Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1909-09-03

The Maple Leaf.
BY Miss Eva Gormley.

s0sOsNsNss%Se~e~e~c
Tall. dark. tangled pines an6
spruces completely surrounded the
beautiful Lac glamour; the blue sun
ny June morning sky smiled at its
reflection 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 skin 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 deaI
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 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 heaven bless
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
a 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 glamour. 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
/ face was dark and vivacious: his
smile. showing strong white teeth
was dazzling. There was a careless
grace and freedom about his move
ments. The wind had RULED his sof
black hair until IL half tumbled int
his sparkling brown eyes.
Helen looked atrthe tenor half con
fused, half afraid, for she had moi
expected to be discovered in her re-
treat-and by such a well~meaning
young gentleman.
Pardon, miss. If 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 I'M
known reason she burst into 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
Z canoe
"All Yankees are good singers. IS
Helen responded concisely, trying to
look utterly sincere.
so you're Yankee? Yes, |
/ 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, 1 am a Yankee-Miss Helen
MacNole, of Boston, Mass" Helen
replied.
And l am Lester LEARN, a French
Canadian Frenehman," the young
boatman retorted, with equal dignity
Then both the boaters laughed mer-
rily, 1t 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
Lejarn. 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 Sophia
that Lester Lejarn was the son of an
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 Lejarn had worked in a Mon
treal business house and supported
his father
Helen firmly put aside the fact thai
she was the only daughter of the
widowed, prosperous banker, Arthur
MaeNole. and allowed the French
tenor to take her boating, driving ane
walking when he was home from
work. Finally. a message came tC
the effect that Helen must CONT
home, as q party Of wealthy New
Workers were coming to pass the win
ter season at The MaeNole mansion
At twilight. when the sky was gau
uiiy eolored by sunset. aud the La
uAmour was sheet Of pink crystal
neien walked slowly for the las
b ume' down to the shore with Lejarn.
l don't believe care TO go out OF
the lake tonight Helen said, he
'oice rather low and tremulpds.
you are sorry to leave this place
mat : its' Le1arn asked kindly. Helel
Wny?s he continued. II eanno