The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-02-15
(CONCLUSION)

own feelings, she got up and went
to the little woman and threw an
arm inpulsively about her shoul-
ders.
"I've talked too much," Mrs. Will
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. / know it
viii 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. "Ive no right to carry on
this way. It's not proper, at all. :"
proper, fiddIesticks!" Autumn
replied. She turned suddenly and
looked out of the door where the
children and Mono were at some
game in the yard. "I'n 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?"
Mrs. Willmar smiled. "We might
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.
''Hannahl" she reproved. What's
the use of carrying on like this?"
Hannah fiicked 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
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 Landor 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
him, she had turned her mind to-
ward preparations for her depar-
ture. Her resolution to leave all be-
hind her and begin life anew might
be both cowardly and selfish, but to
her defeated spirit there seemed nc
other way.
Late in the afternoon, when il
seemed no longer possible to cope
with her problems, Autumn went tc
the rose garden to spend an hour
with her own thoughts among heI
mothers flowers. She had beer
there only a few moments wher
Hannah called to her from the
house.
4 You're wanted on the telephone
miss Autumn" Hannah told her as
Nhe came up the porch steps.
"Is it Mr.. Snyder?" Autumn
Wed, with the ever-recurring
sath-taking hope that this, at last
hit be Bruce calling.
don't know 1t didn't sounc
rim-though don't hear like
Con,ould.
intr,mn went to the telephone anc
dent UP the receiver. The voice
will torian PARIS. He had jus
r lack from his business triI
,ouver and insisted on Au
Ter ~ eturning with him to Ke
facultyHe had talked with Lind;
here to phone, he said, and it wa
Thoss MT wish to have Autumn
he o,,e1a day or two so that sh'
- ha lit Linda's new fiance. Be
Ia was planning to go t
~ ehe her honeymoon. Their
o:lo p. ans to discuss with Au
Varsity
lege gym it, Florian, Autumn
cert lively, glad at the pros
relief from the depres
ssd weighed upon her a
Do.be ready when you ge
!. old thing!' Florial
Albert :. tYou won't be abl
from Mrs. dust once get started
forty acrasU things to do yet be
n,..m. but you can count o
1i .o about an hour and
oaihuei A,w's that?"
erdam has the better" Autumn
ertscher fai've had a terrible da
miles north or another. I'm dy
nlaca will y. someone"
ua,,.s'.' nr.ying to talk to you,
ro"aiu : ~ I'm the original oil
Shas. NisWahln."
erdam. Badeialephone with sue
nounced his ielief. Florian was
all.
Hannah her plans
r couple of day:
upstairs, took a n