The Lamar register., 1912-07-03

blIuatlOu III WHICH BIC ucEsol Wdh
placed had little to recommend It,
even to her dull mind, and her dis
satisfaction was expressed in her at
titude toward the girl.
Betty passed the long hours OF
morning in dreary speculation con
corning what was happening at Belle
Plain. In the end she realized that
the day could go by and her absence
occasion no alarm. Steve might rea-
sonably suppose George had driven
her into Raleigh or to the Bowens'
and that she had kept the carriage.
Finally all her hope centered on judge
Price. He would expect Hannibal dur
ing the morning; perhaps when the
boy did not arrive he would be tempt
ed to go out to Belle Plain to dis
cover the reason OF his non-appear-
ance. She wondered what theories
would offer themselves to his In.
genious mind, for she sensed some
thing OF that indomitabie energy
which in the face OF rebuns ana
laughter carried him into the thick OF
every sensation.
At noon Mrs. Hicks, as sullen as Ill
the morning. brought them their DIN
ner. She had scarcely quilted the lott
when shrill whistle pierced the ST.
lence that hung above the clearing.
II was twice repeated, and the two
women were heard to go from the
cabin. Perhaps half an hour elapsed.
then a step became audible on the
packed earth OF the dooryard. Some
one entered the room below and be-
gan to ascend the narrow stairs. and
Betty's fingers closed convulsively
about Hannibal's. This was neither
Mrs. Hicks nor her daughter, nor
Slosson with his clumsy shuttle. There
was a brief pause when the landing
was reached. but It was only momen-
tary: q hand lifted the bar. the door
was thrown open. and its space
framed the figure Of a man. II was
John Murrell.
Standing there he regarded Betty in
silence, but a deep-seated fire giowed
in his sunken eyes. The sense OF pos
session was raging through him. his
temples throbbed. fever stirred his
blood. Love. such as 1t was. he I'M
doubleday felt for her. and even his
giant project. with all its monstrous
qualifications. was lost sight OF for the
moment. She was the inspiration for
It all. the goal and reward for which
he struggled.
Betty" the single wor6 ell softly
from his lips. He stepped into the
room. closing the door as he did 80.
The girls eyes were dilating with a
mute horror. for by some swift, IN
tuitive process of the mind. which
asked nothing of the logic OF events.
but dealt only with conclusions. Muir
rell stood revealed as Norton's muir
derer. Perhaps he read her thoughts.
but he had lived in. his degenerate
ambitions until the common judg-
ments or the understanding OF them
no longer existed for him. That Bet
ty had loved Norton seemed incense
Quential even: 1t was a memory to
be swept away by the force OF his
greater passion. So he watched her
smilingly, but back Of the smile was
the menace OF unleashed impulse.
Cant you find some word OF wei
come for me, Betty?" he asked at
length. still softly. still with some
thing OF entreaty in his tone.
Then 1t was you-not Tom-who
had me brought here!" She could
have thanked God had 1t been Tom.
whose hate was not to be feared as
she feared this mans love.
"Tom-no!" and Murrell laughed.
"You didn't think I'd give you up? l
am standing with a halter about my
neck, and all for your sake-who'd
risk as much for love OF your" He
seemed to expand with savage pride
that this was SO. and took a step to
ward her.
Don't come near mel" cried Betty
Her eyes blazed. and she looked al
him with loathing
you'll learn to be kinder" he ex
ulted. You wouldn't see me at Belle
Plain; what was left for me but tc
have you brought here?"
While Murrell was speaking the sig
nal that had told of his own presence
on the opposite shore Of the bayou
was heard again. This served to ar
rest his attention. A look Of uncer
tainty passed over his face, then he
made an impatient gesture as If h,
dismissed some thought that hae
forced itself upon him. and turned
to Betty.
ssYou don't aak what nv purpose 4,