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


Dean sat smoking his cigar. On
small, low table beside his chair
large book lay open, face down.
ward, at the page where he had left
off his reading nearly two hours ago.
1t was now five o'clock and the Sum-
day afternoon sunshine lay in long
slanting beams across the dark
green rug that covered the floor. He
must have dozed off, he thought, as
the clock on the mantel chimed the
hour. He had no idea it was so late.
Dinner would be on before he knew
it. It was odd that Autumn had not
yet come back. Florian Parr had
come UP from Kelowna for the day
and the girl had gone motoring with
him. They would be in any moment
now, surely, drinking their abomi-
nable cocktails and shattering the
Sunday quiet with their inconse-
quential chatter.
Well, the younger generation had
come to claim its own. It was only
natural, after all, he supposed. But
the coming had irritated him. He
had never given much thought to
the younger generation until Au-
tunn had returned unannounced and
taken possession of the gloomy old
house with no other thought, appar-
emily, than that the place was hers.
It was surprising, too, how immedi-
ate and complete the possession had
been. Even old Hannah had re-
adjusted her whole psychology with
Autumn as the center and control
ling force of the new order. That,
no doubt, was what irritated him.
He could never have admitted to
himself that anything or anyone in
the world could have usurped his
place in this house that had shell
tered him for almost quarter of
century. Nor was the girl conscious
of what she had done-he would say
that for her. She would be the first
to protest that he was still master in
his own house and his word was law.
She was loyal, if loyalty could be
said to exist in the hearts Of these
young irresponsibles, and she was
affection itself. He had loved the
girl devotedly during the years she
had been away from him, but the
feeling he had for her now that she
was back had grown so deep that
the tears started to his eyes now as
he thought of her.
Just now he was more resolved
than ever that they should quit the
country. He had seen Autumn in
the company of this young Parr.
There was a nincompoop, if ever
there was one. What was wrong
with a man like old Elliot Parr that
he could breed nothing better than
a hare-brained numbskull like Flor
ian? The race must be going to the
dogs! And what could girl like
Autumn see in him? He wasn't even
thoroughly a bad one-he was a
mere nothingl Why in the devil
hadn't the girl found herself de-
cent husband long ago? He blamed
her Aunt Flo for that. Flo never
had been one you could count on.
Well. he would have no daughter of
his mate with Florian Parr-much
as he admired Elliot.
A cold chill passed over nm as
his thoughts turned to Bruce Lam
dor. Jarvis had seen Landor and
Autumn riding home together last
night after that fool affair of the lost
Willmar boy What was getting into
people that they couldn't take care
of their own brats any longer? Damn
it all, parents nowadays. had no
sense of responsibility. Well, he
would look after his own, at any
rate. If he was called upon to dc
! 60. he would tell Autumn emphati-
cally that the Deans and the Lam
dors belonged to different worlds
and they would stay where they be.
longed. If that wasn't enough, he
would go further. He would-Bui
WHY get so wrought up over mere
hypothesis?
He got up quickly at the sound OF
q motor coming to a halt before the
house. He tossed his half-smokeo
cigar into the fireplace and stepped
to small cupboard that stood back
in one corner. He poured himself 9
sizs lie drink Of his tavorite Scotch