The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-01-04

fire. Where have you been?" he
asked.
1--WE covered half the country
side" she said, smiling at him. ST
started out early and rode up the
valley for look at the sheep. It's
the first time I've seen them like
that in nearly ten years, Daddy, and
it was lovely-in the sunset and"
'You had a lot to do" Jarvis
said, disgruntled.
Now, darling, you're not going to
be cross with me for that" she
coaxed. I'm in no mood for a
scolding."
"a lot of good it would do you
anyhow" the Laird replied.
mot bit, dear" She laughed at
him, then went and kissed him light
ly on the cheek. ''But I don't want
you to worry about me one bit. I
don't want to do anything to make
you unhappy-and you know it,
Jarvis stirred uneasily in his
chair. You're going to drive down
to Kelowna tomorrow-to the PARIS
aren't your" he said, by way of
changing the subject.
Aren't you coming, too?" she
asked him.
There's too much to do here"
he told her. Besides, what would
do spending two nights away from
home when there's no call for it?
I like my own bed best"
st may not stay over Sunday,
them" Autumn replied. ''Im not
sure that I won't be bored with it
all-if the rest of them are like
Florian."
Jarvis smiled. "You don't care
much for the boy?"
He's all right, darlington what
he is. I've seen so much of his
kind during the past few years that
I'm not particularly thrilled any
more by the species"
ST can't say I'm sorry for that"
the Laird observed. ''They don't
amount to much"
Autumn turned and gazed into the
fire for a moment. She kicked a
half-burned stick into place and
watched the sparks go trooping up
the fiue.
The fact is, d." she said at
last, 81 came back to you to get
away from all that. It doesn't mean
thing to anyone except those who
are cut out for it. And I wasn't cut
on that pattern, darling. I never
realized it so much as did tonight
when I stood and watched the sheep
moving up the valley. It made me
lonely as the devil"
"And so you stayed out all hours
in the rain just to cure yourself of
fit of the blues" he retorted.
No." Autumn replied softly. ST
didn't do that exactly. I knew you
wouldn't be home, so I rode on over
to the Lander place and talked with
Bruce for while"
She glanced at her fathers face
to see what effect her words would
have upon him. He gave no out
ward sign of having heard her ex-
cept that his frame seemed to have
become rigid and one corner of his
mouth twitched nervously.
He spoke to her at last, his eyes
gazing steadily into the fire. 81 hope
you are not going to make habit of
that" he said.
'tOf what, Daddy?"
You know what mean, my girl.
don't want you going around with
Bruce Landor."
Have you anything against
Bruce?" she asked abruptly.
Damn it ALL" Jarvis burst forth.
must I be cross-questioned by my
own daughter? Or isn't it enough
that I should give my opinion and
look to have it respected?" He
leaned forward in his chair and
placed his hands heavily upon the
arms, preparing to rise. Its time
we were IN bed. Let's have no
more of this tonight
Autumn did not move. She stared
at her father, aware that she was
becoming angry. She clenched her
fingers and strove to control her
voice.
"Da," she said, ST am not trying
to cross-question you-and I respect
your opinion more than the opinion
of any other man alive. But when
I ask you what you have against
Bruce, naturally want to know"
When he lifted his face after what
seemed to her an intolerable inter-
val, it was the face of man grown
incredibly old and worn. He passed
his hand across his brows, and she
could see that he was making an
heroic attempt to speak.
Jarvis subsidized into his chair. ST
have nothing against the boy" he
said at last. "But you know as well
as I do that there are reasons why
I do not want you to go around with
him"
ST know what you have IN mind,
d." Autumn replied. ''I have
thought about it, too-and I've
talked to Bruce about it. Bruce can
not be held responsible for the fact
that his father took his own life
and I think it a little unfair that
any stigma should"