Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-05-09
CHAPTER X.
Belle Plain.

Now. Tom" said Betty, with a 1T
tie air OF excitement as she rose from
the breakfast table that first morn
ing at Belle Plain, 81 want you to
show me everything"
II reckon you'll notice some
changes" remarked Tom.
He went from the room and down
the hall a step or two In advance OF
her. On the wide porch Betty paused,
breathing deep. The house stood on
an eminence; directly before 1t at the
bottom of the slight descent was
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 1t beautiful! | had
no idea how lovely 1t 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
1t 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 1t kept five or six
OF the best hands out of the fields
right at the busiest time of the year.
Haven't | slaves enough?" she
asked.
The dull color crept into Wares
cheeks. He hated her for that IL"
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
the bayou. At the first terrace she
paused.
Its 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 see
what you want done and we'll do 1t,
he said, and made a hasty retreat tc
his office
Betty returned to the porch and
seating herself on the top step, with
her elbows on her knees and her CHR
sunk in the palms of her hands, gazed
about her miserably enough. She was
still there when half an hour latel
Charley Norton galloped up the drive
from the highroad. Catching sight o.
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 nea
her on the step.
why didn't you tell me, Charley
or at least prepare me for this?" sh,
asked, almost tearfully.
How was | to know, Betty?
haven't been here since you wen
away. dear-what was there to brinj
me? Old Tom would make a GOV
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 goo
behavior as the result OF an agree
ment they had reached on board Tn
Naiad, he proposed twice.
Tom was mistaken in his suppos
ton that Betty would soon tire @
Belle Plain. She demanded men. an
teams, and began on the lawns. Thi
interested and fascinated her. Sh
was out at sun-up to direct her labor
ers. She had the advantage of Charlie
Nortons presence and advice for tn
greater part of each day in the weel
and Sundays he came to look owe
what had been accomplished, and, a
Tom firmly believed, to put that littl
fool up to fresh nonsense. lie coul
have booted him!