Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-03-21
CHAPTER VI.
RettY eeta out for Tonnesses.

9~AAy oGhW WI tWf t9FltAEHeG9s
Bruce's first memories had 20 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
It lay against the sky. or the lights on
other barges and RATS drifting as
they we're 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 its zenith
had heard the fret steam packets
shricklug whistle. which sounded the
death.mell OF the ancient order
though the shifting of the trade was
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-
merle carouaala OF some ten thousand
Of the half-hore. half-alligator breed
that nightly gathered IN New Orleana,
After the reading Of the warrant
that morning, Charley Balaam had
shown Darlington tho road to tho
Forks. assuring him when they sep.
arated that with a little care and
decent usa Of his eyes II would be
possible 10 fetch up there and not
paaa plumb through tao settlement
without knowing where he wRa.
Re was on his way TO Fayetteville.
whlro no intended to spend tho night.
and perhaps a day or two IN looking
around. when tho meeting with Betty
and Murrell occurred. The girl's face
remained with him. Il was face he
would like to see again.
lie was gtill thinking Of tho giri
when he ate HIS supper that night az
CleggettB Tavern Later. ia the bar.
DO engaged his host IN idle gossip Ne
bad met a gentleman and iady OF
tho road that day ho wondered. ~
DO toyod with his glars, II Il could
have been the FerrisosY Mountedg
Yes, mounted. Then Il waa Ferris
and his wtfs-oT II might have been
Captain Murroil and Miss Hniroy.
Miaa Malroy ala not I've "a that part
OF the country. she waa a friend OF
Mira Ferris'. belonged in Kentucky or
Tennessee. or somewhere out youder
AT any rate abe was bringing her
visit te an end, for Ferris had IN
Btruoted him 20 reserve a place Tor
haF in tho north-bound stage on the
morrow.
Darlington suddenly remembered
that no had thought OF starting north
In tho morning himself.
The stage LEFT at six. and as Car.
rington climbed 10 bis seat the next
morning Mr. Cleggett was advising
tho driver 10 look sharp whom be
came 10 the Barony road, az he was
10 pick up a party there. II was Car.
rington who looked sharp. and almost
at the spot where he had aeen bliss
Aalroy tho day before be saw her
again, with Ferris anG judith and 6
pile Of luggage bestowed BY the way
side. Betty did not observe him as
the coach stopped, for she WAS In
tent on hor farewella with her friends.
There were hasty words Of advice
from Ferris, prolonged good-bys 20
Judith, tears iEspB-whiIe a place
was being made for her many boxes
and trunks. Darlington gathered that
she 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.
Then 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 sleepy village
and drew up before tho tavern where
dinner was waiting them.
Betty saw Darlington when she
took her scat, and gave scarcely
perceptlbIe 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 q brief moment OF irreso-
luton and then she bowed coldly.
II was four days to Richmond -Four
days Of hot, dusty travel, fosr nights
OF uncomfortable cross-road stations
where Betty suffered sieepIess nights
and the unaccustomed pangs of early
rlsing. She occasionally found her
self wondering who Darlington was.
She approved OF the manner in which
he conducted himself. She liked q
man who could be unobtrusive.
The next morning he found himself
seated opposite her at breakfast. He
received another curt little nod, cool
and distant, as he took his seat.
you stop in WashingtonY" said
Darlington.
Betty shook her head. "No, / am
going on to Wheeling"
You're fortunate in being so near
ly home," he observed. I'm going
on to Memphis"
Betty exclaimed: why, ] am go
ing to Memphis, tool"
"Are you? BY canal to Oumber-
land, and then BY stage over the Ma
tionaI Rond to Wheeling7"
Betty nodded. 1T makes one wish