The Springdale news., 1912-07-26


 Il was wild with fear-all that time on the boat, Bruce" she faltered be- tween her sobs. T didn't know but they would find you out. I could only wait and hope-and pray,"
 T was in no danger, dear. Didn't the girl tell you l was to take the place of man Slosson was expect ing? He never doubted that I was that man until light-a signal 1t 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.
 No, no-but We cant get the raft back upstream against the current, so the best thing is to land at the Bates 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 the raft out toward the channel. The thought Of Charley Norton's murder rested on Darlington like pail. Scarcely week had elapsed since he quilted Thicket Point. and in that week the hand Of death had dealt with them impaTtially, and to what end? Then the miles he had traversei in his hopeless journey up-river trans lated themselves into division or time as we'll as space They were just as much further removed from the past with it's blight of tragic ter TOT. He turned and glanced at Betty. He saw that her eyes held their steady look or Wistful pity that was for the dead man, Yet in spite of this, and in spite Of the bounds beyond which he would not let his imagination carry hia. the future. enriched with sudden promise, unfolded itself. The deep sense Of recovered hope stirred with in him. He knew there must come a daY when he would dare 10 speak of his love, and she would listen
 It's best We should land at Bates piace-we can get teams there.9 weat on to explain. And, Betty. wherever We go we'll go together. dear Gavendish doesn't look as II he had any very urgent business Of his own. and l reckon the same is true of Yancy, so I am going to keep them with IS. There are some points to be cleared up when We reach Belle Piain -zeme folks who'll have lot 70 ex. plgin or else quit this part of the state, And ! intend to see that you aee hot left alone untiI-until have tha right te take care of you for good md ail-that.s what you want me to do one Of these days, isn't t, dar Eng 3s and his eyes, glowing and in =aisely tender, dwelt on her upturned face.
 Rut-Betty shFank from him In in- voluntary agitation.
 oh. not now Bruee-not new-we mustn't speak of that-it's wrong IS 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 IL" she gasped. "or l 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 Choetaw Purchase I've been thinking Of that recently: but I'll find my way back here-dont misunderstand me-Ill not come too soon for even you, Bet ty 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 l 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.
 
 dead dense atmosphere. the mist Hit cd and enveloped the shore, showing them the river between piled-up mass Of yapor Apparently It ran for their ratt alone. It was just twen- ty-foar hours since Darlington had looked upon such another night but this was different world the gray fog was unmasking- world ot 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 ex- istence had resumed its interrupted sway on the raft. Mr. Cavendish, as sociated in Betty's memory with eer- tain ear-splitting manifestations of 5erocious rage. became in the bosom of his family low-voieed and genial and hopelessly impotent to deal with his five small sons while Yancy was again the Bob Yancy of Scratch Hill. violence Of any sort apparently had