The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-04-12
CHAPTER v. Continued


When Betty Malroy rode away from
Squire Balaam's MurreIl galloped 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-
clamation Of dispIeasure she refined in
her horse. Murrell quickly gained a
place at her side
Il suppose Ferris Is at the Barony?"
he said, drawing his horse down to a
walk
Il believe he is" said Betty with a
curt little air
May | ride with your" he gave her
ferently and would have urged her
horse into a gallop again, but he made
gesture of protest. 'Don't-or /
shall think you are still running away
from me-" he said with a short laugh.
Were you at the triaI?" she asked,
81 am glad they didn't get Hannibal
away from Yancy."
oh, Yancy will have his hands full
with that later-so will Bladen," he
added, significantly. He studied her
out of those deeply sunken eyes of his
in which no shadow of youth lin
gered. for men such as he reached
their prime early, and it was a swift
ly passing splendor. Ferris tells me
you are going to west Tennessee?"
he said at length.
Yes"
Il know your haIfbrother. Tom
Ware-I know him very we'll"
so you know Tom?" she observed,
and frowned slightly Tom was her
guardian, and her memories OF him
were not satisfactory. burIy, IN
shaven man with a queer streak or
meanness through his character
you've spent much of your time
up north?" suggested MurreIl.
-Four years. I've been at school,
you know. That's where | met Judith
Ferris"
Il hope you'll like west Tennessee.
It's still a bit raw compared with
what you've been accustomed to in
the north. You haven't been back in
her head Nor seen Tom-nor any
one 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.
Il imagine you will be welcome at
Belle Plain. You are Toms friend. ="
Murren bit his lip, and then laughed
as his mind conjured up a picture OF
the cherished Tom. Suddenly he
reached out and rested his hand on
hers
''Betty-if l might think" he be-
gan, but his tongue stumbled His
lovemaking 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 Murreu.
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 your" he whispered. Betty
gathered up her reins. Not yet"
he cried, and again he rested a heavy
hand on hers.
Let me go-let me goi" 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 | rested
my eyes on you-and, by God, you
shall love me in return," He felt her
struggle to free herself from his
grasp with a sense of savage triumph
Bruce Darlington, on his way back
to Fayetteville from the Forks, came
about turn in the road
At sight of the newcomer, Murreu
with an oath, released Betty. who.
striking her horse with the whip. gal
Hoped down the road toward the
Barony. AS she fed past Darlington
she bent low in her saddle
Don't let him follow mel" she