The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-12-28

low table that held the shaker an
its tray.
"You know" Florian went on, set
ting his glass aside, ST 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 faming!" Florian
repeated. "My father has told me
about your mother, especially. You
must be very like her."
81 know very little of my moth
err" Autumn replied, Except what
I 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
learned it simplifies matters very
often to speak ones mind. I have
been thinking about-us."
''Us, Florian?" Autumn smiled.
'Td almost swear you were going
to propose to me-"
"But I am" he said. ct believe
you and were made for each 9TH
er."
She laughed lightly. 'Why, Flor
ian-what quaint idea! I don't be-
lieve those words have ever been
used before!"
"They may have been," he adj
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. I
want to marry you"
Autumn could not doubt his Sc
robustness. The knowledge made her
thoughtful. ''Florian," she said,
''you really are a dear" A perverse
humor seized her. Suppose 1 tell
you that I'll think it over?"
EXCELLENT" he replied, placing
an arm abruptly about her shout
ders. "You are permitting me to
hope, them"
She laughed up at him. ''Not at
all Florian," she said. 81 AMIN
effect-refusing YOU"
His serious mood vanished sudden
ly. He was actually amused at the
situation. He chortled and stepped
back from her. It was the first
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 a
background as iniquitous as sin! It
was that background that lent
piquancy to his quest, after all, and
besides, by the Lord Harry, he was
crazy about the girl!
Presently his amusement subsidized
and his lips drew to thin, petulant
line.
"I'll give you time to think about
it, Autumn" he said, striving to
carry it off with gay, inconsequen-
tial air. "When we are alone again,
I'll tell you how love you"
"And how do you love me, Flor
ian?" Her tone was gently hooking.
Florian stepped toward her again
and grasped her wrist. Autumn was
amazed to see that his face had
oope suddenly male
Don't be a little fool!" he said.
"You know when you've met your
equal-in nerve-in contempt for
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, Daddy!" 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.
81 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. ST hope you have
no objection to my proposing to Au-
tumn. 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 I help you to a
cocktail, sir?"
"No," Jarvis replied, "I'm a 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
day off"