Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-31

Ut DOdL WAS IL IndtleT vi uI60AI5 IA
terest requiring their presence, rain or
shine. Suddenly she became aware
of tall, familiar figure moving
through the crowd. 1t was Bruce Car
rington. At the same moment he saw
her, and with casual air that quite
deceived her, approached; and Betty,
who had been feeling very lonely and
very homesick, was somehow instantly
comforted at sight of him. She vel
coined him almost as a friend.
You're leaving tonight?" he asked
"Yes-isn't it miserable the way 1t
rains? And why are they so slow
why don't they hurry with that boat 2"
TITS in the last lock now" explained
Darlington. +,
'My clothes will be ruined said
Betty He regarded the dress she wore
with instant concern "No-I mean the
things in my trunks; this doesn't mat
ter" and Betty nodded toward the pile
under the steaming tarpaulin. Car
rington's dark eyes opened with an
expression Of mild wonder. And so
those trunks were full of clothes
Oh. Lord! The looked down at the
flushed, impatient face beside him
with amusement.
I'll see that they are taken care
OF" he said, for the boat was along
side the platform now; and gathering
up Betty's hand luggage, he helped her
aboard
By the time they had reached
Wheeling, Betty had quite parted with
whatever superficial prejudice she
might have had concerning river men.
This particular one was evidently a
very nice river man, an exception to
his kind. She permitted him to assume
the burden Of her plans, and no longer
scanned the pages of her Badgers &
Porter's with puckered brow. 1t re-
posed at the bottom of her satchel. He
made choice OF the steamer on which
she should continue her Journey, and
thoughtfully chose The Naiad--a slow
boat. with no reputation for speed to
sustain. It meant two or three days
longer on the river, but what Of that?
There would be no temptation in the
engine-room to attach casual wrench
or SO to the safety-valve as an offset
to the builders lack of confidence in
his own boilers. He saw to It that her
state-room was well aft-steamers had
a trick Of blowing UP forward.
He had now reached state of the
utmost satisfaction with himself and
the situation. Betty was friendly and
charming. He walked with her, and he
talked with her by the hour: and al
ways he was; being entangled deeper
end deeper In the web Of her attrac-
tfon. When alone he would pace the
deck recalling every word she had
spoken. There was that little air Of
high breeding which was Betty's that
fascinated him. He had known some
thing of the other sort, those who had
arrived at prosperity with manners
and speech that still reflected the
mesner condition from which they had
risen.
II haven't a thing to offer her
this Is plain madness of mine!" he
kept telling himself. and then the ex-
preston of his face would become
grim and determined. No more Of the
river for him--he'd get hold of some
land and go to raising cotton; that
was the way money was made.
Slow as The Naiad was, the days
pasesd much too swiftly for him.
When Memphis was reached their
friendly intercourse would come to an
II,
whom she had occasionally sDken--
he would be pretty certain to have the.
ideas of his class
AS for Betty, she liked this tall fell.
low who helped her through the
fatigue Of those long days, when there
was only the unbroken sweep Of the
forest on either hand, with here and
there clearing where some
courageous soul was making a home
for himself. The shore became duIler.
wilder. more uninteresting as they adj
vanced, and then at last they entered
the Mississippi, and she was almost
home.
Betty was not unexcited by the pros
pect. She would be the mistress of the
most splendid place in West Tennes-
see She secretly aspired to be bril-
liant hostess. She could remember when
the doors of Belle Plain were open to
whomsoever had the least claim to
observation-disclosures and specula-
tors in land men who were promot-
ing those great schemes of improve
ment, canals and railroads; hard
featured heroes of the two wars with
England diminishing group; the
men of the modern army, the path
finders, and Indian fighters, and some
times titled foreigner. She wondered
If Tom had maintained the traditions
OF the place. She found that Caring
ton had heard OF Belle Plain. He
spoke of it with respect, but with a
noticeable lack OF enthusiasm, for
how could he feel enthusiastic when
he must begin his chase after fortune
with bare hands ?-he suffered acutely
whenever 1t was mentioned. The days,
like any other days, dwindled. The end
of It all was close at hand. Another
twenty-four hours and Darlington re-
Elected there would only be good-by
to say.
1--WE will reach New Madrid to-
night" he told her. They were watch
ing the river. under a flood of yellow
moonlight.
"And then just another day-Oh, I
can hardly watt" cried Betty delight
eddy. "Soon shall hope to see you at
Belle Plain, Mr.. Darlington" she
added graciously.
THANK you, your-your family"
he hesitated.
There's only just Tom-he's my
y "