Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-04-18
CHAPTER v. (contlnued.)

Squire Balaams Murrell 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 displeasure she refined in
her horse. Murrell quickly gained a
place at her side.
e! suppose Ferris is at the Barony?"
he said, drawing his horse down to a
walk.
81 believe he is" said Betty with
curt little air.
May ride with your" he gave her
a swift glance. She nodded indif-
ferently and would have urged her
horse into gallop again, but he made
gesture of protest. "Don't-or
shall think you are still running away
from me-" he said with short laugh.
Were you at the trial?" she asked.
II 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 swift
ly passing splendor. Ferris tells me
you are going to west Tennessee%
he said at length.
YES"
81 know your half-brother, Tom
Ware-I know him very WE'LL"
$50 you know Tom?" she observed,
and frowned slightly. Tom was her
guardian, and her memories Of him
were not satisfactory. A burly, IN
shaver man with a queer streak OF
meanness through his character.
you've spent much of your time
up north?" suggested Murrell.
-Four years. I've been at school,
you know.1 That's where l 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
all those four years?" Betty shook
her head. Nor seen Tom-nor any
one from out yonder?" For some rea-
son 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; probably
shall leave here within week." he
said, bending toward her. His glance
dwelt on her face and on the plant |
lines of her figure, and his senses
swan.
Il imagine you will be welcome at
Belle Plain. You are Toms friend"
Murrell bit his lip, and then laughed
as his mind con1ured up a picture of
the cherished Tom. Suddenly he
reached out and rested his hand on
hers.
"Betty-if might think" he be-
gan, but his tongue stumbled. His
love-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 an angry light in her eyes. For
give me, Betty!" murmured Murrell,
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 you" he whispered. Betty
gathered up her reins mot yet"
he cried, and again he rested a heavy
hand on hers.
Let me go-let me go!" cried Bet
y 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
ny eyes on you-and, by God, you
shall love me in return!" He felt her
struggle to free herself from his
grasp with sense of savage triumph.
Bruce Darlington, on his way back
o Fayetteville from the Forks, came
about turn in the road. Betty saw
! tall, handsome fellow in the first
lush of manhood; Darlington, an
lngry girl struggling in mans
,rasp
At sight of the newcomer, MurrelI,
With an oath, released Betty. who,
her horse with the whip, gal
oped down the road toward the
'arony. AS she fed past Darlington
he bent low in her saddle.
Don't let him follow mel" she
'asped, and Darlington, striding for
yard, caught MurrelI's horse by the
1t.
Let go!" roared Murrell, and
nurderous light shot from his eyes.
Il don't know but | should mil Won