The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-01-04

hked-and l wouldn't raise a hand
to stop it, one way or the other. But
there's no way Of accounting Tor
these things, it seems. He came to
me-and he stood there as II ne had
been Godfrey Landor himself
proud, insolent, careless-and | Of
fered him money for the loss OF his
sheep. don't think expected him
to take it-but his manner stirred
something in me. 1t stirred the bit
terness and the hatred and the pride
that have filed me for twenty years
and ! turned him out!" He paused
for a moment. "And now-I am
turning you out, it seems"
mo, d." Autumn protested, cit
isn't so. You mustn't say that. /
am going back-as I told you-be-
cause I think il will be best for US
ALL"
Jarvis Dean drew himself up.
"Have him over-tonight-in the
morning." he said. Bring him here
and I'll tell him. I'll tell him all
I told you. When he has heard"
''Father, pleased" Autumn plead
ed. "That would only hurt him
and it would only hurt me. You
would be doing that for me, and it
would be quite useless. If ! love
Bruce Landor, it's only another OF
my silly blunders. I'll get over it,
with the ocean between us it ought
to be easy. I'm not so hopeless
that / shall go on forever breaking
my heart over someone who doesn't
care for me-"
The Laird raised his head and
looked at her. "You mean-he-'
"I mean-he doesn't love me,
d." she said, smiling down at him,
Though there's nothing so strange
about that"
Jarvis was thoughtful for mo-
ment. Then he got UP quickly and
stood looking at his half-smoked ci-
gar. 81 didn't think he'd be such a
damned young fool" he said.
Autumn laughed suddenly, but the
Laird looked at her sternly. It'll
be as you say, them" he said. Its
better so. I'll sell up in the fall and
join you."
He patted her shoulder in awk-
ward and inarticulate compassion,
and turned away. She could hear
his retreating steps on the polished
floor, heavy and measured and pom
] dering. To her defeated spirit, II
seemed that those footsteps sounded
the inexorab1e, iron stride of the
| past crushing down the present and
! the future.
She looked out upon the blurred
garden with eyes dull in resignation
During the days that followed
Jarvis Deans spirits were lighter
than they had been for months. Te
be sure, it was not pleasant to think
that Autumn was leaving the place
to which she had come such shorr
time ago, her heart swelling with
anticipation of what the future helc
for her, her mind full of plans fol
the new life she was entering. HI
was sorry for her. And yet, the
irking uncertainty of those week!
had been almost more than IN
could bear at times. Autumn's de
cision to return to the Old Coun
try had relieved him of that, a
least. His own resolve to sell every
thing and follow her as soon as
could be managed without too grea
[ sacrifice had brought its regrets
its pang of loneliness, but that ha,
passed. He had a clear road be
fore him now. He would leave be
hind him the past and all its burdel
of unhappiness and spend the res
of his days in a manner BETTING
man of ample means whose declir
ing years might easily be his bright
est
1t was some such feeling that pos
sessed him as he looked at Autumn
now, sitting opposite him at tn
breakfast table. He had ordere
an early breakfast so that he Nigh
leave in good time on his journe
into the hills to inspect his flock
and to take up some supplies t
old Absolom Peek. Tom Wilma
had been making the trips back an
forth during the summer, but Jal
Wis was in the habit of going him
self at least once during the season
Besides, he had given instruction
to have the young Irish lad, Clanc
Shane, drive out the few hundre
sheep that had been culled fror
the range and were being brougt
down to be sold. He wanted to spen
a half hour with the boy and assur
himself that everything was comm
along as it should.
"You might make the trip in wit
me today, Autumn" he suggested
eff you have nothing else to do.
would be company for me and tn
drive would do you no HARM"
"I thought of it last night" Al
tumn said. "It will be my las
chance to see the fiocks before
leave"
"Aye-that's so. Well, get YOU
self ready and I'll wait for you"
"Tll change in a jiffy, d." sh
said, and left the table.
Put enough lunch in the box fo
the two of us, then," Jarvis toll
Hannah. wen be back for dir
! ner late"
They were on the road before tn
day was more than q bright fam
on the eastern hilltops and Autumn
was guiding the car over the smoot
trail at speed that made her fathe
| grip the edges of the seat with bot