Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-04-17
CHAPTER ". (contInued.)


When Betty Malroy rode away from
Squire Balaam's Murrell gailoped after
her. Presently she heard the beat OF
his horses hoofs as he came pound
Ing along the sandy road. and glanced
back over her shoulder. With an ex'
3clamation OF displeasure she refined IN
her horse Murreil quickly gained q
place at her side.
Il suppose Ferris is at the Barony!
he said drawing his horse down to q
walk.
II believe he is" said Betty with q
curt little air. 4
MAY / ride with you?" he gave her
q swift glance. She nodded indlf'
ferently and would have urged her
horse into gallop again, but he made
a gesture OF protest. "Don't-or
shall think you are still running away
from me-" he said with short laugh.
Were you at the trial?"! she asked.
II am glad they didn't get Hannibal
away from Yancy."
..Oh, Yancy will have his hands full
with that later-so will Baden" he
added, significantly. He studied her
out OF those deeply sunken eyes OF his
in which no shadow OF youth lin
Eered, for men such as he reached
their prime early, and 1t was swift
" passing splendor. Ferris tells me
you are going to west Tennessee?"
he said at length.
@ yes"
ii know your half-brother, Tom
Ware-I know him very we'll"
x $50 you know TOMB" she observed,
and frowned slightly. Tom was her
guardian, and her memories OF him
were not satisfactory. A burly, I'M
shaven man with queer streak OF
meanness through his character.
You've spent much OF your time
. up north 2" suggested 3Murreli.
-Four years. I've been at school.
you know. That's where met Judith
i Ferris"
Il hope you'll like west Tennessee.
It's still bit raw compared with
what you've been accustomed to in
the north. You haven't been back in
all those four years 2" Betty shook
her head. Nor seen Tom-nor. any
che from out yonder?'' For some rea-
son a little tinge OF color had crept
into Betty's cheeks. "Will you let me
renew our acquaintance at Belle
Plain? shall be in west Tennessee
before the summer is over; probably
/ shall leave here within week." he
said, bending toward her. His glance
u nd NIL NJ
lines OF her figure. and his senses
swan.
II imagine you Will be welcome at
Belle Plain. You are Toms friend"
Murrell bit his lip. and then laughed
a. his mind conjured up picture OF
the cherished Tom. Suddenly he
reached out and rested his hand on
hers.
''Betty-if might think he be-,
gan, but his tongue stumbled. HIS
love-making was usually OF a savage
sort, but some quality In the girl held
him in check. Betty drew away from
him, an angry color on her cheeks
and an angry light in her eyes. 'For-
give me, Betty!" murmured Murrell,
but his heart beat against his ribs,
and passion sent its surges through
him. Don't you know what I'm try
ing to tell you?" he whispered. Betty
gathered up her reins. Not yet
he cried. and again he rested heavy
hand on hers.
.Let me go-iet me go!" cried Bet
ty Indignantly.
''No-not yeti" He urged his horse
still nearer and gathered her close.
you've got to hear me. I've loved
you since the first moment l rested
my eyes on you-and, by God. you
struggle to free herself from his
grasp with sense OF savage triumph.
Bruce Darlington. on his way back
to Fayetteville from the Forks. came
about a turn in the road. Betty saw
a tall, handsome fellow in the first
flush OF manhood: Darlington, an
angry girl struggling In mans
grasp.
At sight of the newcomer, Murrell,
with an oath. released Betty. who.
striking her horse with the whip, gal
loped down the road toward the
Barony. AS she fed past Darlington
she bent low in her saddle.
Don't let him follow met she
gasped. and Darlington, striding for
ward. caught Murreils horse by the
bit.
lie; GOT" roared Murrell. and a
murd e-ous light shot from his eyes.
II don't know but should pull you