The Lamar register., 1912-05-15
CHAPTER VII.
On the River.

On the River.
Betty stood under a dripping UNI
brella In the midst of a downpour.
Just arrived by the four.horse coach
that piled regularly between Wash.
ington and Georgetown. she had
found the long board platform beside
the canal crowded with her fellow
passengers. Suddenly she became
aware of q tall. familiar figure NOV.
ing through the crowd. 1t was Bruce
Darlington. At the same moment he
saw her. and with a casual air that
quite deceived her. approached.
you're leaving tonight?" he asked.
"Yes-isn't 1t miserable the way II
rains? And why are they 80 SLOW
why don't they hurry with that boat?"
Its in the last lock now" ex
planned Darlington. and gathering up
Betty's hand luggage. he helped her
aboard.
By the time they had reached
Wheeling. Betty had quite parted with
whatever superficial prejudice she
might have had concerning river-men.
This particular one was evidently p
very nice river-man. an exception u
his kind. He made choice Of the
steamer ON which she should continue
her journey. and thoughtfully chose
The Naiad-a slow boat.
Il haven't . tAlAg 70 offer her-this
IL plain madness Il mine!" he kept
telling himssA. - then the express
sion OF his faao would become grim
and determined - more OF the river
for him-hs'd - hold OF some land
and 60 to raisiA4 oetton: that was the
way money was nads.
Slow a. Tho SA1aA was, the days
passed much ~ swiftly for him.
When Memphis Vas reached their
friendly intsresqQDo would come to an
end. There vou1 - her brother. OF
whom she haA 0osasionaily spoken
he would b lDse0 certain to have
the ideas Of ~ G1Ass.
The days. M ~ other days. dwin-
died. The - - 4 all was close at
hand. Ano<Aa1 tVsnty-four hours
nd Carringtea Ou0eotsd there would
My be soo11Y - say.
We viii 49, New Madrid to.
eight" he - her. They were
watching Tie ~. under . Hood OF
yellow mOO0
Darlington. - - back against a
:tanchion. Wa1an1 hsr discontented-
y.
You'll b n1nn1Y glad to have this
over with, Mo- S6nl1oy-" he said at
length. with . 0o00eshsnsive sweep
toward the ~
"Yes-shaat Nl.r and she opened
Ger eyes QusselDhgiy.
mo-" said oau1ngton with . short
augh. drawing . GAAar near hers and
lifting down.
Betty. in sus1lA save him . quick
COX. and tAsa - quickly glanced
way from No. - encountered in
ais eyes. A. - looked. suddenly
pale points q ~ aopsared ON dis
tant headlanl.
"Is that Nsv 1nnAssd-Oh. il 1t. MIR.
Carrington?- - 9Ssd eagerly.
Il reckon - ~ h did not alter
mis- position.
But you're - looking!"
Yes. l am-c0 looking at you.
reckon you'n INK me crazy. Miss
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and all that
but l wish MsmDAis could be wiped
on the map. Al ut We could go on
like this for sVaOa"
You mustn't ~ SOL am nothing
to you"
Yes. you ~ You're everything
to me-" said 0asslngton doggediy.
You shall love ~" She was pow
eriess in his snAsaos. She felt his
breath on her GAbok, then he kissed
her. Suddenly - arms fell at his
side: his face ~ white. Il was q
brute to do tAa1-Bstty. forgive me!
I am sorry-no. I can't be SORRY"
They were alsa9sids the New Mad
rid wharf now, I'D . certain young
man who had ben impatiently watch
ing The Naiad's ngAts ever since they
became visible egoesed the gang plank
with a bound.
"Betty-why - he name OF good
ness did you svs1 choose this tub?'
said the new-oo0oe.
Charley"
Darlington oospped back. This
must be the brother who had come UP
the river from Memphis to meet her
but her brothers name was Tom!
He looked this se1angsr-this Charley
over with . hostile eye. offended by
his good looks, - confident manner.
in which he thought he detected an
air OF ownersAiD. - if-certainly he
was holding her hands longer than