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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1919-09-05, Page 1512 1919 gs mge d them e them n from er Brown [g -fitting tOWN'S OOKNG ster'sStocic- a splendid t a moderate ead -English ocking, that d wears very :cher Shade rid white. ce o Te.- guinent the Act iecreas. 1,235 in that the punish- crderli- ight. t} I 8 was `rovincc E28. and the >ravince tee SEPTEMBER 12, 19.19 sittttlitlttilti[tltttittttttlttttttllttltttltltlP Wr. Barbara -xi OF THESnows .77 by E HARRY IRVING GREENE rr • 111.11. 1.- pe▪ g aork alga MOW jai▪ & Moffat, Yardl and Co. illltlluI l ttlttllttH Hl'lttittltlttttt_ltlltttl�ie (Continued from last week.) ' They turned upon the track where the polished surfaces of the steel rails ;shimmering in the sky glare ran into the distance until they thinned and thinned and finally vanished ' as two slowly converging silver threads, And it was down this silvery way alone that safety lay—hard running at best across ties where one must leap with precision or almost inevitably turn an ankle upon itself like a hinge. And now they had scarcely gone fifty yards when luck played them false, for there was a' stumble and together they went down. Wilson, holding the girl back as best he could, threw out his free arm and saved himself, but Barbara struck the rail with a fore that remade her cry out with the pain of it. Instantly he had picked her up, and forgetful of. the danger behind was holding her tightly as he begged her to say that she was not badly hurt Save for the one involuntary cry she was ]},lute, but with lips tight- ly pressed and mouth twisted " with pain she pushed him from her and pointed to an object that stood close. beside the track. It was the man's turn to cry out now and hedid, a shout of joy, for not a dozen feet away stood the fleet -wheeled 'pede. He fell upon the machine tigerishly, lifting one end free and hauling it after him until he dropped it upon the ties, and then with the girl striving courageously to assist him he placed it upon the rails and swung her bodily to her seat. For a . few rods he ran pushing behind it. as he gave it the initial momentum, then leaped to the seat and seized the handles. The girl was already pumping with all her strength. And as on that Sunday when exult- ing in the rush of the wind she had cried "faster, faster," and he had put forth his strength until the cog wheels buzzed, so now with teeth set and eyes glued upon the silver lined pathway he swung back and forth until the car seemed to leap clear of the rails at every pull. Again his muscle -plaited legs and arms were like smooth -work- ing pistons; his body the cylinder that Feed F#NE MVLA to your Horses. Cows Sheep and Pig, anti i l remise vourProfits 1lsinc CAO M®IA Sprinkle Cane Mola over your straw, old hay, corn stover, fod- der, ensilage, screenings, etc. Reduces cost of feeding. is 100% Pure Cane Molasses and not a Prepared Stock Feed. Makes more milk at less cost. _ Builds flesh faster. Keeps stock healthier. Sold in strong -iron -hooped barrels, 6001b net each, at a very reasonable price.' We will send you cw' booklet and expert advice on economical feeding. Good lite events wanted everywhere. Write quick for territory. CANE MLA. COMPANY. OF CANADA, Limited 118 St, Paut street W. MONTREAL. JOHN McNAY AvtxzieA� tms,36W Seafortil, Ont. Brants r CANc ntua finsoranz Appedidtis Indigestion, Stomach Disorders, Appendicitis and Kidney Stones are often caused by Gall Stones, and mislead people until those bad attacks of Call Stone Colic appear. Not one in { ten Gall Stone Sufferers mows what is the trouble. Mc -lam#tJs Specific will cure wftlee.t l :i#a or oper- atiun. For sale at all druggists. Recommended by E. Umbach Druggist, Seaf4th, Ont J VV. MARIA& r b►ao 581 ONTARIO ST, TORONTO c ONT. • IIURQN EXPOSITOR drove thein forward and•hauled them back to the whir of :the driving gear beneath. Caesar leaping behind with .lolling tongue flattened himself in his flight until his deep chest brushed the ties as he strained. every muscle. to keep close to the ones he worshiped. Past them on each side the forest sped in a blurred mesh of crimson -flecked undergrowth and, interlaced limbs, while the ties of the roadbed beneath them becamg blended into a. solid floor. - They were holding their o`wn with the blaze as yet, but it -was gaining power with every mile covered' while their limbs were growing weaker with every shove. - To outrun the fiend behind seemed impossible, but to slacken their efforts was destruction to a certainty. Desperately they labored on. They rounded a sharp curve and hope well-nigh left- them. Borne • by .,the high wind miles ahead of the roaring furnace the flying outriders of the fire had descended ahead of the fugitives and for half a mile on each side of the track the forest was ablaze. Still, `run the flame gauntlet they must, or shrinking froni the lesser demon in front be withered by the greater one which raced behind. Pungent volumes of 'smoke that stung eyes and throat and half stifled the breath filled the space between the fire lines, but they plunged into it with a. sprint of speed among stinging sparks that fell upon them in a red 41 -ail. Through the smoke on either side they saw as through black screens of gauze great trees, flame -swept from roots to tips, that roared and shot blazing embers at them as they passed. Fierce gusts. of heat whirled about them, each breath of which seemed to scorch. and shrivel their lungs. Eyebrows and, eyelashes disappeared as though rub- bed off with acid, and with hair singed and garments smoking they emerged blistered and half strangled from the gauntlet into the clear air again- with all the fire behind th'em. But it was a well-nigh barren victory at best and both man and woman knew it well. Once. out of tilt scorch and strangle where pain, had goaded them on, their forced speed degenerat- ed to point where Caesar, singed from nose to tail and limping along on three scorched feet, kept pace with them without effort. Though for the time being they were well abreast of the foremost fire wall, yet overhead the swiftly ilyi,,g spark leets saileu in countless -myriads. I£ would be but a few miles at best before they would have to run another gauntlet like the last, and with their diminish- ing strength and power of resistance each knew the feat would be impos- sible. And even though they should by . some miracle of . luck reach- the village that was ahead, no safety could be found there, for even then its inhabitants were fleeing for their lives as . they themselves now fled. Half stupefied by exhaustion and smoke inhaled, moved by the same despairing thoughts, they eased their efforts until the clatter of the machine dwindled to a measured clack. Then Wilson whose dimmed eyes were searching the wayside uttered a raven - like croak. Close beside the track - and with a good 'half mile of space to shore, impassable save by leaping, to all the fires of earth, lay one of the countless lakes that dot the pineries. Flashing before his eyes came the scene as John Findlay had painted it, when more than a generation before he and the mother of the girl now be- side him, fleeing as they now did, had found safety in the waters of a lake. One sharp pull upon the brake lever and the machine was motionless with the man standing upon the track be- side it. Barbara. ,with the lake in view, needed no words of explanation. From childhood she had been familiar. with the story of her parents' race for life, and the final scene in the lake had been .{ N er-exhausted source of amusement and raillery for her. So often and So vividly had she heard the story tobi thft it seemed to be a part of her own existence, and that she was now but reenacting' a dimly remembered scene of some previous life wherein each step before her was, a familiar one. Firmly grasping the hand that her companion offered -her —he could not have lifted her now— she followed him through the brush and over the fallen trees until they reached the shore opposite the side which the charging enemy would soon claim as its own. Then bathing their hands and faces in the cool waters they sat down to quietly await the inevitable. - In the reflected cloud glove the still bosom of the lake shone like an in- verted sky, deep down in whose depths swans myriads of glowing coals. Swarms ..f cinders fell upon the .sur. - face with the hiss of rain drops upon a hot surface, and here an l there pieces of blazing bark sputtered and smoked as they drifted slowly on . Ccesar came whimpering up to them and held forth one burnt -paw as he appealed to the man to touch it a make it well' as he had often- done when a thorn offended: but this time the healer only shook his head help- lessly. But the girl's eyes- softened at the sight of his sufferings, and forgetful) et her Own hands which had been -badly stng by the hornet -like swarms of sp -Its, she put her arms around the sir ged: neck and laying her cheek upon his. head whispered something to him that the man did not hear: And whether the keen -sensed brute understood from her voice that they were -helpless to aid him, or whether the magic of her touch eased the pain~ and brought him comfort, or whether it was coincidence pure and simple none can say; but be it as it - may he.lay down- at her feet and -whimpered no more. Faster and faster fell the stinging downpour until the fending off of the burning particles became an almost incessant source of activity. Above the top of the black forest that framed the opposite side of the lake they could now see the ragged fire crest leaping, and across the water bellying balloons of smoke dragged that were half in air and half Testing upon the surface. Far above their 'heads were rushing winds,' but upon the lake's boson the air was motionless.. Then as they watched and waited a red serpent came writhing through the low growth of the far bank until it reached the water's edge where it flattened itself, coiled, spread like an adder and paus- ing for a ni;oment to flick the rough skin of a pine with its tongue ran nimbly • up the trunk and _along the boughs to the foliage which at its touch burst into a roar. Then on • . 1 ACUTE NERVOUS EXHAUSTION Treatments Pira ed Useless Until He Tried "FRUIT -A -TINES MR. JAS, S. DELGATY. R.R. No. 4. Gilbert Plains, Man. "In the year 1910, I had Nervous .Prostration in its worst form ; was reduced in weight from 170 pounds to 115 pounds. The doctors had no hope of my recovery, and every 'medicine 1 tried proved useless untiliafriend induced me to lake".Fruit-a-dives". 1 began to mend . almost 'at once ; and after using this fruit medicine for 8 or 4 months, I was back to my normal state of health. I never had such good health for twenty years as I have enjoyed the past six years. We are never without a box of `Fruit -a -tines' in thehouse". JAS. S. DELGATY. 50c. a box, 6 for $2.50, trial size 25o. At all dealers pr sent postpid on receipt • of price by Fruit-a-tives Limited, Ottawa. either side other 'fire serpents came crawling, and in five minutes more the shore line was a seething mass whose fiercely -beating heat and belch ing volume's of sparks and smoke caused the man to hide his .face in his arms and the woman to shield herself behind an- outer skirt. The crisis had arrived, but the worst of the crisis- was. yet to come. "To the water," gasped Wilson and she arose upon. the instant and put- ting her hand once more in his waded by his side into .the last refuge be- tween them and eternity. The waters were cold and they caught their breath from the sudden chill of them as they waded out until half submerged. "Now sit dawn," he commanded, and ' she obeyed; • gasping sharply as the arms of the lake closed about her shoulders. At once he seated himself beside her and with the water up to their necks they waited the beginning of the end; having done all that man and wernan could do and regretless of mistake in judgment or opportunity wasted. Their wetted handkerchiefs they bound about their mouths and .noses that the cloths might mitigate the heat and clarify the air which they must breath when the smoke clouds came, and their hair saturated to protect their heads from the raining cinders. With sticks they pushed away the boating fire masses when they came too close, and when the deluge of cinders 'matted in their hair and be- came unbearable Wilson remedied that trouble by removing, his saturated coat and spreading it (vier their heads until only their faces were exposed. This of course brought them close side by side and he released her hand for a better and more supporting clasp about the waist. Around there in slow circles . Cosar was. paddling, thrusting his head beneath the surface from time to time when the ` hot embers lighted upon it, The conflagration reached its .zenith. Fifty feet above the tops of the great pines the red :tongues of the flames licked the' skies, then severing them- selves from the mass below leaped still higher and vanished like flaunt- ing crimson banners whipped out .of sight behind tumbling copper masses. The lake shone like burnished brass. Fiercer the heat grew and volumes of pitch smoke rolling ,heavily over the lake shore drove the huddled pair to. draw the sodden garment completely over them, leaving them in a shallow, mist -filled. tent with the waters circl- ing their throats. Through the chill of the lake upon their bodies and the heat upon their heads and the difficulty of breathing their sufferings were - acute, yet they could endure it for a While longer should .at get no worse, and it could get no worse save one last thing happened. But happen that last thing did. The fire leaped the lake bodily . and catching among the trees that fringed their side of the waters not a dozen yards from where they crouched went shooting upward and began to focus • its heat upon then from point blank range. In ten minites more there would be a roaring inferno so close at 'hand that no flesh and blood could endure its blast, and when that moment came ,their lives must go out, either withered by flame or strangled by the waters that so coldly embraced them. One privilege only remained to thein. They could choose the element in which to die, For an instant the man lifted a flap of the coat' and showed her what lay 'before them that she might under-. stand and choose when the unendur- able came. She understood, nodded and he let the soaked flap fall. And then with no hope of life remaining his great love and pity for her over- mastered him and he threw his arms around her and drew her against his breast, kissing her wet forehead, her wet lips and cheeks as he told her that he loved her better than life it - Self, and that to go to eternity with her tightly clasped was to rob death of half its hideousness. And hearing his words faintly above the roar of the fire she surrendered herself to him, and throwing one arm about his neck as if to hold him placed her cheek against hfand sobbed brokenly. It was a night of years. As in that fearful holocaust many lives were Iost that would have been sav- ed but for the sheer accursedness of fate; so upon the other hand others were saved that by the laws of chance should have been forfeited. Flint the indomitable, hero of a score of hair's breadth escapes, together with tebeau and 'half a dozen companions fought the fire skillfully and long, the when safety was almost within their grasp died through .an unforseeable freak of the fire element. The man and wo- inan in the lake were among the blest. Above them a flying bolt sud- denly rent the 'Murk like a flimsy fabric rent by strong hands and the mighty lungs of the heavens drowned the voice of the fire as the roar of a Iran drowns the hiss of a serpent. Bellowing in his wrath at the wanton- ness of the fire- slave run mad below, the great storm king came, and from out of the rent in the clouds poured a deluge that swept the leaping flames from the face of the earth; beating the writhing serpents into motion- less, blackened shapes; spearing the sparks in mid flight and cooling the seared bosom of the earth like a sooth- ing balm. Within thirty minutes the red woods had become black, with water .'streaming through the bhannels the fire had made, and where there had beeii billows of live smoke were now but dead smudges. Roasting heat had given way to steam and hu- midity, and only here and there in -some hollow tree or beneath protect- ing log or brush heap could be found the remains of the great fire army, and these- scattered ,survivors, now beaten to masses of flickering coals, were impotent 'save for feeble darts and venomous hissings. From out of the lake crawled a man, a woman and a dog, all scorched, soaked and shaken with the chill of the water; a trio that searched out a still glowing stump and gather.' a- bout it in a bedraggled circle as they sought the heat from which the mom- ent before they had cringed in suffer- ing. The totrents, from above were warm and gave them little discomfort, but had the rain ,.which had saved themnow turned and drowned them -they would have died blessing it so great was their thankfulness. Through the rest of' the night and far into the next day the downpour continued,, then the woods being sufficiently cool `to be traversed the three bought the railway and stumbled stiffly over the charred ties and twisted, rails as they bent their steps' towards the southern edge of the hideous blackened woods. Five miles down the track they met the first of the living; a scouting hand -car closely - followed by a construction train that bore new i ties and rails for the repair of the road. The fugitives were nearly exhausted—Barbara could only walk with the aid of Wilson, who himself had little strength to lend— and endand they were at once joyfully placed upon the hand -car and whisked to Phoenix, the village nearest to the southern -rim of the fire area. CHAPTER XVII Several days later John Findlay and "Wilson dismounted from the recon- struction train at i he site of what had bee z the hamlet of Archer, The clearing was but a desolate waste now, heaps of ashes and charred logs marking the spots where once had stood stare, boarding house, stable and mill.. Where had been. but so few days before a magnificent woodand tlhere now remained but a grotesque, blackened jungle out of which arose countless barren poles which had once been towering green -capped trees but> (Continued on Page Six) INCORPORATED 1855 IlE MOLSONS BANK - • 4 • • 111 4 i t i i • • i • .. • • • • • s •44..4..4.isSof COS 8••PAID aiy.R*a!!!#..ii its asalississsslsrsas.3!•3..7 CAPITAL AND RESERVE $8,800,000 OVER 100 BRANCHES Any information needed about Bank- ing will be gladly and courteously given on application by the Manager of any one of our Branches. BRANCHES IN THIS DISTRICT Brucefield St. Marys Kirkton Exeter Clinton Hensel.' Zurich it 44 DI it.,•,rietl7+•Irrlriin.;:.�.gr4„�,.iHlrlr.rrrt.► C'LARY'S ,m m: ti WClary* Random SO well known as to have become a Canadian institution is this grand. working Pandora. Glass oven door; tested thermometer; an oven so evenly heated that even the beginner can bake well with it. Grates work smoothly; reservoir is ,enameled and may be remove for cleaning. There is a lifetime of satisfaction in the Pandora. 14 t Sold by Henry Edge 1' otece Referee u WHAT EACH QUESTION MEANS AND WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE "YES" QNALL FOUR QUESTIONS 1 9, 1 Are you in favor of the repeal c The Ontario Temperance Act ? The repeal of The Ontario Temperance Act does not mean a return to the general sale of spirituous liquors, as the Premier, in his speech of ;April 7th,•said: "Now, practically no one suggests a return to old conditions. The distillers ina re ent manifesto say that they themselves are opposed toit. Many hotel -keepers say they are oppos d to it. The brewers say they are opposed to it. Honour- able gentlemen in the House and people out of the House, who are opposed to the present Act, say they are equally opposed to the old or er. The labor men who ask for stronger beer, say they don't want the sale of hard liquor." The Premier and the Government, reaping this, would not be parties to a continuance of the gen- eral sale of spirits as under the old licei se system, but would amend the License Act in accord with public sentiment. This would be in keeping with the policy of the Provincial Governments of the past fourteen years. which have from til e to time amended the License Act to conform to the wishes of the people. To vote "Yes" t question number one would enable the Government to pro- vide for the sale of beer and light vain in the hotels, and beer and spirits in Government stores for home consumption.. The Citizens' Liberty 'League does not want ,a return to the conditions under the old License Act and the sale of liquor over the bar. It does ask; however, for the general sale of beer 2,51 alcohol by weight (non -intoxicating) and light wines, and that the Government should only allow the sale of heavier beers and liquors through agencies established and maintained under Government super- vision and control. It is, therefore, n cessary that question one should be answered `Yes,' repeal- ing The Ontario Temperance Act and making it possible for the Government to enact a new temperance measure in accord with the expressed vrill of the people. By voting "Yes" on question number o e you wilrbc in agreement with -Premier Hearst when he said: "Many good and conscientious citizens, as good and conscientious as there are in the Pro- ' vince, do not approve of the Act as it stands today."` Vote'"Yes" on question number one and repeal the unsatisfactory Ontario Temperance Act. 6 votes. es" voteYes" VoteYes" 3 2. Are you in favor of the sale of light beer containing not more than 2.51 /100% alcohol weight measure through Govprnment agencies, ;Ind amendments to The Ontario Temperance Act to permit such sale?., 1 Vote "Yes" on question number two. This provides for the sale of light beer in Government stores for home consumption and removes the necessity of procuring a doctor's certificate, 3. Are you hi favor of tho sale of light beer containing not more than 2.6,1 /100% alcohol weight measure in standard hotels In Local municipalities that by majority vote favor such sales and amendments to Tho Ontario Temperance Act to permit such sale Vote "Yes" ort question number three. There can be 'little doubt that the majority of people will - vote "Yes" on this question. There is a demand for a beer of good flavor and body that is non- intoxicating, and the public want to obtain it by the glass as well as by the bottle: A beer of 2,51% alcohol by weight, n+6 matter in what quantities . consumed, is absolutely non - intoxicating. In European countries aieer of this strength is sold generally without license and without excise duty. ' In voting "Yes" on questions tivo a4 three you can be assured that no one can become intoxicated by beer of this strength. • I 4. Areou In fervor of .the sale + f spirituous rand malt liquor's throw b Govern- ment agencies, and amendments to . The Ontario Temperance- Act to permit such sale ? Vote "Yes" on question number four which provides -for the sale of all liquors for home consump- tion from Government stores under Such regulations as the Government may deem it wise to adopt. The public will be able to purchase from these st ores without procuring a doctor's certificate. I Study the Referendum Ballot; if there is any point not clear, call or write the Secretary of the League at Com- mittee Headquarters. It is to your interest that you vote wisely and intelligently. And if you are a lover of liberty and an advocate of true temperance, you will vote "YES" on all questions on the Referendum Ballot. •Remember --eery voter must vots on - The :Citizens' Liberty League is not in favor of the sale of spirits over the bar as under the old License Law. It is, however, in favor of the general sale of non -intoxicating beer of 2:51% alcohol by weight and light vases, and the sale cif liquor for home consumption through Government stores under such restrictions as the Government may deem wise to adopt. every Question, or his ballot will be spoiled. CITIZENS' LI5ERTY LEAGUE 22 College Street, Toronto BON. PRESIDRNT: Silt EDMUND 1R OSt3R h • R. H*LLUUTN, L T. L. CARRUTHERS, S,.cestary PRESIDENT: ' LIEUT.-COL, N. A. c. MOM TREASURER: P. GORDON OS 4