The Ely miner., 1939-12-14
CHAPTER H-Continued

1t was only when they reached the
long avenue of Lombardy poplars
leading to the Landor house that
their voices ceased. Bruce seemed
suddenly to have become preoccu-
pied with something apart and re-
mote as he rode slowly forward, his
eyes fixed upon the house that stood
among the shadows at the farther
end of the avenue. A cool ripple of
apprehensiveness passed down over
Autumn's body, a feeling ominous
and totally strange to her expert
ence. She recalled now that as
girl she had always been afraid OF
Jane Landor, though she had never
known the reason. And now, within
a room there beyond that glowing
window, lay the helpless form of the
woman whose forbidding manner
had often caused Autumn to shrink
from her. 1t was not fear that over
came her now, but pity-deep pity
for the woman whose staunch forti-
tude had been reduced to frailty by
a life that had beaten her at last.
When Bruce finally dismounted be-
fore the doorway and stretched his
hand up to her, she laid her own
slender one within it and got down.
For a moment she clung to his hand
and hesitated.
"Wait, Bruce" she whispered, and
the thought struck her that she
should not have come like this to
see Jane Landor.
He smiled down upon her and fold
ed his other hand over hers. "You
look-frightened," he said, leaning
close to her.
She followed him into the house.
The large room was in darkness,
but light from the open doorway of
an adjoining room cast a soft glim-
mer over the old-fashioned furnish
ings of the place.
Immediately a woman's voice,
small and nervous to the point of
querulousness, spoke from the inner
room.
''Is that you, Bruce?"
eyes, mother. I've brought Wis
itor to see you"
There was a moments silence.
Then, "a visitor? Who?"
''Pn let you figure that out for
yourself" Bruce said, and led Au-
tunn into the room.
Jane Landor was in a half-sitting
position among the pillows, a light
attached to the bed above her thin,
colorless face. Autumn had expect
ed to find her changed from the
woman she remembered, but she
was not prepared for what she saw
there under the soft light of the
bed-lamp. She drew back instinc-
lively before the look from the fierce
black eyes that were turned upon
her as she stepped through the door
way.
Come in where I can see you,"
Jane Landor ordered, and struggled
to draw herself up for a closer look
at her visitor.
AutEznn stepped into the light and
stood for moment smiling down
at the frail woman.
"Don't you remember me?" she
asked IN soft voice that was none
too steady.
Jane Landor's face twisted sud-
denly as if in spasm. She lifted
her tifm hands to her wasted cheeks
and drew her breath in quick gasp. \
"Ysai You'll" she cried. "Milli-
cent odell! What brings you back
here? Take her away, Bruce! Take
her avayl"
Her voice was hysterical shrek
now. She covered her eyes with her
hands as she lay back sobbing
among the pillows.
Bruce was beside her instantly,
his arms about her shoulders.
Mother mother, it's Autumn
Dean," he tried to reassure her.
Don't you remember Autumn? She
has come back"
His face under the light was
shocked and bewildered.
Take her away, say!" Jane
Landor insisted vehemently. Moth
ing but death follows in the way of
the Odellsi"
She clung to Bruce, who tried in
vain to soothe her, and Autumn stole
In trembling daze from the room
and aut of the house.