Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-05

estly. He added, "What now?-do we
make a landing?"
"No-unless it interferes with your
lplans not to. I want to get around
lthe next bend before we tie up. Later
we'n all go back. Can I count on
Iyou?"
you shorely can. I consider this
here as sociable a neighborhood as
ever struck. 1t pleases me well. Folks
lare up and doing hereabout."
Darlington looked eagerly around
lin search of Betty. She was sitting
on an upturned tub. a pathetic enough
figure as she dropped against the wall
!iof one Of the shanties with all her
courage quite gone from her. He made
his way quickly to her side.
}, La" whispered Polly in Chills and
!, Fever's ear. If that pore young thing
yonder keeps a widow it won't be be-
cause of any encouragement she gets
from Mr. Darlington. If I ever seen
marriage in a mans eye I seen 1t In
his this minute!"
"Bruce." cried Betty, starting UP
as Darlington approached. "Oh, Bruce,
1 am so glad you have come-you are
not hurt?" She accepted his presence
without question. She had needed him
and he had not failed her.
1--WE are none of us hurt, Betty" "
he said gently, as he took her hand.
He saw that the suffering she had
undergone during the preceding twen-
ty-four hours had left it's record on
her tired face and in her heavy eyes.
She retained a shuddering conscious
ness of the unchecked savagery Of
those last moments on the keel boat;
she was still hearing the oaths Of the
men as they struggled together. the
sound of blows, and the dreadful ST.
llences that followed them. She turn
ed from him. and there came the re-
lief of tears.
There. Betty, the danger is over
now, and you were so brave while It
lasted. I can't bear to have you cry!"
"I was wild with fear-all the time
| on the boat Bruce" she faltered be-
tween her sobs. II didn't know but
they would find you out could only
wait and hope-and pray!"
"I was in no danger, dear. Didn't
the girl tell you I was to take the
place of a man Slosson was expecting?
He never doubted that I was that man
until a light-a signal it 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.
mo, no-but we can't 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 a week had elapsed since he
quilted Thicket Point and in that
week the hand Of death had dealt
with them impartially, and to what
end? Then the miles he had traversed
in his hopeless journey up-river trans
lated themselves into division Of
time as we'll as space. They were just
so much further removed from the
past with it's blight of tragic terror.
He turned and glanced at Betty. He
saw that her eyes held their steady
look of 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
him, 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 to speak of
his love, and she would listen.
"It's best we should land at Bates
place-we can get teams there" he
went on to explain. And, Betty,
wherever we go We'll go together,
dear. Cavendish doesn't look as If he
had any very urgent business Of his
own. and I reckon the same is true
of Yancy, so I am going to keep them
with us. There are some points to
be cleared up when we reach Belle
Plain-some folks who'll have a lot
to explain or else quit this part OF
the state! And I intend to see that
you are not left alone until-until l
have the right to take care Of you
for good and all-that's what you
want me to do one Of these days, isn't
it. darling?" and his eyes, glowing
and infinitely tender, dwelt on her up
turned face.
But Betty shrank from him in in
voluntary agitation.
| "Oh. not now, Bruce-not now-we
mustn't speak Of that-it's wrong-its
wicked-you mustn't make me forget
him." she cried brokenly. in protest.
Forgive me. Betty, I shall not
speak of it again." he said.
wait Bruce, and some time-Oh'
don't make me say It," she gasped'
''or I 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 Choctaw
Purchase. I've been thinking of that
recently; but I'll find my way back
here-dont misunderstood NELL not
come too soon for even you, Betty. l
loved Norton. He was one of my best
| friends, too" he continued gently
But you know-and I know-dear, the
day will come when no matter where
you are l shall find you again-find
you and not lose you!"
Betty made no answer in words, but
a soft and eloquent little hand was
/ T.; nj oil tn