,
marmalade, strawberry, jam, fresh butter,
and a, jug of milk. And Mary , did not
pause before breaking bread in the house of
her enemy; for she saw that the old house-
keeper was anxious that her bounties should
be appreciated ; and besides, oat -meal Mike
and marmalade and fresh milk ought to re-
commend themselves to any healthily -con-
stituted young woman. By-and-by, when
Martha had left the room, Mies Stanley
said:
" What shall I give her as we are going
away, Kathchen? Half a sovereign?'
"Aye, chist any, Aline that Miss Stanley
pleases, and I will not be charging any-
thing," said the geed -natured giant with the
friendly (and betiutsed) eyes. "Aw, new,
there will be no charge at a,h1-but chida
glass of whisky waea we come ashore."
"Ob, Imust pa Jhint for your time, of
course," said sheebriefiy. "1 suppose you
could bring your host round this evening so
that my friend and Myself might start pretty
early toerorrow i,anorning? We shall be
ready by ten." d,
Katechen tin:tett wonderiog eyes upon
her. ,
"But where are yau going, Mamie ?"
a#1 am going ou.ito... te Heimra Island," she
said.
,
CHOTER VII.
TRH B11iATE'S LAIR.
It was a bold undertaking, and Kathohen
hardly _ concealed' her dismay; but Mary
Stanley was resolute
"I must see int enemy face to face," she
said. " I want to, ktlow what he means.
Why should he atir tip enmity and malig-
nity against rate If he had any thought for
those people who iieein to regard him with
such devetion he *mild be on eny side for I
wish to do everything I can for them. Ile
ought to welcome ; nie instead of trying to
drive me out of the place. And if he fishes
and shoots over the Isechgarra estate simply
to spite me, supped iI refuse to be spited ?
Suppoee 1 present him with the shooting
and fishing, on condition that he allows me
to be kind to these People : How would
that do, Kathchenil eWouldn't that be a
fine revenge? I thiiik that ought to make
his face burn, if he! has anything of gentle
blood left in him.",'
There was a vibiatat chord of indignation
in her tone, as theta generally was when she
spoke of this young Man, for she did not
think she was being fairly treated. But
Kathchen, ignoring the true sources of her
dismay, began to utge objections to this
proposed visit, on the ground of social ob-
servances.
" I do really Mitt; Mamie, it will look
strange for two uninairried girls to go away
out and pay such visit -and -to that lone-
ly island. Now, if You would only wait
until the Free Chutch minister comet% home,
he might go with us„ and then it would be
alt right. Not that the Free Church minis-
ter is certain of a I welcome -if the young
map is what he is sOid to be; but, at all
events, he would he a chaperon for us."
ut Mary 01tid not hear of waiting ; she
wOuld challenge het eecret antagonist forth-
with.
seriously than wee her wont; " if we do go,
we meet have some encuee ; and you must
tell him you have eothe to thank him for
having got us out FA that frightful bog,"
=
"Very well, than,' said Kathchen more
Nor didithe =Alleging look of , the next
morning cause Mimi Stanley to alter her re-
solve. It was hardly a day for a pleasure
sail. The wind, ihR in true had abated dur-
ing the night, and there was not much of a
sea on; but the skiel were heavy and low-
ering, and dark and sombre were those long
headlands runningenit into the leaden -hued
main. But there Wait the lobster boat lying
at anchor in chaege of a young lad'and
the dingy was drainup on the beach, and
a message had just come in that Big Archie
was waiting belOw to carry wraps and
rugs.
•
Discount Sale
-FOR-
Thirty Days.
JOHN WARD,
Seaforth's Popular Harness Maker,
has started a
Grand Discount Sale
Which will be continued for 30 days,
previous to removing to his new store
in Strong's Red Brick Block. He has
on band a large stock of
HARNESS -Heavy and Light.
Trunks and Valises,
Robes and Harness Blankets,
And everything -else in his line, on all
of which he will allow
A LIBERAL DISCOUNT
On cash purchases. It will pay any
person wanting to buy to give him a
call, and those not wanting to buy
might be tempted to by the liberal in-
ducements offered.
Custom Work attended to as usual.
" Kathchen," said Mary, sitting hastily
g
down to her writin -desk, "1 have discov-
i
ered that the Fishtty Board sits at Edin-
burgh, but I cant find out who are the
members, Do y, think I should begin
"Oh, for goodness' sake, Mamie, don't
think of such a thing !" Kathchen exclaim-
ed. "At any other time give her anything
you like; but you must not pay for food in
this house • you can not imagine how offend-
ed she would be. She would take it as an
insult offered to his master; she represents
Mr. Ross in his absence -it is Mr. Ross who
is entertaining us now-'
"Oh, it is Mr. Roes who is entertaining
us ?-yes, of course," said Mary, thought-
fully; and -perhaps without noticing the
coincidence she put !lown the piece of oat
cake she held in her hand, nor did she take
it up again.
And furthermore as they were going down
to the boat, having made due acknowledg-
ments to Martha for her hospitality -Mary
walked as one in a dream; while Kathchen,
rejoiced to have some through this dreaded
ordeal with such unexpected ease, was in
the gayest of humors. She did not notice
her friend's reverie; she Was chstting away
about their foolhardiness in entering the
savage's lair -about her surprise in finding
no skulls and bones lying in corners -about
the quiet and studious aspect of the place
being a pretty cover for all kinds of dark
and lawless deeds. Mary did not reply,
once or twice she looked up to the white
grave on the hill -she was thinking of other
things.
But when they had all got into the larger
'boat again, and set out on their 'return
voyage, Kathchen found a companion more
of her own mood. The truth is that while
the young ladies were being entertained in
the front part of the house, Big Archie had
slipped up to the back, and paid hie re-
spects to Martha, and had been resented,
as is the custom in the West, with tis morn-
ing dram. This welcome mitigation of his
katzeniaminer had made a new man of him;
and he was now diaposed to be as talkative
as be had hitherto been morose ; so that, as
he sat with his arm on the tiller, he, was
cheerfully telling the young lady all about
himself and his doings and circumstances.
And Kathchen, finding him thus sociable
and friendly, affected much interest, and
plied him with appropriate questione.
"Do you keep a cow, Mr. MacNicol ?"
said she.
"Aw, now," said he, deprecatingly, "the
young leddy will be makkin me ashamed.
It's chist Archie they'll be calling me."
"Very well Archie -do you keep a cow?"
"1 starve one," said Archie, with ironicel
humor.
" And a kitchen -garden ?"
"Aw, is it a garden? And you will hot
know that I wags tekken the prize for the
garden, aye, more as three or four years?
Well, well, now, there is no longer a prize
given for the beat garden, and it's a peaty,
too-"
"Bat tell me," said Kathchen, with some
astonishment, "why was the prize stopped?
It seems a very reasonable thing, a prize
for the best kitchen -garden among the
miters and fishermen -I'm quite sure Mies
Stanley would give such a prize. Why was
it stopped ?"
Big Archie hesitated for & second or two;
then he said, with a grin of confession:
JOHN WARD,
No. 1 Whitney's Block,
1303 SEAFORTH.
FARMERS,
ATTENTION!
Barr's Dlye Works
sEAFol TH.
Orders for Cleaning and Dyeing
a
Furs, Feathers, Silks, Satins,
Laces, Kid Gloves and
Slippers,
and all kinds of wearing apparel. promptly attendtel
toe and we hope by strict attention to butdness and
first class work to merit your patronage.
Repairing done at reasonable rates.
Dye Works, first door north of D. D. Wilson's Egg
Emporium, Seaforth.
All parties requiring Farm Machin-
ery, Implements and Repairs. would
do well to call at
1305
R H. BARR.
Notice to the Creditors of the
Late John Bone.
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions
of the Revised Statutes of Ontario, Chapter 110, end
amendments thereto, that all creditors and others
having claims against the estate of the late John
Bone, of the Township of East Wawanosh, in the
County of Huron, Yeoman, who died intestate, on or
about the 8rd day of October, 1892, are required on
or before tbe 15th day of January, 1893, to deliver or
send by post prepaid to Messrs. Gamow & Proudfoot,
of the Town of Ooderich, in the County of Huron,
Solicitors for Mary Bone, the Administratrie, their
names and addresses and full particulars of their
claims with the vouchers upon which they are based,
and dist after the day last mentioned the Adminis.
treble wile proceed to distribute the assets of said
deceased, among the parties entitled thereto, having
regard only to the claims of which notice shall have
been given as above required, and the said Adminis-
tratrix, will not be liable for the ands to PAW Per-
son of whose claim notice shall not have been re-
ceived by her at the thee of such distribution.
GARROW & PROUDFOOT,
Solicitor for the said Administrable.
Dated at Goderich, the 23rd day of November, 1892.
1303-W
Hugh Grieve's Wareroom
• -OPPOSITE-
John Dorsey's Blacksmith Shop
Before purchasing elsewhere, as he
keeps repairs for the Massey -Harris,
Patterson, Wisner, Goudy, Mason and
Coleman machinery and implements,
and he is also agent for the Bain
wagon, Massey -Harris binder and
mower, chills, rakes, &c; the Coleman
roller and a full stock of Plows con-
stantly on hand.
HUGH GRIEVE, Seaforth.
GOOD
value I gave the Public when starting
Business in Seaforth. Finding it suc-
ceed, I determined to give them
ladies followed her into the passage, and in-
to the firet room leading therefrom, which
was a kind of mottling apartment and study,
combined. The tt seated themselves, and
she left to get them such refreshment as this
outeof-the-world cottage could afford.
The two girls were silent; but their eyes
were buy.
The first thing that attracted their notice
was a portrait over the mantel -piece -the
portrait of a very beautiful womme, pale
somewhat and dark, with refitted atid im-
pressive features, and of a simple and yet
dignified bearing. A sad face, perhaps ; but
a face full of character and distinction; the
BETTER
value and finding that a success also,
I have concluded to give them the
"Well, now, I will tell you the God's
truth, mem; for there's two ways about
every story; and there's my way of it, and
there's Mr. Purdie's wayeof it ; and mebbe
the one is true or the other. And this is
my way of it; I was gettin' the prize -oh
yes, I will not deny that year by year, and
very proud I wens, too, of the cabbages, and
the scarlet beanie and the like of that, and
the thirty attains of the prize a very good
thing for me. And then kem the time the
Minard crofters they were for sending an
application to Mr. Stanley for to have the
rents revised, and I put my name to the
paper, too ; bet Mr, Stanley he would do
nothing at ahl-he said, 'Go to tdraPurdie.'
Then Mr. Purdie sees my name on the paper
and he says, 'You well, there will be no
more prize for the garden, and you can do
without your thirty shullinsd It Wass a
punishment for me, that I wass putting my
name on the paper. Now, mem, that is my
story about the prize.-"
(To BE CONTINUED.)
B EST
O