Show ift iii 61 towe MARTHA by I 1 I 1 0 MARTHA SERVICE P THE STORY THUS PAR FAR lovely independent autu autumn min dean rel returning home to brill british s n h columbia from broad abroad wit without out her lathers fathers knowledge stops at the home ot of hector cardigan an old family 1 alend rl end he tell her that 1111 she he should not have ve come home that things ing have changed arriving home borne at the castle of the noma borni 11 she he Is greeted b by her father carvis dean who gives give her br to under understand stana that the she li is welcome for a short visit her mother former belle named millicent odell has been een dead tor for years autumn cannot understand her fathers attitude though h 0 U elves tv him to understand u that she Is horns ne tor for good her father gives a welcoming it i 1 0 2 dance ance at the castle autumn meets lorian parr dashing well educated y young 0 u n gher man an of the countryside late in the e evening autumn leaves the dance r rides i d e a horseback to the neighboring ranch where she meets bruce landor lancer friend frien ij and Cham champion of her childhood days day he takes her to see we his mother aj aa invalid his fattier father Is dead thought t he to haat have killed himself As soon as his mother sees seen autumn she comma commands n da bruce bruce to take her away that death follows in iii the wake of the odeus autumn la is both saddened and perplexed bruce apologetic can olter offer no reason for his mothers atti attitio tuO autumn calls again on hector cardigan Cardig anthis this time to find out the reason tor for mrs landora Lan dorB dors outburst from his conver conversation sati she inferred that geoffrey landor killed himself because he loved MUll dean deora her mother meanwhile bruce landor rides to the spot where his fat fathers body was found years before there he meets autumn autumn and tie lie tal talk tiers of their families they agree that her mother and his father loved each other deeply and that their love is the cause ot ol present antagonism florian parr at the castle for or dinner pro proposes oses to autumn au t u present n she refuses him the next day autumn meets bruce in a gerders herders her erder ders a cabin there they declare their love tor for each ach other and determine to stand together against everyone who might come between them autumn tells her father ather that she Is going to marry bruce she Is aghast to see his reaction and Is agonized to hear him whisper that geoffrey landor did not take his own life he tells her the story millicent MUll cent his wife and geoffrey landor had fallen in love with each other CHAPTER V continues Continue a 8 autumn heard beard jarvis hands moving slowly up and down the arms of the chair 1 I must have gone a little mad then he went on after a pause there was no use in my trying to hold her I 1 knew that she was gone a already you see B but ut I 1 let her go I 1 hoped that I 1 might do something t to win her back perhaps the weeks went by but I 1 soon knew it was hopeless she was kindness itself to me but she would forget sometimes and go about the house like one in a dream she would sit with me throughout a whole evening and never speak a word I 1 became bold one day and went over to see jane landor when geoffrey was in town I 1 asked her if she knew what was going on between millicent and her husband she denied that it was so but I 1 knew she che was fully aware of it she proud to admit it I 1 was a little unreasonable I 1 guess I 1 told her what I 1 thought of a woman who could not keep her husband to herself she told me to go home and look after my wife that was the last time I 1 spoke to jane landor except for politeness when we met in public his voice had become very low now but strangely controlled spring came and I 1 knew hilll cent and geoffrey were having rendezvous dez but there was not a breath c of f scandal I 1 said nothing at first I 1 said nothing until I 1 could stand it t no longer then I 1 I 1 gave orders I 1 made millicent enfa a pi prisoner fisone in her hei own house I 1 forbade her going anywhere beyond the grounds unless I 1 went with her perhaps I 1 was foolish in that at an any rate I 1 kept them apart millicent protest if this had been one of her silly flirtations you see she would have died rather than give in to me but it this was real to her and she utter a word of protest she obeyed me to the letter presently I 1 heard that geoffrey was drinking heavily and neglecting his work the gossip of that was on every tongue when he was found shot to death by his bis own gun it was easy enough to suppose that it was either suicide or accident autumn gathered her hands together tightly about her knees 1 I had gone up north to look at some wolf traps I 1 had set the day before I 1 had bad told no one I 1 ivas was going there for I 1 wished to be alone in the woods and think over my problem it was early summer and I 1 went on foot I 1 carried a fowling piece withee with me in the hope that I 1 might raise a partridge along the way millicent was very fond of the breast of partridge it was still early afternoon when I 1 went out along the way we go to absolomn camp but down the gully you wanted to follow that morning after you came hame at the farther end of the birches I 1 flushed bushed a couple of partridges and brought them down I 1 went on and inspected the traps I 1 had set I 1 found them empty and returned the same way I 1 had come As I 1 entered the birches I 1 come came upon abbood a brood of partridge chicks that kept running before me me and hiding under leaves and keeping the woods alive with their ceaseless chirping I 1 realized then that they were the brood that belonged to the araci brae of birds I 1 had bagged only an hour before I 1 was sorry tor for them I 1 remember even then i he paused tor for a long longtime firne and a sigh of unutterable weariness seemed to pass all through his body autumn turned slightly and clung to his knees it was there that geoffrey landor rode down upon me jarvis said at last he had evidently been drinking I 1 dont know what it was that brought him down there abere just then he have known that I 1 was there no on one e knew he seemed surprised at first and looked at me as if he did not know me then rhen he got down from his horse to where I 1 was standing he confronted d me with an in solance tho th put me beside myself I 1 shall hear dear that taunting laugh of his to my dying day and into eternity I 1 trie to quie thim him knowing tha he nad teen drinking but it only angered him the more when I 1 turned to go away from him he stepped suddenly in front ol of me and whipped out his re volyer he told me he could not go on living without amiul cent that it had tt it be either him or me it took me a minute or so to understand what he meant he was actually challenging me to a duel he looked magnificent as a add as he stood there instructing me with cool arrogance what I 1 must do even then I 1 did not believe that he meant to go through with it to me it seemed an insane thing even in those days then he called me something it was an epithet that not only involved my own honor but MilU Milli cents as well and I 1 struck him I 1 struck him with all my might I 1 wanted to kill him he lifted his hand quickly the one with the revolver in it probably isio to guard against the blow perhaps to kill me I 1 do not know what was in his 1118 mind I 1 saw him fall fail face down dow wards and I 1 heard beard his gun explode at the same instent in stanta a sort of muffled sound I 1 watched him then and waited for him to get up but he rise I 1 kneeled and tur turned ned him over geoffrey landor was dead autumns burning eyes were burled against his bis knees buano but tears i came the image behind her lids seemed to have seared away all emotion what I 1 did immediately after that I 1 do not know jarvis continued my memory there Is a blank I 1 think I 1 dragged his bis body to the water to revive him it if possible when I 1 saw he was past all help I 1 left him in the shallow water face downstream at the sound of the shot I 1 looked around me and wondered what I 1 should do and in the stillness came only the chirping of the partridge chicks I 1 turned and ran out of the gully when I 1 reached the open on the top of the hill there where the trail turns tuma eastward to the sheep camp I 1 sat down and thought of what I 1 must do I 1 became very calm I 1 soon knew there was but one thing I 1 could do if I 1 had gone to the authorities and told my story just as it all had come about I 1 would probably not have been believed I 1 have minded that although life meant muc much h more to me then than it does now what I 1 did not cot want was that the whole story involving millicent should be brought to light so tar far as anyone knew millicent and I 1 w were ere as happy together as we had a always been for her sake as much as for my own I 1 think I 1 resolved to say nothing about it to anyone I 1 came back home late that night I 1 saddled my horse and left word that I 1 was riding down to absolomn camp something drew me back to the spot where I 1 had bad last seen geoffrey alive I 1 think I 1 expected to find him alive still I 1 dont know I 1 rode as far as the entrance to the gully and halted baited to listen for some sound that might reassure me As I 1 stood and listened I 1 heard beard nothing but the mad chirping of the partridge chicks I 1 have never gone back there since the next day one of his own men found geoffreym Geoff reys body where I 1 had left it I 1 went to millicent that night and told her that I 1 was sorry she had bad been weeping I 1 told her exactly what had bad happened she did not look at me she said your secret Is safe with me jarvis before the end of the summer she died of a fever his voice was emotionless now as the stark tale came to an end he leaned forward slightly and clasped his bis hands now you know why I 1 did not want you to come back here he said simply 1 I did not want you to come back to this you have nothing to tear fear da autumn murmured nothing to fear god in heaven geoffrey landor destroyed my life it was not enough for him that he robbed me of my cifes love he laid up upon on me the responsibility of his own death I 1 have never recovered from that autumn I 1 have borne it all these years in secret and now you tell me you want to marry the son of the man it will kill me As though she were suddenly invested I 1 with a strength not her own amille autumn got to her feet and smiled down at jarvis as she extended her he hands ads come da she said softly it must be as though it has never happened we shall never speak of it again he looked up at tier her and smiled in whimsical sadness my poor little autumn he said and the hand that had lain inert on the arm of the chair brushed across the stricken eyes amy my poor little autumn there seems no end she lifted her head istead proudly you tire are wr wrong ong she said there Is an end even to this her breath caught her in spite of herself like a barb in the throat 1 I must have been mad tonight but I 1 know she threw her arms fiercely about him all the pride and loyalty of her blood in the embrace he patted her hand and his bis lips moved with out a a sound presently they got up together and walked in silence out of the room autumns arm about her fa father their his hand leaning heavily on her shoulder CHAPTER VI 7 throughout the interminable night autumn knelt at her window in the darkness watching the stars wheel across the sensuous velvet of a sky lately cleared of ram rain until at last the blood red sail of a waning moon stood in the west and she knew it was only a brief hour or so belore before dawn cramped with chill she crept back into bed in the fitful sleep that come came to her she dreamt that bruce landor was dead and that somehow she had caused his death she awoke to a thin gray daylight to find that her face was wet with N F at Is OL 1 9 his bis voice was emotionless now as the stark tale came to an end tears in the reality of her dream she turned over on her pillow and gave herself up to despondent weeping later at their early breakfast table which hannah had bad made lovely with a centerpiece of daisies and cowslips on a yellow linen cloth autumn tu met her father with a mood as fresh and bright as ai hannahs flowers she had dressed in a skirt and jacket of bright blue wool with a gay ruffled blouse of sheer batiste a costume which had once before drawn from jarvis one of bli bis rare expressions of pleasure im all ready to leave for ke cowna da 10 she said 1 I do wish you were going along it would do you heaps of good he looked at her with surer surprise se 1 11 I think you were going till this afternoon he be said ive changed my mind she replied hannah brought in the steaming cereal As the old woman busied herself about tha table autumn stole a glance at her father it was apparent that he had had a sleepless night haggard lines underscored his eyes and his stem mouth was set in a straight line of pain but his bis manner betrayed nothing of what he had suffered during the night he glanced up with a heavy frown at hannah did you remember to salt the oatmeal this morning he asked with elaborate severity hannah glanced at him disdainfully salt causes hardening of the arteries she retorted theres plenty in yon porridge tor for you sir air autumn laughed and jarvis pretended to heave a deep patient sigh the meal progressed with small talk 0 of f things about the ranch of the children of tom willmar the foreman of the likelihood of a good fruit and hay crop if autumn had never before been grateful for the presence of old hannah the she gave silent thanks now to that homely faithful body who sat at table with them unconsciously helping to tide them over a painfully difficult hour the meal finished autumn pre pared at once to leave tor for kelowna Kel owna she did not n ot again urge jarvis to accompany at corn pany her but before she got into her car she threw her arms about his neck and clung to him for a long moment without a word no doldrums now daddy she whispered he smiled at hera grim twisted smile and she slapped him mann mannishly sh ly on an the shoulder and then was obliged to turn away as she saw the tears tean start to his bleak eyes so long darling she mangand san gand id jumped quickly into the car take care of yourself he said husk huskily ly and dont drive too fast good goodby by g good od byl of the lairds warning she he drove with reckless speed over the winding road shutting out from her senses the painful beauty of the morning with its assailing colors and perfumes of wild wildflowers flowers that carpeted hill and glen where tho the sun slanted across a smooth hillock violets buttercups butter cups larkspur and blue eyed grass would be shining under dew as though beneath a great glass dome and it if she glanced aside in a sweet leafy dell there would bo be llly lily of the valley and iris and ladys slipper but these were not for her now she thought bitterly as she he stared at the road that ran crazily before her uncurling me like a toy serpent of painted paper where e the trail tr branched bra n ched southward southe B to kelowna Kel owna she swung her car to the left and followed the road to kamloops Kam loops the morning was young and there would be plenty of time to run in upon hector cardigan before going on to the parrs old hector was at work among his flowers in front of the house as she drove up she blew her horn and he lifted his head and looked at her well well hs he greeted her as she came through the gate youre abroad early im running away hector she replied with a laugh he cast an anxious glance at her there was no way of telling what notions these youngsters might take besides the girl was an odell from whom this time he enquired half banteringly from myself of course she stated who elsea else old hector shook his |