Lure of the North

Harold Bindloss

Description

Although many of his relatives back home in England don't understand his lifestyle, emigrant Jim Thirlwell has survived and even thrived in the primitive wilds of Canada. But when it comes to finding a wife and settling down, he's torn between the practical choice and his heart's true desire.

Sujets

• Adventure (Guyana)
• Adventure

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776596270
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE LURE OF THE NORTH
OR, AGATHA'S FORTUNE
* * *
HAROLD BINDLOSS
 
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The Lure of the North Or, Agatha's Fortune First published in 1918 Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-627-0 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-628-7 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I - Thirlwell Makes His Choice Chapter II - Strange's Story Chapter III - Agatha Makes a Promise Chapter IV - Strange's Partner Chapter V - A Night's Watch Chapter VI - Father Lucien's Adventure Chapter VII - Agatha's Resolve Chapter VIII - The Burglar Chapter IX - Agatha Asks Advice Chapter X - Thirlwell Gets a Letter Chapter XI - Stormont Finds a Clue Chapter XII - On the Trail Chapter XIII - The Prospectors' Return Chapter XIV - Stormont Disowns a Debt Chapter XV - The Grand Rapid Chapter XVI - The Pit-Prop Chapter XVII - Drummond Offers Help Chapter XVIII - The Hand in the Water Chapter XIX - A Lost Opportunity Chapter XX - The Plunge Chapter XXI - The Wilderness Chapter XXII - Before the Wind Chapter XXIII - Strange's Legacy Chapter XXIV - Agatha Resumes Her Journey Chapter XXV - The Broken Range Chapter XXVI - The Lode Chapter XXVII - Thirlwell's Dullness Chapter XXVIII - Stormont Tries a Bribe Chapter XXIX - George Reproaches Himself Chapter XXX - A Change of Luck Chapter XXXI - Thirlwell's Reward
Chapter I - Thirlwell Makes His Choice
*
Dinner was nearly over at the big red hotel that stands high above thecity of Quebec, and Thirlwell, sitting at one of the tables,abstractedly glanced about. The spacious room was filled with skilfullytempered light that glimmered on colored glasses and sparkled on silver;pillars and cornices were decorated with artistic taste. A murmur ofcareless talk rose from the groups of fashionably dressed women andprosperous men, and he heard a girl's soft laugh.
All this struck a note of refined luxury that was strange to Thirlwell,who had spent some years in the wilds, where the small, frost-bittenpines roll across the rocks and muskegs of North Ontario. One lived hardup there, enduring arctic cold, and the heat of the short summer, whenbloodthirsty mosquitoes swarm; and ran daunting risks on the lonelyprospecting trail. Now it looked as if chance had offered him an easierlot; he could apparently choose between the privations of the wildernessand civilized comfort, but while he grappled with a certain longing heknew this was not so. He had adopted the pioneers' Spartan code; onemust stand by one's bargain, and do the thing one had undertaken.
For a few moments he was silent, lost in rather gloomy thought, with afrown on his brown face, and Mrs. Allott, his English relative, studiedhim across the table. On the whole, Jim Thirlwell had improved inCanada, and she thought he would be welcomed if he returned to England.She had been his mother's friend, and during the week or two they hadnow spent together, had decided that if he proved amenable she wouldhelp him to make a career. Indeed, it was largely on Thirlwell's accountshe had accompanied her husband on his American tour.
Jim had certain advantages. He was not clever, but his remarks weresometimes smarter than he knew. Then he had a quiet voice and mannerthat impressed one, even when one differed from him, as one often did.He was not handsome, and his face was rather thin, but his features werewell-defined, and she liked his firm mouth and steady look. His figurewas good and marked by a touch of athletic grace. Then she was, on thewhole, satisfied with the way he chose and wore his clothes. His motherhad held a leading place in the exclusive society of a quiet cathedraltown, until her husband lost his small fortune. Mrs. Allott understoodthat something might have been saved had Tom Thirlwell been lessscrupulous; but Tom had unconventional views about money, and Jim waslike his father in many ways. Mrs. Allott, having done her best toenlighten him, hoped he would now see where his advantage lay.
"You are not very talkative, Jim," she said.
Thirlwell looked up with an apologetic smile, but his eyes rested onthe girl by Mrs. Allott's side. Evelyn Grant was young and attractive,but there was something tame about her beauty that harmonized with hercharacter. Thirlwell had not always recognized this; indeed, when theywere younger, he had indulged a romantic tenderness for the girl. This,however, was long since, and the renewal of their friendship in Canadaleft him cold. Evelyn was gracious, and he sometimes thought she had notforgotten his youthful admiration, but she did not feel things much, andhe suspected that she had acquiesced in Mrs. Allott's rather obviousplot because she was too indolent to object. For all that, he imaginedthat if he took a bold line she would not repulse him, and by comparisonwith his poverty Evelyn was rich. Then he banished the thought with anunconscious frown.
"Oh, well, I suppose it's our last evening together, and one feelsmelancholy about that," he said.
"But I thought you were coming to New York with us," Mrs. Allottobjected.
Evelyn was talking animatedly to a young American, but looked round withlanguid carelessness.
"Are you really not coming, Jim?" she asked.
Then, without waiting for Thirlwell's answer, she resumed her talk, andMrs. Allott wondered whether the girl had not overdone her part. Afterall, she must have known why she had been brought.
"I think not," said Thirlwell. "Very sorry, of course, but there's onlya week of my holiday left and I have some business in South Ontario.Then I must go back to the bush."
"That's ridiculous, Jim," Mrs. Allott rejoined. "You know you needn'tgo back to the bush at all. Besides, we hoped you had decided to come toEngland." She paused and touched Evelyn. "Do you hear what he says?Can't you persuade him to be sensible?"
Evelyn turned and looked at Thirlwell with a careless smile. She wasvery composed, but Mrs. Allott thought she noted a trace of heightenedcolor.
"Oh, no; it would be useless for me to try. Nobody could persuade Jim todo what he does not want."
"Aren't you taking something for granted?" asked Allott, who sat withthe others, but had been silent. "Jim hasn't admitted that he doesn'twant to come."
The girl gave Thirlwell a tranquil glance in which there was a hint ofmockery.
"He has only a week left, and I imagine knows better than we do whatwill please him best," she replied, and turned to her companion.
"What have you to say to that?" Allott asked Thirlwell, with a twinkle.
"It looks as if Evelyn knew my character—I suppose I am obstinate. ButI don't think she has stated the case correctly. It isn't that I don'twant to come. Unfortunately, I can't."
The other guests were leaving the tables and Mrs. Allott, getting up,gave her husband a meaning glance.
"Then I must let Stephen talk to you. You may listen to his arguments; Ihave exhausted mine."
"You could not expect me to succeed where you have failed," Allottremarked, and touched Thirlwell as Mrs. Allott and Evelyn went away."Shall we go upstairs for a smoke?"
A lift took them up, and Allott lighted a cigarette when they entered anunoccupied room. The evening was hot, and Thirlwell sat on the ledge ofthe open window and looked out upon the river across the climbing town.Church spires, the steep roofs of old houses, and the flat tops ofmodern blocks, rose in the moonlight through a thin gray haze of smoke.Lower down, a track of glittering silver ran across to the shadowy Levisridge, along the crest of which were scattered twinkling lights.Presently Allott, who was well preserved and rather fat, turned toThirlwell.
"I hope you won't be rash, Jim, and throw away the best chance you mayever get."
"You mean Sir James's offer of the post with the big engineering firm?"
"I mean that and other things," said Allott dryly. "Perhaps I havespoken plainly enough; you are not a fool!"
"Thanks! I don't claim much wisdom and I am sometimes rash. But perhapswe had better stick to Sir James's offer. Why does he make it now, afterstanding off when I needed help some years since?"
"We'll take the offer first," Allott agreed. "Sir James had not beenknighted and pulled off the big business combine then. He hadn't as muchinfluence, and perhaps wanted to see what you could do. I expect he wassurprised when you got and kept the mining job in Canada. Anyhow, you'rehis namesake and nearest relative. My wife, you know, comes next."
"He left my father alone in his trouble," said Thirlwell grimly. "Iwonder why they gave him his title. There were things done when thecombine was made the shareholders didn't know, besides injustices tothe staffs. You see, I had friends—"
"What has that to do with you? He offers you a good post, with a hintabout favors to come."
"The post is good," Thirlwell agreed, with a thoughtful look. "In a way,I'd have been glad to take it; but I can't very well."
"Your engagement at the little wild-cat mine is an obstacle? After all,there are other engineers in Canada; I don't suppose your employerswould suffer much inconvenience if you gave up the job."
"There's a year yet to go, besides an understanding that I'd stay untilwe got down to the deep vein."
"For very small pay? Much less than you're now offered, and with noprospects?"
"My employers are straight people and pay me as much as they can afford.They treat me well, though they're a small firm and the mine is notprospering. In fact, I expect they'll have some trouble to hold outuntil we reach