A Lover in Homespun / And Other Stories

ound this he

ot, would no

e seated herself some little distance from the table, bearing the precious

a little time sadly turning round and round the plain gold ring on her left hand. "If he had threatened anything e

lipped off the cord and began to unwrap the paper. Something slipped on her lap, and she looked mechanically down; the paper and string, which was still in her hand, fluttered to the floor, her lips parted, her eyes dilated and her face grew pitifully pale. As though fascinated, she continued to gaze at the poor soiled little boots. Her laboring heart at last threw off its torpor and dro

him. Then an impulse flashed suddenly into her mind-happily she acted upon it. Hastily wrapping up the boots again, she hurriedly placed them on the table, in a position which she thought

preparing to go out. She could see from her hiding-

, noticing the parcel, he walked listlessly over to the table, took it up and ponderingly began to unfold it; the secret the roughly folded paper held was quickly revealed. As he held out the wee boots in the palm of his strong hand, his lips

fe's deep, true love, and sorrow for the lost one, and of how he had added to their sorrow, and how they were now about to separate, and the regret and

again. Ah, if I had but kept them when I was passing through the dark days! I should have had more sympathy with her, have understood myself and her better, and

, in an adjacent street, began to play the weird refrain of that

, sweet, sw

from the distance into the room. When he began to move toward

, sweet, sw

swiftly and noiselessly parted, and she was stealing after his retreating figure wit

n the door the organ drifted

to repeat the

le from

the words on his lips: "Not an exile from home, Harold; no, no, not that, d

organ had reac

, sweet, sw

, with the happy light still glowing and beautifying her face: "We will take it a

y lovingly repeating the refrain which w

, sweet, sw

rie Ep

less-looking dusty brown, continued to pour pitilessly down on the horde o

rank grass, which gave forth a dry, almost rasping

into the shade for an hour," said Joe Swan, a huge muscular lab

per had torn up half a yard of the tenacious prairie sod and cast it to one side. As he turned the mules around to get them into position again, Joe glanced covertly at the weary fac

tude was now being broken by the babel that attends track-laying, and whose vast bosom, for the first time, was being girded with a band of ste

the rails to them as quickly as the sod was removed. It was easy work track-laying on the flat expanse, where grading for hundreds of miles at a stretch was practically unnecessary. Such, inde

itched the mules, sprang on the back of one of them, and stooping, swung Harry Langdon, his delicate-looking driver, laughingly across the back of the other. The next moment they were dashing towards th

before, with his hands and face swollen with mosquito bites, and asked for a job, big-hearted Joe took a liking to him. It was owing to Joe's influence w

re he had been in camp a week the thick tepid surface water, which they all had to drink, coupled with

y all the scrapers-for the foremen to more than two or three times a day visit the works, and thus it was that Joe, unknown to the foremen, was able to let

er, were washing their shirts, while the less fortunate were lounging around the little tents-of which there were hundreds-welcoming the cool breeze which the dark, ominou

er than those of the ordinary laborers, in the shadow of which was dimly outlined the forms of a man and a woman. He at once recognized the woman as Nellie Shuter (the on

in a gaudy colored blanket, emerged from behind an adjacent tent and touched him, in a supplicating manner, on the shoulder. He turned hastily, and seeing who it was, pushed the intruding hand away. As he did so the

. Her pleading evidently had no effect upon Harry, as he turned and left her abruptly.

d look on his face, silently pulling at his pipe. Harry seemed too muc

's daughter," began Joe at last, breaking a s

ve been in a queer way now had it not been for you; yet, old chap, I cannot bring myself to believe that Nellie Shuter and her father are as bad as you have hinted several times." As he concluded he wa

a few words to yo

moredly, and sat dow

e thing that I've got a mighty good hold of is sizin' up people, and if ever I met a bad egg Bill Shuter's one. You must know something about him yourself by this time, for he got you to gamble, and he's well-nigh

e more than Harry could stand, and leaning his head a

"that you don't gamble because you love it; but to please his daughter Nellie, who"-his

league with her father. I've heard that she's told others, that are as sweet on her as you, that the best way to keep the old wolf quiet, a

er. "You are presuming on the kindnesses you have done me," he went on, halting in front of him, "and if her father and a few of his friends had

ing Joe dragging at his heavy blonde moustach

ficult problem, "The lad was right; I had no business to speak to him in that way, but what I said about them both I believe to be the truth, gospel truth, and sooner or later the

iselessly entered the tent, and drawing the wet blanket from her head, said passionately, in quaint broken English, as she point

had not heard a word. He had seen her for the first time about three months ago, when she came to camp with some

s, for it was the time the fever was upon him. Joe was away in the distance taking care of both the mules and the scrape

er way, and then had sunk weakly back again. The suffering on his pinched boyi

st, he nodded and smiled and had a kindly word for her, but suddenly he ignored her altogether, for wo

r, told him in the figurative language of her people, that because of him her heart was as troubled as the river was in the spring-time-when the melting snow vexed it so that it burst its barriers and f

to work, as the squaws always worked for the braves. It was no uncommon thing for French-Canadians to marry squaws, neither was it uncommon for squaws to offer themselves in marriage, and thus she did not know how stran

ere, her intuitions told her her words had sounded unseemly to him, and that h

ing with Nellie Shuter, saw the love-light in his eyes when he looked at her, and noted how flippantly, in return, Nellie treated him, her love s

ooked into her dark, passionate face, this new complication of Harry's affairs made him feel more ill at ease than ever. "Well, and if he has gone to Shuter's tent to see Nellie, wh

words. But conquering her passion, she told him again how dearly she loved Harry, whil

reply, pointed-with a sorry attempt

nched hands and compressed lips, and then, without ano

tore, he repeated several times, "It was pretty small to treat her like tha

elf. Congregated together were about fifty sunburnt laborers, arrayed in coarse woollen shirts. To their despondent-looking trousers the blue tenacious prairie mud clu

acco, clay pipes, and several long-necked bottles. Pinned to the tent, behind the counter, was a card, on which was scrawled, in characters which scorned all laws of proportion, "Mi

eated at a number of rude tables were laborers throwing dice and playing poker. Leaning nonchalantly on th

, spare man, with a somewhat receding chin and small, very light-colored blue eyes, which had a habit of looking past one while their owner was speaking. A glance at

e game-although it was poker-his attention being almost entirely fixed on Nellie, who was flirting outrageously with her admirers. Every time her flippant

that a child could have won with. Finally he laid down his car

k, Nellie," was

winning." His daughter heard the words-as he had intended-and looking Harry full in the face, shrugged her shoulders contemptuously. No plan of attack could have been more subtle.

nraged that he could scarcely keep from springin

egan to bet heavily on their hands. Harry met his opponent's bets without a tremor of excitement, and twice Shuter hesitated as though he would throw up the game-seeing he could not bluff Harry into doing so, and, consequently, forfeiting what was alread

nd make him afraid of the next raise, failed, as

about forty dollars, so the raise, among such men, was a most unusual one. If Harry lost, it meant the forfeiture of his entire month's salary. Jo

's face; but he was now in it to the death and answered, "All right

er's eyes as Harry leaned forward, expe

pack. As he did so he uttered an exclamation, as though his action had been accidental, and stooping began to gather up the cards; but while d

and Joe, and the next instant Harry was on his feet, his face con

nd was fumbling in his pocket for an old sailor's knife which he was always known to carry; but before he could draw it he was swung violently off his feet and brought down with a thud on the table. He was little be

zing; but the moment her eyes fell upon him she burst forth furiously, "Get out of this, you little fool; I am sick of making a fool of you. There's not a man in the tent but knows

the little fellow's appreciation of his trying position was so painfully apparent in his drooping figure and pallid face, that there was not a man among them

and from the pitiful look he gave his little driver, that he had forgotten all about his enemy. As Joe strode toward Harry, and the yellow glare from the coal lamps, fastened to posts behind the counter, fell athwart his powerful, weather-bea

ot worthy of you. Let's go." As arm and arm the

outed Shuter, with an attempt of bravado, as they were disappearing. He had

structed for hundreds of miles by either hills or trees, were now hovering over the very sod, and at short intervals vivid, sinuous gleams broke from the

f the appalling sight, he said, as he glanced down at his drawn face, "It's only on the prairies one sees storms like these;

not because I'm afraid of the lightning. I have been

that; it makes me feel like going back and choking the life out of both of them." While he was speaking, a flash of lightning, more vivid than its fellows, shot across the prairie and revealed

and he said gratefully, "You're an awful decent fellow, Joe, and i

least two feet deep in water. Groping his way into the tent, Joe lit a candle, and holding it high above his head, looked around. "This is hard luck," he said to his companion, who was standing in

d the lightning not died away, they would have seen that they

stretcher, dressed, and stealing past his mate, left the tent. Signs of life were already visible in camp. In another hour the entire camping outfit would be loaded on the waiting flat-cars and t

oss the broad expanse, "and if it hadn't been for the troub

hinking how queer it was that above all other spots they should have chosen this to pitch their tent, Shuter came out of one of the tents, and i

ut the quiet form did not move. "Sleeping mighty sound," Joe soliloquized, as he vigorously began to scour his face with a coarse, unsanitary-looking towel. Suddenly the t

call Harry's name, but his parched throat refused to utter any sound. He could endure the growing horror no longer, and with set, terrified gaze began to move toward the stretcher. When at last his laggard steps reached it he had not the courage to shake the slim figure, but

rror met his eyes: in the side of the tent against which the body rested was a sinister cut, stained with blood. Pushing the canvas back,

the words; in his dogged manner as he strode out of the tent, cut several of the ropes that fastened it to the ground, pieced them together, tried them to see if

away, Nellie Shuter ran out of her tent toward her father's; but before she could reach it Joe Swan emerged from it, his massive hands grasping the rope, whic

ponderous arm of which stretched enticingly out some nine feet above the ground. Without swerving an inch to the right or the

For a brief space he stopped, measured with his eyes the distance he was from the arm of the derrick and his pursuers, then stooped, threw Shuter acro

to run. He had deftly thrown the end of the rope over the arm of the derrick, and was about to hoist Shuter into mid-air, when the crowd was upon him. The rop

ent, and without a word wound that rope about my neck and then tried to ha

r; yes, a million times worse than a liar-he's a murderer! I thought I'd save you the trouble of helping me

key dive of his, try to draw his knife on Harry Langdon, and heard him shout after me that he'd have a reckoning some other time with that cub of mine; and, boys, he's kept his

d this fierce tirade, and

r it's a lie! I nev

nce more threw herself across her father's body and begged piteously for mercy. The sight of the girl's intense grief somewhat cooled the

fore we string him up,

ally as they had begun to realize that they had acted impulsive

d unasked, had given her heart to the murdered boy. As they entered the tent she was close be

unded behind him. Turning, his eyes fell upon the Indian girl, who was crouching close at his feet, her palsied hands raised as though

ying his hand heavily on her shoulder, he

y by the arm, and pointing at Nellie, said wildly, in her queer broken

e-had been stronger than the love of revenge or the fear of punishment. Joe was the first to read the meaning of her superstitious horror, knowing as he did her hatred of Nellie and her love for Harry. And suddenly pointing at the grovelling figure, he s

ing to her feet-apparently now forgetful of Nellie's presence-she begged Joe to take her from t

e than they could bear. As she stood, wildly pressing her hands to her forehead, Joe pointed at the gash in the tent and then at the blood-stained clothing at Harry's side. Then with fascinated gaze they watched the rapid changes which sped across her face, for reason had not yet altogether flown, and they saw that she was recalling the fearful mistake she had made. Suddenly her hands slid to her side, and in doing so encountered the handle of the knife which lay concealed beneath her blanket. That w

Winnipeg that they decided a trial was unnece

the drivers' whips, the shouting to the stubborn mules, the stampede over the prairie at noon, the hateful sight of Shuter and his daughter-in fact, everything around hi

er of th

ng the great snow-heap, which all winter had beset farmer Frechette's farm-house, and w

rmer Frechette, who sat warming himself at the square box wood-stove, gazing the while with furrowed br

is thin, wrinkled face painful to see. Straightening up his bent frame, he shook his hand at the church, which he could see in the distance, and uttered anathemas against it. As he did so, the door leading from the little bedroom at the back of

but not unkindly, to cease. "Do you know what the bells

he answered, trying to keep out of her

rch; they pity me. It was only yesterday we received the letter from Quebec telling us of the honor that had come to my brother through his daughter taking the veil. None of our neighbors were more passionately attached to their children than we; yet death passed by their doors, came to

a little break in her voice, "We have suffered much, Hormis

ere striving to be content and kiss the rod, for the Virgin to give us another daughter; to let us keep her till she had grown into womanhood; till we had given her an education which wo

there is hope," said his

ays she will die,"

f we got Doctor Chalmers from Montreal, he would cure her. They say, although he is young, he

, they died," he replied, looking at her as thou

other said, "That is true, but this time he

d hope," he said

would know," she

he replied, turn

g with it flurries of fine snow, began to blow cold and strong. Doctor Chalmers drew the buffalo robes tighter about him, and settled back in a corner of the sleigh; he had three miles yet to drive before he rea

Madame Frechette as she led him into the kitche

at facing the doctor at the opposite side of the stove, furtively glancing at the young physician, dissatisfaction imprinted on every

ter. Doctor Chalmers drew near the bed, and as the light from the coal-oil lamp fell ac

girl's room. Unable any longer to sit and endure the suspense, the farmer rose, and began, fretfully, to walk to and fro. Finally he stopped at the window, and his gaze travelled across

ghtened out his bent figure-"I shall die happy in the faith. I will leave money to help build the new church which Father Sauvalle so long

, looking at the doctor as though he k

he says there is no hope." The words were kindly spoken, for he had notic

not die, doctor?" he ask

ly thin

s chair. "I am beginning to feel ol

a case. Inch by inch he contested with death for the life of

walked as far as the little garden at the back of the house. Very lovely she looked in her light-colored, soft, clinging dress, large brimmed stra

y words. Could they but have heard him this afternoon as he sat by her

e should wish to banish it; besides being beautiful and winning, she had received an excellent education, and was in every way fitted to be his wife. Of Adele's dedication to the Church from her birt

anger, he had not entered the doors of the church. Now all was different; twice a week he went to confession, and almost every day knelt before the altar and asked forgiveness for the dreadful sins of the past. It had never struck him as being strange that Doctor Chalmers should continue to visit his house after she

to take the veil. If his wife at times ha

aking the veil with that eagerness that she had felt before her illness. She comforted herself with the thought that the change, somehow, was the result of her illness, and that by and by the old

her awakenin

auvalle, with his arm linked in that of her father's, both talking eagerly. The priest's hand was on the latch of the gate before she raised her head; her face lighted up, and she ran to meet them. T

be the Virgin!" broke in her father with strange ecstasy. She

rved wooden crucifix, which was said to be the most costl

ther Sauvalle had received a letter from the bishop, stating that when the daughter of Hormisdas Frechette had taken the veil at the convent at St. Je

ne which had brought the great news. As he read it to her, his face beamed with smiles. Little wonder they were pleased, for it was an honor indeed to the little town

" she exclaim

were not surprised; it was meet that the sudden news o

he convent in a few days. In a month or so later you will be ready to take your final vows. Your father is an old man now and has been sorely tried, and has sinne

ecause of me?" Adele interrupt

gly he looked at the great crucifix, made the sign of the cross on his bosom, and then turned his wavering gaz

ng a daughter in the Church, and had been disappointed so often. When they said your illness was fatal, I said, in my misery, that there was no Virgin, or she would not le

cried the priest, raising

u that your life was spared in order that your father's soul might be saved. The bishop knows of this, and is greatly pleased. Already many of the parish priests have been told of your miraculous r

mother, while towering above them, with hands outstretched toward the cross, was the white-haired priest, invoking blessings on those bowed at his feet. She knew it was her duty

he cause that is

ed in its r

stretched out her hand to turn the handle of the door, but the sound of the voice that had sung the words seemed to grow more distinct instead of vanishing,

ardon for not being able to fix her attention on holy things, and asked grace to cease thinking of him

sprang to her feet and looked along the road. She had not been mistaken; away in the distance was a light buggy, rapidly approaching. Doctor Chalmers had said he might be down that day!

st, reached farmer Frechette's ho

e cause that is d

walking straight toward her. She heard him coming, and her treacherous heart began to beat joyously. With an excla

stooped quickly and raised her. When he saw how white her face was, he was

c face and helplessness appealed strongly to him, and his heart went out to her, as a man's will to the woman he loves, and wh

story that is ever new, though so very old. She would have given the world to have let her heart run riot, as the loving words came pouring from his lips. She learned how she had first grown dear to him, as he had fought with the great reaper for her life, and how the sight of health ret

e cause that is d

made it ten-fold harder for her to tell him that he was not

fight down the singing of her heart, she knew that nothing he could say co

ed in its ru

him," she whispered. Ah! how she wished Doctor Pren

, pressed it tightly to her bosom, and turning her woe-begone face to him, s

"I-I do not understand," he said, wond

he approached. He was sorely perplexed and appreh

been in the convent before, and shall return in a few

s the pity and love for him, as she saw the look of amazement and misery which flashed

old her that if she loved him she had no right to sacrifice their happiness. Then his tone changed, and he pleaded with her; and as she looked into his eager eyes, listened, and saw how dear she was to him, her rejoicing heart deadened the lashings of her

her head, looked teasingly into her f

he cause that is

r

while her eyes dilated and shone with terror. "If I do not enter the convent,"

g that he did not understand, told him all her father's dread story, how he had told her, not an hour ago,

e perfectly happy. Her conscience would never cease to upbraid her; from her childhood she ha

at nothing he could say would break down her strong religious convictions. The sudden revulsion f

d leave him, but turned again and looked at him pityingly. Well she knew that in the long quiet years which were to come, that lonely figure in

thick dark hair, and tell him how much easier it would be for her to bear her lot if he would only say he forgave her and would try and think kindly of her. It came to her at last how, perhaps, she might ease his sorrows.

le cottage and fell upon the expectant ears of farmer Fre

. The bells no longer mocked him, and he had ceased to hate them. Once more he stretched his gaunt arm toward the glistenin

ledging the bows of the neighbors, Hormisdas Frechette and his

rying to witness the honor about to fall upon the house of Hormisdas Frechette. Sweet to the old man was the moaning of the wind a

n black array, with clasped hands and bowed heads, repeating a psalm of renunciation, entered the church. Following them, arrayed in a spotless white veil which fell to her feet, came she who had saved a soul

prayers of thanksgiving. She who had given birth to such a daugh

to the altar; but that was as it should be, with one who was about to renounce

s the ceremony, drove rapidly down the road, and halted some little distance from the church near the conven

nd his heart beat furiously as he saw the four dark-robed nuns step from the church and wait for their new sister. At last she came, with hands clasped and head bow

by the white feet of the horse, and instantly she knew to whom it belonged. W

'd in its ru

w her falter; but she recovered herself and entered the yard. The rusty hinges creaked wei

iolently into the faces of the sightseers as they hurried from the church. N

d drooped till it rested on the animal's mane. Patiently the beast w

of the fight he had made for her life, and of the love that had come

e cause that is d

his ears; he started as though he had been struck,

ous Enc

ugly scar that disfigures my face, but on account of the horror that I yet experience when recalling the t

r 1882 built only about two hundred miles west of Winnipeg, leaving a huge gap of several hundred miles of un

graph offices erected, that when winter set in, fifty telegra

vast prairie, which was only then being opened up. To-day, men are only too happy to make hom

a month was being paid out there for operators, I resigned my position

on 150 miles farther west. When I took charge, in November, four inches o

y existence. I was alone in the station, and as December began to wane, and the dread blizzards commenced their wild revelry, heaping the snow into suc

ind, as it swept along the vast prairie, unobstructed for scores of miles by houses or trees, caught up the newly-fallen snow in its mad embrace, and drove it with amazing force against the little telegraph office which sheltered m

I was spending it in such a queer manner! My thoughts had been with mother and dear old London, where I

wake, salute t

could hear my companions singing that gran

urs late, and were slowly struggling towards my station. It was just 2 a.m. when I received the order from the dispatcher at Winnipeg to d

station and face the track, when I was startled by hearing a tremendous kicking and howling at the door. In

mbling hands I drew the bolt. Before I could step aside the door was thrown violently open, and to my dismay two stalwart Cree Indians burst into the little office. It was the manner of the savages in entering that made me feel nervous. It was no uncommon t

I trusted them, and brought two chairs and asked them to be seated. As I spoke they both turned their wicked, black eyes on me, but d

ultation, felt in the pocket of the coat, drew out a bottle of whiskey, and proceeded without delay to break off the neck on

t that I feared. Both the Indians, with superstitious dread in their eyes, involuntarily took a couple of steps back toward the wa

x feet to the right, was the instrument. I was sitting facing the door at the opposite side of the room. Pretend

n in a threatening manner to say something to me. Seeing that I did not understand, the tall brave, pointing the bottle,

f telegraph instruments, and his inability to understand

if I got possession of the wires I would

after which he took a long draught out of the bottle, and then handed it to his companion. The effect of the liquor upon their savage natures showed itself

and capered round the stove, stamping the floor viciously with their moccasined feet. Again, they would wave their l

tal faces, making them look like emissaries from the evil one, dancing in fiendish glee over some evil deed. The storm, as though in sympathy with th

some savage torture. Would they never cease? For nearly thirty minutes I sat still as death, where the

der to detain the down express that he had sent came back to my memory, and with a thrill of horror I remembered that I had omit

rous, suspicious natures were thoroughly aroused on seeing me looking eagerly toward the instrument. I knew not how near the train might be; act I must. I thought of the fearful loss of life which would surely occur unless I could reach the cord that hung above the instrument, and wit

scores of lives be sacrificed in order to save my own. I had always thought I was not the stu

loor, my ears caught the distant rumbling of the east-bound locomotive. The Indians also had heard the noise, and as they turned to listen I once more

ened my face like a conical bullet. I had only a few more s

d took me to Winnipeg, where I remai

ed the arrival of the west-bound express, which arrived five minutes later. Had he not seen the r

trace the two brutal sav

t Christmas when I was employed in the far

oup-

th year, and the curse may fall upon him now at any moment. She buried her wrinkled, fear-stricken face in her thin trembling hands, and wept as though her heart was breaking. "O Marie, blessed Virgin!" she whispered, "save our son, our Pierre; let not the fate of the

folds far below her waist. A tender smile stole into his face as he remembered how, on account of the waywardness of the beautiful hair and its rebellion against imprisonment, he had more than once heard her chide it; yes, and at times when more than usually arrogant, threaten to use the shears upon it. He observed, too, how round her shoulders had grown,

d and tremble the long day through. The infirmity of age was strong upon him; seventy years is a long time to have lived and toiled as French-Canadian farmers toil in eastern Canada. He thought, too

rly loved, although so much changed, and bending tenderly down said, bravely, trying to check the tremor in his voice, "There, wife, don't fret." And then he drew her head to his shoulder in a way he used to do when they were both in the noonday of life. She remembered, and her grief grew less. "The Virgin is good, wife, and we have prayed so much to Her about him. Surely She

as the anxious mother started

seven years will have passed since our son went to c

window into the moonlight, which made the newly fallen snow glisten on the road with alm

ad uttered no such curse against those who for seven years did not confess; although if they died in that sinful state there was no hope of salvat

r what you say, and out of mockery to the Church, cause the evil to fall upon him." With piteou

the lamp, for the moon that poured in at the wi

d would give us comfort. It may be that the curse is not from the Church, but the devil knows when human beings are forsaken by the blessed Church, an

gh he would fain have her cease, but she only

nts believe in it? Even if we had not been told these things,

d, mutely protesting, b

and grew wickeder every year, till finally the very last night of the seventh year came, and just a few minutes before twelve he became possessed of the devil, and beat

of the Virgin,

cited for him to have cont

l the village folk talk about it, and regret that someone had not met the beast before it was drowned, and drawn blood from it so as to release Arsene? Has he ever been seen since? We have known of others like him who have disappeared and have never been seen again. How can we deceive ourselves and say th

itiful break in i

aptiste, no longer pretending that he did not believe in this strange

ng, the yellow-faced clock behind th

! twelve

nd looking. Not a human being was in sight. The zinc-covered spire of the little village church, nearly half a mile away, glittered and shone in the fairy light like burnished silver. The quaint whitewashed cottages that dotted the road to the village looked far different from what

," she said presently, lowe

suasively on her shoulder. As she turned the moon shone full in her face. She stopped and loo

uperstitious light again in her eyes, "do you rem

oor, but she resisted, and lookin

e Bolduc went out never to return. The devil is surel

the moon shines full in your fac

n put his hand over her eyes to shut out the sight of the moon, mad

ely bent their heads in a listening attitude. Again there came floating on the still air the mournful sound that had startled them-the weird wail of a dog! A marvellous change came over the mother as she listened; the look of fear vanished and was succeeded by one of intense determination. The change in her was so great that one would surely have thought that she had partaken of the fabled elixir of life; her bent shoulders see

turned our Pierre into a hound, and the beast is coming this way. Even a scratch, if it draws blood, will be sufficient to release him from the curs

with her thin white hair streaming about her face, grasp

of the road, could not be seen from the field. The one, and only chance of intercepting the animal, flashed across her mind, and calling Baptiste to follow her she ran across the road and crouched behind the portion of the

wall. She was exactly in front of it. The beast uttered a howl of terror as the strange apparition so unexpectedly rose up before it. Bravely she seized with her left hand one of the paws of the animal, and as it fell, the knife in her right hand gleamed again and was buried deep in the shoulder of the dog. As she fell, the enraged animal turned upon her and buried its teeth in her arm. She did not feel the bite; the crisis had passed-the unnatural strength born of intense excitement had now deser

elease you. I saw the blood on the knife, then I saw

t it entered the dulled ears of Baptiste and restored him to consciousness, and he followed his son into the little bedroom, where Pierre laid the brave little mother on the bed. Tenderly the

nlight, so fierce a blow. Tears, the first that had fallen from his eyes since he was a boy, fell and trickled through the fingers that were now so wan and thin and that had toiled so hard for him. How she had longed to see tears in his eyes and hear penitent words from

is dead," whispered his heart brutally. "It is a lie, a wicked lie! she is not dead," he muttered. "Raise your head and see, raise your head and see," reiterated his heart monotonously. He had no reply to make to such an answer as this. Slowly he raised his shaking hands to his face, still not daring to look up, and again took her hand in his. A

hange that had come over her since he had left the room to get the simple remedies, and forgetting all about the things he was carry

ut the quiet expression o

recalled Pierre out of the dazed

ther," he whispe

"You do not know what death is. Quick, Pierre; quick, son,

s, staggered over to Pierre, who was standing with averted face in th

Pierre, folded his arms around his father and tried to comfort him like one would a sorrowing child. It was while his arms were yet around him that her

n; Baptiste, husba

her side. With infinite tenderness Pierre put his strong arms around her and bent his head to catch the last word

n; my

the

spell the evil one threw over you. For my sake

lessed sacrament; and I will cease my evil ways and be a son to my father.

an to let her know that the great sacrifice sh

very near. "Baptiste

what she said to his father, but he heard him reply in a voice tha

m; but the seconds sped on and the silence continued. At last he turned. His father was kne

s no reply. He bent over and peered into the two quiet faces. The

tmas Ad

ur lives. To-day I am a well-to-do business man, and expect to spend Christmas in my cozy home, with wif

t. We were given free passes as far as Winnipeg. There was a station which needed two operators, some fifty miles up the line, and we were both sent there, arriving on Christmas eve. The train stopped just long enough for us to jump on the platform, and then sped on.

morning, as he might be needed to take a crossing order for two trains at his station. We did not mind staying up, and whiled away the hours in pleasant conversation as we sat as near as we could get to the glowing coal fire. The storm increased and finally settled down into a blizzard. By midnight it was so

of isolation crept over me despite my efforts to fight it off. How separated from the world I felt. It seemed to me to have been years since I had mingled with a crowd. A great longing possessed me to be away from this lonely spot, and walk the streets of some of the large cities I had lived in. Unable longer to bear these thoughts, I rose to g

ome time, suddenly woke to life and commenced imperiously ticking the call of our station. My friend answered, and received from the dispatcher at Winnipeg a crossing order for a west-bound passenger train and an east-bound engine. Our

n of the trains. We both

my companion. He seemed frozen with deadly fear. The next instant he jumped wildly to his feet, rushed to the door, and gazed out into the blinding storm

. He could hardly stand. Promptly the

our station three minutes ago. Have you put the engine on the side track?" Back went th

e dispatcher, "the t

on the chair. Hi

aid aloud, but to himself-he seemed to

rful to me that I could only sit and look spell-bound at my friend. The

ndicated it wanted the switch opened. The next moment a man rushed into the office. "Open the switch quick!" he shouted, "the passenger train will be here in two

rs before, away up the line. He probably would have remembered it when he passed our station had he seen any signal displayed, but he had rushed past. He must have been two miles past the station when, putting

us lives-his heart seemed to cease beating. The engine was instantly reversed, the sudden revulsion nearly tearing the locomotive to pieces. She ran on for

tation signal light

we went to bed with happy hearts, thankful for th

oward settling our somewhat shattered nerves. The station had not been scrubbed fo

d one at the far end of the village. She was a full-blooded squaw, and one

industrious thief; we could keep nothing in the place from her. Not only would she unblushingly steal our groceries, but under

n myself and the rank black fumes which poured with so much gusto from her mouth. The last place she had to clean was the telegraph office. She entered the office very reluctantly, and furtively glanced at the telegraph inst

Just as she was stretching her long arm under the table, a train steamed into the station. The conductor wanted orders. My companion, forgetting

ut of the station, across the tracks, and away out on to the open prairie she fled, never pausing till she reached the village, where she turned into an Indian's house and was lost from vie

se's F

recently arrived from England, and knew practically nothing about lumbering, while Narcisse had been born in Canada, and felt as much at home in the woods as Charlie wo

monplace and uninteresting; yet the great powerful, rough-looking fellow had a disposition that was as sympathetic as a woman's. The weather never affected him. With Charlie it was different. He was not accustomed to Canadian winters, and the rough unvarying food that was daily dealt out in the camp. He got to dread the sight of pork, which was the staple article of diet the week round. His h

, a ruddy skin, and a laugh that was most pleasant to hear. If they differed outwardly, they were remarkably alike in d

se its attractive whiteness and to assume a jaundiced hue, and, finally succumbing to its ancient foe, was gradually retreating in

the North-West for the summer. Charlie had suggested that they should go out west at once, but Narcisse somehow never took kindly to the proposition, and had offered several excuses for not hurrying away that seemed to Charlie to be a little hazy and certainly not very weighty. One reas

seen. Rev. Father Pelletiere, the parish priest, who had christened Narcisse and buried his parents, called the young men David and Jonathan. The reverend father was a man thoroughly opposed to r

fter wandering down a series of little streets, Narcisse stopped at a small whitewashed cottage with a slanting roof, and knocked at the door with a certain amount of nervousness, Charlie's astonishment fairly overcame him, and he was just going to ask Narcisse if he had not made a mistake in the house, when the door opened. Then he was sure Narcisse had not made a mistake. Never had he seen a more attractive girlish face. Her eyes were deep blue, an

aking. Both Narcisse and Charlie hurried over to where the tempting, warm, browned loaves were, and, after hurriedly glancing at them, looked at each other in open-eyed wonder, and declared that never in their lives had they seen finer loaves. After that all awkwardness was swept away, and Jessie would not be content until they both ac

derfully long trees, and how Narcisse was considered the best chopper in

Charlie's intense satisfaction, he decided, after shaking hands with her at the door, that she had seemed just as anxious that he should come and see her again as she did that Narcisse sho

othing soon caused much merriment among the boarders where they stayed. Of course, none of the scoffers knew that a very generous portion of the time that these ardent fishermen were supposed to be employing in catching fish, was spent lying on the broad of the

e most for, or whether, indeed, she had any tender feeling for either of them. Both were always given a most cordial welcome. If, however, Charlie had been a very close observer-which was unfair to expect at such a time-h

be friendlier than ever. But the cloud was persistent, and returned again and again, and each time it was harder to overthrow. At first it was not larger than a man's hand, but before the month had elapsed it had grown so that it had well-nigh separated them. They both secretly mourned over the estrangement. They both well knew the birthplace of the cloud-the little whitewashed cottage. Several times Charlie

nd see her unless Charlie was with him. When Charlie would complain of feeling tired, off would come Narcisse's coat, and he would declare that h

ke a walk. Right well did Narcisse know where the walk would be to, and always acquiesced in such an unconcerned mann

eting the rain in such a fierce, malignant manner as to make one's room a most desirable place to be in. Charlie and Narcisse had sat and smoked until their tongues were dry and sore. It was a relief for them

They had both decided that day, however, that they would right themselves in each other's eyes. Narcisse believed Charlie loved Jessie; Charlie felt sure Narci

he could hardly keep his eyes open. Before leaving the room to go to his own, which was next to Narcisse's, Charlie pulled off his coat and threw it over his arm. If Narcisse had entertained any doubts as to whether or not Charlie was really as sleepy as he had intimated, this partial unrobing must surely have dispelled it. Notwithstanding his

n a voice that seemed a little strained, "Yes, we will go to

oments with folded arms, gazing out into the darkness

d over to his bed, sat on the edge of it, took off his boots, held them aloof, and then let them fall on the floor; laid his coat across the foot of the bed, stood still for

eping, but a closer inspection would have shown that his eyes were wide open. It was 11.30. Charlie quietly raised himself, pulled his coat to him, and took a railway time-table from it, then ran his finger down a portion of it. The express left for the west at 12.05 a.m. He drew a line around the figures, and put the table back into his pocket again. Then he got out of bed, on tip-toe stole to his carpet-bag, which hung near the door, and quietly began to stow away in it his modest belongings. So quietly did he gather up his things that not a mouse, except by sight, could have known that he was in the room. Every now and then he would pause, with his face turned toward Narcisse's room, and listen. Twice a slight noise, which seemed to emanate from Narcisse's roo

to his landlady. Silently he put on his coat and hat, picked up his boots, seized his carpet-bag, blew out the light,

ading to the street. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he was just in the act of pulling on his boots, when the door at the top of the stairs was pulled slowly open. There was no mistake this time; someone was stealing down the stairs. The darkness was too great to allow him to see who it was. There was no escape for him; his boots were off, and his latch-key was

!" gasped

or a few moments there was silence; then Narcisse descended the remainder of the

d the door. As they stepped out into the str

minutes yet," he said calmly, "

said with a little break in his voice

lie's arm again through his, and again th

to leave m

etween us no longer, Narcisse.

ship for me, Charlie?" They were wa

e you here,

lie." The great fellow's vo

rifts in the clouds, every few minutes

are going aw

at moment broke through the clouds again. "And de cloud

e seen the headlight of

e; we shall have the ca

often in their thoughts. In Narcisse's pocket was a note he had received from her a few days ago, which hinted that, if he desired, he might call sometimes-alone. He was so afraid that Charlie some day might find thi

eading a paper that he had just got from St. John's. They were better dressed and looked more prosperous than in the old days. Occasionally the

he paper fall. Charlie, who had his eyes fixed thoughtfully on

red Narcisse, trying to look unconcer

said he would go and stand a

ad the following in the marriage notices: "Married May 13th, 18-, at St

a satisfied look on his face, "Charlie won't know anything about dat now. No use for open de ol

er?" asked Charlie, as Narc

his chest. "Dat fresh air do me all de go

ge Pres

d been superintendent of the same road. He told me the history of his life one beautiful night in June as we were seated in a sleeping car en route for Montreal. For the first time I knew why he had never married, a problem

to know her better. A week after I arrived at the Junction, the agent gave a party in honor of Julia's birthday, and Herbert and I were among the invited guests. Julia looked very beautiful and sweet, as she welcomed us in the quaint little parlor over the telegraph office. I had not been in the room ten minutes before I discovered that Herbert Lawrence loved Julia as unselfishly as I did. Herbert, who was a gentlemanly fellow, was, on account of his intensely nervous disposition, ill-adapted to the work of an operator. He was extremely sensi

one, and I am beginning to feel quit

about to relate occurred. November, 1873, ushered in weather that railway men heartily dislike. All day a cold rain had fallen, coating the r

ossing orders that had to be attended to. As Herbert was leaving the room I glanced at the book and saw there were no orders on hand. This should have satisfied me that everything was all right; but it did not, and I called out to him and asked if there were any train orders. He replied in a low, absent voice that there were none. I could not help but notice his dejection, and a feeling of pity filled my heart for him. The evening previous Julia had promised to be my wife. Herbert did not know this, but I knew he had a presentiment that the girl he s

resence. Before I had time to seat myself, Julia, with a woman's keen perception, noticed my nervousness and asked the cause of it. Man-like I laughed at her anxiety, and tried to deceive her by being boisterously happy, but of course this failed to allay her fears. Before five minutes had elapsed I was madly anxious to get back to the operating room again, although

otice my strange manner, he replied, 'No orders, if you received none.' As the door closed behind him I could have cried out, so keen was the feeling of dread that again swept over me. Just then I heard the whistle of the locomotive, which seemed to stop my very heart from beating. Like one bereft I ran back into the telegraph office, and began to call the dispatcher's office. There was one more chance of saving the express if it was in danger, and that was by asking if an order had been sent to hold it for a crossing. I had waited until the last minute before I could make up my mind to do this: because, if the disp

room and noisily banged his lamp down on the desk, I buried my face in my hands, completely prostrated by conten

ave been more unable to move. Getting no answer from me, Rawlings walked quickly into the telegraph office, and catching me unc

r of all trains, and that no instructions had been received by the operator to detain trains for crossings. The forms were printed. All the operators had to do was to sign them. With averted face I seized the pen and tried to sign m

. What is the matter with you? You loo

the station to the platform, he suddenly turned round, and said somewhat apprehensively, 'Of course

f the station I sprang to my feet, ran t

doing, swung his lantern from right to left. If the engineer had seen this signal he would have stopped the train. With an impatient shake of his head Rawlings jumped on to the step of the next car. He stood on the step as he passed, and with contracted brow again fixed his eyes on mine. The mome

unds the stairs leading to it, and ran through the sitting-room into the parlor, where I knew I should find

. An embarrassing scene met my gaze; kneeling at Julia's fee

ithout stopping to think, I caught him by the coat-collar with my wounded hand; instantly his white shirt was stained with blood. 'Herbert,' I cried desperately, 'th

been acted in less than a minute. I bounded after him. Someone was following me, but I never thought of stopping to see who. My mind was now quite clear. If the express had not passed the semaphore she might yet be stopped. The semaphore was nearly a quarter of a mile from the station, and the arm was down. If t

at I could see only with great difficulty. With what wonderful velocity the mind works in moments of great danger! Even before I had left the station, my alert brain had weighed and reweighed the chances of the plans it had with such marvellous rapidity given birth to. As I ran, the quick panting of the locomotive was borne to my strained ears with great distinctness by the hurrying wind. The ea

stop and listen, while my nerves seemed as if they must surely snap, so overwrought were they. To my excited imagination every second seemed an hour. Still the dreadful suspense went on, while the panting of the engine grew quicker and quicker. The suspense was actually to

e hair in sweet disorder about her refined delicate face, while the cold rain made the clothing cling to her slender figure like a shroud. 'Julia!' I exclaimed aghast, advancing toward her with faltering steps. Then the lantern fell, and I caught her as she was about to fall. I carried her back to the station,

does all this mean? why did you throw up the semaphore and wave the red light for us to return?' he demanded, his face all aglow with passion. 'Don't talk like that,' I replied; 'thank God for the red lamp and the semaphore! You likely now would h

st a spark of life left in him, nothing more.' I saw the pallid lips move, and kneeling, bent my ear to them. The last words they ever formed came very slow and faint, yet faint as they were I heard them: 'The express must-cross-the-passenger-special. I-loved-her-so.' Then the weary lips were at peace-lasting peace. As I rose, my eyes fell on Julia; she was crouching at the feet of the poor fellow whom, but a few moments ago she had refused to marry. As the driver threw a sheet over the remains he said, 'Poor fellow, his mistake cost him dear.' Then tu

, and not I, who ha

forgotten order, and said, 'That is the closest call I have had for years. We should have met about the tr

us hum of the wires. I looked at the clock. It was 9.09-just nine minutes since the regular express had steamed into the station. It se

t of his pocket an old frayed pocket-book, took out of it a slip of faded newspaper, and silently handed it to me. The words print

id as he looked out of the low window, "The

rable

cumstances, as the one to which I sat down on Christmas Day, 1879, I have decided to relate-in the truthful, unvarnished style

in company with the General Manager of the road, in the private car "St. Paul," when one of the worst blizzards I ever experienced, eve

from a human habitation, and two hundred miles from our home, su

nd our private car-only five souls: Charles Fielding, the manager; myself, William Thurlow; Fred Swan, the co

some hours, and Fielding and I lay down in our berths with the hope that the storm would abate before daybreak, so t

racted abode were depressingly promising. These thoughts, coupled with the knowledge that our car was but poorly provisioned, and that we were without a cook-having l

s to see what the weather was like, when I suddenly decided there was no need of

well-nigh up to the windows in a huge drift, while the wind, which had whipped the harassed snow into fragments as fine as dust, caught up great clouds of the dismembered flakes, and with triumphant shrieks drove them against the panes of glass. As I stood glaring at this inspiring pictu

uperior officer was a man of imposing breadth, and I knew his one weakness was the love of a good meal. The contemplation of

-er-William, during all the years that I have known you, it never occurred to me to ask you if you knew anything about cook

at my education in the culinary

ged somehow to scrape together, that Fielding said to me: "Why, William, there is the conductor, and the driver, and the fireman-perhaps one of the

oning them about the matter earlier in the morning. I soon had the trio marching behind me in

dialect, raised Fielding's sinking hopes by saying that although he did not know how to roast, he was pretty well posted in the art of frying. He further explained, and this time to the gratification of us all, that he had in a box, on the tender of the engine, a ten-pound turkey that he had

cal-looking little fellow, pushed past Robbins, and said eagerly to Fielding and myself, in amusing broken English: "Messieurs, I'm know how for mak de rost turkey, and rost turkey she's goodder dan de fry turkey. And I'm know, too, how for ma

oking specimen knows more about cooking than old Robbins? Would it be safe to l

than old Robbins would be likely to provide, I strongly urged Fielding to bestow the commission of cook upon my favorite. "What possible reason can he have for saying he can roast turkeys and boil plum-puddings if he cannot?" I urged as a clinche

ll-suppressed wrath: "Before thou begins thy duties as cook, it is only right that thou shouldst say how thou larned to cook, and just how much thou knows abou

s remarks were not wholly disinterested, and was about to reprove him, when Ovide, with much heartiness, replied: "Dat's not your bizness to ax me question lak dat; I'm not on de engine now." He then

r amused smiles, and turning contemptuously away from Ovide, h

t. And then you know," I added reprovingly, "this is Chri

r there'll make you before the day's out forget all about that motto of peace and good-will." His prophetic arm fell to his side, and he seated himself in a position from which he could comma

Ovide, my attention being occupied by a game in

time, and had been dimly conscious, too, of the conductor frequently wiping his face, and casting anxious glances i

a newspaper, and as I caught the grim look of satisfaction on his profile, doubts as to the a

ents were melting with fervent heat. Never before had I experienced such withering heat and choking smoke as proceeded from that little range, nor s

y of the evil one among it all, as he stood with his wet scarlet face, his fee

I called,

leased, triumphant

e car?" I asked, shortly, wh

edly, "big turkey can't be cook if not have pretty good fire. But I'll open de window and den de fire

as I have already stated, I was in no wise an authority on cooking, and from the patro

he do a little too quick, and I'll tak her

ix dem all together when you come in, and we going to have fine Creesmis puddin' sure. It's too bad, do, dat I find a hole she's born in de bottom of de sospan, so

ention to what he was saying about the smallness of the

us smoke was still pouring. I lingered long enough to see him take the turk

his knee, and said, meaningly: "I hope yon chap,

ok possession of me-so that the recollection of the speaker's prophecies of evil rega

of his face, I answered with a glibness which I was far from feeling, that things were getting along swimmingly. I was now beginning to feel such a

onchalant air, I made my way over to the kitchen again, and was just in time to see Ovide snatch the turkey-which now looked cold and forlorn

sly, pointing to the kettle: "De puddin' she's in dare, and she's nearly all

d perhaps have afforded me a little of the satisfaction Fielding and the conductor experienced when they heard the news. The effect of the tidings upon old Robbins, however, was tantalizin

ed the table into the centre of the car, set it fairly well, after a number of amusing blunders,

h he bestowed on Ovide as he came in with the smoking turkey will also never be difficult to conjure up. But the moment my eyes fell upon that unfortunate bird, my heart began to beat with renewed apprehen

object had upon him. My worst fears were verified: the complacent expression had fled,

in a constrained tone, as he whetted his knife: "Well, this animal looks as though it had been

nding the allusion, and thinking that he was called upon to say something,

occasion I sought his usually expressive face in vain for even the ghost of a smile. To add to my annoyance an

t had pierced the dark skin. This unlooked-for interruption brought a puzzled look into Fielding's face; but he was a man not easily daunted by anything, and thinking that he had somehow come across a bone hitherto unkn

nd turning to the now anything but jubilant Ovide, said grimly: "In t

ion this time, as Ovide wonderingly shook his head, a

satirically at his fireman, "Oh, aye; oh, aye; thou knows how to cook; thou does, of course thou does." Then turning to F

rst time into the blazing oven; how, in deference to my fears, he had taken it out and stood it on the shelf-when its skin, of course, could only have been scorched-where it had remained over an hour while he was superintending the construction and cooking of the pudding; and, finall

and fork fall noisily on the table, and turning

ying circumstances, my friend should not now have recorded agai

d to throw the blame for what had happened upon the stove, which, he explained, burned much more zealously

too bad, sir, dat I'm forgot to mak her freeze out before I'm put her in de oven. But de puddin', sir,"-with a sudden re

tle of something to eat, Fielding replied somewhat

cious pudding off the stove; but scarcely had he done so when he uttered an amazed cry, and a few moments l

de size dat puddin' she's now! When I'm put her in she's so small dat she's go in easy; but now look! she's swell, and swe

proportions. Little wonder the problem of getting the thing intact

n sections; if there is more pudding than you expected, so much the

arp eyes had seen the freak in the kettle, said to Ovide in an underton

manner in which it had been rent and torn asunder, its complexion was such as to attract the most lively interest-no chronic sufferer from jaundice ever sported su

. It was something awful! A spoonful of pure baking powder could

oo full for speech, he pushed back his ch

oking Ovide. "What made you tell us you knew how to cook?" I asked, trying hard to speak witho

ttle boy and sit in de kitchen and see my mudder bake de bread, and boil de puddin', and rost de meat, I'm say to myself, many time, 'Ovide, you can do little easy ting like dat, just so well as she can.' I'm ax my mudder, too, many time to let me try and mak de dinner, bu

had indulged in when a boy-and, I must admit, a pretty big one, too-when I had sat and watched my mother cook. From the way Fieldin

y dat he want cook, and say dat he will give a souvenir, and when I'm see, too, dat engine-driver man Robbin, dare, dat I'm not lak at all, and who I tink not know how for cook and yet going for get d

ze out dat turkey before I'm put her in de oven, and tink too not to put nearly cupful bakin' powder in de puddin', everyting she's be all right den

s' skill, we sat down to fried turkey, b

n of the banquet in the baggage-car, for no amount o

later we reac

dismissal. I shall not attempt to describe his gratification when he found it contained a handsome silver watch, on the inside of which was neatly engraved a belligerent-looking turkey. The

est

Secu

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BANKS, INSURA

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AND S

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Mont

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R IN H

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.... The stories, eleven in all, deal with love and life and religion in many aspects, and as character studies of the simple Canadian peasantry, French and English, can comp

individuality and charm to the personages of his stories, without involving any sacrifice to truth. One thing characterizes every story in the volume, viz., strong dramatic sentiment and situation, and a decided deftness and a natu

k. Many of the stories touch very high dramatic art-Canada

turesque manner, and we hope that on a future occasion Mr. Smith will use the material, that he evidently has on hand,

by the reading public. His stories have that polished finish which is so diffic

ft of a novelist, imagination. Mr. Smith's new book is made up of a dozen short stories, several of w

-telling, but of conscientious elaboration of the various plots. All the stories

ead, and which is sure to go d

ies Mr. Smith is truly del

ceedingly clever. The stories are peculiarly charming and the

are very amusing, some pathetic and some thrilling. The scene of each is in

adventures in the newer Canada of the North-West. The stories have all the same sympathetic quality, the same rapid moveme

WILLIAM

COATES. Halifax