Richmond Hill Public Library News Index

The Liberal, 10 Aug 1911, p. 2

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'After Sir Godfrey’s departure, although life at Standon Towers dropped back _into its old grooves, it seemed to Joy that it flowed on ' them less smoothly, that, since the ' accident and the long weeks of anxiety, a subtle sense of restlessâ€" ness had crept into the atmos- F‘here. To Violet she traced a subtle ‘ eeling of change: since her return lrom London, Violet had not seem- ed like herself. Of her sojourn with her fosterâ€"mother, Mrs. Dawâ€" son, she spoke but little, appearing anxious to avoid the subject, and showing signs of irritation when Joy asked her innocent questions about her doings in town. “I was ever so much too unhap- Fy to do anything,” she said crossâ€" y, more than once. “What with Worrying over Cousin Godfrey, and â€"and everything, I didn’t want to be bothered with going to shops or t'heatres. I didn’t seem to care about things.” Perhaps she might with truth have said the same thing about herself, now that she was at home again, for it was very evident, bot-h to Joy and to Lady Martindale, that she did not seem to care about “things” now. Her manner was curiously listless; she moved languidly, she was disinâ€" clined for any exertion, and re- fuse-d either to ride or to walk, whilst she positively declined alâ€" together to pay visits. Svhe shrank, too, from seeing those neighbors who called at the Towers, and even to Joy, with whom she had been wont to chatter gaily and easily, she now scarcely talked at all. Her face had grown very white and wistful, and into her eyes there had crept an expression of nervâ€" ous shrinking, which made Joy feel sure that she must be afraid of something or of somebody. But of whatQâ€"of whom? Why, in her own house, should she start as though she had been shot, when a door was opened, or look up with frightened eyes and flushing face when anyone came unexpectedly in- to the room? Why did the bare mggestion of a stroll in the lanes ind copses make her shrink and ‘hliver, as though a dreadful thing lad been proposed to her? And why did the advent of the post zometimes bring a look that was almost one of terror into her lovely face? Joy discovered by a mere chance, that Violet, who, before her vi51t to London, had n-ever'put in an appearance at breakfast until long past nine o’clock, now stole to the dining-room before Lady Martin- d-ale was downstairs, in order to look at the envelopes beside each plate. On two occasions Joy had come upon her in the very act of glancing through the piles of letâ€" ters, and on each occasion Violefi, flushing guiltily, had stammered the same semi~apologyâ€" “Thompson is so stupid;.he~ mixes the letters sometimes, and I was exp‘evctmg one from Mrs. Dawâ€" son.” To distrust a living soul, to feel suspicious or doubtful of another person’s good faitn, were feelings which to Joy’s whole nature, which was of crystalline Simplicity and straightforwardness: yet even ."Ahe found it impossible not to doubt Violet just now. .And although she tried to win the other girl’s confidence, her efforts were useâ€" less. At every turn Violet eluded her kindly intentions. refusing to be drawn into any intimate con-ver- sation, or to speak of anything but the [most surface subjects. But a crisis came at last, in the sud-den way that such crises do come, when they are least looked for or expectâ€" “it w-ab the afternoon of a wet and . x. 1 wflndy March (15;, and after lunxohJ ' \ V V I‘0 £22 V1918; had 50% w A»; room, saymg that she had a headâ€" Lche. and \gs'guld lie down £4313; fgw hours. it so on: ' "t: u‘ L», 011 H.115 particular day; fifilfifhoon post arrived just before teaâ€"time, and Joy, seeing two letters on the hall table for Violet, took them with her when she carried a. dainty little lea upstairs to the girl’s room. She had not been able to avoid noticâ€" ing that one of the letters was adâ€" dressed in Sir Godfrey’s clear, bold writing; the other in an ill-formed nondescript hand, which she A DIFHCULT SHUAHGM’ C‘HAPTER XV.â€"(Cont’d) v ‘3ilggibfig'ol'n tms day", t, a ternoon post OR, THE END CROWNS ALL. thought was probably that of Mrs. Dawson; and she hoped that the arrival of this longâ€"lookedâ€"for let: ter might cheer Violet and put an end to her restless unhappiness. But when, having put the teaâ€"tray on the table in Violet’s luxurious room, she handed the two letters to the girl, she was startled and amazed at the effect they producâ€" ed. Violet sprang into a sitting position on the couch, the soft flush of color induced by her late sleep faded out of her face, L‘er eyes grew Wide with fear, and she put out ‘her hand and seized Joy’s arm with a, frightened, tremulous clutch. ‘ igr‘That’sâ€"Cousin Godfrey’s writ- ing,” sheigasped out. “I knowâ€"â€" I mean, I guess, what he’s writ- tenâ€"and oh, Joy! whatever am I to do? Whatever am I to do?” Joy looked pityingly down at her, and as Violet sank back amongst the silken cushions, it flashed through the other girl’s mind, what an exquisite picture she made, even in this moment of acute dis- tresus. She were her pale blue Wrap- per with its lavish trimming of filmy lace. Her tumbled gmden hair fell in picturesque disorder upon the blue cushion, whose soft coloring enhanced the dainty love- linesvsvof her face, the blueness of her frightened eyes. She was so like a child, with those tearâ€"dimmed eyes and quivering lips, that, like Godfrey, Joy felt an overwhelming desire to take her in her arms and administer the same comfort one administers to children. “Whatever am I to do 2” Violet repeated. “I have been a. sillyâ€" a-ndâ€"«andâ€"â€"â€"” she held both letters tightly clasped in one hand, whilst the other clutched Joy’s arm, and it .seemed as» though a paralysis of fear hindered her from opening either letter. “Why are you so unhappy?” Joy asked quietly. “If that is a letter from Sir Godfrey, it can only by “That’s just it,” Violet drew her- self again into a sitting positionâ€" “him and me have been such friendswand whatever can I do now that Iâ€"-tha,t Iâ€"oh! Whatever shall I do ?â€"whatever shall I do‘l”â€"and with a burst of hysterical solos she flung her-self against Joy, crying as if her heart would break. a kind one. You and he are such friendsâ€"” “Tell me what is the matter,” Joy said, when the first paroxysm of sobs was over, “perhaps I can help you, only tell me what is wrong, and why you are so un- happy.” “Oh! I can’tâ€"I can’t!” Violet cried passionately, with a, fresh outburst of sobs. “I daren’t say anythingâ€"just leave me alone~llet me fight out my own misery as best I can~Iâ€"â€"I Shall worry through somehow. Don't 310,11 worry albimt me,” she ended, her tones stratum ly bitter and hard. She drew herâ€" self away from Joy with 3 Violence that nearly upset the other girl, and by that violent movement she loosened the dressingâ€"gown which was only lightly folded about her. Something that must have been about her neck flew out, and fell at- Joy’s feet with a little ringing me- tallic sound, and as Joy stooped to pick it up, Violet pushed her aside with a sharp cry of dismay, almost flinging herself to the floor beside the small: shining object. Quick though her movement was, Joy’s eyes had been quicker: she had seen plainly what Violet had so hastily picked up from the floor: and as the meaning of what she saw rushed into {her mind she put her hand on ’th Usher’s arm, exâ€" claiming quickly, in accents of startled horrorâ€"â€" “Violet !_ VHVivolet! what: «does mean? GEN-Violet! whét‘fidoes mean ?”' “The child’s name was to be Joy â€"I am as sure of it as I am that Tom sit here beside me. If the child was a girl, the name was to be Joy, and somehow poor Marjory seems to have made up her mind it would be a girl. Poor little Marjory 1” “It. is an uncommon name”â€"â€"an- other voice answered the- firstâ€" “and it is curious you should have mentioned it to meâ€"a curious co- CHAPTER XVI. iE incidence that I should happen to be the person to come your way nowâ€"When you are, wanting to make these enquiries.” “My experience of the worldâ€"- and I have had a, tolerably large and varied oneâ€"is that coincidences in real life are much more common than they ever are in fiction, or than any writer would dare to make them in fiction. We call them coincidences, perhaps”#the old man looked earnestly into the younger man’s faceâ€"“perhaps ‘The Moving Finger’ writes' lthe coinciâ€" dences, as it writes all the rest,” he repeated slowly, his eyes turn- in-g towards the open doorway and the creeperâ€"covered verandah; “when I was young I loved my Omarâ€"you see I haven’t forgotten it; only I don’t call ‘The Moving Finger,’ Fate, but God!” “I also,” came the brief reply from the man who sat beside the armâ€"chair, where the other speaker lay back, propped up with pillows. “Possibly if we analysed what. we all mean, we should find that our apparently diverse meanings are identical. But tell me,” he went on, after a pause, “tell me about your sister and her child; tell me exactly what it is you want me to do for you.” They were a curiously contrasted couple, bhese two In_en_who sat side by side in the barelyâ€"furnished sibâ€" tingâ€"room of the low wooden house. The old man propped up in the armâ€" chair was obviously hastening fast towards the Valley of Shadows, and the greyness of his rugged face, the dark shadows under his sunken eyes; his thin, blue~veined hands that shook when he even tried to draw his blanket closer round him, all told of far-advanced diseaseâ€"- of fast approaching death. The younger man, Whose years could not have numbered more than thirty-five, showed all the superb vigor and strength of a, healthy, cleanâ€"living Englishman, and the glance of his companion dwelt with an affection that had in it something of tender admiration, on the other’s bronzed face and clear grey eyes. Coincidence? Fate? Which was it that had brought Roger Hassall apparently by‘chance far up the country to Dambawallah, the sheep- run of Thomas Falkner? Or was it neither of the two, but a higher Power than both, which had or- dained that at the very moment when old Mr. Falkner most longed for a reliable Englishman to whom he» could commit an important trust, that Englishman should be sent to him. Yes, actually sent to himâ€"or so it seemed, for neither man had sought the other. Roger tramping the country in search of work, had lighted upon this partiâ€" cular run. had thought it might be advisable to call upon the owne: in case a possible job should offer itself, and had at once won the heart of the old sheep owner. Thomas Falkner was accustomâ€" ed to gauge men quickly, to divide the sheep from the goats with no uncertain hand. Roger had at tracted him directly. Indeed, the two men had been attracted to one another, and Roger’s first liking for the rugged, kindly old man, deepened into a genuine love and respect, as the passing days re- vealed to him all the quiet and abiding goodness of Falkner’s character. A simple faith in God: a straightforward striving after right; a hatred of all that, was imâ€" pure and false~t~hese were the esâ€" sence of the old sheep farmer’s naâ€" ture. They found responding chords in Roger’s: own soul. For more than a month now the two had lived together in the simple wooden house which was the sole dwellingâ€"place of one of the richest sheep owners in the district; but only this evening, for the first time, had Falkner broach- ed the subject of his relations and friends in England. (To be continued.) _Kceps Out Mchts and Butter From the Alltipodes. Tut Kn i' s’éance of how a Protective Tariff protects the farmer of Can- ada» is seen now and then, when t‘hg Customs Officers hold up for duty some shipment from far-off Australia or Chvinak WHERE PROTECTION HELPS TII EFARMER. On March 18th last, 750 carcasses of frozen lamb from Australia were landed at St. John, N. B. 250 carcasses were sent to the William Davies 00., Limited, Torogxtg. The greater part of the remxainder'wé'ie shipped to Montreal. This lamb was purchased at nine cents per Under existing conditions the duty was three cents per pound. This made the lamb cost twelve cents per poun.d~1aiyd down in Toâ€" ronto. pound delivered in bond at To~ ronto. Fresh dressed lambs were sel- ling in Toronto at tahat time at 1272c. to 130. per pound. ‘ Hence, after paying this duty there was n- ’0 much difference be- tween thenprice‘s of the Australian and Canadian lamb. The duty protected the Canadian farmer agaimst the Australian pro- duct. But under Reciprocity the duty on this frozen lamb will be only 1%0. per pound, so that simiJaa' shipments could be laid down in Toronto at IUZC. per pound, two or three, cents per pound cheaper than the price for the home raised products. Referring to the lambs which were sen-t to Montreal. When they reached Montreal. Canadian lamb was selling at 10%0. The Austraâ€" lian lambs were sold at 9%0. deliv- ered ex car‘s Montreal duty paid, the owners apparently being eon- tented to undersell the Ganardian market by one cent, per pound. The Canada Sugar Refining 00., Limited, Montreal Reva! Brand farm Fencing “THE SUGAR OF QUALITY” 6-40-0 Has 6 line wires, 40 in. high, 9 stays to the rod. All No. 9 hard steel wire. Spacing 7, 7, 8, 9, 9. Price per rod, freight prepaid ZIVZC 7-40-0 Has 7 line wires, 40 in. high, 9 stays to the rod; all No. 9 hard steel wire. Spacing 5, 6, 6, 7, 71/2, 8%. Price per rod, freight prepaid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2‘“: 8-40 Has 8 line wires, 40 in. high. 12 stays to the rod, all No. 9 hard steel wire. Spacing 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8. ’price per rod, freight pre- paid --I- .... . . u . - . .. u... unzgc 7-48-0 Has 7 line wires, 48 in. high, 9 stays to the rod, all No. 9 hard steel wire. 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11. Price per rod, freight prepaid . 246 We sell the best all iron double str The above prices include freight The Sarnia Fence Co. Sarnia, Ont. This explains why it is so generally used during the Fruit Season. £3 See that you get it from your Grocer for it means “Preserving Satisfaction.” Prepaid ' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24c 8, 8, 9, Price per rod, freight “40 Has 8 line Wires, 401n_h1gh.12 prepaid ....3oc stays to the rod, all No. 9 hard steel 9.43 Same as 9 -434), with 12 stays wire. Spacing 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7. to the roar.“ Price, 1162‘ rod, 8. 7131106 per I'Od. freight Dre' freight prepaid 22V“; Paid ' ' ' ' ' ' " ""29c 10-50 10 line wires, 50 in. high, 12 stays '-48-O Has 7 line wing, 48 in. high. to the rod, all No. 9 hard steel wire. 9 stays to the rod: 311 NO- 9 hard Spacing 3, 314, 3%, 3%, 5%, 6, steel wire. 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11- s, s, 3. Price per rod, freight Price per rod, freight Prepaid - 24c prepaid 35c We sell the best all iron double stretcher made, freight prepaid $7.50 The above prices include freight prepaid to any railroad station west of Toronto in Old Ontlrio. To points beyond Toronto and south of North Bay add 1c. per rod and we pay freight. To points in New Ontario, Quebec, and Maritime Provinces. add (So per rod and we pay freight. Remit cash with your order by mcney order or draft to the EXTRA GRANULATED SUGAR FREIGHT‘PREPAID TO \OUR NEAREST R. R. STATION Blaze-r FROM FACTORY TO FAawjgg Established in 1854 by John Redpath. IS ANOTHER NAME FOR Now, if you wish to see the effec’J upon the livse stock market of the, receipt of this Australian lamb i Montreal, turn up the Montrea’g papers of March 20th, in one 0 which, for example, the headlinq was, “Sheep Sod-d, Lowe-r in Local Markets.” If, with the three cent duty oh' every pound, frozen lamb can be profit-ably imported from Austra- lia, itseems almost concluaive that reducing the duty will also reduce the price of Canadian lamb accord-v ingly. And not only does Australia ex- port frozen. meat, but it exports butter as well. It exports annu- ally between fifty and seventyâ€"five million pounds of butter. Australian bwttem calf be laid‘: down now in bond at Monireal a6“ 230. per pound. A duty of four1 cents per pound keeps it out of» competition with. the Canadian[ butter now selling at 26c. peri pound. Under Reciprocity, which would! do away with the duty of four Cents per pound, the Eastern Townships butter would have to‘ compete during the winter months: with Australian butter which cost} only 23c. per pound in Montreal. 9-48-0 Has 9 line wires, 48 in. high, 9 stays to the rod, all No. 9 hard steel wire. Spacing 3, 4, 5, 5, 6,

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