Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-12

Not the way they went and Betty
glanced out into the black void where
the keel boat had merged into the
| gloom.
mo. no-but we can't get the ra1t
back upstream against the current,
So the best thing is to land at the
Bates plantation below here; then as
soon as you are able we can return TO
Belle Plain" said Darlington.
There was an interval broken only
by the occasional sweep Of the great
steering oar as Cavendish coaxed the
! raft out toward the channel. The
thought of Charley Norton's murder
rested on Darlington like a pail.
Scarcely a week had elapsed since he
Quilted Thicket Point, and in that
| week the hand OF death had dealt
with them impartially, and to what
epdo Then the miles he had traversed
In his hopeless journey up-river trans
lated themselves into division OF
time as we'll as space. They were
lust as much further removed from
the past with its blight OF tragic ter
ror. He turned and glanced at Betty.
He saw that her eyes held their steady
look of wistful pity that was for the
dead man; yet in spite of this, and in
spite of the bounds beyond which he
would not let his imagination carry
him, the future, enriched with sudden
promise, unfolded itself. Thu deep
sense of recovered hope stirred with
in him. He knew there must come
day when he would dare to speak or
his love, and she would listen.
Its best We should land at Bates
place-we can get teams there no
went On to explain. And, Betty,
wherever We go we'll go together
dear. Cavendish doesn't look as if he
had any very urgent business Oh MS
own, and I reckon the same is true
of Yancy, so am going to keep them
with u.s. There are some points to De
cleared up when We reach Belle Plain
some folks who'll have lot to eX-
plain or else quit this part OF the
state! And I intend to. see that you
are not left alone until--until | have
the right to take care OF you for good
and all-that's what you want ME to
do one OF these days, isn't it, dar-
ling?" and his eyes, glowing and in
finiteIy tender, dwelt on her upturned
face
But Betty shrank from him in in
voluntary agitation.
'Oh, not now, Bruce-not now-We
mustn't speak Of ;hat-it's wrong
it's wicked-you mustn't make me
forget him!" she cried brokenly, in
protest. ~. = .;.s;',;S.-s, =.
Forgive me, Betty, Illsnet speak
of it again. he said. :,
Wait; Bruce, and some time-Oh'
don't make, me say it," she gasped'
"or l shall hate myself" for in his
presence she was feeling the horror
of her past experience grow strangely
remote, only the dull ache OF her
memories remained, and to these she
chung. They were silent for a mo-
ment. then Darlington said:
AFTER I'm sure you'll be safe here
perhaps I'll 90 south into the ChoctaW
Purchase. I've been thinking.of that
recently; but I'll find my way back
here-dont misund erstand NELL
not come too soon for even you, Bet
ty. loved Norton. He was one OF
nv best friends, too. he continued
gently. But you know-and l know
dear, the day will come when nc
matter where you are shall find you
and not lose you!'
Betty made no answer IN words,
but soft and eloquent little hand
was slipped into his and allowed 10
rest there.
Presently light wind stirred tho
dead dense atmosphere, the mist hit
ed and enveloped the shore, showing
them the river between piled-up
mass OF vapor. Apparently 1t ran
for their raft alone. 1t was just tWen-
ty-four hours since Darlington had
looked upon such another night, Dut
this was a different world the gray
fog was unmasking-a world OF hopes,
and dreams, and rich content. Then
he thought of Northampton Norton
who had had his world, too, OF hopes
and dreams and rich content
The calm OF a highly domestic ex-
| istence had resumed its interrupted
sway on the raft. Mr.. Cavendish, as
sociared In Betty's memory with GER
! tain ear.splitting manifestations OF
| ferocious rage. became in the bosom
of his family low-voiced and genial
and hopelessly impotent to deal with
his FIVE small sons; while Yancy was
] again the Bob Yancy of Scratch Hill,
violence OF any sort apparently had
/ no place in his nature. he was deep
" absorbed in Hannibaps account OF
those vicissitudes which had befallen
him during their separation. They
were now seated before cheerful fire
that blazed on the hearth, the boy
very close to Yancy. with one hand
clasped in the Scratch Killers, while
about them were ranged the six small