Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-06
CHAPTER vi.
Betty Sets Out for Tennessee.

with long nights when he perched be-
side his father on the cabin roof OF
their keel-boat and watched the stars
or the blurred line Of the shore where
1t lay against the sky, or the lights on
other barges and RATS drifting as
they were drifting, with their wheat
and corn and whisky, to that COM
mon market at the rivers mouth.
Bruce Darlington had seen the day
of barge and raft reach it's zenith,
had heard the first steam packets
shrieking whistle, which sounded the
death-knell of tho ancient order,
though the shifting OF the trade was a
slow matter and the glory OF the old
did not pass over to the new at once,
but fingered still in mighty fleets OF
merics carousals of some ten thousand
of the half-horse, halfalligator breed
that nightly gathered in New Orleans.
After the reading Of the warrant
that morning, Charley BALKAN had
shown Darlington the road to the
Forks, assuring him when they sep
arated that with little care and
decent use OF his eyes it would be
possible to fetch up there and not
pass plumb through the settlement
without knowing where he was.
Hegwas on his way to Fayetteville,
where he intended to spend the night,
and perhaps day or two in looking
around, when the meeting with Betty
and MurrelI occurred. The girls face
remained with him. It was face he
would like to see again.
He was still thinking Of the girl
when he ate his supper that night at
Cleggett's Tavern. Later, in the bar,
he engaged his host in idle gossip. He
had met a gentleman and a lady on
tho road that day! he wondered, as
he teyed with his glass, If it could
have been the Ferrises? Mounted?
Yes, mounted. Then it was Ferris
and his wife-or it might have been
Captain Murrell and Miss Malroy.
Miss Malroy did not live in that part
of the country; she was friend OF
Mrs.aFerris. belonged in Kentucky or
Tennessee, or somewhere out yonder
at ANY rate she was bringing her
visit. to an end, for Ferris had in
struoted him to reserve q. place for
her in the north-bound stage ON the
morrow.
Darlington suddenly remembered
that5he had thought OF starting north
in the morning himself.
The stage left at six, and as Car
rington climbed to his seat the next
morning Mr.. Clesgstt was advising
the Fdriver to lock sharp when he
came to the Barony road, as he was
to pick up party there. 1t was Car
rington who looked sharp, and almost
at the spot where he had seen Miss
MalToy the day before he saw her
again, with Ferris and Judith and q
pile OF luggage bestowed by the way
side. Betty did not observe him as
the coach stopped, for she was in
tent on her farewells with her friends.
There were hasty words Of advice
from Ferris, prolonged good-bys to
Judith, notwithstanding q place
was being made for her many boxes
and trunks. Darlington gathered that
she was going north to Washington;
that her final destination was some
point either on the Ohio or Missis-
sippi,, and that her name was Betty.
Then the door slammed and the stage
was in motion again.
All through the morning they. swung
felward In the heat and dust and
glare, ,and at midday ratified into the
shaded main street Of a, sleepy village
and drew up before the tavern where
dinner was waiting them.
xv,h> rhn
took her seat, and gave a scarcely
perceptible start OF surprise. Then
her face was flooded with a rich col
or. This was the man who saw her
with Captain Murrell yesterday!
There was q brief moment Of irresO-
luton and then she bowed colby.
1t was four days TO Richmond. -Four
days of hot, dusty travel. four nights
of uncomfortable cross-road stations,
where Betty suffered sleepless nights
and the unaccustomed pangs of early
rising. She occasionally found her.
self wondering who Darlington was.
She approved of the manner in which
he conducted himself. She liked q
man who could be unobtrusive.
The next morning he found himself
seated opposite her at breakfast. He
received another curt little nod, cool
and distant, as he took his seat.
.You stop in Washington" said
Darlington.
Betty shook her head. mo, am
going on to Wheeling"
you're fortunate in being 80 near
" home" he observed. I'm going
on to Memphis
Betty exclaimed: 'Why, I am go
ing to Memphis, tool"
Are you? BY canal to Cumber-
land, and then by stage over the Ma
tional Road to Wheeling?"
Betty nodded. 1T makes one wish
they'd finish their railroads, doesn't
it? Do you suppose they'll ever get
as far west as Memphis?" she said.
They say It's going to be bad for
the river trade when they're built on
something besides paper" answered
Darlington. "And / happen to be q
fiatboatman, Miss Malroy."
6zs No moro was said Just then. for
Betty bscSms reserved ana did not at
tempt to resume the conversation. A
day later thsy ramblsd into Washing
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