Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-01-26
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ESTABLISHED 1865.
CHAPTER XXI.
Thicket Point.

had no taste for what he called female
chatter. A sane interest in the price
of cotton or pork he considered the
only rational test of human intelli-
sence and Betty evinced entire indif-
ference where those great staples were
concerned, hence it was agreeable 10
him to have most of his meals served
in his Office.
At first Betty had sought to adapt
erself to his somewhat peculiar
heme of life, but Tom had begged
& not to regard him, his movements
hour to hour were cloaked in un-
=. - Zsinty. The man who had to over
look the labor Of eighty to ninety
field hands was the worst sort OF
slave himself: the niggers knew when
they could sit down to a meal; he
never did.
But for all his avoidance of Betty,
he in reality kept the closest kind OF
a watch on her movements, and when
he learned that she had visited Char
ley Norton-George,' the groom. was
the channel through which this in
formation reached him-he was both
scandalized and. disturbed. He felt
the situation demanded some sort OF
a protest.
Isn't 1t just hell the way woman
can worry you?" he lamented, as he
hurried up the path from the barns
to the house. He found Betty at sup
per.
Il thought I'd have cup Of tea with
you, Bet-what else have you that's
good?" he inquired genially, as he
dropped into a chair.
That was nice of you; we don't
see very much Of each other, do we'
Tom?" said Betty pleasantly.
Mr.. Ware twisted his features, on
(which middle age had rested an un-
tender hand, into smile.
when a man undertakes to manage
a place like Belle Plain his works laid
out for. him, Betty, and an old fellow
like me is pretty apt to go one Of two
ways; either he takes to hard living to
keep himself in trim, or he pampers
himself soft.
But you aren't old, Toni"
IT wish were sure of seeing forty
-~-Rve or even forty eight again-but
I'm not" said Tom.
-~-"But that isn't rearIy old" objected
Betty.
Well that's old enough, Bet, as
you'll discover for yourself one Of
these days"
Mercy, Tom" cried Betty.
Mr.. Ware consumed a cup of tea
in silence.
You were over to see Norton,
weren't you, Bet? How did you find
him?" he asked abruptly.
THE doctor SAYS he will soon be
about again." answered Betty.
Tom stroked his chin and gazed at
her refectively.
Betty, 1 wish you wouldn't go there
again-thats a good girl" he said
tactfully, and as he conceived 1t, af-
fectionately, even, paving the way for
an exercise of whatever influence
might be his, a point on which he had
no very clear idea. Betty glanced up
quickly.
why, Tom, why shouldn't l go
there?" she demanded.
1T might set people gossiping. I
reckon there's been pretty near enough
talk about you and Charley Norton.
A young girl can't be too careful"
The planters tone was conciliatory In
the extreme, he dared not risk break
by any open show Of authority.
You needn't distress yourself, Tom.
don't know that l shall go there
again." said Betty, indifferently.
II wouldn't II l were you" He was
charmed to find her so reasonable.
You know it isn't the thing for a
young girl to call on a man, you'll
get yourself talked about in way you
won't like-take my word for it! II
send one of the boys over to ask how
he is-or bake a cake with your own
hands, but you keep away. That's the
idea!-send him something to eat,
something you've made yourself, he'll
appreciate that"
IN nc Setl IL IL l
did, Tom. It's plain you have no ac-
quaintance with my cooking. said
Betty. laughing.
Did Norton say If he had any idea
as to the identity Of the men who
robbed him." inquired Tom casually.
Their object wasn't robbery" said
Betty.
"No?" Wares glance was uneasy.
1T seems that some one objects to
his coming here Tom-here to Belle
Plain to see me, 1 suppose" added
Betty The planter moved uncom-
fortably in his seat. refusing to meet
her eyes.
He shouldn't put out a yarn like
that, Bet. 1t isn't just the thing for a
gentleman to do"
He isn't putting it out, as you call
it! He has told no one, so far as 1
know" said Betty quickly. Mr.. Ware
fell into a brooding silence. "Of course,
Charley wouldn't mention my name
in any such connection" continued
Betty.
WHO cares Ho" pltSl iS S"ii'eS
here? You don't, and don't. There's
more back of this than Charley would
want you to know l reckon he's got
his enemies; some ones had grudge
against him and taken this way to set
tie it," The planters tone and man.
ner were charged with an unpleasant
significance.
81 don't like your hints, Tom" said
Betty. Her heightened color and the
light in her eyes warned Tom that he
had said enough. In some haste he
finished his second cup of tea, bever-
age which he despised. and after a
desultOry remark or two. withdrew to
his office.
RnttA. u.nnt nm sta irs To her own