The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-15
CHAPTER vi.
Betty Sets Out for Iannasas,

Betty Sets Out for Tennessee,
Bruce's first memories had to do
with long nights when he perched be.
side his father on the cabin roof OF
their keel-boat and watched the stars
or the blurred line of the shore where
l. lay against the sky, or the lights on
other barges and RATS drifting as
they were drifting. with their wheat
and corn and whisky, to that com.
mon market at the rivers mouth.
Bruce Darlington had seen the day
OF barge and raft reach it's zenith.
had heard the first steam packets
shrieking whistle, which sounded the
death-knell OF the ancient order,
though the shifting of the trade was q
slow matter and the glory OF the old
did not pass over to the new at once.
but fingered still in mighty fleets OF
RATS and keel-boats and in the Ho-
meric carousals of some ten thousand
OF the half-horse, half.alligator breed
that nightly gathered In New Orleans.
After the reading Of the warrant
that morning. Charley Balaam had
shown Darlington the road to the
Forks. assuring him when they sep.
arated that with q little care and
decent use OF his eyes 1t would be
possible to fetch up there and not
pass plumb through the settlement
without knowing where he was.
He was on his way to Fayetteville.
where he intended to spend the night,
and perhaps q day or two In looking
around. when the meeting with Betty
and Murrell occurred. The girls face
remained with him. It was a face he
would like to see again.
He was still thinking OF the girl
when he ate his supper that night at
Cieggetts Tavern. Later, in the bar,
he engaged his host In Idle gossip. He
had met q gentleman and q lady on
the road that day! he wondered. as
he toyed With his glass. II It could
have been the Ferrises? Mountedy
Yes, mounted. Then 1t was Ferris
and his wife-or IL might have been
Captain Murrell and Miss Mairoy.
Miss Malroy did not live In that part
OF the country; she was a friend OF
Mrs. Ferris. belonged In Kentucky or
tennessee, or somewhere out yonder
at any rate she was bringing her
visit TO an end. for Ferris had In.
structed him to reserve a place for
ner IN the north-bound stage on the
morrow.
Darlington suddenly remembered
that he had thought OF starting north
In the morning himself.
The stage left at six, and as Car.
rington climbed to his seat the next
morning MIR. Cleggett was advising
the driver to look sharp when he
came to the Barony road, a. he was
TO pick up a party there. 1t was Car.
rinston who looked sharp, and almost
at the spot where he had seen Miss
Mairoy the day before he saw her
again, with Ferris and Judith and q
pile OF luggage bestowed by the way.
side. Betty did not observe him as
the coach stopped, for she was In.
tent on her farewells with her friends.
There were hasty words or advice
from Ferris. prolonged good.bys to
JUDITH, tears-kisses--whi q place
was being made for her many boxes
and trunks. Darlington gathered that
the was going north TO Washington;
that her final destination was some
point either on tho Ohio or Missis.
sippi. and that her name was Betty
Thcn the door slammed and the stage
was In motion again.
All through the morning they swung
forward in the heat and dust and
glare, and at midday ratified into the
shaded main street OF a sleepy village
and drew up before the tavern where
dinner was waiting them.
Retty saw Darlington when she
TOOK her seat, and gave u scarcely
percepublo start OF surprise. Then
her face was flooded with "A rich col.
or This was the man who saw her
with Captain Murrell Yesterday
There was orief moment OF lrreso
luton and then she bowed coldly.
IN was four days to Richmond. -Four
days ot hot, dusty travel, tour nights
ot uncomfortable cross.rOad sfations.
whore N"'tv sufforod sloonloSs nights