The Ely miner., 1940-01-11

In those days. Then he called me
something-it was an epithet that
not only involved my own honor
but Millicent's as well-and I struck
him. ! struck him with all my
might. I wanted to kill him. He
lifted his hand quickly-the one with
the revolver in it-probably to guard
against the blow-perhaps to kill
me. I do not know what was In his
mind. I saw him fall face down.
wards-and I heard his gun explode
at the same instant-a sort of muf-
fed sound. ! watched him then,
and waited for him to get up. But
he didn't rise. kneeled and turned
him over. Geoffrey Landor was
dead"
Autunn's burning eyes were bur-
led against his knees, but no tears
came. The image behind her lids
seemed to have scared away all
emotion.
What I did Immediately after
that I do not know" Jarvis contin-
ued. ''My memory there is blank.
I think dragged his body to the
water to revive him if possible
When saw he was past all help, I
left him in the shallow water, face
downstream at the sound of the
shot. looked around me and won
dered what I should do. And in
the stiffness came only the chirp-
ing Of the partridge chicks. I turned
and ran out Of the gully. When I
reached the open, on the top of the
hill there where the trail turns east
ward to the sheep camp, sat down
and thought of what I must do.
became very calm. I soon knew
there was but one thing I could do.
If I had gone to the authorities and
told my story-just as it all had
come about would probably not
have been believed. wouldn't have
minded that, although life meant
much more to me then than it does
now. What I did not want was that
the whole story involving Millicent
should be brought to light. So far
as anyone knew, Millicent and
were as happy together as we had
always been. For her sake as much
as for my own, ! think, I resolved
to say nothing about it to anyone.
came back home. Late that night,
/ saddled my horse and left word
that was riding down to Absolom's
camp. Something drew me back to
the spot where ] had last seen Geof-
frey alive. ! think I expected to
find him alive still. I don't know.
rode as far as the entrance to the
gully and halted to listen for some
sound that might reassure me. As
stood and listened, heard nothing
but the mad chirping of the par
fridge chicks. I have never gone
back there since. The next day, one
of his own men found Geoffrey's
body where ! had left it. I went to
Millicent that night and told her
that I was sorry. She had been
weeping. I told her exactly what
had happened. She did not look at
me. She said, Your secret is safe
with me, Jarvis Before the end
of the summer she died Of fever"
His voice was emotionless now as
the stark tale came to an end. He
leaned forward slightly and clasped
his hands.
''Now you know why I did not
want you to come back here" he
said simply. 'sI did not want you
to come back-to this"
"You have nothing to fear, d."
Autumn murmured.
Nothing to fear? God in heavenl
Geoffrey Landor destroyed my life.
It was not enough for him that he
robbed me of my wife's love. He
laid upon me the responsibility of
his own death. I have never recov-
cred from that, Autumn. I have
borne it all these years in secret.
And now you tell me you want to
marry the son of the man. It viii
kill me-"
As though she were suddenly in
vested with strength not her own,
Autumn got to her feet and smiled
down at Jarvis as she extended her
hands.
"Come, d." she said softly, ait
must be as though it has never hap
pened. We shall never speak of it
again."
He looked up at her and smiled
in whimsical sadness. my poor
little Autumn" he said, and the
hand that had lain inert on the arm
Of the chair brushed across the
stricken eyes, my poor little Au-
tumn-there seems no end"
She lifted her head proudly. "You
are wrong" she said. There is
an end-even to this" Her breath
caught her, IN spite Of herself, like
a barb in the throat. 'I must have
been mad tonight-but I didn't
know"
She threw her arms fercely about
him, all the pride and loyalty of her
blood IN the embrace. He patted
her hand, and his lips moved with
out q sound.
Presently they got up together and
walked in silence out Of the room,
Auturnn's arm about her father, his
hand leaning heavily On her shoul-
der.