Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-04-11
(copTdEht 1911 Tha Hobss-AasraH canpsay)
CHAPTER X.
ReIIe Plain.

NOW, Tom, said Betty, with a lit
tie air Of excitement as abe rose from
the breakfast table that first morn
ing at Belle Plain, Il want you TO
show me everythingI"
Il reckon you'n notice some
changes" remarked Tom.
He went from the room and down
the hall step or two in advance OF
her. On the wide porch Betty paused.
breathing deep. The house stood on
an eminence: directly before It at the
bottom of the slight descent was
small bayou. beyond this the forest
stretched away in one unbroken mass
TO the Mlssissippi
What Is Il you want TO see. any
how. Betty1" Tom demanded.
"Eyerything--the place. Tom--Belle
Plant oh, isn't II beautiful / had
no idea how lovely II wal" cried
Betty, as with her eyes still nxed on
the distant panorama OF wood ana
water she went down the steps. him
at her heels--hs bet shed get sick OF
II all soon enough, that was one COM
forti
Why. Toni Why does tho lawn
look like this2"
Like whAtf" inquired Tom.
Why. shis-ali weeds and brlers,
and the paths ovsrgrownY"
Mr. Ware rubbed his chin reflective
" with the back OF bis hand.
That aort OF thing looked all right.
Bet" be said. but it kept I'VE or six
OF the best hands out OF the fields
right at the busiest time Of the year"
''Hayen't 4 alayos oEoagh7~ she
asked.
The dun color crept into Wares
cheeks. He hated her for that III"
90 she was going to come that on
him. was sho9
Don't you want 10 sec the crops,
BetY"
The girl shook her head and moved
swiftly down the path that led from
terrace to terrace 10 the margin OF
tho bayou. At tho FIRST terrace she
paused.
IT'S positively squalidi" cried Bet.
~, with q little stamp OF her foot
Ware glanced about with dull eyes.
"Ii tell you, Betty. I'm busy this
morning; you poke about and see
what you want done and wen do IT."
be said. and made q hasty retreat to
his once.
Betty returned to the porch and
seating herself on the top step, with
her elbows on her knees and her chin
sunk in the palms OF her hands, gazed
about her miserably enough. She was
still there when half an hoar later
Charley Norton gailoped up the drive
from tho highroad. Catching sight OF
her on the porch, he sprang from the
saddle. and. throwing his reina to a
black boy, hurried TO her side.
Inspecting your domain, Bettyf"
he asked. as he took his place near
her on the step.
why didn't you tell me, Charley
or at least prepare me for thinf' she
asked, almost tearfully.
How was ! to know, Bettyf
haven't been here since you went
away, dear--what was. there 70 bring
mof Old Tom would make q COW
pasture out Of the Garden OF Eden,
wouldn't he-a beautiful practical.
sordid soul he isl"
Norton spent tho day at Belle Plain;
and though he was there on his good
behavior as the result Of an agree
ment they had reached on board The
Naiad, he proposed twice.
Tom was mistaken in his suppoGi-
ton that Betty would soon tire OF
Belle Plain. She demanded men, ana
teams, and began ON the lawns. This
interested and fascinated her. Bhe
was out at Eun-up 30 direct her labor
err. She had the advantage OF Charley
NoFton's pFessaos and advice for the
greater part Of each day In the week.
and Sundays he came to look over
what had been accomplished, and, as
Tom firmly believed, to put that little
fool up to fresh nonsense. He could
have booted himl
AS the grounds took shape before
her delighted eyes, Betty found leis-
urN TO institute thorough reforma-
ton indoors. A number of house serv-
ants were rescued from the quarters
and she began to instruct them in
their new duties.
Betty's sphere OF influence extend
cd itself. She soon began to have
her doubts concerning the treatment
accorded the slaves, and was not long
in discovering that Hicks. the over
seer, ran things with heavy hand
Matters reached q crisis one day
when, happening to ride through the
quarters, she found him disciplininE
a refractory black. She turned sick
at the sight. Here was q slave actual.
~ being whipped by another slave
while Hicks stood looking on with his
hands in his pockets, and with =
brutal, satisfied air.
''stopl" commanded Betty, her eyes
blazing. She stroye to keen her voice