Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-12-26
(See his disco

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81 THINK or NOTHING ELSE DAY AND NIGHT. {"
BETTY SAID.
rip tesrin Johnny Gates. You an him
have been as thick as thieves ever senoe
he come inter his pile o. money last
year
Betty walked the vacant Office with
quick. impatient steps A leaping fire
cracked in the CRATE. Uncle Edom, the
black manservant. had drawn the east
est chair beside it, but nothing could
induce her to rest in it. She had peach
blossomy cheeks now. Uncle Edom had
told her. Ode ole big boss, ma am, he
done goned fer er week, but Marse Ned
he'll be down in dest er little while.''
She wished of all things to escape an
encounter with Ned She could never
make him UNDERSTANDINGS father and
his had been social equals. class and
college mates-hence the old man would
have known intuitively how impossible
twas that her fathers daughter should
leave his defense to be ranked among
anybody's charity cases. His son-Bet-
tvs thought went no farther-the rae
ing blood made connected thought i'm
possible, She stood mutinous trem-
bling. wishing herself 100 miles away.
yet in nowise repenting the thing that
had brought her. There was a back door,
of which she knew nothing. Ned came
through it and took her unawares. He
walked straight up in front of her, say
ing with little frown:
Betty, why will you do such very
foolish things?''
II do not quite understand you, 4"
Betty faltered.
who bought Lightfoot7'' he demand
ed. his voice still hard.
who says / have sold her?'' Betty
asked with spirit
81 know. 1t was because of what
Johnny Gates SAID when you refused
him again" Ned went on relentlessly
Petty dung OF her shawl as though
Its weight stihed her. Her eyes sparkled,
her voice was an edged flute note as she
said:
Mr.. Westfeld, is there anything in
the relation of lawyer and client to au-
thorize questions such as you have seen
fit to aslx?''
81 am more than your lawyer, Z" Ned
said stoutly. Betty, this is no fit time
or place. but you know love yon, you
know mean to marry yon as soon as I
come into my grandmother legacy and
am independents of my father. / told
You that over and over in the summer.
Then you at least listened; now you try
TO shut me away from your concerns.
You have stripped yourself of work
stock. You live on a farm alone with
the children. They must have fire and
food and clothes. You have perhaps a
right to sacrifice yourself and me, Bet
ty, but not the children. Do have a
thought for them. -
81 think of nothing else day and
night" Betty said. "But-but can't
you see? Oh, do please take the money
for yonr father. It is not much, only
5000, but when it IS paid people cannot
say
"Let them say what they like, =" West
field broke in. Betty, Betty, marry
me at once. You shall not starve, dear.
r.
please, please never say such things
again, Betty entreated. "Think of
your father, of how good he was to mine,
and his pride, and how it would break
his heart to know his only son had mar
ried convict's daughter
"StopP' Ned said, speaking low and
hard. 81 have been over all that, Bet
ty, but if you love me anything is bet
ter than knowing you AS you are, with
nothing between You and the crush of
things''
81 do not think so,' Betty cried,
dropping the roll Of bills on the desk
before him and hurrying away. She
dared not trust herself to listen fur
Their. If only she could rush home
away from every thing. But that was
impossible She had still to deliver
Lightfoot Trab had her now-Trab,
who was next herself, though five years
younger, and just fairly in roundabouts
They had stopped that morning upon
the scar common where it made sort
OF bay mp among back gardens and sta
bic yards. AS Betty came up to him she
noted with choke in the throat the
tear stains all over his thin, wistful face.
'You--you staid a long time, Bet
ty," he said, pressing his face close to
the mares glossy neck. Lightfoot was
thoroughbred and Detty's own proper.
~, gift from one of her fathers boon
companions. who found the foal, then
less than q Syeek old, a serious him
dranoe to his pleasure. He did not
dream the newcomer could bring mp his
gift. He did not know, as Betty did,
how wise and kind was Sock, the bell
cow. After a sniff or two and one faint
protesting moo Sock let the colt suck
beside her own new calf quite as though
they were twins.
Next year Lightfoot came out in her
glossy new coat as fine and lusty q year
ling as stepped ON four hoofs The chill
dren frolicked with her, talked to her
and shared their dainties quite as
Though she had been human, which
*hey more than half believed she was.
And what famous 3-year-old she made
birdie wise, full gated and handsome
az picture Betty began to ride her
then. Today it came back to her how
her father had looked at her frayed,
worn saddle and housings and said:
''Ah, Betty, you could show of your
mare if only you had father worth
even hanging.
Her dear fatherI He had been always
the pattern Of kindness so long as he
kept at home. A pattern of industry
and thrift, too, until the restless At
seized him; then he rode away. drank