Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-05-15
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CHAPTER x.
Belle Plain.

Il Nov. Tom said Betty, with q lit
tie air Of excitement as she rose from IN
the breakfast table that first morn
ing at Belle Plain, "I want you to
show me everything!"
II reckon you'll notice some
changes" remarked Tom. 3 WE
!. 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 q
small bayou, beyond this the forest
stretched away in one unbroken mass
to the Mississippi. # :s
s''What lis 1t you want to see, any
how, Betty?' Tom demanded. {
Everything the place. Tom-Belle
Plain! Oh, isn't it beautiful! ! 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
1t all soon enough, that was one COM
fort!
why, Tom! Why does the lawn
look like this ?"@ 54t Fl II
Like what?" inquired Tom.
u 'tWhy, his-all weeds and briers.
and the paths overgrown? 2"
Mr.. Ware rubbed his chin reflective
" with the back OF his hand.
THAT sort of thing looked all right,
Bet" he said, "but 1t kept five or six
',ot the best hands out Of the fields
right at the busiest time Of the year.
Haven't slaves enough" she
asked. II i X I. a N Y.
RE The dull color crept into Wares
cheeks. Hep hated her for that ~" X
q So she was going to come, that on
him, was she y: a
Don't you want to see the crops.
Bet 2" s5 II
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.
SITS positively squalid!" cried Bet
~, with a little sta.lp Of her foot.
Ware glanced about with dull eyes.
u !''I'll tell you, Betty, I'm busy this
morning you poke about and 1see
what you want done and We'll do t."
he said, and made hasty retreat to
I his office. .;sj
Betty returned to the porch and
seating herself on the top step, with
her ellI,ws on her knees 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
4 her on the porch, he sprang from the
y saddle, and, throwing his reins to q
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 this z" she
asked, almost tearfully
E 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 is Z"
) Il 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
4 tion 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!