Loading...
The Wingham Advance-Times, 1937-01-21, Page 6T' -t ' WE SIX l^ioi 1OE3O * THE WINGHAM-ADVANCE-TIMES Thursday, January 21, 1937 oxno:101=301 0x210 IOE3O1 XOE3O ‘‘ELLEN GETS HER MAN” qcjc>e==?:i:;.'.-.;ioejoe===:e: FIRST INSTALMENT It was spring in the Three River Country. Over night almost, it seem­ ed, the gentler season had come. Even the great, moiling Athabasca River had softened its voice. When it first broke the ice-ribbed barriers of winter it had howled, and groaned and roared with release of pent-up power, crashing and pounding at the shuddering ice floes. But now, the initial battle over with, it had lowered its voice to a crooning, lisping mur­ mur, its coppery flood sliding swift­ ly away to the northward, where, thousands of miles distant, those wa­ ters would finally rendezvous with the silent Arctic sea. John Benham-, bent over the intri­ cacies of a splice in a mooring line, whistled as he worked. Surging in the depths of his great chest was a Wild, haunting happiness ,which al­ ways came to him when the far, dim trails were open and beckoning. His '■-face, bent eagerly to his work, was .lean and brown, with brow, nose, lips •and chin cleanly and strongly carven,. His eyes, deepset, steady and spark­ ling grey, were flawless in their clar­ ity. His heavy flannel shirt citing to wide, sloping shoulders and opened -at the front to disclose a bronzed, pillar-like throat. His hands, weaving cunningly at the hemp, were big, strong and nimble. The tremendous virility of the man seemed to glow from him like some strange and pow­ erful current. Ellen Mackay, standing there on the crest of the sloping bank, dis­ tinctly sensed that current. It almosl frightened her, yet it seemed also t< awaken a nameless, responsive thril which speeded the beat of her hear and set her pulses throbbing. Am where she had approached in the firs: place with a surety that verged al most on arrogance, she now hesitat e<l, swakey by a curious timidity. The man was unconscious of he- proximity. The song of the river hat. covered her light-footed approach His bared head was bent over his work. Beyond him, about the remain? of the noon fire, sprawled the sleep­ ing forms at his men,-while still far­ ther on, five great, loaded freight scows tugged at twanging mooring ropes and shifted to and fro though they also knew the call spring and were eager to storm far leagues of the lonely land. Ellen Mackay coughed, and was suddenly furious with herself to find that it had been a most apologetic cough indeed. The man’s eyes lifted 'with alert swiftness, rested on the slim figure of the girl for a moment of startled wonder, then he rose to his feet with a little surge of power which rippled over him like the wind across a .-ea of grass. “You—you are* John Benham?" Only by the strongest effort of will was Ellen able to keep her tone cas­ ual and business-like. The impact of this man’s eyes were almost hypnot­ ic. No wonder John Benham, the free-trader, was such a power among the fur gatherers of the North. “Yes,” came the quiet, deep tones. “I am Benham.” “I am Ellen Mackay. I have to leave immediately for Fort Edson. I I was the most unusual experience in had planned to go with De Soto’s I her life. Why, the man had acted al- Business and Professional Directory re-entered little store there Wellington Mutual Fire Insurance Co, Established 1840, Risks taken on all classes of insur­ ance at reasonable rates. Head Office, Guelph, Ont. ABNER COSENS, Agent. Wingham. HARRY FRY Licensed Embalmer and Fijweral Director Furniture and ' Funeral Service Ambulance Service, Phones: Day J17. Night 109, Dr, W. A. McKibbon,B. A. PHYSICIAN And SURGEON Located at the Office of the Late ' Dr. H. W. Colborne. fact beyond any correction * And s° he went on with his work# though some of the cheer of his mood had departed. When Ellen Mackay Rat McClatchncy’s at Athabaska Landing, her anger and disappointment were easily apparent to the big, genial storekeeper, “He—he turned me down-—flat,” she burst out, “He’s a brute," Kindly old Pat nodded commiser- atingly. “Ay," he mumbled, “Ay lass —he is a brute—but rather a magnif­ icent brute at that, I was afraid. Now' if ye had gone to him as old Pat suggested, and used a wee bit of trickery on him, no doubt he would have been glad to take ye. ’Twas 1 the fact that ye are Angus Mackay’s lass that spoiled things, I'll wager.” “It appeared to be,” admitted El­ len- “But I don’t see why that should have made any difference. If he and my father have disagreed ov­ er something it is no reason why he should vent his spleen on me. I nev­ er saw such a mannerless clod. And as far as telling him I was someone else besides my true self—I wouldn’t think of it, I—I’ll admit it looks like my last chance to get north, but I won’t lie, even for that.” Pat sucked on his malodorous, black briar for a time in silence. “Let’s get our heads together, lass,” he said at last. “I have a wee idea that may be of value.” At first Ellen shook her head in •flat denial at Pat unfolded his scheme to her. But the more she thought it over the more the wild daring of the thing intrigued her. In addition, | when she had told Pat, -on arriving at Athagaska Landing ,that it was imperative that she go north immed­ iately to join her father, she had'! meant every word of it. Old Angus Mackay was a proud and haughty man and, knowing him as she dids Ellen knew that only the direst ne­ cessity could have caused him to write as he had in the letter she had received from him on the day she graduated from college, tier father needed her. Just why, she could on­ ly guess ar. But he needed her, and j the blood of the Mackays had always been thick and clannish. And that was why Ellen put aside her own feelings in the matter and finally agreed to Pat’s plan. “I’ll do it,” she said thoughtfully. “I’ll do it—if you can make the ar­ rangements as you suggest.” There was little in the way of pack­ ing for Ellen to do. During her years at college she had not forgotten that the north country was a country of essentials, not frills. A suitcase and a small trunk was all the baggage she had brought, and if it became necessary, she was ready to discard the trunk. So she soon had things in shape, then stretched out for a lit­ tle rest on the blankets of her bunk. At first the tumult of her thoughts made even a hint of sleep impossible. She heard old Pat clumping about in the store, and after a bit came the rumble of his voice as he talked for a time with someone. Ellen’s thoughts soon came back to John Benham. Her mind was made up to the fact, that she disliked him thoroughly. But when she endeavoured to isolate the reason for this she failed to get very far. In spite of the unreasonable ran­ cour she felt,, she had to admit, in all fairness, that her charge of rude­ ness on his part was not correct. She had asked him a question and he had given her a straightforward answer. That it had not been the answer she had desired and expected did not con­ stitute rudeness. His words and man­ ner had been respectful, but none the less adamant. And it was this latter fact, though Ellen hardly realized it, which had aroused her. A masterful man. Ugh! How she loathed masterful men. With a little throb of consternation she remember­ ed that simply by glancing at her he had shattered her self-aplomb in a most disturbing manner. And so John Benham and her fa­ ther were at loggerheads. Very well, if Angus Mackay hated this free trad­ er, then Angus Mackay’s daughter would hate him also. She settled this fact in her mind with a clack of her little white teeth. She felt she could trust her father’s judgment in such a matter. She wondered again just what the issue was between her fath­ er and John Benham, She mused ov­ er this to doze and soon fell asleep. It was dark when she awoke. Pat McClatchney was shaking her gent­ ly by the shoulder. “Come, lass," the old fellow mur­ mured. “Pierre Buschard is here. He would talk with you," Ellen followed Pqt into the store, now .dimly lit by the yellow beams of a lamp. Standing just kt the edge of the glow was a huge dark figure of a man. As stranged tugged cap and stood two great paws. (Continued Next Week) 101=30;==xo n=3 ct. I was delayed at Ed- De Soto has gone on Pat McClatchney tells leave in the morning. i brigade, I monton without 1 me that I If you will give me passage to Fort Edson I will see that you are well I paid for your trouble.” For a moment Benham'did not an­ swer. His eyes rested steadily on the girl ,unwaveringly, startlingly clear. Yet he did not look at her as other men had looked. His gaze was spec­ ulative, not personal—thoughtful, not amorous. l’hesently he spoke. “You are El­ len Mackay. Then your father is An­ gus Mackay, Hudson Bay factor at Fort Edson?" “Yes. Angus Mackay is my fa­ ther." A queer, hard light grew into be­ ing in Benham’s eyes and he shook his head slowly. “I’m afraid that makes your request impossible, Miss,” Ellen stiffened, spots of color glow­ ing on her smooth cheeks. “I—I do not understand." Benham looked at her curiously. “This is your first season in the but and me. yon O 11 o __________________ n :OK=3OE=========3OX=3U most like a churl. His flat refusal was stunning with its impact, the more so because it had been so un* 'expected. For,, during the past four years, men had vied with one anoth­ er to jump to Ellen Mackay’s bidding. They had gloried in acceding to her slightest request. Her four years at college in Winnipeg had been one long reign over all things masculine. Unconsciously this adulation had spoiled her. She knew no other law but that of her own personal whim, Men, apparently, were just automat- I ons made to be commanded. Yet, this man, this big, virile, savage had flat­ ly denied her. Ellen’s imperious head lifted, her rounded little chine stif­ fened, and she turned on her heel and walked away. Unknown to her, John Benham watched her departure. A look of re­ gret clouded his face, and there was grudging admiration mingled with that regret, It would be a cold man indeed who could not admire Ellen Mackay, and John Benham was cold. The city had' failed utterly in DR. R. L. STEWART PHYSICIAN Telephone 29. Dr. Robt. C. REDMOND M.R.C.S. (England) L.R.C.P. (London) 1 PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON / not de- Office Phone 54.Nights 107 l J. W. BUSHFIELD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money to Loan. Office — Meyer Block, Wingham Successor to Dudley Holmes. J. H. CRAWFORD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Successor to R. Vanstone. Wingham Ontario ■] A THOMAS FELLS AUCTIONEER REAL ESTATE SOLD Thorough knowledge of Farm Stock. Phone 231, Wingham, It Will Pay Yoti to Have An EXPERT AUCTIONEER to conduct your sale. See T. R. BENNETT At The Royal Service Station. Phone 174W. .A \ 3enham shook his head, slowly, “I’m afraid that makes your request im­ possible, Miss.” as of the north for some time, isn’t it?” he ask'ed. “Y—-yes. I’ve been to school at Winnipeg.” “Then it is natural that you would not understand. Should you go north with my brigade your ,father would disown you. For I am Benham, a free trader—the free trader in your father’s life. My name is anathema to him. He hates me unforgivably. He curses the very thought of my exist­ ence. He even . . .” Benham bit off further words with a click of teeth. His great chest arched and his fists clenched to hard, brown knots. 'Strange fires flashed in his eyes. It was plain that himself in time ing into open dropped to his his work again. Miss Mackay,” 1 “But it is impossible.1 For a long moment Ellen stood, swayed by many emotions, of which a rising anger was uppermost. This he 'had just caught to keep from explod­ rage. Suddenly he knees and bent over “I’m truly sorry, he finished quietly. spoiling the physical birthright of El­ len Mackay. She was sturdy, buoy­ ant, intensely alive. There was no sickly, boudoir langour about her slender and vibrant body. Her stride was free, natural and full of grace. She did not slouch. She stood erect, proudly so, and the rich colour in her smooth, olive cheeks had been placed there by a benevolent nature, not by the chemistry of man. Her features were lovely in their regularity and as cleanly etched as a pine ridge against the sunset. Her eyes were level, dark and aglow with the joy and mastery of life. And her hair was truly her crowning glory, a rich blue-black cloud of crisp curls. The thoughts of such a girl as this sitting by his side during the long brisk days and mysterious nights of the river voyage ahead, stirred John Benham deeply. But only for a mo­ ment did such truant thoughts stay with him. With a hardening of his jaw and a shrug of his shoulders he discarded them. She was the daugh­ ter of Angus Mackay, which, in John Benham’s eyes, seemed a damning WORLD’S SMALLEST BABY CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY & > • --/r X® ft®:: ’’ j, •'‘ ',/// * . < •, £ "s- i i 5 Ellen entered, the off his red woollen twisting it between *9 Jacqueline Jean Benson, weighed exactly 12 ounces at birth, earning the title of the world’s smallest baby. Here we see her celebrating her first birthday with her parents, Mr. and | pounds less than the average for Mrs, Lester Benson, in their home in Chicago. Jacqueline now weighs 16 pounds and 14 ounces, just three KHAIM.: one year.Lawyer: “Get my broker, Jones.” “Yes, sir, stock or pawn?” DR. W. M. CONNELL PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Phone 19. R. S. HETHERINGTON BARRISTER and SOLICITOR Office •— Morton Block. Telephone No. 66 J. ALVIN FOX Licensed Drugless Practitioner CHIROPRACTIC - DRUGLESS THERAPY - RADIONIC EQUIPMENT Hours by Appointment. Phone 191. Wingham W. A. CRAWFORD, M.D. Physician and Surgeon Located at the office of the late Dr. J, P. Kennedy,. Phone 150 Wingham F. A. PARKER OSTEOPATH All Diseases Treated. Office adjoining residence next to Anglican Church on Centre St. Sunday by appointment. Osteopathy Electricity Phone *272. Hours, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. A. R.& F. E. DUVAL CHIROPRACTORS CHIROPRACTIC and ELECTRO THERAPY North Street — Wingham Telephone 300. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON TWO MIRACLES OF MERCY. Sunday, Jan. 24 — John 5:29; 6: 8-15. Golden Text: The> Same work that ,1 do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me (John 5:36).. The Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, can do wholly im­ possible things—things, that is, that are hopelessly impossible to men. He can work miracles. He can undo .all the consequences of sin, and He can break the power of sin, in a sinner’s life. He can supply the bodily needs of men quite apart from the qeustion of sin; and He can do this in circum­ stances . that make the supplying of such needs impossible—except to God. As we study the lesson that brings out these facts, let us remember what a miracle is. It is not natural,' but supernatural. It is not God’s use of some law that men have not yet dis­ covered, and that men could -use if they did discover it. A miracle is an event that only God can bring to pass; it is not a wonderful discovery, such as electricity, telegraph, tele­ phone, radio, airplane, ov any triumph of medical or surgical research or skill. Men can do all these things; but men cannot work miracles unless God Himself, as in the case of cer­ tain men in Bible times and since then, works supernaturally through them. At Jerusalem, one day Christ saw In miniature what God sees as He looks down upon this world: “A great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered.” Surely that describes the spiritual" condition of uncounted millions living on earth today. The multitude of miserable people at Jerusalem were gathered around a pool, called Bethesda, believing that one fortunate one among them would be healed if he could be the first to step into the water just after it mov­ ed or was “troubled” at a certain sea- • son. To a man in this wretched, suffer­ ing crowd who had been diseased by sin thirty-eight years, the Lord spoke. He asked a single question:.- “Wilt thou be made whole?” The man answered# in pathetic helplessness, that lie had no one to help him into the pool when the wat­ er was troubled—some one else al­ ways “steppetit down before me.” Then came the glad and unexpect­ ed Word from the Lord—the com­ mand of a miracle-working Saviour: “Rise, take Up thy bed and walk.” We are not left in suspense aS to the sequel. “And immediately the man was made whole, and t$ofc up Miss his bed, and walked.” We may be sure that when Christ, offers to make a man whole and does, the miracle-work that is needed, the result is real wholeness. The man’s bodily healing was-com­ plete and instantaneous. In the same chapter we read that when thje Lord met this healed 'man a little later in the temple, He said to hinj: “Behold,' thou art made whole: sin no more,' lest a worse thing come unto thee." And we cannot but believe that the man received Christ as his Saviour, and found—as all can do' who will— that Christ was able to make him whole in spirit, soul and body, not only undoing the physical conse­ quences of sin, but also breaking its power. The Apostle Paul’s glad decx laration of this last miracle is that “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8:2). At another,timq, a great multitude followed Christ on'the eastern side of the sea of Gallilee and stayed with Him through the day (Luke 9:12). There Were five thousand o’f them, they were out in the Open country, and as night drew on they had no­ thing to eat. The Lord asked One of His disciples,' Philip, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" ' Was Christ troubled by the prob­ lem? Was He really asking the dis­ ciples to help Him in a difficulty? The next verse tells us: “And this He said to prove, him: for He Him- self knew what He would do.” God always knows the solution of every problem that comes into our lives, no matter how hopeless it may seem; we are safe if we put the whole matter into His bands. Andrew told the Lord pf a lad who was with them and who had “five barley loaves, and. two small fishes”; then Andrew added, with good rea­ son, “but what are they among so many?” „ The miracle followed. The Lord took the loaves and the fishes, gave thanks to His heavenly Father, “dis­ tributed to the disciples, and the dis­ ciples to the multitude, and they all ate and were filled.” When God pro­ vides the meal, it is never a scanty one. Th£re was enough and more than enough, for the disciples “filled twelve baskets with the fragments of .the. five barley loaves which remain­ ed over and above unto them that had eaten.” With such a Saviour, we have no­ thing to fear for time or eternity. DOCTORS MEET SALUTE FOR WARRIOR “How is it you always get your fees?” “I always treat mothers-in-law. If they recover the daughters pay and if they die the sons treat me hand­ somely.” Home from the Spanish civil war, he arrived in New York on the S.S. Bert Costa, ace aviator, got this sal- Paris. ute from his daughter, Bertina, when » *