Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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THE BEANKSOME SLOGAX. 13 Within the grocery store the proprietor was busy planing off the counter as the easiest way of ridding it of various stains. I wish the preacher wouldn ' t hold service here so often ' he grumbled. I ' ve got to have it clean, I suppose, hut there soon won ' t be anything left of it. His words were unheeded. The men around the stove were too much engrossed in a topic of their own, an amusing topic to judge by the outbursts of laughter at frequent intervals. They were a sun- burned, cheerful group, most of them young and all evidently accus- tomed to an out-door life. Seated on a box near the stove was a young English rancher, Harry Lloyd, who was noted as one of the best riders and polo players in the country. ISTot far from him lounged Simons, Lloyd ' s rival in knowledge of and love for horses. There were several other Englishmen land one or two Americans, but all, like the native Oanadians, filled with the true Western spirit of swift action. The subject under discussion, which excited so much interest, was a wedding that had taken place unexpectedly that morning. But Layton proposed to Miss Moore the week after she came here, protested one of the men, but just returned from a hunting expedition, and she accepted him then. What ' s all the fuss about ? Why, don ' t you know ? cried another. She changed her mind a day or two after, absolutely and finally, so she said. She also announced a week ago that she was going home by to-day ' s stage. Poor Layton was almost desperate, observed the owner of the shop, with a laugh. Then last night she up and told him she had discovered that she liked him well enough to marry him after all. You tell us the rest again, Lloyd. Lloyd chuckled as he took up the tale. I stayed in town last night, said he, and Layton pulled me out of bed at midnight. He begged me by all I held dear to ride like wildfire over to Elmwood — that ' s forty miles — to bring the minister to marry them before the stage left, and then she would have no chance to change her mind again. You see, he didn ' t dare leave town himself. Well, I did it — woke all Elmwood up at six in the morning to find the reverend gentleman, and had him back here by noon. They were married then and there, and moved at once into Hutching ' s old harness-shop across the road, where they held their wedding reception. My word ! T haven ' t got all the dust off me yet. There was a general chorus of laughter as the men recalled the incidents of the reception — the cobwebs which streaked the back of anyone forgetful enough to lean against the wall ; the old horse-collar which had fallen from its peg on to the shoulders of the disgusted

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12 THE BRAm SOME SLOGAN. morning draws near they awaken to see the stone which closes Chrisf s tomb slowly moving from its place. Awe-stricken, they approach the tomb, which they find empty ; and realizing this to be the fulfilment of Christ ' s own words, they hasten to tell the Pharisees of what they liave seen. They have been gone but a moment when Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of John come with spices to anoint the body of their Lord. But lo, they are too late, and turning away with heavy hearts they are confronted by an angel who tells them that Christ has risen. Then another voice is heard behind them, and turning, they behold the Saviour clothed in white garments speak- ing words of love and peace as He ascends into the presence of the Father. TJiere were many tear-stained yet happy faces throughout the theatre as the thousands of people silently withdrew, each one con- scious of his own peculiar impression. ' NONE BUT THE BRAVE DESERVE THE FAIR BY H. C. B. Some years ago, in a little Western town, a group of men gathered as evening fell in the sm ' all grocery store which found itself a not too successful rival of the Hudson Bay Company warehouse. Indeed, had the proprietor limited himself to the grocery business, as practised in the slower going East, he would have been obliged to give up long before. But such terms in that country were elaistic, and the sign in the centre of the window, Buy your Tea, Flour and Sugar Here — All, Three Pounds for a Dollar — Bring your own Wrapping Paper, ' ' was flianked on either side by piles of tooth-brushes, spectacles, mouth- organs and equally dissimilar articles. To tell the truth, it was necessary to fill the window with a display of this kind, for the supply of. flour, tobacco and other staples was running dangerously low, and the supply boiat could not possibly be in for another week. Across the street a lamp placed behind ia transparent sign illumin- ated the words, The Grand Emporium, and in the lighted window beneath, various specimens of what are technically known as boiled shirts were placed in a row, the central one adorned with a dazzling tie of purple and orange satin, the pride and admiration of the whole town.

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14 THE BEANKSOME SLOGAN. Simons, and the calm imperturbability through it all of the bride and groom, absolutely happy lat last. It ' s all very well for you to laugh ' grumbled Simons, good- naturedly, but I know who knocked that horse-collar over my head. I ' ll get even with you some day, Lloyd. You ' re mistaken as to the guilty one, my friend, replied the other calmly, but I ' ll be ready for you any time. Then, with a sigh, That Layton ' s a pretty lucky fellow. The sigh was re-echoed throughout tlie room. It was a womanless country, and a man with a wife was correspondingly to be envied. But let me tell you some news I heard to-day, cried a msm sud- denly. You know that Carruthers, the Hudson Bay factor, is expected back from Ottawa by the first boat with his family. I heard just this morning that he is bringing a governess for his children. At once he was bombarded with questions by the excited group. These he parried as best he oould, knowing nothing more than what he had told them, until, suddenly recognizing his opportunity, he began to pour forth descriptions of her appearance, her character, her fallen fortunes, so rich and varied as firsit to amaze his audience and then to fill them with righteous indignation. While they earn- estly sought to instruct him in the value lof truth, the man whose sigh had indirectly started all the commotion .stood apart in silence and pondered deeply. Finally he raised his head, his decision made — If it ' s possible for man to do, he said to himself, I ' ll make Mrs. Carruthers ' governess my wife. At that moment his eyes met those of Simons, in whose face he read a resolution similar to his own. Both men reddened slightly, but their embarrassment was not noticed in the excitement still prevailing. What cared they if poor Mrs. Carruthers brought a governess all the way from Ottawa, only to lose lier immerliately ? Or to which of them did it occur that the lady of his choice might desire to remain in her present position? The triumphant spirit of the West was theirs and their only difficulty was which of them should first reach her heart. It had not taken Harry Lloyd long after reaching this, new coun- try to acquire the quickness of thought and action so necessary in such places to those who would fit themselves to survive. His suc- cessful ride of the night before over a barely marked trail had proved once again his fearlessness. Now that his place was well established among his fellows, and now that his ranch was begin- ning to yield a profit, he longed for somebody to share it with him — for the sight of a woman ' s face. ' My only hope lies in acting at once, was the thought uppermost in his mind, and he rode out of