Ontario Community Newspapers

Flesherton Advance, 26 Dec 1895, p. 2

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4H> ~ r ja CUUI , she ha.l -<: the fiery fu .in,-, unoon* n'li 1 *. /M getting back all <etjr of her ohildUh > ear- nj of her woajtnhood were . ;ieath the sparkling surface .>ful ways. -i time. sh had ebwio-'i me it my graver self. I resolved to be rmed no more. I ilavoUd myself again to roy business, heart and oul, and wit P>IIIIK for hour* over law papers without apeaklnji to hrr. ate did not complain. So lonv *< waa certain that I lov. d bar. "I* W . M content, and took up ber ps* again. an<! went mi with the. work eor niar- rUe* had interrupted. Her'riting- 4a<k was in my ntudy, by window juat ojipi.-i'.- mine; and ue>'irnMi I wonM ivnun tu hear t h rapid movement of hej pen. and, looking up I would find ho i-yr* filed upon my f. . while a happl nmile was playing sr>und her lip*. Qr 'lay tin- jrUniW found nu- In a raoatlinreAAonnblo mood. The aenae of hire Vve halt pained me, ind I aaid curtly:! "It Islhd taste. Alice, to Ix* at any one In Oil way." Khe din^-d (HT pen, only too glad of an e ... to talk in me> and came and lan* over mv i liair. "And t'v f ( i, | |ov some one.." Thin wi- . !.! I. t nine "f the les- son. I war ,-d tu IIM.-'I bar. and I turn- ed over nv q.ers u. i-ilencc. "Do I 4> v vr.ii I'rancixt" "Not Illl: ' Her ligK urn! i- playing with m? hair, and breath WM warm on my , with v thought .v new beginning cheek. I and t.ri*d kisH, awa) t "'" __ _ gM stood my wi.srioni vanishing, iake un for U-s loss by an riosa of manner, he aaid. "Ju-t on, and nse, Alice. What time nowt" and looked me in tbe fgaf T>.i I taaae v .u. Francis I' "Very mud She gave J could soareelj hear it and left tie sigh so fiint that ; hear it and left the roinn. I had - ired her gaiety away for that morn I I This was the first oloud U our sky. I It sasms stmi.Ke, now, when I look back upon U af . r the lapas of year a, fcmv persaverlnfY I labornd to dent roy Uu- foundation of peace and happiness an which I migM have bottt my life. Tbe remaining an months of that year wore immthn nf i iso.ry to mi. and. I doubt not, to AUii;, for she grew thin and pair, and MM her galat) I had sui .-(sailed only too veil in inj plan, and ah" had learned i doubt mj affection for her. I felt thu by the look in her yea now and the.i and by ih. way in which she seemed i.i olim to her dog, ss> if hia fidelity an.l lov wen now her only bo|>e. Hut I * .s too proud own yw.f in UM wroi ^, and the .. >. h widened day by daj In the miilst of a the -.st rai , n. nt t> dog ickene.d. 'r ere W.IH a k of SBsgivrng on AUce'i ,iart, w lien -.he sat aide bun with bei books, or wilting ^H the time there -vos a da> ^ hen belli books and mai..--ii|.i u t ,,< Way. and mOB was t -inlir,... ..vi i in. with tear* fa-Mintf fa as ttlm hu^h bia moans, and I. .. d into jb/ing ryes -and toi-re was . ynT Btilbeas, when ahe lay < n ^r couch, wiUi her arm i neither fljio.iking nor - :m.ug Vhe.ii the poor creatui s ui(. waa drawn, aba beat o . i l.un |Muisi.>i.uio burst of gi i > while si nt upon bis foreVead, i ho s-.li, dark eyes tbMeven were turned towards bet with took. tiu- did not conn- 10 me HI -> child." again., after a ouer, ar own,, wbieh always aid which oonsisUd of bestowed svstou itic- >orts of my face four, allotted to m (are- li uluJk, jwo the chin, , and four to my eyes ijrh this ceremony with a care and then looked me r. Aili her love and tender- med to come up before me in moment and effact tbe past and unhappioes*. I beid ber oiceely to f heart and her arm* were around any neck. Wilt any one believe f My wife had scarcely left me five moments l*fore tbe fancy came to me that I bad shown loo plainly tbe power abe bad over me. For month* I bad been schooling myself in- to coldness and indifference, and at her very first warm kit* or smile, I waa completely routed. She had vexed.and thwarted and annoyed me much dur- ing those month*; it would not do to pardon her so fu_lly and entirely he- for ate bad evea asked my forgive- ness. I took a auddem resolution; and when she came book into the room waa burled in my papers once more. Poor child! She had bad one half-hour's sun- shine at last. "Oaf moment," he said, taking the pen out of my band, and holding some- thing over my bead. "I have a birth- day gift for you. Do you want it f" "If you give it to ma certainly." "Them ask me for it." I aaid nothing, iut took to my pen again. Her countenance fell a little. "Would you like it I" she aaid. timid- ly- "There was a aaint in old times." I said, quiet'.y going on with my papYrs, "a namesake of mine, by the way Saint Francis of Sales who waa ac- customed to say, that one should never ask or refuse anything." "Well I But I'm not talking to Saint Francis; lam talking to you. Will you have my little glut Say yea just to please me juat to make my happy day at ill happier." "IXm't t* a child, Alice." "It la childish. I know; but indulge me this once. It U such a little thing and it will n.ikn me very hsjppy." "I shall not refuse whatever you criK.se to give me. Only don't delay me Imig. for I want to go on with these papermT' The next moment she threw the toy (a pretty little brnnzn inkstand made like a Cupid, with his quiver full of pens) at my feet and turned away, griev- ed and aiwrry. I aionped to pick op tbr figure it waa broken in two. "Oh you can condescend tn lift it the ground !" sb said sarcastical- "t'p 'ii my word, Alice you ar.- the most unreasonable nf Iwingi. However, the little god of love can be easily mend- ed." "Yea." Khe placed the. fragments one upon the other and looked at me. "It can be mrndiwl. but the accident mu.sf leave its trace, like all others. Oh, Francia!" she added, throwing her- self down by my chair, and lifting my hand to her Una. "Why do you try me and Do you roaMy love met" "Alice/* I said. Impatiently "do get up. You tire me." She rose and turned very pale. "I will go then. But first answer my question. Do you love. me. Francis f" I felt anger and obstinacy in my heart nothing else. Was she threat- ening met "Did you IIIQ - .a ;i,f to in U, > ml .th a I Iliu ! .ovine 8hf will lie.d u I'M-, u hi . dug a grave and l.u . . I the study window, sue Ii .in -i daily visit to hia grave til) I , with my paper* lor il the year, which Im aoplneas, . i... i .. i I sui in lag in thi i - iruary fu' rilhy. . nealli id her u and i.ioi n noking you love me when you married me, Francia t" I did. Hut-" "But you do not love me now I" "Since you will have it," I aaid. "Go on!" "I .In not love yon not as you mean." There waa a dead aile.nce in the room as tin' lying worda left my li|i, and she grew BO white, and gave me such a look of anguish that I ron<Miteil ..f my cruelty, ami forgot my an^er. "I did not mean that, .Mire," I cried. "You look ill am) pale. Believe me, I was only jesting." "I can bear it Francis .There ia notli- Inp on this earth that cannot be l>i.rn<> in one way or nihrr." Shu turned and left t Im room, quiet- ly ami HI lly. Thn snniihine failed just then, an I only a white pale light came through the window. I so connectixl ii i\nli her sorrow, that to this I can never see the gulden radiance nn I (ro across my path, without ih' -- i p. knife-like p;inj( that I (ell then an the door closed lhind her fUAITKil IV. Alice !. . '"<-r anil rew really 111. A tour ..u the continent WAI Birongly ! ii .'! by i 'he i!' las the lik -ins of restoration. It WUc II i] >". |l "' -"lur you a little King Charlea' spaniel frisking about her feel. I had hex in my arma at once, bat it waa not until abe kissed me that I knew how coid and pale she waa. "Alice, are you ill t" I asked, holding her away from me. and looking into her face. Her eye* mat mine, but their old light waa uuite gone. "Nn< in tie least ill, Frank," ahesaid quietly. "But you must remember I have not seen you for nine months and you startle-: me a little." My household fairy bad fled, and I could only mourn that I should never took upon her sweet young face again. It was another Alice, this. I had slain my own Alice, and nothing could re- animate her. I was like one in a dream all through the day; and. when we came home 1 could not wake. I had made many changes in the house, and all for tier. I took her through the rooms on the day after our return, and showed her the Improvements. ' She was pleased with Utt furniture; ahe admired the pictures and the. conservatory; and seemed daligbted with the little gem of a boudoir which I had pleased my- self by designing expreaaly for her. She thanked me. too. No longer ago than a year she would have danced through the rooms, uttering a thousand pretty little exclamations of wonder and de- light, and I abould have been smotber- e.l witb kiaaes. and called "a dear old bear," or some such fit name at the end; all of which would have lieen very silly, but also very delightful. I think t be*-" it ff-r a month: but one morning, as I sat at my solitary breakfast for Alice took nhat meal in her room now the bitter sense of wrong ami unaappineaa and desertion came over me so strongiy that I went up to her room. "Are you busy I" I asked, as ahe laid down ber pen and looked around. "Not too busy to talk to you." she aid. " Alice, bow long are we to live this life! She changed color. "What lile, Frank?" "The one we are living now. It is not Uie happy, loving life we used to live. You are not mine as entirely and lovingly as you once were." 'I know u." An. i the sighed and iuoktxi drearily at me. "Whycaiiuot the oiil days c.ouie back again. If 1 made a lerriliie miatakv.can you never forgive it f 1 thought it was foolish (or us to love each other as we did ! at least to show it as we did | earih only true wisdom." She smiled aaiUy. "(iive me back that love, Alice, \\ huh I would not have. Oh, give uiw back , the liwl suuauine." 1 ruse from uiy seat and stood !*- MM- her, but she drew back and shook ' her head. "Frank, don't aak me for that." "1 skill kuw how to value it now, Alice." "That may I*, but 1 have it not to "Too iate. To olale, Kraukl" 1 I'laspe:! ber to my heart. The pas- ion in that heart might almost have iirougbi back life to toe dead, but she tlid not move. She waa like a statue in my arms, and only looked ai me aud my bed. Tool ate Too late, Frank I" "Will yuu never forgive me f" "Koi|fivf Do you think I have one unkin i thought or feviiuu towards you, Frank f Ah. no I Boil am chilled ft urough and through. My love ia dead ' ,in I buried. Si and .may from its grave, land let ua meel [he world an I*.- i- may." 1 leaned my head upon my bauda.and mv tears feJl. anil 1 waa not ashamed ) of them. Hut they leeuitul to rouse her into a kinil of freniy. "You!" ahe exclaimed suddenly. "You, who a year ago, sowed the seed which has bornu thin fruit, can you weep over your husbandry now f Don't I- rankl Take wuai I can give you take uiy earnest friendship and tiod grant w may never pan, here or in heaven." "Ah! in lnniven if we ever get there vim will love iu again." .-.In* quoie.l those sad worda whi.h poor Si. Pierre uttered on his .lying "CJue f> rait une ame isolee dans le ciel II li-ine f" (What would an isolated soul do, ev- en in Heaven itself I) ami laiil her hand gently on mine-. "Heaven knows, dear Alice, that as I love.l you when we first met, 1 loved you oil that unhappy day, anil love you atill I" "I am glad to hear it," abe said hur- i i. .1 y "Heaven only knows what days ami nights were mine at first. ! be m\ life had lieen wrapped up in yours, Frank, anil it waa terrible to separate them. I thought at first I could not li\e. I suppose every one thinks so, when a heavy Mow fulls. Hut strength waa given me, and liy-an<l-by peace. ! We see in like two grey shadows, Frank, in a silent world and we must only \vHir (i.i.l's tune; and hope that, on the other side of th grave at least, ili- wren i mistake may >e set right. .* Life.) , i.i a. girl, with .JIK.W ebeeka. and a figure an iragile aa the flowers she carried in ber basket. It was ber eyes and ber bands which marked her off from the common herd. Had thear been of regulation pattern, there waa nothing to distinguish ber from any dozen of ber companions. But ber eyea, which were brown in color, were large snd Imil riMss and had a provoking habit of drflbpiiuf the lashes when she looked at one. Whether cal- culated coquetry or native-born* man- waa "fetching" few men would have puzzled an expert to decide. That it waa "fetching" fe wmen would have ventured to deny. Her hand, small and weJI-fchaped, boasted the taper fin- gers and filbert nails generally as- sociated with birth and breeding. . She sold flowers in Cbeapnide. Her station was the steps of the Peel statue; and every morning, week in and week out. as the clocks of the city were striking ten she would deponit ber basket at the foot of the column and prepare for the business of the day. From ten to six abe plied ber ware* diligently. puKhing the sale with all the tact which a life's experience had taught ber and all lh wiles which a woman's wit could suggest. Rut each evening when th-- weary city was fast emptying, and the bells of the great cathedral wan atill echoing overhead, her eyes woul uawvep the long length of crowded asphalt with searching glunces; and as she scanned the teem- ing multitudes pouring westward a spot of crimson would suddenly show in the wan. white cheeks, and the dork brown orbs would flash and kindle with a cur- ious, niyxiic light. He always contrived to be in Cheap- aide between six and half-paat. It waa their custom to walk together down Queen Victoria at reel to Black friars Hridge. At this point they separated she croaking to the Surrey side, be taking a "turn" through Fleet street and the Strand before following in the same direction. Th>-y bad commenced the practice in midwinter and now they had reached midsummer. From afar she could distinguish hi* barrow among the throng of vi I which filled the thoroughfare. \Vb*-n be bad "doubled" the corner and got inio the comparative "wlack water" of the chiirchyar d ahe cromed over and joined him. A nod that waa almost imperceptible, answered by a smile that was bright aud .sunny wat all (he re- > < t nil lun that passed Iwtween them. I he girl's 1 glance wandered imi.lun tarily to the barrow. It was the sea- son for cherries, and she noticed the long array of empty baskets. "Iteen 'avin' a good day, Joe, ain't yerf M. i.i iu like." ' U '> y'.iin't on'y one 'inou'ly' left.' i'i:ips I lieen tfixin' Yin iAay." II. li'in 'vi- unini.sUikmg y surly. For the nexi thirty yards ihcy wa'k- ed i.n in M . n..- Ibe girl watch ng thu man furtive!).- th<- man pu>hing the barrow languidly, and glaring nlrenu- im.siv .n nothing. |'l.i' yer thurt on wot I Uile yer f" be aaid. presently, an the girl sicp,.-d off Ihe i-.iKiiK-nl to moid collusion wilb u puvel boy Ihe light that ii.ld lighted them died out of h*r eye*, the color which li.i.l 1 1 me into her cheek* for.sook them. In r inouih grew bard, and her fac lol ai .1 h and animal ion The man continue.! to stare into t i , M, \ in. i u ilk mecli.mically after Ids Larrow, "I can't do ul. Ji- 1 can't do ut. I ain't got no rent theae two nights but , i do ut." 1 In- \Mir.K .nm with difficulty, and :> palpitated with emotion I h,- in. in shrugged his shoulders im- jkii it nlly. 'Woi's the good uv 'im. eh 1 A dod'- rin' ole lunriif. Wol's ilw use uv 'im lei anybody ? He orter b.en dead years ago." ' Hi- s in. father. Joe." she murmured, u-Jit'ully. "('iithcr I i t...uc.l lle'.s dun a lot fei you. ain't he.' Y'orl ler fe*'l proud uv 'im, didn't yer f I'inch.n hi.s gal's in. .in > dl liikin' lil ht's go! I lie 'ile- ,iu' talkin' 'lummy rot' 'Unit, be- in' a gentlinui an t ho wn uv a gciu'l inin \V'j ho am'! got no inoir il<- 'an a pig When he can't gorge h tin lunger a pig'll lit- iu ill.- .->, II trovgh. and when \.m um. mi. I had a .skinful h. 'II snore by i h b .111 'longside a iiuart j l(. st,.!i- .1 glance al tbe girl 0111 . i i h.- corner HI Ids eye The En Hug life of l.oniliMi eddied around Ili-i..: .ur yr Joe; but if it's . /ou il'a rough on me. Anythin' /ou ars'd me to do. Joe any thin' c'o'd do o' meself like I'd do ut, mate, without aayio' why or wherefore. But sen' tbe o> man to tbe work us I can't do that. lad. I know yer think 1 orter ; but 1 can't Joe I cant do nt." "A pretty fool yer made o' me now, 1 1 , ain't yer f I giv' up booze an' cut to inies w'en tuk up wiv you. 'Lua; but you'd see me at blazes auner 'an' giv up that drucken ole wagabone wot Uvea on yer, an' ptrwenta yer bavin' a man aa au'd be good to yer." "U 'u'd break me heart, Joe, ter avs> 'im die in tbe workus." "Yer r h inks a bloomin' sight more uv a wrong un than yer doe* uv a right un." said the man tavageiy. She gave him a look which must have> convinced him of h'.s erroi ; but blinded by passion, he reftned to see. "Well," be snarled, "one of uz 'o got ter scoot him or me. There ain't room fer two." The girl made no reply, and they went on. Hut Mir nee was too oppressive and stifling. Near Waterloo station tbe man spoke again. "Him much yer tuk, 'Liza t" Tbe question was abrupt, but tbe tone wan friendly. It indicated a change of feeling. "Seving an' thrie " He extended hia band. She put t he- money into it without a word. "Meet me at tbe tiarding in the morn- m', 'Liza, and I'll stock the baskit for yer." said be, returning ber nine pence. It was a curious t ran sac. t ion. but the explanation waa probably to be found in ibe deafjairing utterance of tbe wo- man "He's 'ad 'em awful bail agrn. Joe. I^ra night it wur that dreaxlful - " She stopped warned by the cloud that was sweeping up over b-r coiupauion'a brow. The man's countenance hex! wuddenly darkened, .spark* from tb* netber firea* danced in bid eyes, the old hard, vin- dictive look bad returned "I wish be rn.-iy <!ie. 1 wish be wur dead!" h* muttered, fiercely. I "Ob. Joe ! Joe. if yer low me. duo say thim word.il" entreated tbe girl. 'I say 'em coa I loves yer; cos it 'a it's on'y 'im wot's keepin' yer frum a man as wants ter make a 'appy wo- man uv yer. I says i in con I means 'em. No 'fen-!- '. r jer. 'I-iza." "V ain't a bad sort. Joe," wid to* girl, turning bT .swimming rjre.s full on him; "but yer a bit down on tbe ole in. in." He gave the Iwtrrow lui unnecessarily vigorouti .shove. "I'm Ki'iu inler tbe 'Cut.' 'Liza, ter finuth. No. I ain't dun so dusty" ans- wering Ibe question the girl had put to him li.rf an hour liefore. "I started oui wiv a dozen, an' this yere'a th' on'y one lef." He vlllpl ld 111- c. nlenls of the basket on I b.- buurd. "I shall knock 'in in Ihe 'Cut' at frrppence. 'T.-iin't i fen they MM- cherries like them in New Cut. They're city fruit, they are. "I'll look 'roun' arter 1 clear out " As he walked away his eyet followed her. "She thinks a Uoomin' itight too mm h sh,- do, o' that drunken ole .K-anip. her father!" he growi.'d. star- iiig after the r<-ir<-atniK firgnre; "but I un i all a fool, mat*. Uril'a wuth . In the third pair back (if a tenement b. !!>. in l.anil.. ih :i girl waa kins ling by the .side i.f a bed. A paper bog waa lying I'll h- cuveilel. and .S..HIK- cbe- ii.-- had fallen on the floor. Un tbe bed lay ' h b.,-dy of a man I lie loom i--. k.-.l wiih i h > fumes of whiskey. The ii'iiK III he fnniii.s i.i ilu- nirl's right b.i'i I \\.ri clas|N-d convulsively around ih" liairl .if the in. "ion. o.i figure ex- ton. Ii. I ii the bed. "Joel" -she moaned; "Joe, lad. je'v i i yei WL-II I b i i.o iii.ui 11 never rile yer any more. I love yer mate, dearer thin HI-, but it's th'm words o'your'n a, I -hall hear, an' not parson's, ou th* day yer takes mo inter church." WOH.N UV IHK SKA. \ . i iiing effects are Humetimea produced l.y - nun billows tearing away aj and ' lulls un I h Kut, upon the whole, the i.ieidy wrariiv ef- fo-i of ih' ordinary sea-waves striking, or sweeping along, a shore-lino o\|. -.ed ii in-driving winds is i-\,-n greater, al- .utrh I'l'intr disi i lUiU-d ov.-r a i-niii- paratively bug inlorval of lime, it at- tracts less all. i|i i. MI S.iine slai lei-onllv pul'lisliod show that on I lie rasteill ( i ' '. I' Knul .lid, letwooll Klilll- -ii\\ H. ad Hint Spurn Head, along distance of S:i to 4H miles, Ih" ln-ach has bo n !! iviin^ -n^l-iiiKht of ih- ocean, for lli- 1 1-.' 37 years, at the average rate of n.-:irl.v six i i i. ralH.il sl||.\\s I hit !ii..ii si. met lines un in I fill iuiix , I > H - ;i in dost i<iy inn Ih- i-ul\\aiks of III- hind. Thin has occiirrvd ;U the zrval c.h.ilk cliffs near Dover, which Dave suffered fi nm tin. \\niniii\val .if a prl of I'v- ilrii"tin{ sand ,-ic -uiini! n- iim at th-ii f,- -t in I Nhi.-lding ih.-iu f i, in i assault i.f t lij. u n^l moled 81 IVivei and litestone ln\ d'v.-ileil Ihe s.in- - . n - --ii'. Us lo proli-ct tbe c'il'.i I A

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