The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-12-07
The Maple Leaf.
BY Miss Eva Gormley.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

A' val n, tangled pines and
spruces completely surrounded the
beautifubLac d'Amour; the blue sun
I ny. JuneS morning sky smiled at it's
rejection in the lakes clear mirror.
Wild tuneful notes of hidden birds
mingled with the perfumed whis-
pered messages of the breezes and
the musical dip, dip OF oars.
Helen MacNole rested a few mo-
ments, allowing the light skifr to drift
Idly towards the lily beds. while she
eagerly and with extreme pleasure
drank in all the uncultivated. print
tive Canadian beauty of forest, lake
and sky. Two whole months at Aunt
Sophia's cottage meant a great deal
to this Boston girl, for she had never
before been in the fair province. and
every scene was new and attractive
to her.
Helen had half lost herself in a de-
lightful reverie when the sound of
splashing paddles aroused her. which
was accompanied by. mellow tenor
voice that was singing with the most
enthusiastic, passionate earnestness
the sweet song of THE Maple Leaf"
The chorus ran:
THE maple leaf, our emblem.dear.
The maple leaf forever.
God save our King and lieayensbIess
The maple leaf forever
The rare voice that sang those
words quite charmed Helen, yet she
laughed softly, and a mischievous
light came into her irresistible blue
eyes as she threw back her head and
sang in her. pure soprano voice "The
Star Spangled Banner" After she
had concluded she said to herself with
9 low laugh of sheer fun: on show
whoever it is that there is a Yankee
on this little sea-"
She had scarcely finished speakjne
when a pretty canoe glided around
the bend of the Lac d'Amour. Its oc-
cupant, none other than the tenor
singer, regarded his enemy with a
half amused, half piqued look Of
surprise. He was handsome. His
race was dark and vlvacious: his
smile, showing strong white teeth.
was dazzling. There was a careless
grace and freedom about his move
hents. The wind had rufled his soft
black hair until it half tumbled into
his sparkling brown eyes.
Helen looked at the tenor half con-
fused, half afraid. for she. had NOT
expected to-b discovered in her re-
Teat-and by such a well-meaning
Toung gentleman.
PARDON, miss, If / have disturbed
you and your song" the young man
commenced.
SYou have not disturbed me at all.
sir-see; my boat has never moved
an inch" Helen replied, with an at
tempt to look grave, but for some nm
known reason she burst into a hearty.
mirthful laugh.
You are an excellent singer. miss.
Excuse my frankness, it is my mis-
fortune, not my fault" the tenor said
leisurely laying the paddle across the
canoe.
"All Yankees are good singers"
Helen responded concisely, trying to
look utterly sincere.
SO you're a Yankee? Yes. I
know so by your song which sounded
q good deal like a challenge" the
other said, as he calmly and with
open admiration studied Hclen's
proud head. crowned with braided
coils Of gold-tinted brown hair. her
pink. cheeks and slender, straight
form.
. Yes, I am n YaRkee-Miss Helen
MacNole, of Boston, Mass" Helen
replied.
And I am Lester LEARN. a French
Canadian Frenchman," the younr
boatman retorted, with equal dignity.
Then both the boaters laughed mer-
TiV, it was all so amusing.
1t does not take long for two
young, happy-spirited persons to get
acquainted; when Helens boat grated
the shore beside Of LEARN the two
had become quite intimate. Helen.
for her part, felt I'm a childish mood
or enjoying the adventure. AS for
LEARN, he was very much I'm earnest.
ne decided that he would see more of
this charming Yankee. this Helen
MacNole, Of Boston, Mass.
Helen found out from Aunt Sopbia
that Lester LEARN was the son of am
Englishman by birth and claimed his
French descent on his mothers side
After the death of LEARNS mother
Mr.. LEARN had come to- Canada.
bringing Lester, the only child. When
Lester was but fourteen his. father be-
came blind, and since that time the
young LEARN had worked in a Mon
treal business house and supported
his father
Helen firmly put aside the fact that
she was The only daughter OF the
widowed. prosperous banker, Arthur
MacNole, and allowed the French
tenor to take her boating drlvfpg aud