The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-06-05

anything had happened to her"
"And I must thank you for
saving my life" Gillian's eyes
were mischievous. II too am in
your debt for always"
He looked briefly at both of
them, then looked away. "You
owe me nothing" he said stiffly.
''I'm glad you weren't injured,
Miss Meade"
"Yes-yes, know how glad you
are" Gillian spoke softly. Il
know how much it means to you. p"
"What are you" he stopped,
shut his lips tightly. II think I'll
start for Montreal now, Mr.. Hill
yer. I'll be in to see you Wednes-
day. Goodby, Miss Meade"
"Good-by." She gave him her
hand. He held it briefly, then hur-
ried away.
"Queer egg," Jon said. II never
saw anyone move so fast as he did
when Hero threw you under his
hooves."'
Hes do have done the same for
anyone else," said Gillian, but she
thought with wild triumph in
her heart, He would never have
said to anyone else what he said
to me-"Darling, darling Gillian
The rest of the party had come
struggling from the Chamber of
Mysteries, looking rather more
bored than mystified. Jon told
them all about Gillian's fall. The
dog had not been mad, just lit
tie touched with the sun. He had
been captured and locked up.
Sunset deep red above the black
hills, making it a magic road
through the woods. Gillian sat
wedged between MORA and Nor
ton Ilsley in the rear of the sta
ton wagon. Jon sat across from
her and his eyes rarely left her
face. Kindly Jon. Was it treason
to him to feel the way she did?
Jon drove her back to Ryda1
House the following morning.
II don't like the Autumn" Jon
was bent over the wheel, eyes
straining into the grayness. Wet
and sodden leaves drifted down
and one stuck to a corner of the
windshield, faded and yellow. 81
like the Spring Gillian. Why can't
it always be SPRING."
mo Autumn; no Spring. There
you have it! Why, Jon, I love the
Autumn. 1t makes me think, and
I can feel things better and-and
maybe understand myself more
than at other times"
you're happy?"
eyes" she felt a. little guilty
knowing the real, deep-seatec
source of her happiness. II really
am happy. JON"
I'm so glad you feel like that
Gill;" he said. "1'll make you hap
py, my dear. I'll give you all thai
you may have ever hoped for. Blu
let's make it soon. Let's make i
as soon as ever you can"
well make it soon. Don't be
afraid, Jon, I won't melt or rur
away"
II love you so. And the day:
with you will 60 by so quickly
Anselm Meade was not at Ryda
House when they arrived. He hac
gone to Bishopsgate with De
fborah, Hawtry said, and woulc
return that evening. Jon stayec
only a little while. He kissed he1
lightly when he was leaving, but
in his tone there was no lightness
when he said, ''Don't forget you
are mine now, Gillian. Don't for
get that I love you and that ev'
| SI IlOu1 L IL LIIAAAh VI yOO. L OO11
like to leave you for even a lit.
tie while. But it's all right, ISM
it. Tell me it's all right
"Of course it's all right, Jon.
For moment she too wished
wildly that he wasn't leaving her
'Tll be thinking of you, too" she
said. "Of only you" And she
meant it then and perhaps be.
lieved it would be so.
In the library Gillian found the
big table Uttered with books and
maps and Anse's phantom battal-
ions drawn up in battle array;
She looked at the tall clock in the
corner, went out and whistled for
Rab. The bus would be coming
! soon. She wanted to talk to Anse,
to make him understood what was
. in her heart. She could count on
Anse always.