The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-09-14

platform, rapt and breathless and
unmindful of the inquisitive glances
that rested on her taut figure. The
desire had been acute to fling out
her arms to the circle of the noun
tains that rose from the valley like
a prodigiously wrought gold and
purple bowl filled with the wine of
sundown in May. She had stood,
aware of the cool star on the south
ern crest, and of the silver shallop
OF the new moon a-sail with its
veiled and mystical cargo. Then
the words had shaped themselves
IN silence upon her lips, words she
knew now had paused far back in
her childhood, waiting for her re-
turn: "You beautiful Oh, you beau
tifull"
Only few moments before, she
had checked her luggage without
giving her name, and the slight mar
rowing of the old clerks eyes had
brought twitch of amusement to
her mouth. She remembered him
well enough, and although it was
nine years since he had seen her
she had been but fourteen then-it
was evident that some recollection
stirred behind the old mans eyes.
Perhaps, after all, she might have
told him she was Autumn Dean, so
that he might be the first to know
that the Laird's daughter had come
home. He was one of the "relics
of Barkerville," as her father used
10 call them affectionately, those old
men who had become as legendary
as that long-dimmed field of gold
1t would have been fitting to tell
him first, this old man who was the
essence of everything to which she
was returning, this fabulous, roman
tic northland of her girlhood. But
it amused her to keep her secret a
little longer, to be to herself alone
the daughter of old Jarvis Dean, the
Laird of the "Castle of the Norns."
That phrase brought an almost un-
bearable ennui for what had been
when she herself had so named her
fathers house.
The murmur of the valley town,
like the warm sound of a human
heart within the cool heart of the
hills, lay below her now as she
made her way quickly up the steep
dark street to the house she re-
membered in the mountains cleft.
A few new dwellings had appeared,
the shade trees had grown, there
was denser thicket of shrubbery
fanking the street, but the curious
upward climb of the way was un-
mistakable. There, where the grav-
el road took prankish turn as
though seeking greater seclusion un-
der the brow of the hill, old Hector
Cardigan's cottage peered through,
half suspiciously as she had remem-
bered it, as though it had made its
way from the inner secrecy of the
mountain and were of half mind to
return there Her heart gave lit
tie leap of delight as she saw the
monkey puzzle" tree or the tiny
front lawn, and the two somber, me-
ticulously clipped yews on either
side of the shell-lined walk The
ancient wrought-iron Italian lamp
hung as of old in the narrow crypt
of the porch, but instead of the wan
ly Aickering oil wick, dim electric
bulb glowed steadily behind the
parchment. Old Hector had had his
house wired, theni
Her impulse was 10 60 bounding
up the steep little steps two at a
time, as she had been wont to do,
but she reflected quickly that Hec-
tor, grown older and more than ever
given to solitude, from her fathers
reports of him, might be startled
at such an intrusion. Instead, she
ran lightly up the flight to the
carved, narrow, oak door, and
clutched her handbag to still the
excitement of her heart as she lifted
the heavy brass knocker. She re-
membered that the knocker had
been level with her eyes when she
was reedy kid of fourteen.
That was Hector's step now, quick
and military still in its precision.
She could remember that long pol
ished panel of hardwood food of the
hall within, polished to mirror luster
by Hector himself, as no servant
could do it, had the old man ever
been able to afford servant. The
door opened quickly, boldly, in it's
old manner of brusque inquiry. And
there stood Hector, erect and fiery,
fastidiously groomed as of old, Sc
II n.l- ~ l.
grayer now but combed as ever
with sculptured nicely. He stood
very little above her own height,
so that it seemed to her that she
was smiling on level with his eyes.
As she waited for his recognition,
a curious thing was happening She
had snatched off her hat and stood
with her head flung back, her hair
shaken vividly about her cheeks.
He o. etes were fastened upon
he ''at grew from
strange, incredulous amazement to
something verging upon pain. His
hand reached uncertainty out toward
her. as though he expected her to
vanish before his eyes, then his fin
gers grasped the door knob until
the knuckles cleaned white. His
face had become drained Of all col
or, and although size saw that his
hand leaned heavily or the door
knob for support, Autumn laughed
gayly, stepped over the threshold.
and flung her arms about his neck.
Hector, Hectorl Don't you know
me. you old goose?' size demanded.