The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-13
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I'm a Love Chase
By MARTHA McCULLOCH-WILLIAMS


"Joe Desha!" the colonel reared
his face semi-apoplectic. why. I'd
send you to nunnery. before you
should marry him."
Indeed" Betty. his granddaugh-
ter and sole heiress, said. sticking out
her chin at the thought. and smiling
an Irritating smile, as she shifted at q
rose. The chin was softly rounded.
yet had somehow a suggestion of
f1rmness to match the colonel's own.
A willful race the Harkways. said
everybody that knew them - good
friends. fair enemies, but set!-Oh, be-
yond anything.
At rising seventy the colonel was
most set upon two things-matching
Betty with her cousin Duval, so the
estate should be kept in the name;
and beating. with a horse of his own
breeding. the pride of the Desha
stables. whatever that might happen
to be.
Duvai, Virginia-bred. and at most
a fifth cousin. ought to have suited
Miss Betty as we'll as he did her
elders. But she had in full the family
inclination for her own way-more-
over, 1t had been case of love at
sight between her and Joe Desha.
They had met half dozen times, yet
were betrothed. 1t was Betty's own
doing speaking out to the colonel
She had not said word to Joe-in
the strength of loyal love, she meant
to spare him humiliation, sine, she
knew he was coming soon to speak for
himself.
Seems like you'd have more pride
than ever to speak to one of that
scurvy lot," the colonel went on.
wrathfully.
Betty shifted harder. Il don't
know any one Of a scurvy lot" she
said. sweetly. You can't mean the
Deshas-"
why can't II" the colonel roared.
Because they are about the best
bred people in the county-as high
bred as their horses" Betty flung
back, and though she still smiled,
there were points of dangerous light
In the middle of her eyes,
The colonel ought to have needed
them. but he was anger-blind. He
gripped her arm, saying hoarsely as
he pushed her toward the stairway:
You'll go to your room and stay
there under lock and key-until you
learn sense-and manners. Under
stand. you shan't set foot outside this
house until you agree to marry Du.
VAL"
"Shan't ~" Betty flung back at
him, wrenching herself free.
She was tall and slim, but 1.-the as
AN ash sapling. Once free the colonel
was no match for her. But he felt
he had the advantage-she was in
her pink satin party dress, her feet
In silk stockings and tiny, high.
heeled pink satin slippers. She had
made her revelation while they were
waiting for the carriage, which was
to take them, Duval included, to the
Eastons' Christmas eve dance.
Betty had not put on cloak or hood
her hair fell in tumbled curls
over her bare shoulders. Outside it
was splitting snow, and there was q
thin white skin on the ground. But
that did not In the least daunt her
darting into the hall she snatched
down long horseman's cloak, then
ran through the front door. down the
snowy steps and on toward the sta.
bles. At first her sole impulse had
been fight. AS she ran a purpose
shaped itself. mad one to be sure
but suiting her present mood. 1t was
to mount Bonnybell. her grandfath-
er's darling, ride back. fling a chal
lenge at the old mainland beat him
in fair race in spite of carving
weight.
She knew Joe would be down at
the crossroads waiting for message
from her. He should ride with her
together they would distance the an
CRY colonel, even though his mount
were Sir Archy, next to Bonnybell his
pride. She knew he would dare do it:
the HaWksworth blood did not know
how to be afraid. But Duval and
grandmamma might interfere-at any
rate. they should have the chance.
Betty's brain by help Of Betty's
heart. she was in the stall, had scram.
bled to Bonnybells back, never think
Ing of saddle, hardly even stopping to
put bride in place Of halter. She
had heard her grandfather shouting
angrily after her. At first he had
waited on the steps-now he was
stumping down the walk to the sta.
bles-just as she was clear of the
outer door she saw him. lantern in
hand. fine, almost pathetic figure,
ruddy, white-haired, erect, with yet a
little tremulousness of movement.
In spite OF it she flung at him her
challenge-the last words over her
shoulder as she sent Bonnybell stretch
ing away.
I'VE will wait for you at the cross
roads" were the last words. followed
by a reckless laugh.
Youth is cruel often for want of
~~~~~-~>~~