The Mena weekly star., 1913-02-06

Not the way they went" and Betty glanced out into the tlack void where the keel boat lad merged into the gloom.
 No, -no-but we can't get the l s. back upstream against the current, so the best thing is to land at tho Bates plantation below here; then au soon as you are able we can return to Belle Plain,' said Darlington
 There was an interval broken only by the occasional sweep of the great steering oar as Cavendish coaxed the raft cut toward the channel The thought of Charley Nortons murder rested on Darlington like a pail. Scarcely week had elapsed since he cuitted Thicket Point, and in that aFoch the hand of death had dealt with them fmpartially, and to what end? Then the miles he had traversed ,n his hopeless journey up-river trans lated themEelves into division of time as well as space. They we-o lust as much further removed fire the pcst with it's blight of tragic te~ TOT. He turned and glanced at Betty He saw that her eyes held their steacv look of wistful pity that was for tha dead man; yet in spite of this, and II spite of the bounds beyond which h. would not let his imagination car--r him, the future, enriched with sudden promise, unfolded itself. The dcc9 sense of recovered hope stirred with in him. He knew there must come day when he would dare to speak ot his love, and she would listen.
 Its best We should land at Bates place-we can get teams there," went on to explain. And Betty, wherever We go we'll go togethe., dear. Cavendish doesn't look as if he had any very urgent business of his own, and I reckon the same is true of Yancy, so I am going to keep them with us. There are some points to be cleared up when We reach Belle Plain some folks who'll have a lot to ex- plain or else quit this part of the state! And I intend to see that you are not left alone until-until I have the right to take care of you for good and all-that's what you want me to 10 che of these days, isn't it, dar- iins2' and his eyes, glowing and in- nitelY tender, dwelt on her upturned ace
 0"t na'tT shrank from him in in- -rv 7Titauon.
 Bruce-not now-we
  It's wicked-you mustn't make nie forget him!" she cried brokenly. i1 protest.
 Forgive me, Betty, I'll not speak of it again." he said.
 Wait, Bruce, and some time-Oh don't make me say it" she gasped, "or shall hate myself!' for in his presence she was feeling the horror of her past experience grow strangely remote, only the dull ache of her memories remained, and to these sho clung. They were silent for a mo- ment. then Darlington said:
 After I'm sure you'll be safe hero perhaps I'll go south into the Choctaw Purchase. I've been thinking of that recently; but I'll find my way back here-don't misunderstood me-Ill not come too soon for even you, Bet ty. I loved Norton. He was one of my best friends, too," he continued gently. But you know-and 1 know dear, the day will come when nc and not lose you!"
 Betty made no answer in words, but soft and eloquent little hand was slipped into his and allowed tc rest there.
 Presently a light wind stirred the dead dense atmosphere. the mist lift ed and enveloped the shore, showire them the river between piled-up mass of vapor. Apparently it ran for their raft alone. It was just twen- ty-four hours since Darlington had looked upon such another night. but this was a different world the gray fog was unmasking-a world of hopes, and dreams, and rich content. Then the thought of Norton-poor Norton who had had his world, too, of hopes and dreamssand rich content
 The calm of highly domestic ex, istence had resumed its interrupted sway on the raft. MT Cavendish, as- sociated in Betty's memory with cer- tain earsplitting manifestations Of ferocious rage. became in the bosom of his family low-voiced and gcnial and hopelessly impotent to deal with his five small sons; while Yancy was again the Bob Yancy of Scratch Hill, violence of any sort apparently had no place in his nature. He was deep. ly absorbed in Hannibals account Of those vicissitudes which had befallen him during their separation. They were now seated before cheerful fire that blazed on the hearth, the boy very close to Yancy, with one hand clasped in the Scratch Hiller's, while about them were ranged the six small Cavendishes sedately sharing in the reunion of uncle and nevvy, toward which they felt they had honorably labored.
 And you want dead, Uncle Bob?' said Hannibal with deep breath, viewing Yancy unmistakably in the flesh.
 Never once. been floating peace fully along with these here titled friends of mine; but I was some anx- ious about you. son."
 And Mir. Slosson, Uncle Bob-did you smack him like you smackeG Dave BIount that day when he triec