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

blend and held It for a moment
toward the sunlit window before he
drank it. He closed the cupboard
and went to his room on the same
floor. He would have to brush up
bit before going down to dinner.
Florian Parr filed the two glasses
a second time and handed one to
Autumn. He was well pleased with
himself. He had spent a large part
of a beautiful Sunday afternoon in
the company of Jarvis Deans
daughter and had watched her as
she swung her car dizzily over trails
he had never travelled before. He
had listened to her gay chatter and
had done his best to contribute his
own share of small talk about Lon
don and Paris and the men and
women that belonged to the world
he had left when his father had
made it plain that if he wished to
remain in it any longer he would
have to pay his own bills. 1t had
been delightful outing-almost like
visit with an old friend.
He had thought Autumn beautiful
when he had sat beside her during
their ride but he had never seen
anyone quite so ravishing as the
girl who stood before him now and
lifted her refilled glass. She was
gowned in a coolly glowing white
satin that clung the length of her
body and fiared out almost to the
floor; small tips of green pumps
peered out from below the white,
and at her throat on a platinum
chain hung large single emerald,
her fathers gift, she had explained,
on her twenty-frst birthday.
He raised his glass toward her
and smiled. "You may drink to
what you please" he said, "but I'm
! toasting the queen of the Upper
Country!"
"Queens are becoming so old-fash-
ioned, Florian," she countered. 81
am not fattered."
my error" he apologized with a
slight bow. "I'l compromise on the
Princess - they're still in style,
aren't they?"
"Expatriated," she observed.
"Good enough" he said, and
drained his glass eagerly.
Autumn slipped her cocktail and
took cigarette from the box on the
low table that held the shaker an
its tray.
"You know" Florian went on, set
ting his glass aside, 'I can't help
thinking of you as carrying on the
legend of your forebears-your
mother and her mother. They must
have been lovely creatures to have
given life to such traditions as they
have handed down."
Lovely" Autumn said. and
flaming"
"Lovely-and fiamingi" Florian
repeated. my father has told me
about your mother, especially. You
must be very like her."
/ ST know very little of my moth
err" Autumn replied, Except what
have been told"
He came and stood beside her,
erect and confident in his manner.
His eyes were narrowed as he
looked down at her.
"You will find me very abrupt at
times, Autumn" he said. 81 have
i learned it simplifies matters very
often to speak ones mind. have
been thinking about-us."
"Us, Florian?" Autumn smiled.
"I'd almost swear you were going
to propose to me-
"But am," he said. 81 believe
you and I were made for each 9TH
err"
She laughed lightly. why, Flor
ian-what quaint idea! don't be-
lieve those words have ever been
used before!"
"They may have been," he ad-
mitted, "but never more appropri-
ately. We both come from adven-
turous stock. There is something
untamed in both of us. We are
both-gamblers But I've never
been more serious in my life.
want to marry you"
Autumn could not doubt his Sc
| riousness. The knowledge made her
thoughtful. Florian," she said,
"you really are dear" A perverse
humor seized her. Suppose tel
you that I'll think it over?"
Excellent" he replied. placing
an arm abruptly about her shoul'
ders. "You are permitting me tc
hope, them"
| She laughed up at him. mot al
all Florian," she said. II amir
effect-refusing you"
His serious mood vanished sudden
ly. He was actually amused at the
situation. He chortled and stepped
back from her. 1t was the frs
time he had ever really proposed
to any girl in earnest-and she
thought she was turning him down
Jarvis Deans girl at that, with {
background as iniquitous as sin!
was that background that len
piquancy to his quest, after all, ane
besides, by the Lord Harry, he wa.
crazy about the girl!
Presently his amusement subsidee
and his lips drew to thin, petulan
line.
"I'll give you time to think abou
it. Autumn" he said, striving tt
carry it off with gay, inconsequen
tia. air. when we are alone again
I'll tell you how | love YOU"
land how do you love me, Flor
ian?" Her tone was gently mocking
Florian stepped toward her again