The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-11-30


of his cigar. "Have you heard about
this fracas in old Sandy's back room
night or two ago?" he asked
abruptly.
81 was told about it," Hector ad-
mitted cautiously.
aye and the whole country
knows about it. It's a dirty busi-
ness"
''But one over which we have lit
tie control, I'm afraid"
Jarvis look sharpened. "We have
something to say on what brought
it about" he said. ''In my day a
young wcman's name-if she was
a lady-wasn't mentioned in such
place."
Il have no doubt young Landor
feels much the same about it--even
in these days"
That's not the point, sir. In my
day young woman gave no rea-
son for having her name banded
about over a poker table,"
''The times have changed, it
SEEMS" Hector murmured.
''It's our own fault, then. We've
let these youngsters get out of hand
with their racing about the country
in automobiles and their abominable
cocktails and the like. Where is it
going to stop?"
Hector sighed, half-amused, and
yet thoroughly aware of what was
troubling the Laird's mind.
They'll probably all marry and
settle down and have children of
their own to plague them in their
turn" he said lightly.
Jarvis leaned forward in his chair
and looked fxedly at his guest. II
want your opinion about that girl of
mine," he said frankly. What's
she like?"
Hector smiled. "She's your own
daughter, SIR" he replied. "You
ought to know her better than l."
Il don't. She was never anything
but child to me-until now. Since
she came back, she's been a stran-
ger in the house. More than half
the time she's not here at all. She'll
be back here tonight from the Parr
Lodge-not alone, either, I'll war;
rant-and the place will be like bed
| lam until she goes again"
Hector got up and tossed his Gig
arctic into the empty NAV of the
fireplace. He walked to the French
windows and looked out upon the
| garden that glowed palely under
summer starlight.
II have been wondering about the
| girl" he said at last. II have talked
with her, too. She is not happy"
"Happy?" Jarvis grunted. "What
does she want that she cannot
have?" But his eyes were hall
closed in self-concealment.
''She hasn't told me that" Hec-
tor replied. 81 can only guess, al
best"
Whats your guess, them"
Hector returned to his seat and
selected another cigarette. 1T is
my opinion, Jarvis, that the girl has
been in love-ever since she came
back here"
/, The Laird frowned. There was nc
escaping the meaning of Hector s
words. "You mean-this young Lam
dor"
Certainly" said Hector.
Jarvis shrugged impatiently
"Puppy-love!" he exclaimed. "She'll
get over that-if she isn't already
over it."
Hector looked steadily at the Laird
| for a moment without speaking.
"What you see," he said at last, his
voice very low, ''is probably the
process by which she hopes to get
over it. And it would not surprise
me to learn that she finds it as
painful as you do"
"Tommyroti" the Laird exploded.
"You have asked my opinion, .
Hector said with dignity, land
am giving it,
''If I thought there was anything
to that" the Laird replied. "I'd sell
/, up and get out-and take her with
me-"
at know you would" Hector OBJ
served, "-and accomplish moth
ing"
'What do you mean by that, sir?"
Hector smiled patiently at the
Laird. "You ought to know the
breed better than to ask that he
said. eff Millicent's daughter is in
love, there's very little that either
you or I can do about it, I think" f"
There followed long silence al
the end of which Jarvis helped him
self to another drink and poured one
for his guest. They toasted each
other as cordially as if there had
been no disagreement between
them, and then the Laird turned
abruptly to talking of things that
left no room for difference o.
opinion.
| It was almost midnight when Au
tumn finally came home, bringing
Linda Parr with her to stay for Z
few days at the Castle. The girls
came upon the two old men seated
before the fireplace, their brandy
glasses in their hands, their eyes
grown heavy from sitting up long
past their time for bed.
why, Dave had no idea you'c
be waiting for us at this hourl'
| Autumn exclaimed, after greeting:
had gone around. "You should have
been in bed hours ago.
She laid aside her hat and glove:
as she spoke and seated herself il
one of the Queen Anne chairs, hel
feet curled un under her. her el