The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-17
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CHAPTER xxxv.
Continued.

harrington approached. "Oh, Bruce
/ am so glad you have come-you are
not hurt" She accepted his pres
enee without question. She had need
Cd him and he had not failed her
I'VE are none OF us hurt, Betty, he
said gently. as he took her hand
He saw that the suffering she had
undergone during the preceding "a
hours had left it's record on her tired
face and in her heavy eyes. She re
tanned shuddering consciousness OF
/ the unchecked sayagery OF those las'
moments on the keel boat; she was
still hearing the oaths Of the men as
they struggled together, the sound OF
blows, and the dreadful silences that
had followed them. She turned from
him. and there came the relief OF
tears.
There. Betty, the danger is over
now and you were so brave while II
lasted. I can't bear to have you cry
Il was wild with fear-all that
time on the boat, Bruce" she fall
tered between her sobs. L didn't
know but they would find you out. |
could only wait and hope-and pray!
Il was in no danger, dear. Didnt
: the girl tell you | was TO take the
place OF a man Slosson was expect
ing? He never doubted that | was
that man until light-a signal IT
must have been-on the shore at the
head of the bayou betrayed me-
Where are we going now, Bruce?
Not the way they went and Betty
glanced out into the black void where
the keel boat had merged into the
gloom.
mo, no-but we can't get the raft
back upstream against the current, so
the best thing is to land at the aBtes
plantation 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
steering oar as Cavendish coaxed teh
raft out toward the channel The
thought of Charley Norton's murder
rested ON Darlington Ike 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 ira
versed in his hopeless journey up
river translated themselves into d.
vision of time as well as space. They
were lust SO much further removed
from the past with its blight or tragic
terror. He turned and glanced at
Betty. He saw that her eyes held
their steady look of wistful pity that
was for the dead man; yet IN spite OF
this. and In spite OF the bounds be
yond which he would not let his imag-
nation carry him, the future, en-
riched with sudden promise, unfolded
itself. The deep sense OF recovered
hone stirred within him. He knew
there must come a day when he would
dare to speak OF his love, and she
would listen.
"Its best we should land at Bates
nIace-we can get teams there" he
went on to explain. And, Betty,
wherever we go well go together,
dear. Cavendish doesn't look as II
he had any very urgent business OF
his own, and l reckon the same Is
true of Yancy, so. / am going 10 Keep
them with US. There are some points
TO be cleared up when We reach Belle
Plain--some folks who'll have lot
TO explain or else quit this part OF
the state! And intend to see tnat
YOU are not left alone until--until
have the right to take care OF you TOT
good and all-that's what you want
me to do one of these days, isn't IL,
darling?" and his eyes, glowing and
Infinitely tender, dwelt on her up
turned face.
uhrph? Quinn: fiofy
But Betty shrank from him in in
voluntary agitation.
''Oh. not now, Bruce-not now
we mustn't speak of that-its wrong
Its 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 I shall hate myself" for in his
presence she was feeling the horror
OF her past experience grow strange
ly remote, only the dull ache of her
memories remained, and to these she
chung. They were silent for mo-
ment, then Darlington said:
after I'm sure you'll be safe here
perhaps I'll go south into the Choc-
taw Purchase. I've been thinking
OF that recently; but I'll find my
way back here-don't misunderstood
NELL not come too soon for even
you, Betty. l loved Norton. He was
one of my best friends, too" he con-
tinued gently. But you know-and
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 light wind stirred the
dead dense atmosphere, the mist lift
ed and enveloped the shore, showing
them the river between piled-ur
masses of vapor. Apparently IL ran
for their raft alone. 1t was Just "a
hours since Darlington had looked
upon such another night, but this
was a different world the gray fog
was unmasking-a world OF hopes
and dreams. and rich content. Then
he thought OF Norton---poor Norton
who had had his world, too OF
hopes and dreams and rich content
The calm of highly domestic ex-