Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 9, Number 47, DeMotte, Jasper County, 12 October 1939 — Page 2

Prologue. to Love

Lovely, Independent Autumn Dean, returning home to British Columbia from •broad without her father’s knowledge, stops at the home of Hector Cardigan, an old family friend. He tells her that she should not have come home, that things have changed. Arriving home at the "Castle of the Norns," she is greeted lovingly by her father. Jarvis Dean, who gives her to understand that she is welcome—for a short visit. Her mother, former belle named Millicent Odell, has been dead for years. Autumn cannot understand her father’s attitude, though gives him to understand that she is home for good Her father gives a welcoming dance at the castle. Autumn meets Florian Parr, dashing, well-educated young man of the countryside. Late in the evening Autumn leaves the dance rides horseback to the neighboring ranch where she meets Bruce Landor. friend and champion of her childhood days. He takes her to see his mother, an invalid. His father is dead, thought to have killed himself As soon as his mother sees Autumn she commands Bruce to take her away, that death follows in the wake of the OdelljiZ Autumn is both saddened and perplexed Brufe. apologetic, can offei no reason for his mother’s attitude Autumn calls again on Hector Cardigan—-th s time to find out the reason for Mrs. Landon s outburst From his conversation she inferred that Geoffrey Landor killed, himself because he loved Millicent Dean, her mother. Meanwhile. Bruce Landor rides to the spot where his father’s body was found years before. There he meets Autumn. Autumn and he talk of their families They agree that her mother and his father loved each othe: deeply—and that their love is the cause of present antagonism. Florian Parr, at the castle for dinner, proposes to Autumn She refuses him The next da\ Autumn meets Bruce in a herder’s cabin. There they declare their love for each other and determine to stand together against everyone who might come between them Autumn tells her father that she is going to mam Bruce She 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, his wife, and Geoffrey Landor had fallen in love with each other.

CHAPTER V— Continued —k —B—

Autumn heard Jarvis’ hands moving slowly up and down the arms of the chair. “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 knew that. She was gone already, you see. But I couldn’t let her go. I hoped that I might do something to win her back, perhaps. The weeks went by, but I 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 became bold one day and went over to see Jane Landor when Geoffrey was in town. I asked her if she knew what was going on between Millicent and her husband. She denied that it was so, but I knew she was fully aware of it. She was too proud to admit it. I was a little unreasonable, I guess. I told her what I 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 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 knew Millicent and Geoffrey were having rendezvous, but there was not a breath of scandal. I said nothing at first. 1 said nothing until I stand it no Longer. Then 1 I gave orders. I made Millicent a prisoner in her own house.' 1 fprbade her going anywhere beyond the grounds unless I went with her Perhaps I was foolish in that. At anj rate, I kept them apart Mijlicent didn’t protest. If this had been one of her silly flirtations, you see, she would have died rather than give in to me But it wasn’t. This was real to her —and she didn’t utter a word of protest. She obeyed me to the letter. Presently 1 heard that Geoffrey was drinking heavily and neglecting his w’ork. The gossip of that was on every tongue When he was found—shot to death by his own gun —it was easy enough to suppose that it was either suicide—or accident.” Autumn gathered her hands together tightly about her knees. “I had gone up jnorth to look at some wolf traps I had set the day before. I had told no one I was going there, for I wished to be alone in the woods and think over my problem. It was early summer and I went on foot. 1 carried a fowlingpiece with me in the hope that I might raise a partridge along the way. Millicent was very fond of the breast of partridge! It was still early afternoon when I went out —along the way we go to Absalom’s camp—but down the gully you wanted to. follow that morning after you came home. At the farther end of the birches I flushed a couple of partridges and brought them down. I went on and inspected the traps I had set. I found them empty and returned the same way I had come As I entered the birches, I came upon a brood of partridge chicks that kept running before me and hiding under leaves and keeping the woods alive with their ceaseless chirping. I realized then that they were the brood that belonged to the brace of birds I had bagged only an hour before. 1 was sorry for them. I remember, even then.” He paused for a long time, and a sigh of unutterable weariness seemed to pass all through his body. Autumn turned slightly and clung to his knees. “It vas there that Geoffrey Landor rode down upon me.” Jarvis said a-t last. “He had evidently been drinking I don’t know what it was that brought him down there just then. He couldn’t have known that I was there. No one knew. He seemed surprised at first, and looked at me as if he did not know me. Then he got down from his horse and came to where I was standing. He confronted me with an insolence that put me beside myself. I shall hear that taunting laugh of his to my dying day—and into eternity. I tried to quiet him. knowing that he had been drinking, but it only angered him the more. When I turned to go away from him, he stepped suddenly in front of me and whipped out his revolver. He told me he could not go on living without Milli-

THE STORY THUS FAR

cent —that it had to 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 god as he stood there instructing me with, cool arrogance what I must do. Even then I 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 Millieent’s as well—and I struck him. I struck him with all my might. I wanted to kill him. He lifted his hand quickly—the one with the revolver in it —probably to guard against the blow—perhaps to kill me. I do not know what was in his mind. I saw him fall face downwards—and I heard his gun explode at the same instant—a sort of muffled sound. I watched him then, and waited for him to get up. But he didn’t rise. I kneeled and turned him over. Geoffrey Landor was dead.” Autumn s burning eyes were buried against his knees, but no tears came. The image behind her lids seemed to have seared away all emotion. "What 1 did immediately after that I do not know,” Jarvis Continued. “My memory there is a blank. I think I dragged his body to the water to revive him if possible. When I saw he was past all help, I left him m the shallow water, face downstream at the sound of the shot I looked around me-and wondered what I should do. And in the stillness came only the chirping of the partridge chicks. I turned and ran out of the gully. When I reached the open, on the top of the hill there where the trail turns eastward to the sheep camp, I sat down and thought of what I must do. I became very calm. I soon knew there wtis but one thing I could do. If I had gone to the authorities and told my story -just as it all had come about- I would probably not have been believed I wouldn’t have minded that, although life meant much more to me then than it does now. What I did not want was that the whole story involving Millicent should be brought to light. So far as anyone knew. Millicent and 1 were as happy together as we had always been. For her sake as much as for .my own. I think, I resolved to say nothing about it to anyone. I came back home. Late that night. I saddled my horse and left word that I was riding down to Absalom's camp Something drew me back to the spot where I had last seen Geoffrey alive. I think I expected to find him alive still. I don’t know. I rode as far as the entrance to the gully and halted to listen for some sound that might reassure me. As I stood and listened, I heard nothing but the mad chirping of the partridge chicks I have never gone back there since. The next day. one of his own men found Geoffrey’s body where I had left it. I went to Millicent that night and told her that I was sorry. She had been weeping. I told her exactly what had 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 hands. “Now you know why 1 did not want you to come back here,” he said simply. “I did not want you to come back—to this.” “You have nothing to fear. Da.” Autumn murmured. “Nothing to sear 1 ? God in heaven! Geoffrey Landor destroyed my life. It was not enough for him that he robbed me of my wife’s love. He laid upon me the responsibility of his own death. I have never recovered from that. Autumn. I 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.” I As though she were suddenly invested with a strength not her own. Autumn got to her feet and smiled down at Jarvis as she extended her hands. “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 her and smiled in whimsical sadness. “My poor little Autumn," he said, and the

O MARTHA OSTENSO—WNU SERVICE

THE KANKAKEE VALLEY POST

By MARTHA OSTENSO

hand that had lain inert on the arm of the chair brushed across the stricken eyes, “my poor little Autumn—there seems no end.” She lifted her head proudly. “You are wrong,” she said. “There is an end—even to this.” Her breath caught her, in spite of herself, like a barb in the throat. “I must have been mad tonight—but I didn’t 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 lips moved without a sound.” j Presently they got up together and walked in silence out of the room. Autumn’s arm about her father, his hand leaning heavily on .her shoulder CHAPTER VI 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, 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 before dawn. Cramped w’ith chill, she crept back into bed. In the fitful sleep that 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 w’as w r et with

His 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 wepp ing. Later at their early breakfast ble. which Hannah had made lovely with a cbnterpiece of daisies and cowslips on a yellow linen cloth.. .‘Xu tumn met her father with a mood as fresh and bright as Hannah’s flowers She had dressed in a skirt and jacket of bright blue wool, with! a gay rutiled blouse of sheer batiste, a costume which had ohce before drawn from Jarvis one of his rare expressions of pleasure. “I’m all ready to leave for Ke lowna. Da,” she said I do you were going a’ >ng. It would (jin you heaps of good He looked at her with, surprise. “I didn’t think you were going-till this afternoon.” he-said. “I’ve changed my mind,” she replied. Hannah brought in the steaming cereal. As, the old woman busied herself about the table. Autumn stole a glance at her fathermlt was apparent that he had had a sleepless night Haggard lines under scored his eye’s, and his stern mouth was set in a straight line of paid. But his manner betrayed nothing of what he had suffered during thje night. He glanced up with a heavy frown at Hannah. “Did you remember to salt the oatmeal this morning'.’ he askeq with elaborate severity. Hannah glanced at him disdainfully. “Salt causes hardening of the -arteries,” she retorted;. “There’s plenty in yon porridge for you. sir Autumn laughed, and Jarvis pre : tended to heave a deep, patient sigh; The meal progressed with small talk of things about the ranch, of the children of Tom Willmar, the foreman, of the likelihood, of a good fruit vnd hay crop. If Autumn had never before been grateful for the presence of old Hannah, 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 prepared at once to leave for Kelowna. She did not again urge Jarvis to accompany 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. 4 He smiled at her. a grim, twisted smile, and she slapped him mannishly on the shoulder and then was obliged to turn away as she saw the tears start to his bleak eyes.

“So long, darling?” she sang and jumped quickly into the car, “Take care of yourself,” he said huskily, “and don’t drive too fast. Good-by—good-by!” Unheedful of the Laird’s warning, she drove with reckles( s speed over the winding road, shutting out from her senses the painful beauty of the morning, with its assailing colors and perfumes of wildflowers that carpeted hill and glen. Where the sun slanted across a smooth hillock, violets, buttercups, larkspur and blue-eyed grass would be shining under dew as though beneath a great glass dome, and if she glanced aside in a sweet, leafy dell, there would be lily-of-the-valley and iris and lady’s-slipper. But these were not for her now. she thought bitterly. as she stared at the road that ran crazily before her. uncurling like a toy serpent of painted paper. Where the trail branched southward to Kelowna, she swung her car to the left and followed the road to Kamloops. The morning was young and there would be plenty of time to run m 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-’’ he greeted her as she came through the gate. ‘ You're abroad early.” “I’m 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 bantermgly “From myself, of course," she stated. “Who else?” Old Hector shiook his h( ad ‘ not find that easy, my dear,” he observed. “But come along into the house,” She ran before him up the steps, through the open doorway, and into the drawing room where all the shades were drawn to exclude the morning sun. “Let’s have (light. Hector!” she cried and hurried from one window to another to lift the shades. “One would swear you were trying to hide something in this old house of yours It’s positively spooky!” He watched her, a helpless expression in his eyes, then smiled faintly as she tossed Iter gloves and hat upon a chair and helped herself to a cigarette frbim a box bn the table. “There’s little, a mar; of my age ha:» to hide' from the world,” he said slowly. I “But you keep that little Very well hidden, don't you?” she countered, lighting her cigarette and. tossing the match into the fireplace. There was something in the girl's mood that made him apprehensive. He moved uneasily to his accustomed position with his back to the open fireplace and clasped his hands behind him as he looked down at her. One never knows how wed a thing is hidden, my dear, until some one attempts to seek it out.” he replied evasively. Autumn looked about at the tap-estry-hung walls, then flicked the as!) from her cigarette. “Nor how poorly it is hidden until someone blunders m .>n,it.” she added ■ ' , He smiled and rocked back and., forward on the balls of his fec't. He wondered what the girl was getting at. so,” he agreed, “quite Autumn got suddenly to her feet and'., tossed her cigarette away. “What a. romantic old fraud you are!” she sa d abruptly.’ “M e -> I have never thought of myself- » “Hector.” she interrupted him. ‘why didn’t you tell me everything you knew when I came here to talk with you last week?” He regarded her suspiciously. “Did I withhold something 0 ” he asked her She eyed him narrowly. “I am asking you why.” she replied'. Hector's look was a challenge. “I prefer to be my own judge, my dear, as to what I shall tell concerning other people—or concerning myself, for that matter,” he said. ■ Autumn stepped close to him and laughed a little shrilly, he thought, a little bitterly. “Don’t you get hoi-ty-toity with little Autumn, now',” she chided mockingly. “You can keep your old secrets. I know al! that's worth knowing about them, anyhow.” Damn the girl's taunting mood. Hector thought to himself. She was her mother all over again. How often he had seen Millicent turn suddenly flippant when she wanted to conceal her true feelings, whether of disappointment over a trivial thing or of grief so deep that it broke her impetuous, wild heart. “The gesture seems oddly familiar,” he observed. Autumn’s anger flared suddenly. • It will become even more familiar, then,” she retorted. “I have discovered who I am. From now on. I’m through, with trying to be what I was never meant to be! It can’t be done. I'm going to be myself, Hector Cardigan!” The old man’s face had gone strangely pale. “Don't look startled, Hector. Your secrets are perfectly safe with me—just as Jarvis Dean's secrets. If men choose to fall in love and kill each other over a woman, it’s no affair of mine. Let the tradition go on. It’s the Basque bell, Hector, and nothing that you or I can ever do will ever stop it ringing!” (TO HE COHTIhUED)

Household News

Coffee and waffles are star performers for Sunday breakfast. See Recipe Below.

At the Sound of the Breakfast Bell

Five mornings a week there’s a last minute scramble to get to school on time, and a mad dash to beat the boss to the office—and too frequently the all-important business of eating breakfast is neglect-

forces to raise the standard of American breakfasts, it would be a long step in the direction of happiness and well being for the family. Breakfast needn't be elaborate to be good, but it should consist of foods well chosen and w’ell prepared to tempt the appetites of members of the family who aren’t ordinarily interested in this first meal of the day. Serving something new, occasionally, is a more effective moans of getting the laggards out of bed than the loudest alarm clock’ Blueberry Muffins. (Makes 10-12 muffins • 1 i cup butter 1 i cup sugar 1 egg ■ ■ 2 2 ;r cups fit ur 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon vanilla extract .1 cup milk 1 cup blueberries (well drained) Cream the butter and add sugai gradually. Add the egg. well beaten, and mix. Sift all dry ingredients, reserving 1 i cup flour to be mixed with the blueberries. Add milk, mixed with vanilla extract, and dry ingredients alternately. Add the floured blueberries. Bake in greased muffin tins m a moderate oven (375 degrees) approximately 20 minute's. Bacon With Apple Rings. 7 slices bacon 1 egg (sliglitly beaten with T tablespoon cold water) White corn meal 3 apples (peeled and cut in ’h-inch round slices) 1 teaspoon powdered sugar ffi teaspoon cinnamon Juice of 1 lemon Melt sufficient bacon fat to coyer the bottom of a skillet.. Cut bacon strips in halves,, dip in beaten egg, then dip in corn meal. Saute gently in the bacon fat until each strip is a golden brown. Place apple slices in a mixture of the lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon for a few minutes. Drain the apple slices, without drying, and saute in the remaining tat. Place bacon strips in the center of a warmed platter and arrange around it the browned apple rings. llomiry Grits With Baked Eggs. (Serves 4-6) 3 cups freshly cooked grits 5 to G eggs Salt, pepper and paprika D cup cheese (grated) Fill a shallow baking pan with the cooked grits. With a spoon make

hollows or wells m the grits. Drop a fresh egg into each hollow. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, paprika and grated cheese. Bake in a

moderately hot oven (375 degrees) for 20 to 25 minutes. I' rench Toast With Pineapple and Bacon. (Serves 4) 8 slices bacon 2 eggs (slightly beaten) i: z cup milk r i teaspoon salt 4 slices bread 4 slices pineapple (canned) Pan fry bacon until nicely browned and crisp; drain and keep riot. Combine slightly beaten eggs, milk, and salt, and mix well. Dip bread nn egg mixture and saute in the hot bacon fat until golden brown. T. hen saute the pineapple slices.

by Eleanor Howe

ed Maybe the breakfast menuneeds revising, or needs a “beauty treatment” to increase its appetite appeal. If all homemakers would join

Place one pineapple slice on eact) piece of toast with two sliced of bacon. Garnish with parsley, and serve very hot. Waffles. 2 cups pastry flour 2 teaspoons baking powder l a teaspoon salt 2 eggs 1 cup milk ’h cup butter (melted) Sliced bacon - . Mix and sift all dry ingredients j Beat egg yolks thoroughly and add milk. Then pour this milk mixture into the dry ingredients and blend lightly. Add melted butter and fold in the well beaten egg whites. Cut bacon into 1-inch pieces; place 1 piece on each w'affle iron section and then pour waffle batter on hot waffle iron. Buckwheat Cakes. 1 yeast cake 1 cup lukewarm water 3 tablespoons dark molasses 1 tablespoon salt Issi cups flour 1’.2 cups buckwheat flour 1 cup lukewarm water (approximately )' 1 c ... ; ’cn soda dissolved in ’-.j cup water Soak yeast cake in. 1 cup of lukewarm water. Add molasses, salt,

and flour. and enough additional lukewarm water to make a batter a little thicker than that used for ordinary griddle cakes. Put batter m a

envoi. d bean jar, and let stand over mght. In the morning add soda dissolved in water. Bake on a hot greased griddle. Birmingham Eggs. Slice bread 1 inch thick, trim off crusts and cut a 14>-inch hole in the center. Place in heavy frying pan containing generous amount of butter. Break an egg in the center of each slice. Fry bread slices until golden brown, then turn and brown other side. Salt and pepper. Quick Butterscotch Rolls. 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ] 2 teaspoon salt ' i cup shortening :: i cup milk Melted butter 1 cup light brown sugar 1 i cup butter cup pecan nut meats Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening and add milk. Roll out and brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with 1 cud brown sugar. Roll firmly like a jelly roll. Cream together the remaining 2 a cup of sugar and 1 » cup butter. Spread this mixture, together with the pecan nutrneats, over bottom of baking pan. Slice biscuit roll in ’s-inch slices and place cut side up in the butter-sugar-nut mixture. Bake 20* minutes in moderate oven (350 degrees) and turn out of pan at once. Serve upside down.

RF "I !■ “Hurry-Up-Meals”—those problems of the present-day busy homemaker, will be the subject of Eleanor Howe’s column next w r eek. Miss Howe will give you menu plans and recipes for meals that can be whipped together almost in less time than it takes to tell about it.

Send for ‘Household Hints.

Here is a homemaker’s reference bcoK which gives you tips on every- , thing from mending net curtains to arranging cut flowers. How to washfeather pillows, a quick method of baking potatoes, and how to test the fabrics that you buy—you'll find I these and many other suggestions in “Household Hints’’ by Eleanor Howe. To get your copy of this clever book send 10 cents in com to j Household Hints,” care of Eleanor i Howe, 919 North Michigan Avenue, i Chicago, Illinois. • (Released by Western Newspaper Union.*