The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1909-09-02


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 skiff 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 a mellow tenor
voice that was singing with the most
enthusiastic. passionate earnestuess
IN" sweet song of The Maple Leaf"
The chorus ran:
1.-THE maple leaf, our emblem dear,
The maple leaf forever.
God save our King and heaven bless
ne 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
low laugh of sheer fun: ''I'll show
whoever it is that there is a Yankee
on this little sea"
She had scarcely finished speaking
when a pretty canoe glided around
the bend of the Lac d'Amour. It's oc-
cupant, none other than the tenor
singer, regarded his enemy with a
half amused. half piqued look OF
surprise. He was handsome. His
face was dark and vivscious: his
smile, showing strong white teeth,
was dazzling. There was a careless
grace and freedom about his move
ments. The wind had ruffled his soft
black hair until it half tumbled into
his sparkling brown eyes.
Helen looked at the tenor half con-
expected to be discovered in her re-
treat-and by such a well-meaning
young gentleman.
Pardon. miss, if I have disturbed
you and your song" the young man
commenced.
You 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 un-
known reason she burst into a hearty,
mIrthful laugh.
You are an excellent singer, miss.
Excuse my frankness, IL 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. 1
know so by your song which sounded
a good deal like a challenge" the
other said, as he calmly and with
open admiration studied Helen's
proud head, crowned with braided
coils of gold-tinted brown hair. her
pink cheeks and slender, straight
form.
Yes, am Yankee-Miss Helen
MacNole, of Boston, Mass" Helen
replied.
And / am Lester LEARN, a French
Canadian Frenchman," the young
boatman retorted, with equal dignity.
Then both the boaters laughed mer-
rily, it was all so amusing.
1t does not take long for two
young, happy-spirited persons to get
acquainted; when Helen's boat grated
the shore beside of LEARN the two
had become quite intimate. Helen.
for her part, felt in a childish mood
OF enjoying the adventure. AS for
LEARN, he was very much in earnest;
he 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 an
Englishman by birth and claimed his
French descent on his mothers side.
After the death of LEARNS mother
MI 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, driving and
walking when he was home from
work. Finally. a message came to
the effect that Helen must come
home, as party OF wealthy New
Workers were coming to pass the win
ter season at the MacNole mansion.
At twilight, when the sky was gau-
oily -coiored by sunset, and the Lac
glamour was a sheet of pink crystal,
Helen walked slowly, for the last
time, down to the shore with Lejarn.
II don't believe care to go out on
the lake tonight" Helen said, her