Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1912-04-04
CHAPTER V. iContlnued.l

~
When Betty Malroy rode away from
Squire Ha!aam's Murrell %gailoped after
her. Presently she heard the beat or
his horses hOOfs as he came pound
Ing along the sandy road, and glanced
back over her shoulder. With an ex'
clamatIon OF ~displeasure 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 afr.
May ! ride with you?" he gave her
a swift glance. She nodded indif.
iercntly and would have urged her
horse into IA gailop again. but he made
Il gesture Of protest. "DOnt-or
shall tilnk you are still running away
from me" lie said with a short laugh.
Were you at the triai?" she asked
81 ala glad they didn't get Hannibal
AWAY from Yancy."
"Oh. Yancy will have his hands full
with that lnter-so will Bladen." he
added, significantly. lie studied her
out Of those deeply sunkcn eyes OF his
I'm which no shadow OF youth lin.
gered, Tor men such as he reached
their prime early. and It was a swift
ly passing %Splcndor. Ferris tells me
you are going 10 west TENNESSEE"
he said at length.
"Ycs.'
Il know your half brother, Tom
Warc-I know him very we'll"
so you know TOm?" she observed,
and frowncd slightly. Tom was her
guardian, and her memories OF him
were not satisfactory. 4 bury. un.
shaver man with Il queer streak or
mcanncss through his character.
You've spent much Of your time
up north" suggested Murrcll.
-Four years I've been at school,
you know. That's where | met judith
Ferris"
i hope youIl like west Tennessee
It's still Il bit raw compared with
what you've been accustomed to in
the north. You haven't been back In
all those four years. Betty shook
her head. "Nor seen Tom-nor any
one from out yondcr?' For some rea.
son a little tinge OF color had crept
into Bctty's cheeks. win 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"
Murrcll bit his lip, and then laughed
as his mind conlured up n picture OF
tho cherished Tom, Suddenly he
reached out and rested his hand on
hers.
"B"tty-if | might think" he be,
gan, but his tongue stumbled. His
e.making 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 al angry light IN her eyes. For.
give me, Betty" murmured Murrell
but his heart beat against his ribs
and passion sent its surgcs 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 IN hers.
Let me go-let me go!" cried Bet
~ Indignantly.
"No-not yeti" lie urged his horse
still nearer and gathered her close
you've got to hear me. I've loved
you since the first moment 1 restec
my eyes on %you--and. by God, yol
shall love me in return" lie telt hel
struggle TO free herself from hi,
grasp with a sense OF savage triumph
Bruce Darlington. on his way bach
20 Fayetteville from the Forks, cam,
about a turn In the road.
Al sight OF the newcomer, Murrell
with an oath. released Betty. who
striking her horse with the whip, gal
loped down the road toward tn,
Darony, AS she fed past Darlington
che bent low In her saddle.
Don't let him follow mel" sh,