Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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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

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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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THE BEANKSOME SLOGAX. 15 the town towards his ranch, deep in consideration of ways and means. Before he reached home he had formed his plan of cam- paign, and, after a few hours ' sleep, set at once about putting it into execution. Meanwhile Simons also had made h is plans. When the town awakened on the following morning, he hastened his steps towards the grand emporium. ' ' There he paused a moment to feast his eyes upon the gorgeous lavender and yellow creation in the window. He entered the shop and purchased it. His satisfaction was intense. What ladvantage could Harry possibly gain over him now ? , ,eally, Harry was absurdly slow. He decided to spend the eveni ? practising on the cornet, with which he intended to sereiiad Her. He wo ld play such polo and per- form such feats gi ndino wlien she was%mong the audience as had never been seen in the country before. In short, he felt that he defied her to M ithstand his charms and he passed the days pending the arrival of the steamer in a state of confident anticipation. . Nearly two weeks passed before the river was clear. Then, sud- denly, one morning the great bell in the Fort clanged loudly. The boat! the boat ' s coming ! echoed across the little town; and man, woman land child ropped their work land ran to the dock to hail the arrival of th6 steamer of tlie year. . Simons was prepared. The boat was still a quarter of a j lC; distant when he reached the dock, panting in his haste, but clad ' in his best suit of clothes, the famous necktie which was carefully tied about his throat visible many, many yards away. He struck a graceful attitude as the steamer drew near and scanned anxiousl} the faces clustered ■ about the bow. He recognized Mrs. Carruthers and lier children, but elsewhere he saw only men, men, men. The gangplank was barely lowered before he had darted up on to the deck. He had set his heart upon being the one to help her ashore. Suddenly he gave a great sigh of relief, and then stopped short. Walking slowly along the deck from the stern of the boat caine a man and a woman. The woman was no longer in her first youth — her face showed signs of trouble and care, but these served rather to accentu- ate her sweet and gentle expression. The man was Harry Lloyd I Hello, Simons! he hailed, catching sight of him; ' come here a minute. Miss Moore would like to meet you. I took supplies, rode up to Mil wood and have been on board here for nearly a week ! Mrs. Carruthers bewailed her unlucky star, but submitted grace- fully. A month later, in her house. Miss Moore married Henry