The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-04-28

tissue" He promptly belisd himself
by mis- diseomposure and repeated
anxiously, Whats upr'
II want your assistance. It's Just
this, Old fellow, the uncle Of this
anger
Meaning your betrothsdr Darby
, grtnned In hollow fashion.
~5ugt the same and ssYtouSiy."
Darby sxpsr4s.csd . lash Of COM
prehenstoo: this might explain Why
Dorrancs was 20 naomsntously solemn.
Nan, you dent actually intend to
commit nnAtrlmonyr
But I DO. and I may before morn.
Ing"
'Lordr said Darby helplsssiy.
mo Joking matter. Tom. This uncle
Henry Wharton, a. near 40 can make
out, u . thorough paced scoundreL"
The villain OF this dranamer7 Z
G'wanr ~
Listen TO me. you internal ihiotl
Ruth
Darby waggisd his head hopelessly.
Dorranes fixed him with a stern glare
Ruth" he repeated with determine
tcn, '1s heirsss 10 peck Of property
this and more. She's an orphan. and
old Wharton y her guardian. She
comes into possession when she's
eighteen, and she will bs that tomor-
row."
"a womans age"-
"Be quiet II she marries before
that, nine-tenths Of her inheritance re-
verts to her guardian"
Here Darby grew befuddied.
Then why in heavens name does
she want your
II don't know that she does except
as an alternative. This amiable uncle
Is added about money; wants to get
her married. even tried to force her
into match with a-oh, real dayvil-
ish sort Of fellow, Fetter by name
Now, Fetter won't do. according to
Ruth. She doesn't want him, or any
body, ror that matter."
mot even your
"Not even me-"
"How DO you knoww she Queried
archly from the doorway, and Darby
Il positive that prettier picture never
was than she made framed In its rich,
somber darkness. N"ARe we not en-
gagedf"
III hope sos'' Dorranoe cried ferveut-
| H. TIL have you II you'll let me.
though all the world
"Oh, here" Darby exclaimed hastily,
"rm q modest man! Go ON with the
plot. begin TO see hight"
"Weli. then" Ruth took UP the thread
| Of narrative, ''as last resort be per-
suaded me TO come down here from At
lanta. knowing that could never es-
cape. And never thought It's twen-
ty miles TO the nearest village, eighteen
to the nearest railroad. l could not
walk II II tried. and Cassius keeps
close watch on me. The horses uncle
took with him when he left this morn
Ing, saying that he would return this
evening. I am positive that he means
to bring back with him this odious Mr..
Fetter and clergyman M
1.-TWO and two" said Darby. m
"And-and know you thought me a
bold creature this afternoon, but I was
desperate, helpless. I could not think
what to do. You will help me, dear Mr..
Darby, won't your And. believe me,
she plumped down on her knees before
him.
Darby, was 30 embarrassed that he
Jumped as though she had kissed him.
He adopted paternal tone, speaking
with the matured judgment Of twenty
FIVE years.
why. Of course, my dear, you may
rely on me-" he was In fine oonceit
with himself for that speech.
"Oh, thank you"
mot at all! Not at air. Darby mar.
vels that he restrained himself from
| saying. Tut. tut, my dear!" He added.
with a relieving Inspiration, Then Ge
best thing We can do Is to get right
aboard the Beau Gallant"
mot In thousand years" said Dor
rance firmly.
"Whyr'
Dorrance eyed him curiousiy. "rve
better pian," he said at length.
"WellY'
'T'll tell you later. For the present
you stay here. I'm going to trot down
to the beach and signal Hendricks. We
dine aboard tonight, you and L"
| That's q mercy. At what timer
But Dorrance was gone.
HE Is Just splendid, isn't her satd
Ruth.
"Dorrance9 Oh, yes, he's all right.
II You marry him.
Tive promised" She hung her head
In such sweet confusion that Tom Oar
by was more than ever envious.
"But be will not hold you TO that
promise"
Indeed" she famed dehantly, 'hs
has the right!"
II wish had" said Darby. Hes q
lucky dog"
Here he suddenly executed q back-
ward leap OF some several feet. Ruth
had whipped out from beneath her