Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-03-13
CHAPTER K.



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 10
show me everything"
Il 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 The house stood on
an eminence, directly before 1t at the
bottom OF the slight descent was a
small bayou. beyond this the forest
stretched away in one unbroken mass
to the Mississippi.
What is 1t you want 10 see. any
how. Betty" Tom demanded.
"Eyerything-,h place. Tom-Belle
Plain. On. isn't 1t beautiful, had
no IDEA how lovely It vas" cried
Betty. as with her eyes stiil ixed on
the distant panorama OF wood and
water she went down the steps. him
at her heels-he bet she'd get sick OF
II 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 oyergrown?'
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 | slaves enough" she
asked
The duh color crept into Wares
cheeks He hated her for that ~
So she was going to come that or
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 iron
terrace TO terrace to the margin o
the bayou At the first terrace sh,
paused.
ITS positively squalid," cried Bet
~. with little stamp OF her foot.
Ware glanced about with duh eyes
I'm tell you. Betty. I'm busy THU
morning: you poke about and SEE
what YOU want done and well do 1t.
ne said. and made a hasty retreat L
his Office.
Betty returned to the porch an,
seating herself on the top step. witt
her elbows on her knees and her Chi
sunk in the palms Of her hands. gaze
about her miserably enough. She wa
still there when half an hour late
Charley Norton galloped up the driv
from the highroad. Catching sight q
her on the porch. he sprang from tn
saddle, and throwing his reins to
black boy. hurried to her side.
"lnspecting 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 wei
away. what was there to brin
ne? Old Tom would make a co
pasture out of the Garden OF Eide
wouldn't he-a beautiful. practice
sordid soul he is"
Norton spent the day at Belle plair
and though he was there on his GOO
behavior as the result of an agre
ment they had reached on board II
Naiad, he proposed twice.
Tom was mistaken I'm his suppo:
ton that Betty would soon tire
Belle Plain. She demanded men, al
teams, and began on the lawns. RI
Interested and fascinated her. 81
was ont AT sun-up to direct ner labo
ers. She had the advantage of Charl,
Nortcns presence and advice for q
greater part OF each day in the wee
and Sundays he came to look ov
what had been accomplished. and
Tom firmly believed. to put that lit
TOOL up to fresh nonsense. lie cou
have looted him.