Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-09
CHAPTER x.
Belle Plain.

SVuVV ] 6V ~ ~if
Belle Plain.
"Now, Tom," said Betty. with lit
tie air Of excitement as she rose from
the breakfast table that first morn.
ing at Belle Plain, Il want you to
show me everything!"
II reckon you'll notice some
changes" remarked Tom.
He went from the room and down
the hall step or two in advance OF
her. On the wide porch Betty paused.
breathing deep. Tho house stood on
an eminence; directly before it at the
bottom of the slight descent was q
small bayou, beyond this the forest
stretched away In one unbroken mass
to the Mississippi.
What is 1t you want to see, any
how. Betty" Tom demanded.
"Everything-the place. Tom-Belle
Plain! Oh, isn't it beautiful! l had
no idea how lovely it was!" cried
Betty, as with her eyes still fixed on
the distant panorama of wood and
water she went down the steps, him
at her heels-he bet she'd get sick OF
it all soon enough, that was one COM
fort!
why. Tom! Why does the lawn
look like this?"
Like what?" inquired Tom.
''Why, this-all weeds and briers,
and the paths overgrown?"
Mr.. Ware rubbed his chin reflective
ly with the back of his hand.
That sort OF thing looked all right,
Bet" he said, "but it kept five or six
of the best hands out of the fields
right at the busiest time of the year."
Haven't I slaves enough?" she
asked.
The dull color crept into Wares
cheeks. He hated her for that ~"
So she was going to come that on
him, was she?
Don't you want to see the crops.
Bet?"
The girl shook her head and moved
swiftly down the path that led from
terrace to terrace to the margin OF
paused.
'It's positively squalid!" cried Bet
ty, with little stamp of her foot.
Ware glanced about with dull eyes.
I'll tell you, Betty, I'm busy this
morning; you poke about and SEQ
what you want done and We'll do It,"
he said, and made hasty retreat to
his Office.
Betty returned to the porch and
seating herself on the top step. with
her elbows on her knoes and her chin
sunk in the palms of her hands, gazed
about her miserably enough. She was
still there when half an hour later
Charley Norton galloped up the drive
from the highroad. Catching sight OF
her on the porch, he sprang from the
saddle, and. throwing his reins to
black boy, hurried to her side.
inspecting your domain, Betty?"
he asked, as he took his place near
her on the step.
why didn't you tell me, Charley
or at least prepare me for th1s?" she
asked, almost tearfully.
How was l to know, Betty? /
haven't been here since you went
away. dear-what was there to bring
me? {. Old Tom would make a COW
pasture out OF the Garden OF Eden,
wouldn't he-a beautiful. practical,
sordid soul he Isl"
Norton spent the day at Belle Plain;
and though he was there on his good
behavior as the result of an agree
ment they had reached on board The
Naiad. he proposed twice.
Tom was mistaken in his SUPPOSE
ton that Betty would soon tire OF
Belle Plain. She demanded men, and
teams, and began on the lawns. This
interested and fascinated her. She
was out at sun-up to direct her labor
ers. She had the advantage OF Charley
Norton's presence and advice for the
greater part of each day In the week,
and Sundays he came to look over
what had been accomplished. and. as
Tom firmly believed. to put that little
fool up to fresh nonsense. He could
have booted him!
AS the grounds took shape before
her delighted eyes, Betty found leis-
ure to institute thorough reforma-
ton indoors. A number of house serv
ants were rescued from the quarters
and she began to instruct them In
their new duties.
Betty's sphere Of influence extend
ed itself. She soon began to have
her doubts concerning the treatment
accorded the slaves. and was not long
in discovering that Hicks, the over
seer, ran things with a heavy hand.
Matters reached crisis one day
when. happening to ride through the
quarters. she found him disciplining
a refractory black. She turned sick
at the sight. Here was slave actual
ly being whipped by another slave
while Hicks stood looking on with his
hards in his pockets, and with a
brutal, satisfied air.
"Stop!" commanded Betty, her eyes
blazing. She strove to keep her voice
steady. "You shall not remain ut
Belle Plain another hour"
Hicks said nothing. He knew it
would take more than her saying SO
to get him off the place. Betty turned
her horse and galloped back to the
house She felt that she was in no
condition to see Tom just at that mo-
ment, and dismounting at the door,
ran upstairs to her room.