The broad ax., 1896-08-01

.srt Of August
tna Quebec, one Of those mag
O tsont naIaces that make the passage
nin ~ ST. Lawrence between the two
o. - cities of lower Canada I had
hebipd me many memories and
I a. With feelings somewhat
..o-sssed. for was alone in the midst
. crowd. l placed myself where at
o. r1snce | could enjoy the wonder
gu ~. lows presented by the most beau,
" ~, river in tie world. The passen.
rare numerous, and some seemed
~ they might be agreeable COM
.,,ons. But plunged as 1 was In
-.,ias Of the past, no one especially
..-.cted nv attention until q few
Ds from me 1 noticed q traveller
leaning on the rail, was gazing
WIZ s,r at some distant object on the
Eeu naar the Grand Trunk station
sy point Lewis. His attention seemed
u ,lOraa GO as it receded from his view.
~ snsIIv drew his feld-glass from
~ ~ nocket and held it q long time
I.Dsd in that direction. When 1t was
W. IOngar possible to distinguish any
.s;nS he looked vaguely around, gave
iEb rpplaced his glass and furdyely
s.nshed his eyes, as If to wipe away
,osr This man was well dressed
"a had a preOccupied air, but except
- O nnusuaI pallor there was nothing
his appearance to attract attention.
Rnt | was mistaken. He had one
,amIisrty. Although not over 30
Fssrs of age, behind his right ear,
IN hidden by his broad trimmed hat,
sew uft Of snow-white hair. i
rsteh4d him with that indifference
rSirb the lonely traveller feels toward
tDdividuals Of a crowd. Had been
.lons with him no doubt he would
S.T. interested me. The evening was
~, Sounds from the piano soon
srsE most of the company to the
aJOOn. The lively measures OF q
GusdriIle. or the flowing rhythm OF a
T.lt1 mingled in my ears with soft,
nsseless heating of the great wheels
A the Quebec, plunging through the
vtres Time passed UNDECIDED. Just
a the hour Of IL sounded the gay
vice of Capt. Labelle brought me
hck to the present
Thave been looking for you. Come,
h US go down.
What TO do?"
To eat. Of course"
Convinced by so agreeable an oftef,
| decended with him to the dining
nom. Supper is not regular, Official
affair on board the Quebec 1t Is q
graceful attention paid to a few priv
ilsged men, among whom with a cer-
tain satisfaction l recognized 10Y
stranger with the tuft Of white hssr.
after the customary 'ntroduetions VIC
we're soon doing justice to the savory
Tiands and good wines Of our merry
host and the conversation became gen
eral.
you are a stranger, sifT I said,
addressing my neighbor with the tuft
Of white hair.
Yes and no" he replied. THAT is
to say, was born in Canada, but LETT
here nearly twenty years ago and now
live In louisiana"
You must have left this country In
early youth, for one would scarcely
credit you with more than thirty
IaH."
4 am not very old, 1t is true" he
answered; then, turning his head TO
allow me to see the popularity to
which | have alluded, added: "Stfn
you see, have already white hairs"
"0ne single white lock-" exclaimed
the captain. How oddr'
Every one leaned forward to look
att and the traveller, without waiting
for the question trembling on my lips,
smiled sadly and said:
-0h, 1t is not a sign Of old age
Those came some years ago when /
vas still very young. A strange ad-
venture that's an"
a story, Tell it to u.s." came In
60rus
With pleasure If it interests you,"
vas the reply.
Let US go on deck" said the cap
nin, and with that urbanity which
distinguished him he passed us q box
Of excellent Havanas, saying: Help
yourselves to cigars, gentlemen"
rive minutes later we were sitting
IN the beautiful moonlight, listening
70 u?f travelling companion, who bury
ing dis hands up to his elbows In the
pockets Of his gray overcoat and ele-
ttng bis feet, Yankee fashion, began
bis story:
was born at Point Lewis. On that
tpot In the village where now stand
ue immense docks Of the st. Law
renee stood little white cottage with
green blinds, half hidden under great
T q, Ike a nest under green leaves.
IIe pdternal mansion, the house
w., Hnefe one first sees the light, as novel
.sS say, always makes an indelible
IMPRESSION on the memory Of q child.
inough much changed, could not
see again without great emotion those
Paces where l passed nay childish
!s unul the great blow which I am
sToGt TO describe came to change the
nuOle course Of my life. One fine
OIIihg In the year 1850 nv parents
c !, 10 the fact that l was 10 years
O Ou ana should prepare for my first
communion St Joseph's church YVES
T distance from the village Of
o uenS and this preparation would re-
Soue st least a months absence from
mo.S: ms was not pleasing to my
1Sn l, out l possessed the spirit Of
sor0a ture and the idea Of passing