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The Seaforth News, 1937-04-08, Page 6PAPE, SDI. r THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1937. CRAFTIER d clime down yet." And then she look - A considerable wind arose during led up with a demure smile. "They the night; Mr. 'Hodson did not sleep would be keeping the' New Year at .very well; and, lying awake towards morning, he came to the conclusion that he had 'been befooled, or rather that he had befooled himself, with regard to that prodigy of a game - ;keeper. He argued with himself that his mental faculties must have been dulled by the 'long dray's travel; be had come into the inn jaded and tired; and then ;finding himself face face to face with an ordinarily alert and intrepid intellect, he had no doubt exaggerat- ed the young man's abilities, and made a wonder of him where no wonder was needed. That he was a person of considerable information and showed common sense was likely enough. tMr. Hodson, -in his studies of men and things, had heard some- thing of the intelligence and educa- tion to be found among the working classes in Scotland. IHe had heard of the band -loom weavers who were learned botanists; of rhe stonemasons who were great geologists; of the 'village poets who, if most of their ef- forts were but imitations of (Fergus- on and Bunts and Tannahill, would. here and there, in some chance mo- ment of inspiration, sing out some true and pathetic song, to be taken to the • hearts of their countrymen. and added to a treasure -store of rustic minstrelsy ,such as no other nation in the world has ever produced, .At the same time he was rather anxious to meet Strang again, the better to get the measure of him. 'And as he was also curious to .see what this neigh- borhood into which he had ,penetrat- ed looked like. he rose betimes in the 'morning—indeed, before the day was fully declared. The wind All moaned about the house. but outside there was 'no sign of any storm: on the contrary, every- thing was strangely still. The lake lay a dark lurid purple in the hollow of the encircling hills; and these, al- one the eastern heavens, were of the deepest- and softest olive green: just over them teas a line of 'gleaming sal- mon -red, keen and resplendent as if molten from a furnace; and over that again soft -affron-dusky clouds, dar- kening in true the higher they hung in the clear pale steel hue- of the ov- er -head :sky-. •There was no sign of lair anywhere—nothing but the birch woods sloping down to tate shore: the moorland wastes of the lower hills; and above these tate ,giant bulk and solemn shad;ews of lien Clebria dark against -the dawn. It was a ',owely sight; he began go think lie had Ile y- er before in his life felt hint•a f so much alone. But whence cant tl st,t:d ‘,1 the win,! that 'cni,d t: nx,anin_ down the strath toward- the purple lake? Well he made no doubt that it was op towards the north and west that the storm was 'brewing; and he re- ntemhered that a -window in the sit- ting -room 'beinw looked in that dir- ection: there lie would be able to as- certain whether any 'fishing was prac- ticable. He 'finished his dressing- and went down: The breakfast table was laid: a mighty mass of peat- was bla- zing in the spacious ilreplace, And the storm? Why, all the wide strath on this northern side of the shouse was one glow of yellow light in the now :spreading sunrise; and still further away in ,the north the great shoulders 'of Ben :Loyal had catight a faint rose- ate tinge; and the same pale and beautiful color seemed to transfuse a large and fleecy cloud that clung ar- ound the snow -scarred peak. So he came to the conclusion that in this corner of .the glen the wind 'said more than it meant; and that they might adventure on the loch without risk of being swamped or blown ashore. The slim, tall Highland lass made Wer appearance with - further plenish- in•gs for the table, and ''!Good ntoa.rn- ingl" she said, in :her pretty way; in answer to his ',greeting, "Say, now, has that man come drown from 'tongue yet?" ''No, sir, said Nelly, "'he -w "'The lion?" the gillie said, .with an angry look towards the hapless cable, 'She has the worst luck of any boat in 'Sutherland --(tam her1" he added, t'nder his (breath. "In my country," the American said, in his slow way, ',we don't mind luck much; we ,find iperscveranee ab- out as good a horse to win in the end," He was soon to have his persever- ance tried. Everything being ready hey pushed off from the shore, Ron- a1d taking stroke oar, the gillie at the bow; Mr. Hodson left to pay out the Ines of the two rods, and 'fix 'these in the stern, when about five -and -thirty yards had gone forth, At first, it is true, he waited and watched with .a trifle of anxiety. He wasted to catch a salmon; it would be something to write about to his daughter; it would be a new experience for himself. But when time passed and the boat was slowly rowed along the loch at a mea- sured distance from the shore, with- out any touch of anything coating to snake the point of either rod tremble, he rather gave up his hope in that dir- ection, and took to talki'n'g with 'Ron- ald, After all, it was not salmon -fish- ing alone that had brought thins into these wilds, suppose it is really too early in the season," he observed, without much chagrin, 'IRayther," said 'Ronald. "Rawther," said rhe melancholy gillie. But at that instant something hap- pened that staneled every one of them out of their apathy. The top of one of the rods was violently .pulled at, and then there was a long, shrill yell of the reel. "There he is, sir! there he is, sirl"' Ronald called, :Mr. Hodson made a grab, blindly— for he had ,been looking at the scen- ery around—at one of the rods. It was the wrong one. But before he knew where he was, Ronald had got hold of the other and raised the top so as to keep a strain on the ;fish. The exchange of the rods was effected in a moment. 'Then when Ronald had wound in the other line and put the rod at the bort', he took to his oar again, leaving Mr. Hodson to 'fight his unknown enemy as best he aright, but giving hint a few words of direc- tion from time to time, quietly, as .if it were all a matter of course, "Reel in, sir, reel in—keep an even strain on hint—let him go --let him go if he wants---" Well, the fish was not a tierce fight- er; after the first long rush he scarce- ly did anything; he kept hnring downwards, with a (lull, heavy weight. ft seemed easy work; and \d r. ,Hodson --triumphant in the .hope of catching his first salmon—saris tempted to call aloud to the melanch- oly gillie— "Well, Duncan, how about luck now?" "1 thindc's it's a kelt," the' man an- swered morosely. But the sinister meaning of this reply was not nnderstood. "l don't know what you call ,hint," said Ili r, Hodson, holding on with both hands to the long, lithe grilse - rod that was bent almost double. "'Celt or Saxon, I don't know; bit I seem to have got a good grip of hits." ';'hen he heard Ronald say, in an undertone, to the gillie— 'IA kelt? ,No fears, The first rush was too heavy for that" :list the gillie responded, sullenly - "He's following the boat like a Tongue last night" "Keeping the New Year on the 414th of ;January?" "It's the twelfth is the usual day, sire," she explained, "but that was Saturday, and they do etot like a Sa- turday night, for they have to stop a twelve o'clock, and so most of them were for 'keeping it lasit night." "Oh, indeed. Then the festive gen- tleman won't show up today?" "".But it is of no matter w=hateffer whether he comes or no; for I ant sure that Ronald will be 'willing to lend a hand, 01,, I ant sure of it, I will ask him myself." 'You will ask him?" was Mr. Hod - son's internal soliloquy. '"`1 t is to yot he will grant the favor, Indeed!" He fixed his eyes on her, "'He is a good-looking tyoung fel low, that 'Ronald," She did not answer that; she wa nutting the marmalade, and the hon ey and the cream on the table. "He is not married?" "No, sir,' "Well. now, when he thinks abou getting married, I suppose he'll .pret ty well have his choice about here?' "Indeed there iss others beside hint, said ;Nelly, rather proudly, but her face was red as she opened the door. \\'ell. whether it was owing to the intervention of Nelly or not, as soon as -\:Ir. Hodson was ready to start be found Ronald waiting for hint with- out; and not only that, hot he had al- ready as:si nied command of the ex- pedition, having sent 'tate one gillie who had arrived rlow•n to hale the boat. And then Ile would overhaul \ir. dlodson's dishing -gear exantin- i'n'g the rods, testing ,tate lines and traces, and rejecting all the spoon baits, angels, .and -cels, and what not, that had been supplied by the London tackle -maker, for two 00 three of the familiar phantom minnows, \Ir. Hod- son could .scarcely believe than this was the sante man who trot night had been discussing the disestablishment of state churches and the policy of protecting native industries. He had not a word for anything ,but the busi- ness•. before ,hint; and the bold fash- ion in which he handled those min- nows, all 'bristling with hooks, or drew the catgut trace: through his lingers (lar. 'Hodson shivered, and -erred to feel his own ringers being cut to the bone), .showed that he was as familiar with the loch as with the hillside or the kennel. not touch on salmon-tishing myself," the \nierican remarked mo- le -11y. "'loess you'll have ,to :hos, chi• campaign," 'At retttti early in the season, sir, I'm afraid." was the answer. "But we. night get a lids atter all; and if tee do it'll be the tfirst caught in Scot- land this year, I warrant," 'I'lter set ,art and walked clown to the shore ,,f the loch; and there Mr. Hodson seated himself on the gun- wale of the flat-bottomed cable, and ,watched the two men putting the roils together and fixing the traces. The 'day had now declared itself; wild and stormy in appearance, but fair on tate whole; great floodsofsunshine falling suddenly on the yellow Slopes across the far heights of Clehrig, steeping the tuvmrtaintt in glonnc. As for gillie who had been proof against the seductions of keeping the New Year, and- who was now down on one knee, 'biting catgut with his teeth, he was a ratan as tall and as sallow as Mr. :Horison himself, but twirls an ad- ded expression of intense melancholy and hopelessness. Or was that but temporary? "Duncan doesna like that boat," Ronald said, glancing at Mr, (Hodson. !The melancholy man did not speak, but shook his head .gloomily, "Why?" As the gillie did not answer, Ron- ald said— "Be thinks there is no luck with s nc, that boat," doe fish! bf he conld not be eaten be could be 'stuffed! Twenty pounds he was, if an ouncel—would he throw back such a trophy into the loch? Ronald was .crouching in the stern of the boat, the big landing -net in his hand, watching the slow circling of the kelt as it was being hauled nearer and nearer, His sentiments were of a log," different kind, "ISnt sure they'll be very glad, sir," "Ah, you ugly brutel—ah, you ras- Ronald said, "li'f ye 'ju5't cone and call—ah- -eh!" and then there was a look on, When there's gentlemen at deep scoop of the landing -net; and the ,Lodge; they generally cone down the next Minute the' huge eel -like to hear the pipes, and the young gen- beast was in the bottom of the boat, tlemen have a dance too" Dmncatt holding on to its tail, and "What night did you say?" Ronald .gripping it by the gills, while "Monday next, sir," he set to work to get the minnow out Well, he had only intended re - of its jaws, And then without further staining there for a day or two, to ado—and 'without stopping to discuss see what the place was like; bet this the 'question of stuffing—the creature temptation was too •great, Mere was was heaved into the w'a'ter again, with a ,famous opportunity ,for the ,pursuit a ,patting benediction of "Bah, you of his ,favorite study—the study of brutel" It took its leave xatpiddy. life and. manners. This, had Ronald "Well, it's a pity, sir," Ronald said; but known it, was the .constant and "that would have been a twenty- engrossing occupation that enabled four -pound salmon if he had been this contented traveler to accept with down to the " mitill-luck of kelt-catch- "It's •the lucksea,of this farmed boat," ing;equanift ryasy athe hobby lie could carry Duncan said, gloomily. about with him everywhere; it gave But Mr. Hodson could not confess a continuous interest to every hour of to any such keen sense o3 'disappoint- his life. He oared little for the amalys- ntent. He had never played so big a es of science; he cared less for .pltil- fi•sh before, and was rather proud that osophical systems; metaphysics he so slight a grilse -rod and so slender •a laughed at; ,but sten and ;women—the line should (of coarse, with some dis- prdblems of their lives and surrountl- cretion and 'careful nursing on his ings, their diverse .fortunes and aspir- pert, halve overmastered- so big a ations and dealings with each other— beast. Then he did not eat salmon;: that wars the one and contstatnt sub - there was 00 'lass in that direction. ject that engrossed his interest. No And as he had not injured the kelt in doubt there was a little more than atiy way, he reflected that he had en- :this; it was not merely as an abstract joyed half -an -hour's excitement with- study that he was so fond of getting but doing parish to anything or any- to know how people laved. ,!The fact body, and he was well content. So he was that, even after having made ant - paid out the two lines again, and set Ole provision for 'hiss fancily, he still the rods, and began to renew his talk remained possessed of a large for - with Ronald touching the customs ohne; his own expenditure was mocl- connec'ted with the keeping of the crate; and he liked to go about with New Year, the consciousness that here or there, After all, it was a picturesque kind as occasion served, he could play the of occupation, kels or no treats. hook part of a li't'tle !Providence. It was a at the scene around theist—the lap- .harmless vanity; moreover, he was a ping waters of the loch, a vivid and shrewd man, not likely to be deceived brilliant blue when the skies were by spurious appeals for charity. shining fair, or black, and stormy Usury was the young artist whom he again when the clouds were heavy in had introduced to 'buyers; many the the heavens; and always the perntan- young eienk whom he 'had helped to ent features of the landscape --the a better situation; more than one soft yellows of the lower stratus, young 'woman in the humblest of wltere the withered grass was mixed cunnstances had suddenly found her - with the orange bracken; the soft self enabled to purchase her wedding russet of the leafless birch woods outfit (with a trifle over, towards the giving her greater value in her lover'- eyes), through the mysterious hence - knee of some unknown benefactor, This ratan had been brought up in a country where every one is restlessly pushing forward; and being possessed of abundant means, and a friendly dis- position, it seemed the most natural thing in the world that here or there. at a fitting opportunity, he should lend a helping 'hated, And there, tic- always this possibility present to hint ---this sense of power—as ,he made those minute inquiries of his into the conditions of the lives of those aur ongst whore he ,chanced to be liiving. The short winter clay was drawing to it close, The brilliant :steely blue of the driven water had given place to a livid grey; and the faint gleans; of saffron yellow were dying out in the western skies. "Suppose we'd better be going home now," Mr. Hodson remarked. at a venture, and with no great dis- appointment in his tone. 'Fut afraid, sir, there's Ito much (-hence now'," Ronald said, "1\'e must call again; they're not at home to -day," the other remarked, and began with -much complacency to reel in one of the lines. He was doing so slowly, and the men were as slowly uniting in for the shore in the gathering dusk. when whirr! went the other reel. The loud and sudden shriek in this silence was a startling thing; and so less so was t he springing into the air—at apparently an immense dnt;nn'c• away —of some creature, kelt or salmon, that fell into the water again with a mighty splash, Instinctively lir, Hod- son had gripped this rod, and ;passed the other one he had been reeling in to Strang. There was no time en .be lost, Whirr! went another dozen yards of line; and again the fish sprang into the air—this time plainlyvisible, ",A clean ifish, sir! a clean fish!" Was he welcome cry. - IBut there was no time to hazard 1oub is or ask !questions; this, sudden visitor at the end of the line had not at all made asp his mind to he easily captured, !First of all he caste sailing quietly in towards the boat, giving the fisherman all he Could do to reel in and keep a strain on him; then he vi irled out the lime so suddenly That he rod was nearly hent ,double; and then, in deep water,• he kept persist- ently sulking and baring, refusing to yield an inch. This was a temporary respite. 'Well; now, is this one all night?" Mr. 'Hodson called out—but he was rather .bewildered, for he 'Iencw not that this violent beast might not he after next, and the gathering darleness looked strange, tine shadows orf. Cle brig overhead scenting to !blot out the party. "Not if 0'm going to be anythih'g of a ,wet (blanket," he said, oan•didry. "My dancing days are over, and linin not much in the way of singing; hitt I'l'l tell then an American story; or 1'11 present them with a 'barrel of wl, e1<y—lf that will ,keepthe fun go - "\\'hat is a kelt, tltivway?" the Am- erican coIled out "Something that .chits, 1 suppose? It ain't a Hot?" "I Rupe it's no kelt, sir," said hon - !lid --hist doubtfully, "Batt what is a kelt, then, when he's at home?" "1 stamen, sir, that hasna been drawn to the sea: we'll have to put hint back if he is,'' 'Whirr; went the reel again: the fish, 'kelt or salmon, had struck acct[ down. "That's no kelt," Ronald said in- stantly, "or else he's as big as a shark," , But the melancholy creature at the bow, was taking no further interest in the fight. He was sure it was a kelt. Most likely the minnow would be destroyed. Maybe lie would break the trace. But a -kelt it was. 1 -Ie knew the luck of this "ttatn'nted" boat, The strati"gie was a tedious one. The beast kept boring down .with the mere force of its weight, hut follow- ing the cable steadily; and evert (Ron- ald, who had been com'batin'g his .own doubts, at length gave in: he wes afraid it was a kelt. Presently the last sit•.spiciot of hope was banished. With a tight strain on hint, the now ex- hausted animal 'began f:o shot;- near the surface Of the water—his long ell like shape and Mack !back revealing too obviously what manner of a crea- ture he was, Bart this revelation had noeffecton the ,fisherman, who at art beheld tine enemy he had been fighting with so long. 1 -It grew quite excited. A tkelt?-,he was a beautiful PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical DR, E. A. McMiAISITIER•—Graduate a the Faculty of Medicine, (Univers- ity of Toronto, and of the New York Post ,Graduate School and' Hospital. Member of the College of Ph'ysiciants• and 'Surgeo'ns of Ontario. Office on, High street, Phone 27. OAfice fully+ equipped for x-ray diagnosis and for ultra 'short wave electric treatment, ultra violet sun lamp .treatment and, infra red electric treatment. Nurse in: attendance, fringing the shoes of the lake; the deep violet shadows of Ben Clehrig stretching tip into the long swathes of Wrist; and then the far amphi- theatre of hil'Is- aB'cn Hee, and Ben 'Hope, and Ben Loyal—with starlight and shade intermingling their ether- eal tints, but leaving the snow -streaks always sparkling and t'lear. 11e got used to the monotony of the slow circling of the upper waters of the lake. He forgot to watch the points of the rods, lie was asking all kinds of questions about the stags and the hinds, alamt ptarmigan, and white hares, and roe, about the price of sheep, the rents of crofts. the com- parative wages of gillies, and shep- herds, and foresters, and keepers, and .stalkers, and the habits and cus- toms of land -agents and factors. And time, and when they lauded, and found for him a sheltered .place under the lee of a big rock, and. when Ron- ald pointed out to Itim a grassy bank. and said rather ruefully --- "1 rlinna like to see that place emp- ty, sir. 'that's where the gentlemen have the salnwnt laid out. that they mar look at client tri lunch-time," Mr, 11nlson, as he opened the little basket that had been provided for him, answered -cheerfully enough — "I,Myr gond friend, don't yon imag- ine that I feel like giving it ugt yet 1'm' not finished with this lake, and 1'11 hack .perseverance against luck uty day. Scents 10 me we've done very well so fat; 1'111 content," By-and-by they went back into the cable ;again. and resumed their pat- ient 'pursuit; and there is little doubt that by this time Ronald had conte to the conclusion that this stranger who had come amongst Then, ,was a singu- larly odd and whimsical person. I1 was remarkable enough that he should have undertaken this long and solitary journey in order to fish 'for salmon, and then show himself ,quite indifferent as to whether the got any or not; .and it was scarcely human ,for any .one to betray no disappointment whatsoever whatsoever waren the ;first ;fish caught proved to he at kelt; but it was still stranger that a man rich enough to talk about resiting a 'deer -forest should 'busy himself with the petty affairs of the ,very 'poorest ,people around: 'Why, he wanted to know how much Nelly the ,housemaid could possibly save on her year's wages; whether she was supposed to lay by something as against her wedding - clay; or whether any of the 'lads about would marry her for her pretty 'face alone, And when he discovered that Mfr, lltirttay, the innkeeper, was about to give a !New Year supper and •clance to the lads and lasses of the neigh- borhood, lie made no 'scruple., about hinting plainlythat he 'would he,.glarl. of an invitation to join that festive DSR, GILBERT C. JA'RHOTT — Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, Un- iversity of WesternOntario. Member of College of Physioians and'Snargeons of Ontario. 'Office 413 Goderich street west: Phone 37, Hours 2-4,30 pan„. 730-9 p:en, 'Other 'hours by appoint- ment, Successor to Dr, Chas. ;Mackay DR. H. HUIGIH ROSS, Physicians. and Surgeon Late of London Hos- pital, London, England, Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear,. nose and throat. Office and residence behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104. DR, F. J. BURROWS, .Seaforth.. Office and residence, ,Goderic'h street,. east of the 'United Church, Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone: No. 46. DR. F: J. R. FORST'ER— Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. 'Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto .1t897.. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Mooreifie'ld's Eye, and Golden .Square throat .hospi- tals, London, At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 1,30 p.m. to 5 p.m. DR. W. C. SPROAT Physician - Surgeon Phone 90-W. Office John St. Seaforas. Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensers Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be :made .for Sale Date at The Seaforth News, Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AHRENS, 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. 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, 'NIDA lMAILLOP Mutual Fir ainilrance Ga HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President—Alex, Broadfoot, Seaforth; Vice -President, John E. Pepper, Brucefield; Secretary - Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth. AGENTS F. McKercher, R.R.1, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brucefield; E. R. G. Jarmouth, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm. Yeo, FIolmesviile. DIRECTORS Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No, 3; James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm No.1; John Pepper, Bruce - field )acnes Connolly, Goderich; AlexMcEwing, Blyth No, 1; Thom- as Moylan, Seaforth No, 5; Wm, R. Archibald, Seaforth N'o, 4, Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their respective post - offices, sky, "A clean dish, sir," was the confid- ent answer, "\o doubt o' that, sir," elven the melancholy Duncan admitted; for he foresaw a dram now, if not a tip in actual stoney, - (To Be Continued) Squire-Swan— .A quire-Swan.A quiet wedding took place at the parsonage of Ontario Street United Church, Clinton, ort :Monday at noon \viten Pearl Elizabeth, daughter of the 'ate Joseph Swain and Lucy 'Swan was united' int marriage to 'Harold ,Stephen Squire of 'Clinton, Iron of .),,fr. and Mrs, Martin Henry Squire. 'Rev. •Garland, G• Barton performed .the ceremony. Jean 'H. Swan was her sister's 'brides- maid and ibedt man wars J. Clarence Swan, brother of the 'bride,