Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-02-26
VII.
On the River.

&bHF Ell Wiz
On the River.
Betty stood under a dripping um.
brella In the midst of q 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 a tall, familiar figure NOV
ing through the crowd. 1t was Bruce
Darlington. At the same omen he
saw her, and with q casual air that
quite deceived her, approached.
You're leaving tonight?" he asked.
"Yes-isn't 1t miserable the way 1t
rains7 And why are they SO 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 rtver-men.
This particular one was evidently a
very nice riyer-man, an exception to
his kind. He made choice OF the
steamer on which she should continue
her journey. and thoughtfully chose
The Naiad-a slow boat.
4 haven't a thing to offer her--this
IS plain madness of mine!' he kept
telling himself, and then the express
! Of his face would become grim
and determined. No more OF the river
for him-hesd get hold of some land
and go to raising cotton; that was the
way money was made.
! Slow as The Naiad was, the days
passed much too swiftly for him.
When Memphis was reached their
friendly intercourse would come to an
end. There would be her brother, OF
whom she had occasionally spoken
he would be pretty certain to have
the ideas OF his class.
The days, like any other days, dwIn-
died. This end Of It all Was cloae ut
haadnsssssassss
MA E6feseas5f reflected there would
only be good-by to say.
I'VE will reach New Madrid to-
night" he told her. They were
watching the river, under a food OF
yellow moonlight.
Darlington. with his back against q
stanchion. watched her disseminated
".
You'll be mighty glad to have this
c nth .1.rs Maircy &c sa.3 ct
length, with a comprehensive sweep
toward the river.
'yes-shan't your and she opened
her eyes qu~estioningly.
NO. said Darlington with a short
laugh, drawing q chair neal hers and
sitting down.
Betty. in surprise, gave him a quick
look, and then as quickly glanced
away from what she encountered In
his eyes. AS she looked, suddenly
pale points OF light appeared on a dis
tant headland.
't1s that New Madrid-Oh, Is it, MIR.
Carrington?" she cried eagerly.
Il reckon So" but he did not after
his position.
"But you're not iookings"
.Yes, | AMIN looking &C you. 1
reckon you'll think me crazy, Miss
Malroy--presumptuous and all that
but ! wish Memphis could be wiped
off the map, and that We could go on
Hike this for ever!"
"You mustn't talk so-I am nothing
to you-'
Yes, you are. Yours everything
to me-" said Darlington d~oggedly.
you shall love me- She was pow
erless IN his embrace. She felt his
breath on her cheek, then he kissed
her. Suddenly his arms fell at his
side: his face was white. II was a
brute to do that-Betty, forgive me!
I am sorry--no, | can't be sorryl"
They were alongside the New Mad
rid wharf now, and q certain young
man who had been impattentiy watch
Ing The Naiad's lights aver since they
became visible crossed the gang-piank
with a bound.
~"Betty-why In the name OF good
ness did you ever choose this tub!'
said the newcomer.
"Charieyi"
Darlington stepped back. This
must be the brother who had come up
the river from Memphis to meet her
but her brothers mana was Toni
He looked this stranGer-this Charley
over With q hostile eye, offended BY
his good looks. his confident manner,
In which he thought hs detected an
air OF ownership, as if-certainIy ne
was holding her hands longer than
was necessary. An instant later, when
Betty. remembering. turned 20 speak
to hins his place by the rail- was dc.
serted.
O =
That day Hannibal MAS haunted
by the memory Of what he had heard
and seen at slosson's tavern. More
than this. there was his terrible sensa
OF losa. ana the grief he could not
master, Marking the course or the
road westward he chung to the woods.
where his movements were ss stealthy
as the very shadows themselves.
"NYklM