One Days Courtship

One Day's Courtship

The Project Gutenberg EBook of One Day's Courtship, by Robert Barr
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Title: One Day's Courtship
Author: Robert Barr
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ONE DAY'S
COURTSHIP
AND
THE HERALDS OF FAME
BY ROBERT BARR

AUTHOR OF "A WOMAN INTERVENES," "IN THE MIDST OF
ALARMS," "THE FACE AND THE MASK," "FROM WHOSE
BOURNE," ETC.
WITH FRONTISPIECE BY E. FREDERICK

1896

CHAPTER I.
John Trenton, artist, put the finishing touches to the letter he was
writing, and then read it over to himself. It ran as follows:--
"MY DEAR ED.,
"I sail for England on the 27th. But before I leave I want to have
another look at the Shawenegan Falls. Their roar has been in my ears
ever since I left there. That tremendous hillside of foam is before my
eyes night and day. The sketches I took are not at all satisfactory, so
this time I will bring my camera with me, and try to get some snapshots
at the falls.

"Now, what I ask is this. I want you to hold that canoe for me against
all comers for Tuesday. Also, those two expert half-breeds. Tell them I
am coming, and that there is money in it if they take me up and back as
safely as they did before. I don't suppose there will be much demand
for the canoe on that day; in fact, it astonishes me that Americans, who
appreciate the good things of our country better than we do ourselves,
practically know nothing of this superb cataract right at their own doors.
I suppose your new canoe is not finished yet, and as the others are up in
the woods I write so that you will keep this particular craft for me. I do
not wish to take any risks, as I leave so soon. Please drop me a note to
this hotel at Quebec, and I will meet you in Le Gres on Tuesday
morning at daybreak.
"Your friend,
"JOHN TRENTON."
Mason was a millionaire and a lumber king, but every one called him
Ed. He owned baronial estates in the pine woods, and saw-mills
without number. Trenton had brought a letter of introduction to him
from a mutual friend in Quebec, who had urged the artist to visit the
Shawenegan Falls. He heard the Englishman inquire about the cataract,
and told him that he knew the man who would give him every facility
for reaching the falls. Trenton's acquaintance with Mason was about a
fortnight old, but already they were the firmest of friends. Any one who
appreciated the Shawenegan Falls found a ready path to the heart of the
big lumberman. It was almost impossible to reach the falls without the
assistance of Mr. Mason. However, he was no monopolist. Any person
wishing to visit the cataract got a canoe from the lumber king free of all
cost, except a tip to the two boatmen who acted as guides and
watermen. The artist had not long to wait for his answer. It was--
"My DEAR JOHN,
"The canoe is yours; the boatmen are yours: and the Shawenegan is
yours for Tuesday. Also,
"I am yours,

"E. MASON."
On Monday evening John Trenton stepped off the C.P.R. train at Three
Rivers. With a roughing-it suit on, and his camera slung over his
shoulders, no one would have taken him for the successful landscape
artist who on Piccadilly was somewhat particular about his attire.
John Trenton was not yet R.A., nor even A.R.A., but all his friends
would tell you that, if the Royal