Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-12-18
He looked curiously upon her. She


hands of hers could have so much of
firmness IN their touch. He smiled as
he SO thought, aud she knew it.
you smile. Yet l know yeu suf-
fer. Do 1 bungle so that you find
mirth in my motions"
mo, Betty. Twas for something
else / smiled, if did smile. / did
think. Here this little maid hath me
In her power; yet with my thumb and
fisger, thus, / might crush you, so
slight aad tender are you
'In your power" said the maid IL
quiringly. as she bound linen ban
dage on the wound
aye. You compelled me to obey
you"
"Why not4 Brave men like you
are worth the effort OF compelling.
"Hey, there, Betty. l understand
your philosophy not? but somehow l
am content. IT'S not displeasing
bondage for the moment, and then
somehow I did feel healing in the
touch of your fingers, so soft are
they"
The girl laughed gently.
Betty, do you compel young Mat
thew to do you bidding2"
Him l neither compel nor per-
nit"
"Yet have heard he is inclined to
you"
is he2"
eyes. So have perceived. He is
well favored lad, Betty, and a fine
wooer, l trow."
"What know you of wooingG They
do say you have sworn it, neither TO
woe nor to wed, for you will acknow-
edge master nor mistress"
"They say rightly. Betty. That is
my firm resolve, and l am never
shaken in my resolution. But Mat
thew has resolved to win you.
Hath he? That is your firm opln,
ion2'
"Would you not favor him trifeg
SIS it your concern? Tell me. Is
he strong and brave, and very frmF
why shall l tell you2"
THAT | may know whether to fav
or him or not. None put the strong
and brave and firm, l think, would
| find favor in my eyes"
That is well, Betty. Be steadfast
to that"
$50 shall. OF that be well assur
ed" She said this with lowered tone:
ard gently Bonded head, her cheeks
suffusing, but the strong man thought
she was just then greatly absorbed
with her occupation over his wound.
81 must haste now" said he a
length. II must go to the settlement
for help to bring the brute, for he i;
very heavy. Come. Come. Let me
finish my bread and cheese"
''You should not walk so far. You
should give the wound some chance
to heal"
'But | am going"
mo. will not suffer it.
"You will not2 You" He laugh
ed almost contemptuously.
She sad no more, but when his eye
were not upon her she silently with
drew, A brief time later he heard ,
horse approaching, and from the win
dow he saw Betty Lee, seated firml
on sleeps pelt that served for sad
die, and, and with her red lips pertlN
parted and saucy smile in her blu'
eyes, she said:
Crest you there, Ryenold, till l re
turn. | am going to the settlement
FOR you" and with a word to thu
mare she flew away.
"The maid hath spirit, mused thu
discounted Captain, slight though
she be and she rides her mare as nj
woman ever rode. But what2 Wha
am IL Here am again overpoweret
| l. fnrnnIN,.c haaSt thI
morning, and yet this little child re
strains me. IT'S strange, but It's rath
err pleasing to be commanded by her
| do not seem to rebel, But no mort
of that to-day-no more"
When the fair Betty came slowl,
riding back half hour later she look
ed demurely upon him with her blu,
ewes as he put out his hand for step
ping stone. and thus on one hanC
bore her like rifle from the saddl,
to the ground.
1.-The men will come at once" sh,
said. He made no reply, but led he
mare to the shed, and then strod
away, with mighty steps; and whei
she saw him later he was with imper
iouS tones commanding the men Il
carry bears haunch TO the old for
at Saybrook Point, and the men obey
ed him, too.
For many days Betty saw Reynolt
no more, except in his solitary seat a
the meeting house on the Lords Day
Bat one day she perceived him, from
her chamber window, making his wa,
toward the well that he might drink
Very demurely Betty threw hoot
over her fair head, and with a buckle
and downcast eyes went to the wei
herself. He had the bucket to hi!
lips and heard her not, so that she
stood within hands reach of him, he
not knowing it. When he lowered
the bucket she spoke.
"You will fill it again for me. and
will thank you, Reynold. :,
He turned, surprised, and for 8
moment looked down in silence upor
her, his body towering great and
mighty above hef slender, graceful
figure.
You came so Silly" he said a
length.
''As you came when l last saw
you"
Would you try to frighten me,
child3"
Nay, no one never made yod know
what fear was. Reynold. Then how
could II Yet perhaps you fear me. y
why say you thatY'
You used to come once in a while
to see my father. Now you come not
at all. You may come, Reynold.
will leave the room to you if | alarm
you"
"TwaS in my heart to come, but in
my resolution 10 come not; so came
not"
why, Reynolds"
Truly, l know not. It's pain 70
keep away, yet l will not come;
"How are your wounds, Reynoldf'
well, thanks to you. Sometimes
seem to feel your touch on my arm.
It's pleasant. But l must go now,
Betty"
whittier, Rsynoldw
To capture rascally Indian, a
dangerous fellow, who doth terrify
our people. and they fear him. But l
will take him, or he will take my
scalp"
She put her bucket down and came
forward, laying her hand upon his
arm. and looked upon him pleadingly.