The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-10-19

eQual-ln neTVe-ln contempt Tor
life. You are going to marry me,
Autumn, because we see-eye to
eye."
He released her and walked away
as Jarvis Deans footstep was heard
descending the stairway. Autumn
turned to greet her father.
''Come along in, Daddyl" she
called. "Florian has just been pro-
posing to me.
Jarvis Deans face lighted with a
smile as he entered the room.
Hell be safe enough so long as
you don't accept him. he said.
ST think it was the cocktails that
did it," Autumn laughed.
"a good dinner will fix that" said
the Laird, giving Florian his hand
''How are you, my boy?"
"Topping!" Florian said, as their
hands crossed. 81 hope you have
no objection to my proposing to Au-
tunn. I really couldn't help it, you
know"
None whatever, sir. It's my opin-
ion that she has had some expert
ence in the business. She ought to
be able to look after herself by this"
Rather" Florian drawled. "She
managed the affair quite nicely, I
should say. Can help you to .
cocktail, sir?'
mo" Jarvis replied, I'm Sc
rious man and have too much re-
spect for my stomach, thank God,
to punish it with such internal con-
coctions."
Florian laughed and filed his own
glass. "Father sends you his re-
spects, SIR" he said, "and would
like to see you when you can take a
day off,"
"And I'd like to see him, toc,"
Jarvis replied, seating himself.
''I have asked Autumn down fer
the polo game next weekend" Flcr-
ian went on. perhaps you could
find the time, sir"
mot yet, not yet" Jarvis replied.
cts busy time of the year fer
me. Besides, you youngsters VIII
have more fun without too many old
codgers hanging about"
His big white head was thrust fer
ward in its characteristic way IS
though he were eager to show an
interest in the plans and projects
of these youngsters while his mird
and his obscure spirit remained
withdrawn, remote. Autumn had
seen the deaf and the blind make
that same piteous effort at sociabil-
ity.
Nov, Daddy" she rebuked him.
you're just fishing. You want us
to assure you that you are the best
looking and most fascinating gentle
man in the Upper Country, and that
no party would be complete without
you"
The tapers of the Laird's infre-
quent smile lighted for a brief mo-
ment of pleasure in his eyes.
81 could go-perhaps," he admit
ted. "I'l see how things are in a
weeks time. I'd enjoy a day with
Elliot Parr."
Old Hannah stepped into the door
!
An hour before sunset the sky
had been overcast, with a purple
caravan of thunderheads in the
west; the drumming of insects and
the humid, flower smell of the air
presaged rain. On grassy hill
top ten miles eastward from the
Castle, Autumn dismounted from her
horse and let the animal Craze while
she stood and looked into the valley
below.
On the slopes that streamed into
the valley like smooth reddish cas-
cades in the low sun, more thar
seven thousand head of sheep moved
in bands, twelve hundred to band
At dawn the herders had started
them from home on the trek up into
the mountains to the very margins
of the eternal SHOWS, in the relent
less, lonely quest for grass.
Now, from the hillside directly op
posite her across the little valley
crows flight half-mile away, came
the limpidly sweet note of a bell
It seemed to Autumn that the SOUND
was almost visible, floating like
some silver bubble within that rosy
dome of silence, lingering and van
ishing into the infinity whence it hae
come.
It was the note of the Basque bell
A fancy had seized her that morn
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