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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-07-03, Page 6Page 6. - Lucknow Sentinel; Wednesday, July 3, 1985 Estsabhsh+ d 1 ,"The Sepoy Town" BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 Thomas Thompson Sharon Dietz Pat Livingston Joan Helm' Merle Elliott Alan Rivett •Advertising Manager -Editor -General Manager -Compositor -Typesetter -Reporter Subscription rates in advance: S16." Outside Canada S45 00 Senior Citizen • Si 3.50 Outside Canada. 543.00 Second class mailing reg. no. 0847 Advertising is accepted on•the condition that in the event of a typographical:error, the portion of the advertising space occupied by the•erroneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid'at the applicable rates: • Senior citizens -win pension battle • • The. controversy -.surrounding , the de -indexation ' of pensions finally had an effect on the government: In a complete about face, Finance- Minister Michael Wilson and Prime M'ister Brian Mulroney succurnbed to the pressurere-installed full indexation of pensions. Prim Minister Mulroney,. by all accounts, virtually ordered Wilson to reverse his position on the issue. ' Although they've now set the record straight, the handling.. of the whole, issue was suspect from the beginning. Firstly, the de -indexation of pensions- should never have been introduced into the ,iudget. To take away revenue. from the part of society who in most cases can't' afford a cut in penions is totally irresponsible. . ' . ' .Secondly, the installation of full, penions was made for the. wrong reasons. The move was made in order to save • what was left of the Tories already shaken credibility: The senior' citizens. must:be congratulated for speaking out to, the government and making their displeasure known. The government soon found out that they were a force to .be reckoned with. It demonstrates that the go`vernment's budget, is not carved • instone but can be changed if enough, people take exception to a particular part of. it. The press also fell under a great deal of criticism for • exaggerating and overdoing the pension issue How can • the media be criticized for reporting on a crucial budget. issue such as pensions and for showing the budget item for What it really was -.a mistake? The old saying "if the shoe • fits" bolds true in this particular instance. `Although the pension issue has subsided, the 'Sentinel still intends to send the petition which was received from ' the opposition to Ottawa. It may, perhaps, deter the government .from making such. 'a .serious- blunder again. A.R. 6 Write a letter to the editor Twiligiit on the pond Photos by lain Rivett • That faint but compelling voice of truth which speaks from the depths. of the human ' soul is described by Some as conscience, but to others, it can only be the compassionate voice of the Lord. Thus, although. Jane Cameron thought she had settled all her business with the people of Redtrees, a voice within her whispered that she was guilty of crimes against her fellow man, which could only be judged by Almighty God. In this frame of mind, some inexplicable force drew her to the Presbyterian Church, • The herd surely works in mysterious ways. So perhaps it was not by accident that the Reverend Duncan MacLeod too felt the need to go to the church at that time. He saw Jane kneeling in prayer and waited until she was ready to leave. ".How good it is to see you again, Jane," he said in all sincerity. • "This is an unusual time for prayer. Is there something troubl-. ing you? `If so, perhaps you would be kind enough to allow me to assist'you." . Under normal circumstances, Jane would have diplomatically sidestepped his ques- tion, but not today. She had a need to talk to somebody in confidence, and nobody would be more sympathetic and under"standine than the minister. "Thank you, Duncan. I do indeed need to talk to a friend •- perhaps ,the last friend'I have left in Redtrees. Do you havethe time to talk? I am afraid I must, tell you a very long story first! "You probably regard 'me as an endless speaker myself," MacLeod said with a smile. "But in the service of God, a minister must also. be a very patient listener. By all means tell me everything you wish me to know." They sat down together at the back of the church and ;lane poured out her heart. She told him how she had come back in a vain at- tempt to regain the,doetoes love. Thwarted, she had turned her anger. against the people who were indebted to her. How could she be forgiven for all her spite, jealousy and lust for revenge? "Our Lord Jesus told us that the greatest human virtue is charity," MacLeod said. "By that hemeant love. Love is so easy to share, so if, as you say, You are leaving Red- trees edtrees forever, please, I beg you, leave it with all the love you can give!" Outside the church, MacLeod took Jane's hand and kissed her finger tips. It brought a flood of tears to Jane's eyes. "I shall miss you Duncan," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "You are such a . dear, dear man - the kindest man I have ever known." She turned and walked away abruptly so that the minister wouldnot see the tears streaming down her face. When she had composed herself; L she walked to the doc- tor's house and • found Rebecca Barclay working in the surgery., Jane was pleased the doctor was away making his dailyhouse calls. ° "Yon will probably never see me again," Jane said. "So before I go, I want to wish you all the happiness a marriage can bring. That you will be happy, I have no, doubt. James is a good man and most certainly deserves a wife who will appreciate hun. more than I dic. You• are a very capable woman Miss Barclay the ideal person to `make Doctor Cameron's life complete. Jane was too full'to linger in the presence of her rival. Before Rebecca could reply, she' left the doctor's'house for the last tune. She had an . intense strange feeling of sadness and nostalgia. Without any hesitation, she made her way to the MacCrimmon farm and found Neil scything down the thistles on the pasture around the barn. • "I am going to cancel that business' ar- rangement 1 made with you," she said bruSkly. "It was stupid 'of me•to have even considered such a deal." A look of anger came to MacCrimmon's face. It was just like this wOmari to try and change her mind. • "Ye canna change it now," he shouted, his temper rising. "It is done - finished - once an' frae all!" "Not quite, Mister MacCriMmon - I hear you'have notionaof building a new Church. It is my wish that all the money due from my creditors shall be applied to that purpose." "Wi'out any conditions?" MacCrimmon asked suspiciously. "There is a condition - just one," Jane said smiling radiantly. "When yoti know the size of the window above the alter; you must send me the dimensions. I shall then have a stained glass window made - the last gift to Redtrees from Jane Cameron!" s'