The Ely miner., 1940-01-18

as Autumn tossed her negligee about
her shoulders and thrust her feet
into her mules.
Autumn smiled. 'I don't think
so-not yet, at any rate" she
replied.
ST might have known as much"
Linda said. "The PARIS are such
damned fools!" Her voice trailed
away, as though it was too much of
an effort for her to express her
contempt for the breed
Autumn hurried off to take her
shower. When she returned, Linda
was sitting where she had left her.
''I'u be ready in minute" she
said as she set about dressing.
Don't hurry" Linda replied laz-
ily. 'tNo one hurries around here.
Florian will probably be gnawing
his nails if he isn't getting tight.
But it'll do him good to wait. I
was terribly sorry, by the way, that
I couldn't go to your dance. Florian
said it was a great success"
He told me you were disappoint-
ed" Autumn said. "I was sorry,
too"
ST had a bum ankle that day.
Came home late the night before
and tripped over a rubber hose
somebody had carelessly left on the
lawn"
''We had the whole countryside
there" Autumn told her.
$50 Florian said. Bruce Landor
didn't turn up, I understand
Autumn started at the mention of
Bruce's name. She turned away
from Linda to pick up a garment
from the bed, fearing that her face
might betray the quickening Of her
heart. "His mother has been very
ILL.," she said evasively.
''I know. She's been dying for a
year. I believe nothing keeps her
alive but sheer cussedness. She
knows Bruce will have a chance to
get around as soon as she's gone"
"You know Bruce-pretty well?"
Autumn asked.
Gas well as he'll let me-" Linda
replied. ST called him up again
today to see if he couldn't possibly
come down. Earlier in the week he
was afraid he'd be too busy, but he
said today he'd try to make it to-
morrow night"
''He told me you had invited
him." Autumn said. She wondered
if Linda would note the unsteadi-
ness of her voice. "And he seemed
very sorry that he couldn't get down
In time for the game"
Although her attitude was casual
enough now, what she felt was some
thing verging on panic. Bruce had
told her that he could not go to Ke-
lowna. And now-if he came here,
it would be primarily because of
her.
you've known him all your life,
haven't your" Linda pursued with
an interest that was agonizing.
1--WE went to school together"
''He told me so," Linda sighed.
''Why didn't you fall in love with
hin?"
Autunn's hands trembled as she
drew on her stockings. She got up
and went to the dresser where she
could see Linda's face In the mirror.
The girl was stroking her dog idly.
''It probably didn't occur to me-"
Autumn observed with Strengthened
lips.
''It occurred to me the first time
I saw him." Linda said. "And no
other man has meant damn to me
since"
There's lots of time yet, Lin"
Autumn told her.
''Time has nothing to do with it,
my dear" Linda observed, her lids
lowered In resigned fatigue. ''It
happens-or it doesn't happen-and
that's all there is to it. It happened
to me in minute. It won't happen
to him In ten years-so far as I'm
concerned"
She remained standing at the win
dow until Autumn had finished
dressing, and was ready to go down.
"Al set!" Autumn announced.
Linda turned from the window and
gave her an appraising look. Au-
tunn was dressed in a simple white
net dinner gown, with turquoise
drops at her ears.
You're lovely" Linda said sim
ply, and slipped her arm through
Auturnn's as they went together to
join the others.
On the portico Florian met them
with tail frosted glasses IN his hands
and led Autumn to one of the high
backed, deeply cushioned bamboo
chairs. ST thought you'd never come
back" he said. ST knew I shouldn't
have let you get into Lin's clutches.
From now on you're mine"
He went and got his own glass and
returned and seated himself cross
legged on the floor at her side.
How lovely this isl" Autumn
murmured, as her gaze drifted out
over the tessellated valley.
1T has never been really quite
perfect BEFORE" Florian said In a
voice that was flushed with a sort
of urgency.