The Widow's Demise by Don Gutteridge Read Free Book Online Page A

wait’ll they hear the French are askin’
for reparations because of the Rebellion.”
    “Imagine the nerve of rebels, of traitors,
asking for money because they got their barns burned during the
fighting.”
    “And I hear that Baldwin is backin’ a plan to
have the capital moved from Kingston to Montreal. To Quebec!”
    “Baldwin’s sold his soul to the Devil, that’s
for sure.”
    “And they want to blab away in French in the
Assembly. They’ll ruin the English language.”
    “Yeah, we’ve got to back ol’ Dingman, come
what may.”
    Marc finished his ale. He walked back out
into the September sunshine. It was going to be a spirited
nomination.
    ***
    Humphrey Cardiff found his daughter in her
sewing-room. Delores gave a start when he came in because he rarely
entered her private space.
    “What is it, father? Is everything all
right?”
    “I just had a most unusual conversation with
Perkins,” Cardiff said.
    “Oh, I see.”
    “He arrived on the doorstep, cap in hand. He
claims you sacked him yesterday.”
    She looked him in the eye and said, “Yes.
That’s right.”
    “But why? He’s a perfectly good footman and
general dogsbody.”
    “I have recently found him
untrustworthy.”
    “Untrustworthy? How, pray tell?”
    “The man has been spying on me and telling
tales out of school. It’s that simple and I won’t have it.”
    “But the fellow is married and his wife is
expecting a child.”
    “That’s not my concern, I’m afraid. I have to
run this household as I see fit.”
    “But really, my dear – ”
    “When I came back to Rosewood, you promised I
would be mistress of the household, did you not?”
    “That’s true, but – ”
    “No buts. Either I am in charge of the
servants or I am not.”
    “You are in charge,” Cardiff said with a huge
sigh. “But you’ll have to replace Perkins right away as I have a
very busy schedule coming up. I’m on my way to Dingman’s nomination
meeting and I’m running his campaign for election.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll see to it.”
    “I still think you’re being a bit harsh.”
    “Is that all you wanted?”
    Defeated, Cardiff left the room.
    ***
    The square in front of the hustings was almost full.
The crowd was in a festive mood, anticipating the events to follow.
They were farmers, mostly from York County, but there was a
contingent of people from Toronto who had come out to observe the
proceedings even though they were not directly affected by the
outcome. Politics in the province was a blood sport, and the clash
of the two rival parties was never less than entertaining. On the
periphery of the crowd, women and children gathered around wagons
and took their picnic lunch. In the distance could be heard the
wheezy music of a squeezebox.
    The proceedings began shortly after two
o’clock. All of the principals had arrived and were now seated on
the platform. Marc was seated beside Robert, with Hincks, Louis and
Gagnon on the other side. Humphrey Cardiff called the meeting to
order. Then he immediately launched into his nomination speech for
Tory candidate Arthur Dingman, who sat smiling behind him. He was a
small, undistinguished man with a neat moustache. Cardiff described
for the quieted onlookers a fellow who was nearly a paragon. He was
a staunch Tory, loyal to his Queen and country. He had served in
the militia that had helped bring the revolt to its heels. He was a
family man and long-time resident of York County. Being modest, he
had only agreed to run for office after being importuned by his
many friends. He wished fervently to join his fellow Tories in the
new Legislative Assembly to bolster the English presence there and
help provide a counterweight to the radical French contingent.
Cardiff did not have to say so directly, but it was apparent to
everyone listening that Arthur Dingman was everything Louis
LaFontaine was not. Furthermore, while Dingman was a Conservative,
he would strive to represent all of the people of the fourth