The Seaforth News, 1937-08-05, Page 6PAGE
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T IE SEAFORTH NEWS
'THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1937
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(IM
MIEREEP
1.
One night the little Maggie stole dight touch of reserve,,
away through the dark to the doc- 'It'll no be a nice thing going away
tor's cottage. There was a light in among strange folk,' said her corn -
the window of Meenie's room; she ;tuition, 'but d'll no grumbiie if its to
could hear the sound of the piano; no do Ronald good; and evert among
doubt Meenie was practising and strange folk --well, 1 don't care as
alone; and on such occasions a visit long as l have Ronald and you, Mee -
from Maggie was but little interrup- n1e..And it.'; to Glasgow, and not to
tion. And so the smaller gird went l din'burg,h,, he thinks he'll have to go;
boldly towards the house, and gained still ehen`•yctu will be in !Glasgow too;
admission, and was proceedingup so .'do trot mind anything else. It
stairs without any ceremony{ - *hen will not be . so' lonely dor any of us;
the sudden cessation of the music and we can- spend" the evenings to-
caused her to stop. And 'then she gether--oh, 'no, it will not be lonely
heard a very simple and pathetic air at all—;
begin -Oust touched here and there 'But, Maggie,' the elder girl said,
with a few chords: and was 'Meenie gravely, '1 ant not going to Glasgow.'
tired with the hard work of practis- Her companion looked up quickly,
ing, allowing herself this little 'bit of with frightened eyes.
relaxation? She was singing, too— 'lint you said you were going.',
though so gently that Maggie could Weenie,' -
scarcely make out the words. But '011, no; the other said, gently.
she knew 'the song—had not Meenie 'My mother has often talked of it
sung it many a time before to her?— and 1 suppose I may have to go some'.
and who but Meenie could put such time; but my father is against it; ,and
tenderness and pathos into the simple 1 know I am not goingat: present,
air? 'S'he had almost bo imagine the
words—so gentle was the voice that
went with 'those lightly -touched
chords:
'The sun rase sae rosy, the gray
hills adorning,
Light sprang the laverock, and
mounted on hie,
When true to the tryst o' biythe
May's dewy morning, -
Jeanie cam, linking out owre the
green lea.
To mark her .impatience I crap
'mong the breckans,
Aft, alt to the •kent.gate she turn-
ed her black e'e;
'Then lying down dowilie, sighed,
by the willow tree,
"I am asleep, do not waken me."
Then there was silence. The liftle
Maggie waited; dor this song was a
great favorite with Ronald, who him-
self sometimes attempted it. and she
would 'be able to tell him when she
got home that site had heard Meenie
sing it—and he allways listened with
interest to anything, even the small-
est particulars, site could tell him ab-
out Meenie and about what she had
done or said. But where were the
other verses? She waited and listen-
ed the silence was unbroken. And so
she tapped lightly on the door, and
entered.
And then something strange hap-
pened. For when Maggie shut the
door behind her and went forward,
Ieleenie did not at once turn her head
to see who this was, but had hastily
whipped out her handkerchief and
she did turn,itwaspassed it over her eyes. And when
} with a
kind of
look of bravery—as if to Clare any one
to say that she had been crying--
though
rying-though there were traces of tears on
her cheeks,
'Is it you, Maggie? I am glad to see
you,' she managed to say. •
The younger girl was rather fright-
ened and sorely concerned as well.
IBut what is it, Meenie, dear?' she
said, going and taking her hand. Are
you in trouble?'
`No, no,' her friend said, with an
effort to appear quite cfieenful, 'I was
thinking of many things - J scarcely
know wham. And naw take off your
things, and sit down, Maggie, and
tell me all about this great news. It
was only this afternoon that my fa-
ther learnt that you and your :broth-
er were -going away; and he would
not 'believe it as first, till he saw Ro-
nald himself, And it is true, after - all?
Dear tae, what a change there wilt
'bel'
She spoke quite in her usual man-
ner now; and her lips were no longer
trembling, but smiling; and the High-
land eyes were clear, and as full of
kindness as ever:
'But it is a long way off, Meenie,'
the smaller girl began to explain
quickly,when she had taken her seat
by the fire, 'and Ronald is so anxious
to ,please everybody, and—and that is
why T came along to ask you what
you think 'best.' land exercise, it will be very different
'I?' said Meenie, with a 'sudden in Glasgow, where there should be
any way.'
'''And you are staying here—nnd—
Ronald and me—we will be by enir-
selves in G1•asgowl' the other exclaim-
ed, as if this prospect .were too ter-
ri'ble to he quite comprehended as
yet.
'But if it is needful he should go?'
Meenie said, 'People have often to
part from their friends like that,'
'Yes, and it's no much matter when
they have plenty of friends,' said the
smaller girl, with her eyes becoming
moist, tut. :Weenie, I havens got one
but you.'
TOIL no, you must not say that,'
her friend remonstrated. "Why, there
is your brother in Glasgow, and his
fancily; I ant sure they will he kind
to you. And Ronald will make plenty
of friends wherever he goes—you
can see that for yourself; and do you
think you will be lonely in a great
town like Glasgow? It is tlie- very
place to nialce friends, and plenty of
them—' -
'O'le, 1 don't -know what to do --.I'
don't know what to do, if you are
not going to -Glasgow, 'Meenie!' site
broke in. `d wonder if it WAS that that
Ronald meant. He asked ace whether
1 would like to stay here, or go witic
him; -for 'Mrs. Murray Inc offered to
take me in, and 1 would have to help
at keeping the hooks, and that is
very kind of them, I'm sure, for 1 did
1101 think T could be of any use to
anybody. And you are to he here in
Lever-Mutlal -and Ronald away in
Glasgow—'
Well, it was a bewildering thing.
These were the two people she cared
for most of all in 'the world; and vir-
tually she was called upon to choose
between them. And if she had a
greater loyalty and reverence towards
her brother, still, Meenie was her
sole girl -friend, and nnonibress, and
counsellor. What would her tasks be
with Meenie's approval; how could
she get on with her knitting and sew-
ing without Meenie's aid; what would
the days be like without the witchery
of Meenie's companionship—even if
that were limited to a passing word
or a :smile? Ronald had not sought
to influence her choice; indeed, the
alternative had scarcely been consid-
ered; for she believed that Meenie
was going to Glasgow also; and with
her hero brother and beautiful ,girl-
friend both there, what more could
she wish for in the world? But
now—?
Well, Meenie, in her wise and kind
way, strove to calm the anxiety of
the girl; and her advice was altogeth-
er in favor of Maggie's going to 'Glas-
gow with her 'brother R'onal'd, if that
were equally convenient to hive, and
of no greater expense than her re-
maining in Inver_i,Iu'dal with Mrs.
Murray. w
'For you know he wants somebody
to look after him.' Meenie continued,
with her eyes rather averted, 'and if
it does not matter so much here 'ab-
out his carelessness of being wot and
cold, because he has plenty of health
some one to bid him be more care- ; again, and state down in front 'of the
tEul.'
dull -smoldering 'peat -,fire, with its'oc-
'B.ut he pays no heed to me,' the casional 'Hare orf flame and shower of
little sister sighed, 'unless 1 can tell sparks. There were ,moony ,pictures
him you have been saying so-and-so there --of distant things; of the conr-
-then, he listens, He is very strange. ing spring -time, with all the new won -
1 -1e has never once ,worn the blue der and gladness somehow gone out
jersey that 1 knitted for him, He ask: of it; and of the long shining summer
ed hie a lot of questions about ,sono days, and !Inver -Wed -al grown 'lonely;
it was begun; and 1 told hits as little and of the busy autumn -time, with
as 1 could about the help you had the ,English people conte from the
given me,' she continued, evasively, south, and no Ronald there, to man -
'and when the snow came on, 1 age everything for them. 'F'or her
thought he would wear it; but no— heart was very affectionate; and she
he put it away in the drawer with his had fiu't few friends; and 'Gl'asgaw
best clothes; and it's lying there all was a great distance away. There
neatly folded up --.and what is the use were some other fancies, too—and
of that? If you were going to Glas- self -questionings and perhaps even
gow-, Meenie, it would be' quite dif- self-reproaches—that need not be
ferent. It will be very lonely there,' mentioned here. When, by and by,
she rose and went to the piano, which
was still open, it was not to resume
her seat, 'She stood absently staring
at the keys ---for these strange pie-
tures
iatures followed her; and indeed one
half -unconscious trial of '1 am asleep.
do not waken tae' had been quite en-
ough for her, in her present mood,
CHtAIP'TIE'R XX.
Yes; it soon 'became clear that
Meenie Douglas, in view Of this forth-
coming departure, had resolved to
forego something of the too obvious
reserve she had recently unposed on
herself— if, indeed, that maidenly
shrinking and shyness had not been
rather a matter of instinct than of
will, When 'Ronald carie home on
the following evening, she was seated
with :Maggie hi the old familiar way
4t a table plentifully 'littered with
books, patterns, and ,nutting; and
when she shook hands with him, her
timidly uplifted eyes had much of the
old 'friendliness in then;, and her
smile of welcome was pleasant to see,
ft was he who was shy, and 'back-
ward, and very respectful.IFor if her
mother had enjoined her to be a ,little
more distant in manner towards ;this
one or the 'other of those arming her
—well, that was quite intelligible;
that was quite right, and he could not
complain; but on the other hand, if
the girl herself, in this very small .do-
mestic circle, seemed rather anxious
to put aside those harriers which were
necessary out-of-doors, he would not
presume on her ,good -nature. And yet
and yet --he could not help thawing
a little; for she was very kind, and
even merry withal; and her eyes were
like the eyes of the Meenie of old.
i ani sure 'Maggie will be glad to
get away from Inver-Mudal,' she wa=
saying, 'for :she will not 'find any-
where a schooheisare s as hard as '1
have been. :Itut maybe. she will not
have to go to school at all, if she has
to keep house for yon?'
But she'll no have to keep house
for me,' 'Ronald said, at once. 'If she
goes to Glasgow, she'll be much bet-
ter with any brother's family for
that will be a home for her,'
And where will you go, Ronald '
she said.
'Oh, into a ledging—I can find for
myself.'
At this she looked 'grave --nay, she
d id not care to conceal her disapprov-
al. For had she not 'been instructing
Maggie in the mysteries of house-
keeping in town—as 'far as these were
known to herself: and had not the
little girl shrnwed great courage, and
declared thore was nothing she would
not attempt rather than •be separated
from her brother Ronald?
'1 t would never do,' said he, `to
leave the lass alone in the house all
day, in a ;big town. ht's very well here.
where she has neighbours and people
to.loolc after her from time to' time;
but among strangers--'
1 Wouldna care a 'bit for that, Roll -
'For sul urot
i t1
f
. I w•one
• P P >
Irnr you have •teen so little in to rat,h'er's he s wtith yo, evena i 1 was fald
see us lately,' the small Maggie said; be alone all the day, than living in
'and Ronald always engaged with the j Alexander's the c—'
'Lonely!' the other exclaimed.
'With your 'brother, Ronald, anti your
other brother's family, and all their
friends, Anes then you will he able
to go to school and have mare regu-
lar teaching—,Ronald spoke once or
twice to me about that.'
'Ye, indeed,' the little Maggie said;
but the prospect did not cheer her
much; and for some - minutes they
both sat silent, she staring into the
dire. And then she said bitterly—
'1 wish the American people had
never come here, It is aril their doing.
it never would have come into Ron-
eld'.s head to leave laver-Maulal but
for them. And where -eine will he be
so well known—and—and every one
speaking well of him --and everyone
^n friendly--'
IBut, Maggie, these things are al
ways happening,' her companion re-
monstrated. 'Look at the changes niy
father has had to make. ,And Ronald
is young; and if there is a better op-
ening before him, why should he not
take it? Indeed you will have to be
morecheerful about it, and do your
best to help; Ronald will have en-
ough trouble without seeing you
downhearted and sorry to leave.'
5if you were going, I would not
:•are. Meenie,' said she, wistfully,
`Put you must put that out of your
head, and think of what is best for
your brother. Indeed you should he!
glad that he has a good chance 'before
hint. It is the people who are .left be-
hind --in so small a place as this is--
who
s—who will find it more lonely than be-
fore,'
'And 1 wonder if we are never to
come back to Inter M'udal, iefeenie?'
the girl said, suddenly, with appeal-
ing eyes.
Meenie tried to laugh; and said—
'Who can tell? It is the way of the
wonld for people to conte and go.
And 'Glasgow is a big place—perhaps
you would not care to conte bark af-
ter having made plenty of friends
there.'
'My friends wil'1 always be here.
and nowhere else,' the smaller girl
said, with emphasis. 'Oh, Meenie, do
yon think if Ronald were to get on
well and make more money than he
has now, he would tome back here,
and bring hie too, for a .week maybe,
just to see every one again?'
T cannot tell you that, Maggie,'
the elder girl said, rather absently.
!Alter this their discussion of the
strange and unknown future that lay
before ,them languished some -hove; for
Meenie seemed preoccupied, and
scarcely as blithe and hopeful as she
lead striven to appear. But when
Maggie rose to return home --saying
that it ,was time for her to be looking
after Ronald's supper --her friend
seemed to pull herself together some-
what and at once and cheerfully ac-
-epted Uaggie's invitation to come
and have tea with her the following
afternoon
American people—and often in the
evening too as well as the whole day
long.'
'But 1 must make a great deal of
ynu naw that you are going away.'
said Miss Douglas, smiling. -
'.And !Ronald --will I ask hint to
stay ill till you come?'
But here there was some hesitation,
'011, no, T 'would 1101 do that—no
doubt he is 'busy just now with his
preparations for going away..1 would
not say anything to him—you and M
will have tea .together by ourselves,'
The smaller girl lookeal up timidly,
'Rouaild is going away 'too, Meenie,'
Perhaps there was a touch of re-
proach in the •tone; at all events.
Meenie said—after a !moment's em-
barrassnien't—•
'I0f course T should he very glad if
he happened to 'be in the house—and
—and 'hail the time to spare; 'hint T
think he will understand that, 'Mag-
gie, without your saying as much to
him,'
'He gave plenty of his time to the
!American young lady,' said Maggie,
rather proudly.
'Put '1 thought you and she were
great 'friends,' 'Meenie said; in some
surprise,
`1t 'takes a longer time than that to
make friend:s,' the girl said—anri by
and by slie left,
Then Meenie went tip to her room
'We'll see what's hest for ye when
the time cones, lass,' 'said he. 'Diana
bother your 'head just yet.'
Then he looked at the table.
'But where's the tea ye said ye
would ask Miss Douglas in to?'
'We were so busy with the Glasgow
housekeeping,' Vfeenie said, laughing,
'that we forgot all about it.'
'I'll go and get it ready now,' the
little Maggie said, and she .went from
the room--ieaving these two alone,
He was a little embarrassed; and
she was also. 'T'here had been no am-
antium. iroe of asy kind; but .all the
sem the rediutegratio antoris was just
a trifle difficult; for she on her side
was anxious to have their old rela-
tions re-established during the 'brief
period that would elapse ere he left
the neighborhood, and yet she was
hesitating and a trifle 'embarrassed;
while he on his side maintained a
strictly respectful reserve. 11 -ie 'knew
his ,place;' his respect towards her
was part cif his own selfsrespect; and
if it did not occur to him that it was
rather hard upon Meenie that all the
advances towards a complete rehabil-
itation of their friendship should come
from her, that was 'because 'he did not
know that she was moved by any
wish, and also :because he was - com-
pletely ignorant of a good- deal else
that had happened of late. Of 'course,
certain things were .Obvious enoti-gh„
Clearly, the half -frightened, distant,
and yet regretful look with which
she had recently met and panted from
him when by chance they passed each
other in the road Awes no longer in her
eyes; there was 'a kind Of appeal for
friendliness in her manner towards
him; she seemed 'to say, 'Well, you
are going away; don't let us forget
the old terms on which we used .to
meet.' And not only did he quickly
respond to that feeding, bait also -he
was abundantly grateful to her; dicl
not he :wish to canry away- with him
the pleasantest memories of this
beautiful, sweet -natured friend, who
had made all the world magical to
him for awhile, who had shown hit;
the grace and dignity- and honor of
true womanhood, and made him won-
der no less at the charm od her clear -
shining simplicity and naturalness:
The very name of 'Love Meenie'
would he as the scent of a rose—as
the song of a lark—for him through
all the long coming years.
'it will nia'ke a great change' about
here,' said she, with her eyes averted.
'your going away,'
There's no one missed for long,'
lie answered, in his downright fash-
ion. 'Whore people go, people conic;
the places get fiilied sip.'
'Yes, batt sometimes they are not
quite the same,'. said she, rather gent-
ly, She was thinking of the newcom-
er. 'Would he be the universal favor-
ite that Ronald was always-good-
natnred and laughing, but managing
everybody and everything; lending a
hand at the sheep-sheitring or playing.
the pipes et a wedding—anything to
keep life moving along briskly; and
always ready to give her father a
day's ,rare -shooting or a turn at the
pools of !Medal Water, when the
spates began to clear? She knew quite
well—for often had she heard it'spok-
en of—that no one could get on as
well as .Ronald with the nhephercl's at
the time of the 'heather -burning:
when on the other ;moors the shep-
herds and keepers were growling and
quarrelling like rival leashes of col-
lies, on Lard Ailine's ground every-
thing was peace and quietness .anal
good humor. And then she had a
vague impression that the next keep-
er would be merely a 'keeper; where-
as Ronald was—Ronald.
'I'm sure I was half ashamed,' said
he, 'when 1 got his lordship's letter.
It was as fair an offer as one pian
could make to another; or rather, half
a dozen offers; for he said he would
raise any wage, if that was what was
wrong; or he would let me have an-
other lad to help tae in the kennels:
or if I was tired of the Highlands, in
would get me a place at his shooting
in the South. Well, I was swcirt to
trouble his lordship with iny small
affairs; but after that I couldna bus
sit down and write to him the real
reason of my leaving—'
lAnd I'ni certain,' said she quickly,
'that he will write 'back and offer you
any help in his power.'
'No, no,' said he, with a kind o''
laugh, the one Tette r is enough --if
it ever comes ,to be a question of a
written character. But it's just real
friendly and civil of hint; and if I
could win up here for a week or a
fortnight in August, 1 would like well
to lend them a hand and set them .go-
ing ; 'for it will be a good year far
the grouse, I%nc thinking—'
`Oh, will you he coming to see u:
in August?' she said. with her eyes
suddenly and rather, wistfully lighting
up.
'Well, I don't know how I may be
situated said he. And there's the
railway expense --though I would not
mind that much if 1 had the chance
otherwi
e for his lordship 'h"
,s tp has been
a good master to hie; and I would just
like to lend him a hand, and start the
new man with -the management of the
dogs and the beats. That's one thing
Lord Ailine will do for me, I hope; 1
hope he will let me have -a word about
the man that's conning in any place; I
would not like a have a cantankerous
ill-tempered brute of a fellow coming
in to have charge of my dogs. They're
the bonniest lot in Sahthenlaorlshire.'
All this was practical enough; and
meanwhile she had set work to clear
the table, to ntaiee way for Maggie,
When the young handmaiden appear-
ed with the tea -things, he left the
room for a few min;uttes,-ans,presently
returned, with a pole -cat -skin, ,care-
fully dressed acct smoothed, in his
ha"'(Hnd.
ere's a bit thing,' said he, '1 wish
ye would take, if it's of any use to
yon. Oc' if ye could tell pie anything
ye wished it made into, f could have
that clone when T go south, And if
your mother would like one or two of
the deer -skins, T'an sure she's wel-
come to thein; they're useful .about a
house,'
''indeed you are very .kind; Ronald,'
said she, flushing somewhat, Wand too
kind, Indeed' --.for you know that ever
since we have known ypu, all these
kindnesses have always been on one
side--+andanc1--.we have never had a
chance of doingany thing in return
for you—'
'01, nonsense;' said he, gopd nat-
tiredly, 'Well, there is one thing your
PROFESSIONAL CARDS
Medical
DR. E. A. McMIASITIEIR--Graduate
of the Faculty of Medicine, Univers-
ity of Toronto, and of ,the New York
Post 'Grad'uate ,School and Hospital.
Member of the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Ontario, Office on
High street. Phone 27. Office fully
equipped -for x-ray diagnosis and for
ultra short wave electric treatment,
ultra violet sun lamp .treatment and
infra red electric treatment, Nurse 4n
attendance.
DR. 'GDL'B'I'SRIT C. JA'R'R'OTT --
Graduate
Graduate of 'Faculty of Medicine, Un-
ivers'ity of, Western 'Ontario. Member
of College of Physicians and'Surgeons
of Ontario. 'Office 45 Goderich street
west. Phone .3177, Hours '2-4.30 pan,
7,309 pan. Other ;hours 'by appoint-
ment. Successor to Dr. Ohms. 'Mackay,
DR. 11, HUGH ROS,S, Physician
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.
D'R. F. J. BURROW'S, Seaforth,
Office and residence, 'Goderic'h street,
east of the United Church, Coroner
for the County of Huron. Telephone
No, 445.
DR. F. J. R. FO'RSTE;R— Eye
Ear, Nose and Throat, Graduate . in
Medicine, University of Toronto 1.1597.
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
month from 1.30 p.m, to 5 p:rn.
DR. W. C. SPROAT
Physician Surgeon
Phone 510-W. O'ff'ice John St. Seafortt'
Auctioneer.
GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed
Auctioneer for the County of Huron.
Arrangements can be ;made 'for Sale
Date at Tlhe Seaforth News. Charges
moderate and satisfaction guaranteed.
F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Auction-
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Sales Solicited. Terms on Application.
Farah Stook, chattels and real estate
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Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office.
WATSON & REID
REAL ESTATE
AND INSURANCE AGENCY
(Successors to James Watson)
MAIN ST., SEA- FORTH, ONT.
All kinds of Insurance risks effect-
ed at lowest rates in First -Class
Companies,
THE McKJLLOP
Mutual Fire Insurance CP
HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont.
OFFICERS
President—Alex, Broadfoot, Seaforth;
Vice -President, John E. Pepper,
Brucefield; Secretary - Treasurer,
M. A. Reid, Seaforth,
AGENTS
F. M.cKercher, R.R.1, Dublin; Joh]}
E. Pepper, R.R.1, .Brucefield; E. R. G.
Jarmouth, Brod'hagen; James Watt,
Blyth;', C. F. 'Hewitt, Kincardine;
Wen. Yeo, Ha'I-mesvdlle.
DII RE OTORRS
Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth .No. 3;
James S'holdice, Walton; Wm. Knox,
Londesboro; George Leonhardt,
Bornholm No.1; John Pepper, Bruce-
flelcl; James Connolly, Goderich;
Alex. McEwing, Blyth No. 1; Thom-
as Moylan, Seaforth No. 5; Wm. R.
Archibald, Seaforth No, 4.
Parties desirous to effect insurance
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to any of the above named officers
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•
father could do for me—tif he would
take my guar and my rifle, 'and rods
and reels, and just hceep 'them in good
working order, that would be 'better
than taking them to .Glasgow and
getting them spoiled with nust and
want of use. I don't want to pant with
them altogether; for they're Dict
friends; and .1 would like to have
then left ire safe keeping—'
She 'laughed lightly,
'And that is your way of asking a
favor—to offer my father the loan of
all these 'things. Well, I am sure he
will be very glad to take charge ,of
th ern—'
'And to use diem,' said he, 'to, use
diem; for that is the sure way of
keeping thein in order;'
'But perhaps the new keeper may
not be so 'friendly?'
(To Be Continued)
an For Sale Ads„ Il week, 215,c,