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The Seaforth News, 1938-03-03, Page 6. PAGE SIX. Rose Meenie TRE SEAFORTH NEWS TifclURSD'A,Y, MARCH 3, 1938 The agent hesitated. land whs a fertile 'valley, with mar "If you gat the estate at a fair farm -houses, and snug ,chunps price," he said, at length, 'It might he trees, and a meandering river that had practicable, though ;these improve- salmon obviously 'written on every anent schemes suck in money as a square ,foot of its partially frozen sur- aspovtge sucks in water. And as for this face. young 'fellow—well, I should guess. 'Wihat a 'situation for a bowel" was But, you know, 'before giving any one .ROnald's involuntary exclamation, as an important post like that—and es- he looked down on the sheltered semi pecially with your going back to Am- circle below him, guarded on the east erica for the best part of every year— and north by the cliffs, and facing the think you ought to have s,ome sort shining west, of money guarantee as a kind of safe- thought ye would say that," the guard. It's usual. God forbid I should agent said, with a (quiet smile suggest anything against the 'lad— many's the time I've heard Sir lames he's as honest -looking as my own WO say he would give emmoo if he could boys, and I can say no 'more than that bring the castle there; anal he was aye —.still, business is business. A couple minded to build there—ay, even to the of sureties, now, of £500 apiece, day of his death, poor .man; bet then might be sufficient." the colonel, When the 'place came to him, said no; he would rather sell Sal- na.vrain; and (moist likely the pur- chaser woluld be for 'building a house to his ain mind," "And a most sensible notion too," Mr. Hods'ob said, "But look here, my friend; you've brought tis up to a kind of (Pisgah; T would rather go down into that land of Gilead, and see what the farm -houses are like." -.Ay, hut 1 brought ye here because it's about the best place for giving ye an idea of the marches," said the man imperturbably, for he knew his own business better than the stranger. "Do ye see the burn away over there be- yond the farm-honse?" "Yes, yes." -Well, that" the fialnal rain march right up to the top: ant then the Duchess runs all along the sky -line yonder—To the black seaur." 'You don't say!" observed Mr. Hodson. "I never heard of it Ilnehoss doing anything so extraordinary." 11 tit we march with tht Hnehess," said the other, a little Isenildered. "That's a little more dertirons, any- way. Well. now, T suppose We 1111 make all that out (in the 'Ordnance Survey map when we get hark to the hotel, I'm for gettmg 1111011 info 1110:1; look around: I take it that if I lived here I dlottldn't spend all the time on the motintain-top," "It's usual," repeated Mr. Hodson, absently. "Yes, 1 suppose it is:Pretty hard on a young fellow, though, if he can't (find the sureties. A thousand pounds is a big figure tor one in his position. He has told me about his la- ther and his brother: they're not in it anyhow—bdth of them with hardly a sixpence to spare. However, it's 410 use talking about it until we see whe- ther this place here is satisfactory, and even then don't say a word about it to hint—and if the securities were Al right, and so forth—it has got to be given to him as a little present front an 'American young lady, if you can call it a present when you merely pro- pose to pay a man a fair day's wage for a fair day's work. And 1 am less hopeful now; the three places we have lonkerl at were clearly oin of the ques- tian, and my Highland mansion may pr.ove to be a eastle in Spain after all" The 4tearner wm.. now ,.low MR into the wide, still loch, anti they had to get 'below to put their things together and prepare for going ashore. Very deserted did the thig hotel look amid this wintry landscape: but theY had telegraphed for rooms, and everything' was in readiness for them; while the agent for the estate they were going to inspect was waiting for them, wag- onette and all at the aloor. They start- ed almost directly, and a lung and desperately cold drive it proved to be; Mr. Hodson, for one, was glad enough when they dismounted at the keeper's cottage where their tramp aver the ground was to begin—he did not rare how rough the country might be, so long as he could 'keep moving briskly. Now it had been very clear, during these past few days. that Ronald had net the slightest suspicion that Mr. Hodson, in contemplating the pur- chase of a Highland estate (-which was an old project of his), had also in his eye some scheme For iRonald'a own advancement. All the tay through be had been endeavoring to spy out the nakedness of the land and to demonstrate its shortecomings. He considered that was his thusiness, Mr. Hodson had engaged him, at what he considered munificent terms tif a guinea a day and all expenses paid, to come and give his advice, and he deemed it his duty to find oat every- thing, especially whatever was detri- mental, about such places as they vis- ited, so that there should he no swind- ling bargain. And so .on this Ross - shire estate of 'Balnavrain he was proving himself a hard critic. This was hopelessly bleak; that was worth - Jess hog -land. Why was there no fen- cing along those cliffs?—where were the roads for the .peats. Who. had had control over the burning of the heath- er?—wasn't it strange that all along these tops they had not put up more than a couple of coveys of grouse, a hare or two, and a single ptarmigan? lain all at otice, when they had toilod across this unpromising and hilly wilderness, they came tupon a scene of the most .startling beauty; for now they were looking down and out on the vvestern sea, that was a motionless mirror Of blue and white, and near them .was a wall of :picturesquely wooalen cliffs, and ,below that again, and sloping to the shore, a series of 'Well. the lone" and short of it was that, after having had two or three homs of lalstrions and cliligtut ing and in.pertion and questioning and explanationle , nt after having been entertained with a conifortahle meal of oat -cake. awl hot hreithnd . a ,Iteef at a hospitable farm- house, they set out again on their cold drive back to the hotel, a I ere a long 'business conversation went on all the evening, during dinner and after din- ner. 'It was very curious how each of these three brought this or that ob- jection to the place, ais if tbound to do go; and how the fascination ef the mere sight tff it had so clearly captiv- ated them none the less. 'Of course no- thing conclusive was said or done that night; but, despite these deprecatory pleas, there was a kind of tacit and general admission that f3alnavrain, with proper supervision and attention to the possibilities offered by its dif- ferent altitudes, might be made into a. 'very admirable little estate, with a h dwelling-ouse on it second in point of situation to none on the whole ivestern seaboard of th14 e ighlanda. "'Ronald," said Nfr. Hodson, .that evening, when the agent had gone .off to bed dile was making for the South early in the morning), we 'have had some band days' Work,' why 'should we let Loch Never lie idle? suppose we could drive from here somehow? Let us start off totanorrow, and have a week's salmon -fishing." 'To Inver -Medal?" he said, and be turned quite pale. "Yes, yes; why not?" Nfr. Hoalson answered. But he had noticed that strange loolc that had come across the younger •rnan's face, and he 'attributed it to a wrong cause. "011, it will not take op .90 much of your time," he continued. "Mr. Weems declares you inost have your certificate as a matter of course. 'And as for expenses --the present arrangement must go on, nat- natural plateaus 'and carefolly planted mally, until you get back 19 IGlaagOW, enclosures; while, stretc'hing away in- What is a week, man? Indeed,3 will take no denial." ,And Ronald could not answer. To Inver-IvItsdal? to meet the 'girl whom he. 'dared not acknowledge to be his wife? arid with his fluture as hope- lessly =certain as ever. Once or twice he was almost driven to make confessicin to this stranger, who seemed so frankly interested in him and his 'affairs; but no, he could not do that; (and he went to tbed wonder - tog 'with what strange look in her eyes Meenie ifind him in 4vver- Mude—if he found it impossible to resist the temptation of being once, more within sight of her, and within 'hearing of the sound of her voice. 01-IAPTER. Mr. Hodson could by no means get to understand the half express.ed reluctance, the trepidation almost with which (Ronald seemed to regard this visit to lInver-Modad. It was not a matter of time, .for his studies for the examination .were 'practically over. It was not a matter of expense, for be was being Paid a guinea a day. It was not cidbt; . on; that point Mr, Hodson had satisfied himself by a few plaio questions, and the knew to a sover- eign what sum 'Ronald ha.d still in the hank. (Nor could he ;believe, after the quite unustral terms in ,witich Lord lAiline had written about the young man's conduct and .character, that Ronald w,as likely to have done any- thing to cause him to fear a meeting with his 'former friends. And so, hay- ing some 'little experience Of the world, the guessed that there was pro- bably a girl in the case, and discreet- ly held his peace. But 'little indeed was he prepared for the revelation that was soon to be made. !On the afternoon of one of these cold February days they .were driving northward along Strath -Ter- ry. A sprinkling of snow had fallen in the morning: the horses' hoofs anc the wheels of the wagonette tootle scarcely any sound in this prevailing silence. They had come in sight .of Loch INaver, and the long sheet of water looked quite black amid the white undulations of the woods, and the moorland, and the low-lying hills. Now at 'this point the road leading down to the village makes a sodden turn, and they were just cutting round the corner when 'Ronald, who had ht‘en anxiously looking forward, caught sight of that that most he longed and that most he feared to see. It was aleenie herself—she was walk - Mg by the side of the way, carrying a littl' parcel in her Fwd. and they had come upon her quite imexpectedly, and noiselessly besides; and what might she not betray in this moment of sudden alarm? lie gripped the driv- er's arm, thinking he might stop the horses; but it Was 110W 100 it,te for that. They- were dose to her; she heard the patter of horses' hoofs, she looked up, startled, and the next nio- meat—when saw 'Ronald there -- she littered a (mid:, sharp cry, and hail staggered hark a step or so, un- til in her fright she caught at the wire :env,: behind her. She (lid not fall, het her face was as white as the snow ar- ,tinicl her, and Who' he leaped front the wagonette and seized her 'bs. both '01 aS to hold her there, she could only say, "Ronald, Ronald!" and could seek for no explanation of this .4r:time arrival. But he helcl her tight and firm, and with a wave of his hand he bade the driver drive (in and leave them. 'And 31 r. Ilod,on lowered Itis. eyes, thinking that he bad seen (m- enials: but he formally raised his hat, all the same: and as he was being driven On to the inn, he returned to his surmise that there was a girl in the case --only who could have imag- ined it was the doctor's daughter? Nor was there a single word said about this telltale meeting when Ron- ald came alotig to the inn, some few minutes thereafter. He seemed a little preoccupied, thalt was all. He rather avoided the stormy welcome that greeted him everywhere, and appear- ed to be wholly bent on getting the preparations pushed forward for the fishing of the next day. Of course ev- erything had 'to he arranged, for they had had 110 Thought of coming to 311- ver-Mudn'l .when they sailed from Glasgow; there was not even a boat on the loch, nor a single gitiie en- gaged, But later on that evening, when the short winter day had departed, and the blackness o'f night lay over the land, Ronald stole away 'from the inn, and went stealthily down through the 'fields tilt he found himself by the side of the river. Of course there was no- thing visible; 'had he not known every 'foot of the ground, lie dared not have come this way; but onward he went like a ghost through the dark until he finally gained the bridge, aml There he paused and 'listened. "Meeniel" he said, in a kind of whisper; but there W/aS no reply. And so he groped his way to the stone dike by the side of the road, .and sfat down there and waited. This 'was not how he had looked forward to meeting Meenie again. Many a time he ,harl pictured to him- self—his getting back to, Inver -Modal after the long separation, the secret summons, an,d ,Meenie coming silent- ly Out from the little cottage to join him, But always the night was a moonlight night, and the wide heav- ens calm and dear, and Loch Naver rippling in silver under (the dusky shadows Of Ben tOlebrig. Why, he had already written •out that summons, and wandered when the happy time was to be. The night that be had looked .forward to was more like a night for a lover's meeting; this was the message he 'had sent her— '10 white's the moon noon the loch, ,And black the bushes on the brae, And red the light in your window- pane; When will ye come awa,y, Meenie, When will ye come away? wrap ye round and keep ye warm Tor many a, secret we've to tell, And neer a sound twill hinder 11S, DOW!) in yon hidden dell, Meenie, Down in yon hidden dell, V see the moon is sailing an Through fleecy tclouds .across the skies, But fairer far the light that 11 know, The love -light in your eyes, tlVfeenie The lovealight in your eyes. ‘00 haste and haste; the night is sweet, tBut sweeter far what I would hear; And have a secret to tell to you, - A whisper in your ear, Meenie, A whisper in your ear." But here was a !bitter ,cold 'winter night, and :Meenie would have to come through the snow; and dal* as pitch it was—he would have to guess at the love -light in her eyes, so cruel- ly dense was this (blackness all arotind. Then 'his quick ear detected a faint sound in the ,distance—a hushed foot- fall on the snow; and that came near- er and nearer; he went out to the mid- dle tof (the road. "Is that you, Meenie?" The answ-er was a whisper— "Ron ad!" And ilice a ghost she came to him through the dark; .but indeed this was no ghost at ail that be caught to him and that clung to him, for if her cheeks were cold, her breath was warm about his face, rand her lips were warm, tand her unloved hands that were round his neck were warm, and all the furry wrappings that she wore could not quite conceal the joy- ful beating of her heart, Romild—Ronald—you nearly killed me with the fright—I thought something dreadful had happened— that you had 'come back without any warning—and now you say instead that it's good news—oh, let it be good news—if you only knew how I have been thinking and thinking—and cry- ing stimetimes—through the long days and the long tights—let it be good news that yoo have 'brought with you. Ronald!" "Well, lass" ----but this was said after soine little time; for he had other things to say to her with which we have 11(1, concern here—t"lt may he good 1112WS, 1)01 WS pretty much guess- work; and maybe I'm 41111(1111g up something on my own conceit, that will have a sudden fall, anti serVe me right. And then even at the best I hardly see—" 'But, Ronald, you said' it was good news id then Ail,. altered ,her tope. ".111, bet I don't care! I don't care at 11 w.hen you are here. It i$ only when you are away that my heart is like lead all the clay long; and at nig,ht lie and think that everything is ag- ainst 11:1 --and such 'a :lon.g time to wait—and perhaps my people finding out—but what is 11, Ronald, you had to tell me?" 'Well, now, Meenie," said he. But that 35 not rny name—to yon," said she; for indeed she scarce knew what she said, and was all trembling and excited and clinging to hint - there in the dark, amid the wild waste of the snow. "L�t-e Meenie ancl Rose NI eenie, all in one," said he, "listen, and l'il tell you now vc.hat maybe lies tbefore k1S. Maybe, it is, 'anal that only; I think this unexpected coming to see yon may have put me off my head a bit, hut if it's all a mistake—well, we are no worse off than We were before, And this is what it is now: ,clo yam re- member my telling you that ta4r., son had often 'been talking of, beying an estate in the Highlands? we'll, he has (kat been 'looking at one—it's over there on !Ross -shire coast—and it's !hat has brought us to the 1T-Tighlands just now, for he would have ine come arirl look at it along with him. And what would you think if he made me the factor of it? Weal, maybe daft to think .of such a thing; but he has been talking, 'anal talking in it way 1 cannot understand unless some plan of that (kind is in Inc head; ay, and he has :been making inquiries about' me, 8..9 I hear; and not making much of the forestry ,certificate, a.s to whether get it or no, hti't rather as 3 should .guess, thinking about putting me an this Balaavrain place as soon as 'it 'be- comes his own. tAy, ay, sweetheart: that 'would he a Fine thing for ate, 'to be in a .position just lilee that of A1r. Crawford—though on a small scale. and who could prevent sny eoming dlaim my good wife then, .and declar- ing her as mine before all, the world? 'iYes, yes, 'Ronald," she said, eager - y, -"but why .do you talk Eke "eliat? Why do you speak as ff there was trouble? Surely he twill make, you fac- tor! It was he that asked you to go away to ',Glasgow; he always was your friend; if 'he buys the .estate who else could 'he get to manage it, as well?" .tBcrt there's .another thing, sweet- heart," said he, rather 'hopelessly. 'He spoke 'about it yesterday, Indeed, 'he put it plain enough. He asked me fairly whether, supposing somebody was to offer me the management of an estate, I .could ,gett .guaratatees—se- eurities for my banesty, in fact—and he even mentioned the som that would 'be needed. Well, well, it's be- yond me, my girl—where could I find two !people to stand surety for me at E:94 apiece?" Site tottered a litfle cry, and .clung closer to him. "(Ronald, Ronald, surely you 'will not miss such a chance for that; it is oar,imatt,er of 'form, isn't it? -.-and some e_, 41'But who do I know that has got £1500, land that -I .could ask?" said he. "Ay, and two: of them. Maybe Lord Ailine might be .one—lie Was always a good friend to me—but two of them —'two of them—well, well, good lass. if it has all got to. go, we must wait for some other chance." "Yes," said 1Meenie, Ibitterly, "and this American—he tails himself a friend of yours too—and he wants guarantees .for your h.onestyl" "It's the usual thing, as he said himself," !Rolland said. "Butt ,don't be downhearted, my tlear. Hopes and disappointmeats oome to every one, and we must meet them like the rest, The world (has always soniethind 'for us—evert these few minutes—with your cheeks grown warm •again—aad the scent of your hair—ay, and your heart as gentle as ever—" But she was crying a little. "Ronald, surely it is not tpossible this chance should be so near .1.1s, anal then be taken away. l.And can't I do something? .know the IGIengask peo- ple would be angry—but—but I would write Ito Lady Stuart—or if I could only get to her, that svould be better—it would be between woman and woman, and surely she would not refuse when she knew how we were placed—and--arid it would be something for me to clo—tfor you know you've married a pauper bride, Ronaid—and 1 briug you nothing -- when even a farmer's daughter %%and,' have her Store of napery, and a chest of drawers, Sad ali that; but couldn't I do this, Ronald? I would go and see Lally ,Stuart --she could not refuse mei" He laughed lightly, and his hand - were clasped around the soft 'brown hair. no, no, sweetheart; things a! have to come to a pretty pass 'before I would 'have yOu exposed to arty hu- miliation of that sort: And why S1110011.1 you be downhearted?' The \meld is young for 'both of us. Db. thm't you be afraid; a man that ,can use his ten fingers 'and is willing to work 1.N tumble into something sooner or lat- er; and, what is the use of being ,lov- era if we are not 'to have ,otir constan- cy tried? No, no; you keep a brave heart: if this chance has to be given up, we'll fall in with another, and maybe it will be ail the more welcome that we have had to wait a little while for it." ".A little while, !Ronald?" Said sbe. He strove to cheer her and reassure her stilfl furtliet', although, indeed, there „was not much time for that, for he had 'been dommanded to dine with Ifocliron at half-ptist seven, 'and he knew 'better than to keep the man who Might posaibly he his master waiting for dinner. tAnd presently Meenie and he were going quietly al- ong the ,snow-haished road, and he bride her good -thy, many and many time repeated, near the little garden gate, and then made his way hack to the inn., .Fle had just time to !brush his hair and 1011arten himself op a bit when the .pretty Nelly, who seemed to be a 1.ittle more friendly and indul- gent toward him than in former days, came to say that she had taken the soup into the parlor, arid that the gentleman was waiting. (To be continued) FeeTI—a.'—,Balan—ced .Ra—tion If there is one thing more thaql any other fulie importance of stressed in hog feeding, it itt that grains .alone are Ildt enough to make good hogs, mid .thitt for the tprocloc- tion of itelect bacon type hogs it is Im- portant that a fireweed ration be fed, In many parts of Canada, .particit- tally throughout the Prairie (Provin- ces, 'there is an abundance of dheap grain feeds isthich els ihey sta,nal are u.nontrketable, but when fed to live stack ,quite ,attra.ctive prices can Ilse PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical 012., E. IA. McMASTER—Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine,Univers- ity of ,Toronto, and of the New York Post ,Graduate (School end Hospital. 'Member of the College of Physicians and 'Surgeons of Ontario. Office on High street. Fhone 27. 'Oidee (fay equipped for x-ray 'diagnosis and for ultra ,short wave electric treatment, ultra violet sun lamp treatment and infra ced electric treatment. Norse in attendance. DR. GILBERT C. JARROTT — Giaduate of Facility .of Medicine, Un- iversity of Western. ,Ontario. .Alember of College of Physicians analSturgeons of Ontario. 'Office 43 Goderich street west. Phone 37. Hours 2-4.30 p.m., 7.30-9 Q.4//1. Other hours by appoirat- ment. Successor to Dr. Chats. 'Mackay, DR. H. HUGH ROS:S, Physician and Surgeon .Late of Landon Hos- pital, London, 'England. Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nese awl throat. Office and residence behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104. .DR. F, J, BURROWS, 'Seaforth. Office and residence, ,Goderich street, east of the United Church. Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46. DR, F. J. R. FORSTER— Eye Ear, Nose anal Throat. Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 11897, Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and 'Golden Square throat 'hospi- tals, London. At Commercial 'Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each tnontli from 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. DR. W. C. SPROAT Physician - Surgeon Phone 90-W, Office John St, Seaforti. Auctioneer, GEORGE ELLIOT'T, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangeanents can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and' satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AHtRIENS, Licensed Auction- eer for Perth and Huron Counties, Sales Solicited. Terms on Application. Farm Stock, chattels and real estate Property. R. R. No. 4, Mitchell. Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office. HARVEY McLLWAIN, Licensed Auctioneer for County Of Huron, Sea - forth, R.R. 5, Phone 228 r 25. WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP Wool Fire Insurance Co HEAD OFFICE--SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President, Thontas Moylan, Sea- fortb; Vice President, William Knox, Loridesboro; Secretary Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth, AGENTS F. MdKercher, R.R.11, Dublin; John E. Pepper, 'REA, Brucefield; ,E. R. G. Yarmouth, Brodnagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; W111. Yeo, Holmesville. DIIMECTORS • • Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No, 3; James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm No. 1; Frank 'McGregor, (Clinton No, 5; )(antes Connolly, tGod- crich; Alex 'AicEwing, Blyth No. 1; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth No. 5; Win, R., Archbald, Seaforth No. 4. Parties desirous to effect Insurance or transact other 'business, 'will the promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their 'respective post - offices. 'Skim milk or buttermilk in some form is the ideal protein supplement M hog feeding. These, 'however, are not always available 'but because these are not available is no 'rn easo Why 'Other equally good forms of pro- tein !supplement 'should. not he.used. (A very fine type of pork can be pro- duced thnough ,feeding tankage, a 'by- product •of the Ipacking industry, This proVides an animal pnotein supple- ment ideal for bog feeding, and at ,the ,present 'time this can (be obtained es- sentially at cost. Mistress--1"Briciget it always seems s ihec. Where grams alone are fed the live 'stock product is seldom aatis- °mks), to me. that the .vvorst rnistresses get Mctory and to get vvoirh \misfile results ,c,,,,k_mAh, go on wid yer a protein supplement most be Maud - blarney!" ed to balance the 'ration,