Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-01-23

Bruce Darlington came from the house.
At sight of the girl, with her wind
blown halo of bright hair, he paused
uncertainty. BY a gesture Betty call
ed him to her side.
How Is Mr.. Norton?" she asked
Extending her hand.
"The doctor says he'll be up and
about inside Of a week, anyhow, Miss
Malroy," said Darlington.
Betty gave a great sigh of relief.
Then his hurts are not serious?"
NO." said Darlington, they are not
in any sense serious"
May I see him." .
He's pretty we'll bandaged up, Sc
he looks worse off than he is. II you'll
wait on the porch, I'll tell him you
are here" for Betty had dismounted.
IF you please"
Darlington passed on into the house.
His face wore a look of somber re-
lpress:on. Of course it was all right
for her to come and see Norton-they
were old, old friends. He entered the
lrO0m Wnere ',Orton lay.
Miss Malroy Is here" he said short
ly.
Betty bless her dear heart!" cried
Charley rather weakly. Just toss my
clothes into the closet and draw up a
chair. .There-thank you, Bruce,
that will do-let her come along In
now." And as Darlington quilted the
room, Norton drew himself up on the
pillows and faced the door. This Is
worth several beatings, Betty" he
exclaimed as she appeared on the
Threshold. But much cotton and many
bandages lent him a rather fearful as
pect and Betty paused with little
gasp of dismay. I'm lots better than
I look, expect" said Norton. Couldn't
you arrange to come a little closer"
he added, laughing.
He bent to kiss the hand she gave
him, but groaned with the exertion.
Then he looked up into her face and
saw her eyes swimming with tears.
"What-tears? Tears for me, Betty?"
and ne was mucn moved.
It's a perfect outrage! Who did it,
Charley?" she asked.
You sit down and I'll tell you all
about it," said Norton happily.
Now tell me, Charley" when she
had seated herself
who fetched you, Betty-old Tom?'
mo, came alone"
We'll, it's mighty kind Of you. I'll
be all right in a day or so. What did
you hear?-that 1 had been attacked
and half-killed?"
"Yes-and robbed"
There were three of the scoundrels.
They made me climb out of the sad
die, and as I was unarmed they did
as they pleased with me. which was to
stamp me fiat in the road"
Charley"
II might almost be inclined to think
they were friends Of yours, Betty
or at least friends of friends Of yours"
What do you mean, Charley
friends of mine?"
We'll, you see they started In by
stipulating that 1 should keep away
from Belle Plain, and the terms they
proposed being on the face preposter-
Gus. trouble quickly ensued-trouble
for me, you understand. But never
mind, dear, the next man who under
takes to grab my horse by the bit
won't get off quite so easy"
why should any one care whether
YOU come to Belle Plain or not?"
II wonder If my amiable friend,
Tom, could have arranged this little
affair; it's sort Of like Tom to move
in the dark, isn't it?"
He couldn't-he wouldn't have done
it, Charley" but she looked troubled,
not too sure of this.
Couldn't he? Well, maybe he
couldn't-but he's afraid you'll marry
me-and I'm only afraid you won't.
Betty hasn't it ever seemed worth
your while to marry me just to give
old Tom the scare of his life?"
Please, Charley" she began.
I'm in a dreadful state Of mind
when think of you alone at Belle
Plain-I wish you could love me. Bet
Ity."
Il do love you. There is no one l
care half so much for, Charley"
Norton shook his bandaged head
and heaved a prodigious sigh
That's merely saying you don't
love any one" He dropped back
rather wearily on his pillow. Does
Tom know about this?" he added.
Yes"
Was he able to show proper
amount of surprise?"
He appeared really shocked. Char
ley"
We'll. then, it wasn't Tom. He
never shows much emotion, but what
he does show he usually feels, I've
noticed. l had rather hoped 1t was
tom, I'd be glad to think that he was
responsible; for If it wasn't Tom,
who was it?-who is 1t to whom 1t
makes any difference how often 1 see
lyou?"
Il don't know, Charley" but her
voice was uncertain.
Look here. Betty; for the hun
dreth time, won't you marry me? I've
loved you ever since l was old enough
to know what love meant. You've
been awfully sweet and patient with
me, and I've tried to respect your
wishes and not speak of this except
when it seemed necessary" he paus-
ed. and they both laughed little, but
he looked weak and helpless with his
bloodless face showing between the
gaps in the bandages that swathed
him. Perhaps it was this sense of
his helplessness that reused a feeling
in Betty that was new to her
You see, Charley, fear-I am sure
l don't love you the way should-to
marry you-"
Charley, greatly excited, groaned