The Washington herald., 1911-11-17
CHAPTER XXXV-Continued.


best thing is to land at the Bates planta-
ton below here; then as soon as you are
able we can return to Belle Plain" said
Darlington.
There was an interval broken only by
the occasional sweep of the great steer
ing oar as Cavendish coaxed the raft
out toward the channel The thought
Of Charley Norton's murder rested on
Darlington like a pail Scarcely a week
had elapsed since he quilted Thicket
Point and in that week the hand Of
death had dealt with them impartially,
and to what end? Then the miles he
had travelled in his hopeless journey up
river translated themselves into divi-
sion of time as we'll as space. They were
just so much further removed from the
past with its blight of tragic terror. He
turned and glanced at Betty. He saw
that her eyes held their steady look of
wistf1l pity that was for the dead man;
yet in spite of this, and in spite of the
bounds beyO d which he would not let his
imagination carry him, the future. en-
riched with sudden promise, unfolded IT.
self. The deep sense of recovered hope
stirred within him. He knew there must
come a day when he would dare to speak
of his love, and she would listen.
It's best we should land at Bates
place-we can get a team there" he went
on to explain. And, Betty, wherever we
go we'll cd together, dear. Cavendish
doesn't look as if he had any very ur-
gent business of his own, AMI I reckon
the same is true of Yancy, so I am
going to keep them with u.s. There are
some points to be cleared up when we
reach Belle Plain-some folks who'll have
lot to explain or else cult this part of
the State! And I intend to see that you
are not left alone Until-until have the
right to take care of you for good and
aH-thatS what You want me to do
OF these days. isn't it, darling?" and his
eyes, glowing and infinitely tender, dwelt
on her upturned face.
But Betty shrank from him in invol-
untary agitation.
''Oh, not now. Bruce-not now-we
mustn't speak of that-its wrong-it's
wicked-you mustn't make me forget
him. she cried brokenly. in protest.
Forgive me, Betty, I'll not speak of
II again." he said.
Wait, Bruce, and some time-Oh. don't
make me say it, she gasped, 'or 1 shall
hate myself for in his presence she was
feeling the horror of her past experience
grow strangely remote, only the dull ache
OF her memories remained, and TO these
she clung They were silent for a mo-
ment, then Darlington said:
After I'm sure you'll be safe here
perhaps I'll go South into the Choctaw
Purchase. I've been thinking of that re-
Gently; but I'll find my way back here
don't misunderstood NELL not come
too soon for even you, Betty. I loved
Norton. He was one of my best friends.
too," he continued gently But you
knOw-and l knOw-dear. the day Will
come when no matter where you are
shall find you and not lose you"
Betty made no answer in words, but
soft and eloquent little hand was
slipped into his and allowed to rest
there
Presently a light wind stirred the dead
enveloped the shore. showing them the
river between piled-up masses of vapor.
Apparently it ran for their raft alone. 1t
was just twenty-fOur hours since Car
ringtOn had looked upon such another
night, bu; this was a different world the
gray fog was unmasking-a world of
hopes, and dreams, and rich content.
Then the thought of Norton-poor Norton
who had had his world too, of hopes
and dreams and rich content
The calm Of a highly domestic exist
ence had resumed its interrupted sway on
the raft. Mr.. Cavendish. associated in
Betty's memory with certain ear-spltting
manifestations of feroc.ous rage. became
in the bosom of his family lOwvOiced
and genial and hOpeIessly impotent to
deal with his five small sons: while |
Yancy was again the Bob YanCy of
Scratch Hill, violence Of any sort ap- |
parently Mad no place in his nature. He !
" ttS AttplN dbSDl DcO III IZdlllllbdl az
count OF those vicissitudes which had |
befalen him during their separation. ,
They We're now seated before cheerful |
fire that hlazed on the hearth, the boy |
very close to YanCy, with one hand |
Clasped in The Scratch Killers, while |
about them We're ranged the six small !
CaVendisEes sedately sharing in the re- |
union Of uncle and nevvy, toward which |
they felt they had hOnorably labored.
And you want dead, Uncle Bob?' said !
Hannibal with a deep breath, viewing !
Yancy Enthusiastically in the flesh.
Never once. I been floating peace |
fully along with these here titled friends |
OF mine: but l was some anxious about
you, SON"
And Mr.. Slosson. Uncle Bob-did you |
smack him like you smacked Dave Blount |
that day when he tried to steal me?"
asked Hannibal. whose childish sense of
justice demanded reparation for the |
wrongs they had suffered.
Mr. YanCy extended a big right hand. |
the knuckle of which was skinned and |
bruised.
He were the meanest man ever felt |
Obliged TO- TO hit with my first, nevvy. !
1t appeared like he had teeth all over |
his face
"Sho'-where's his hide. Uncle Bob?" |
cried the little Cavendishes in an excited |
chorus. ''Sho'-did you forget that" |
They themselves had forgotten the unique |
enterprise to which Mr.. Yancy was COM |
mitted, but the allusion to Slosson had |
revived their memory of it.
well, he begged so piteous to be al |
lowed TO to keep his hide, I hadn't the |
heart to strip it of" explained Mr.. |
Yancy. pleasantly. And the winters |
comm On-at this moment 1 can feel a |
chill in the air. Don't you-all reckon he's |
goin' to need it TO to keep the cold out? |
Sho', you mustn't be bloody minded
What was it about Mr.. Slosson's hide, |
Uncle Bob?'' demanded Hannibal. What |
was you a-goin to do to that?'
why, nevvy, after he beat me up and |
throwed me in the river, I was some
peevish 70 a spell in my feelings TO
him." said Yancy, in a tone Of gentle |
regret. He glanced at his bruised hand.
But I'm right pleased to be able to
say that I've got over all them onchar-
liable thoughts of mine
And you seen the judge, Uncle Bob?"
questioned Hannibal
Yes; I've seen the judge. We was to-
gether TO part of a day. Me and him
gets on fine"
Where is he now, Uncle Bob?'
Il reckon he's back at Belle Plain by
this time. You see we left him in
Raleigh along after noon to tend to
some business he had on hand. never
seen a gentleman of his weight so truly