A Gentleman Adventurer.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 51, 29 March 1926, Page 2

A Gentleman Adventurer.

But" Adelaide was not to bo diverted from such a pleasant topic. "Oh, no, an' she will not lik 9 do school hero either. She want to com© down to Red River to he near Apprentice Clerk Stuart, because dey were los' tbgedder on Hudson's Bay, De Iloss girl snyi he dance, an' dance wit' her at do New Year ball. An' he likely marry her if my Uncle Cameron not send her back to marry Chief Trader Robinson." "Flora, dear," said Mrs Murray in her soft complaining voice, "that is the second time j'ou have shivered. Please tell Frances to run upstairs for your shawl." The girl patted the thin wrinkled hand in hor aunt's lap. "No, no. thank you, dear. It was. Adelaide made mo shiver with her talk of arranged marriages . If any one tried to arrange a marriage for me!' 1 She sat up very straight and her blu« eves sparkled. The half-breed girl gazed at her in wonder and admiration mingled with fear. Flora's independence was something she could not understand. It was much better to hayo one's marriage arranged for one she felt. "Anna Ross say dat my Uncle Cameron will make Apprentice Clerk Stuart a Chief Trader and' den lie can marry Marie Rose," she said comfortably.

Flora jumped from her chair. . "Hush, hush. Adelaide I I cannot %ir to hear you talk so about marrying. It isn't right." - Adelaide laughed softly and her [ aiv»t looked up at Flora i u surprise at j her vehemence. The girl sat down to her sewing, her cheeks aflame, as though she were aishamed of her sudden outburst. The door opened and the master of the house entered. Tho two girlis rose, and Adelaide, with lowered eyes, dropped her grandfather a pretty cu'rtsy. Sho was very much afraid of him and from the moment of his entrance her tongue wais dumb. The Chief Factor was not in a ven genial mood, though he wag always polite in the presence of the ladies. The winter packet had come down from Norway House, along the bleak length of Lake Winnipeg hy dog sled, and it had brought what he considered a very weak and foolish letter from his friend. Chief Factor Cameron. He wanted *o know something about young Apprentice Clerk Stuart of Fort. Garry who had come out last year from the Old Country. It appeared'that this young-man had saved his daughter's life when they

wer© nearly carried away by the ice h the Bay, and it also aw>eared that h had something to do with Marie Rose' refusal to j-emain in York Factory t< be married on her return home. Cam eron would like to know something o tho young man and his prospects, ari< asked if Murray would take the trou bio to meet him and also to enquire about him from Mae Neill. . Retired Chief Factor Murray grunted These were evil times, surely. when young women set themselves uj to say when tA»A» wo,uld />r won!M nV»f marry . He would soom have settled Wario Rose's case had she been his daughter. When Chief Trader Simpson writedown from Edinburgh House on the far reacts of the Saskatchewan asking for a wife, he had merely announced to his daughter Margaret that <&* should uc« with the Saskatchewan Brigade in the! spring, and Margaret hiv -1 zone and no more about it. And <<o !> ' s i he settled all his daughter's mat-

I fimoniai affairs, and so should ho settle Flora's when* Be had made up liis mind tint he had found a match for her. Ho had no patience with Cameron's weakness. "Well, youne: ladies," he »aid, taking the arm chair which was placed near the fire for him. "Whati do yon I say to a dinner party? Wo haven't had one for a long time. Do you tbink your school mistress would let you out ' lone: enough from vour lessons to .attend one, Adelaide?" he asked, giving the girl's ear a little playful pull.' Adelaide smiled and said, in. a whisper, that she hoped so, • and Flora clapped her hands joyfully. "How

lovely! Adelaide and.l.were.just long ing for a party. But please let it b< ! somebody young. Don't have everybody over eighty, Uncle Malcolm." Adelaide drew a. great; breath, T < was always a source of wonder and awe among the young relatives of the st<?rn old man, that Flora said and uid what she .pleased in his presence. Rot'uncle looked at hor, struggling in vain to mak© his glance stern. "You are a very impertinent young person. Have I been in the habit of inviting octogenarians to my parties', indued?"

Flora laughed and gave the Red River shrug. "Well, this time I promise you some children like yourselves. What do you say. to Friday, my dear?" lie asked, turning to bis wife, hut ! not waiting for her to k' vcj her opinion. "We shall have Sanderson and his wife from tlw? Upper Fort and Dr. Gordon, and those two young men who come down to church so regularly. I think .they ought to he «n----couraged. Ono of them is named Stuart, and the other one, I think, is Sinclair." Adelaide's lowered litis fluttered. She raised them, and her hig black eyes flashed a mesrsage to Flora, bwb Flora's .eyes were on her work and the rose colour in her cheek deepened to crimson.

The Chief Factor drank his tea and sat staring Into the fire with lowered hrows. He was hospitable , and hked asking his friends to dine I hut he did not enjoy being a party to another man's weakness. "Young ladies are altogether teo prone to set their wills up against

OUR SERIAL STORY

BY MARION KEITH

'their elders in these driys," be declared/ speaking his thoughts without reference to tho conversation. "When your mother vra s ;x girl, Adelaide, young women dy ,-i.s thsir fathers told them." Ro,or Adelaide was overcome with fright. She was not eonscibus of having disobeyed any oile; hut felt she must be guilty

of some crime. Flora, the daring, pa me l« her assistance. "They do yefc, i» alt but one thing," she said, remembering poor Marie Rose and her troubles. "And what is that, may I ask?" "Flora, dear," whispered her aunt. The gffl always kept her in a state of terror by her reckless challenging of the old man, "but Flora laughed an ( ] looked him straight in the eye. "In the choice of a husband, of course.'' "In the choice of a husband, indeed-" he cried, striking the arm of his chair with his heavy fist. "And that is just where a girl is wrong. If any young woman under my care" —ho looked at her meaningly—"dared to set herself tfp agakistl my opinion., do you know what I would do?" Poor Mrs Murray tried to signal to the reckless girl but she paid no attention. "I think I could guess what you'd try to do," she eaid. "But do you know what I would do"

She set her cup down on the table and 1 sprang to her feet, laughing and unafraid. "Just .Buppose, Unci© Malcolm, you should some striding in some day when Aunt and f 'are at cea, striding to as fathers do in this country, and say"—she lowered .her voice to a deep growl, imitating the Chief Factor's manner t 0 perfection—"Hah, there, Flora! Here's Chief Trader Hamish MacSporin at the door with a travoisl He is starting for Mackenzie River at once. Get on your bonnet and marry him immediately-" Now, wßa? do you suppose. I'd" say?"

He sat up straight. and glared at lier for a moment; but, as always, he gave way. His face relaxed and heljarely escaped a smile. He threw himself back in his chair.

It Avould be something confoundly impudent, I'-Jl wager, you hussy!" he growled. "Now, go and play and. sing us scomething, and see if you can behave properly.'' The girl langhbd alow I, and danced over to the piano. Adelaide stared in amazement, ( and Mrs Murray heaved a sigh of relief. Once more the danger was past. Rut she knew thaFsoinp. c*ay "these two would suro- . ly disagree, and then the house of Murray would come lo destruction. But meanwhile her husbawd wa? laughing to himself, and Flora, her voice thrilling and triumphant, was singing:

"0, Brignal banks are wild and fair , And Greta woods are green • I'd milter rovo with Edmund there Than reign our English •.'lroeit!''

"Well, this is quite beyond my comprehension, me whatever,'' exclaimed Dr. Gordon when he delivered the invitation to the two amazed' and grateful apprentice jerks. "I. don't pretend to understand it. Promiscuous young men are never invited to the house of Murray now that Miss Flora has grown up." . Whatever the onii** the two young men were humbly grateful • for their invitation and one of them wa s rapturous. Poor little Marie- Pose's sad face, a s lib had seen it last under the spruce boughs in the flickering light of the candle, and her [ 0 si[i cold journey back to Fort Verandry© were completely forgotten, and Charles went about his work whistling "Brignjil Banks." '

When they came downstairs dressed for the dinner party in fringed shirts, embroidered sashes and beaded moccasins, they * made a very brave showing indeed, and the old Doctor sighed for his lost youth ais ho surveyed Charlo s Stuart's six feet of splendid youitj manhood, from the waves of his' sliming hair to the embroidered toe of his new moccasin. Ferguson arose, his hand on bis heart and made an elaborate bow, while Johnny. Meßain walked around Charles in exaggerated admiration, singing ; :,'.,:

"A a lio cam' marc-kin' up the street, The pipes played loud an'.clear, An' all the folk dnmo rinuing' out To meet, the Chevalier. Oh, Charlie is my darling, the young Chevalier !»• "I don't understand how yon fell into such luck.'' grumbled Ferguson. "I know Miss Carmichael will be disappointed when she gees'it's yon instead of me. The old fellow's made a mistake, or else Doctor's lied about it." "Put in a good word for your lnunj ble friend." cried Johnny. "Every- I I body knows that old Murray makes | most of the promotions in tile Sar- ! ! vice. Tell him there are two bril- ' liant young men np here wasting I their ponderous talents in the paltry pastime of apprentice clerks. and | threaten him with our resignation if we don't get our commission next June.'' !

(To be continued)