The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-03-21

factorily settled. The transaction
had been delayed-and Snyder had
been annoyed.
Autumn looked at the pitifully
brave smile on the face of Mrs.
Willmar. This little woman was
only one of that small community Of
souls who, with the toll of their
hands and the unquestioning cour-
age of their spirits, had brought
richness and well-being to this VAL
ley. And now that community was
to be disrupted, aagrantly, ruthless
ly, with no thought of the injustice
that was being done to these hum
Bile people whose loyalty to Jarvis
Dean was no part of the bargain
that Snyder was making. In that
brief moment Autumn looked in
ward upon herself and saw that In
her pampered life she had taken
these honest folk for granted, Just
as carelessly she had taken for
granted the substantial revenue
from her fathers estate. Here was
a heritage from the past which she
had not recognized.
"I know, Mrs. Willmar," Autumn
said at last. "Mr. Snyder is being
very difficult about Though, of
course, he is not altogether free to
do as he chooses. He must meet
the wishes of his clients. But they
will never find anyone better than
Tom to manage this place. I have
told them So"
There's precious little comes Of
telling people what they don't want
to hear, Miss Autumn" Mrs. Will
mar replied.
at know" Autumn said. "But I
don't want you to worry. If the
worst comes to the worst, I shall
see to it that you and Tom have
good position before I leave"
Mrs. Willmar had placed the cook
les in a pan and turned now to put
them into the oven. When she
Strengthened again, she looked at
Autumn with a small, sad smile.
That's awfully kind Of you, Miss
Autumn" she said. But you
shouldn't trouble yourself about US,
really. We shall get along-some-
how. And it isn't so much a ques-
ton Of where Wen go as it is-just
our leaving here. The Laird was
always too kind to us, guess. He
he spoiled US. No other place will
ever seem like home to me. You
see, I got my health back here
and my two youngest were born IN
this cottage. It makes a kind of
diference-to know that we're Ieay-
ing home"
Leaving home! The words cut
across Auturn's heart with a cruel
import. The woman could never
guess what they meant to her, of
course.
''Oh, Mrs. WilImar!" she cried.
eff you only knew how-how terri
bly, understand"
She was on the point of saying
more, but suddenly, utterly bewil-
dered by the complexities of her
own feelings, she got up and went
to the little woman and threw an
arm impulsively about her Shout
ders.
1--WE talked too much" Mrs. VIII
mar said, the tears starting to her
eyes.
I'm glad you have" Autumn said
quickly. But I don't want you to
worry about it any more. I know it
will work out, somehow, for the
best"
There was little comfort in that,
Autumn thought, but words were so
futile, after all.
Mrs. Willmar hastily dabbed at
her eyes. I'm behaving badly, I'm
afraid, Miss Autumn" she said bro
kenly. I've no right to carry on
this way. It's not proper, at all"
Proper, fddlesticksl" Autumn
replied. She turned suddenly and
looked out of the door where the
children and Mono were at some
game In the yard. I'm have to
run along now, Mrs. Willmar." She
opened the door and then looked
back at the foreman's wife. Those
cookies smell awfully good. Do you
suppose you could have one of the
children sneak some Of them past
Hannah for me?"
=.
try" she said.
A little later, when Autumn
slipped in through side door of the
Castle, she surprised Hannah IN the
small sitting room in the act of wip-
ing her eyes with the corner of dust
cloth. Hannah Strengthened severe
ly and contrived a CHEEKY smile
which in no wise deceived Autumn.
Hannah" she reproved. whats
the use Of carrying on like this?"
Hannah licked the cloth indignant
ly over the rungs of chair. who
Is carrying on? Not mel" she de-
MED vigorously.
Autumn gave her a narrow look,
then went into the drawing room
where she seated herself at the pi-
ano, thinking to break the heavy
enchantment of the house with the
sound Of the melodies she loved
best. But after a random bar or two
her hands fell dismally away from
the keys and she stared from the
windows into the garden, her spirits
sinking under the burden that had
lain upon her for almost a week.
Uppermost In her mind, above all
the questions that arose out of her
perplexity, was one thought that bore
constantly upon her mind. Hector
Cardigan had told her about the
evening Bruce had spent with him,
when he had unfolded the past, with
holding nothing of the story of Geof-
frey Lander and Millicent Dean. Au-
tumn had lived through four days of
unspeakable suspense, hoping for
some gesture from Bruce, some sign
of his relenting toward her. At last,
In utter despair of ever hearing from