The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-05

- = - - lss1nee; ~ Il
1eax11e 3 Il lgu4oeooeh r.
M, vialhle tohon6 & ~ aJee(9
fortunes lloee than thle, ~ oGN1(
trust his hAnas dec down ito -
coce empty poc1uts Al her -
clink q gola ana oliver. II 14oo
slowly withdrew ~ eyea ffun 80
last cray suof that showo4 ezDqne
the trees, and faced the eaae ~
the future with : sefsnely cono6ent
oppression.
Betty Malroy and Carrinstoa ~
ridden into Raleigh 10 take legNe
Of their friends. They had uakc1ed
the stage from sight. had answered
the last majestic salute the judge
had given the macruss the sWqyt1g
top OF the coach before the s1sse
turn Of the road hid II from sieh4.
and then they had turned Skoir
orses' heads in the direction OF
Belle Plain.
Bruce. do you think Judge Price
will ever be able 70 accomplish all
he hopes to-" Betty asked whan
they had left the town behind. SIC
drew in her horse. rs she ep0se.
and they went forward at wn1k
under the splendid arch Of the for
est and over q carpet Of vivid
leaves.
II reckon he will, Betty" re-
sponded Darlington. Unfavorable
as had been his original estimate
Of the judges character. events had
greatly modified it.
He really seems quite sure.
doesn't he" said Betty.
There's not . doubt - ~
mind" agreed Darlington.
He was tsill at Belle PLANE living
| in what had been Wares office.
while the Cavendishes were domi-
ciled at the big house. He had ar
| ranged with the Judge to crop
part Of that hopeful gentleman's
land the very next season; the fact
that q lawsuit interviewed between
| the Judge and possession seemed a
/ trifiing matter, for Darlington had
become infected with the judges
point Of view, which did not admit
of the possibility of failure; but he
hal, not yet told Betty Of his plans.
Time enough for that when he left
Belle Plain.
1 His silence concerning the future
had caused Betty much thought.
She wondered il he still intended
going south into the Purchase; she
was not sure but it was the digni-
fled thing for him to do. She was
thinking Of this now as they went
forward over the rustling leaves.
and at length she turned In the SAD
die and faced him.
Il am going to miss Hannibal
! dreadfully-yes, and the Judge. anil
Mr.. Yancy!" she began. asL
81 am to be missed, too, am 1,
Betty?" he inquired, leaning TO-
ward her.
you. Bruce!-Oh, shall mics
YOU. too. dreadfully-but then. per-
haps in five years, when you come
back"
give years." cried Darlington,
Int he understood something of
what was passing in her mind, and
laughed shortly. Five years,
Betty" he repeated. dwelling on
the numeral.
4 Betty hesitated and looked
thoughtful. Presently she stole a
. surreptitious glance at Darlington
from under her long lashes. and
went on slowly. as though she were
making careful choice OF ner
words 81
"When you come back in three
l years, Bruce"
l Darlington still regarded hei
! fixedly. There was q light in his
black eyes that seemed to penetrate
: to the most secret recesses OF he'
heart and soul.
; Three years, Betty" he repeat
, ed again.
Betty, her eyes cast down. twist
cd her rein nervously between her
, slim, white fingers, but Carrington's
| steady glance never left her sweet
. face, framed by its halo OF bright
hair. She stole another look at
him from beneath her dark laslies.
Three years, Betty" he prompt
ed.
Bruce, don't stare at me that
way. it makes me forget what l was
going to say! When you come back
next year" and then she lifted
her eyes to his and he saw that they
were full of sudden tears. Bruce,
: don't go away-don't 60 away at
, all"
Darlington slipped from the sad
die and stood at her side.
do you mean that, Betty" he
asked He took her hands loosely
t in his and relentlessly considered
t her crimsoned face. Il reckon II
/ will always be right hard to refuse
, YOU anything-here is one settler
the Purchase will never get!" and
he laughed softly. -ld.
1T was the Purchase-you were
going there" she cried.
II mo, / wasn't Betty; that notion
l died its natural death long ago
, When we are sure you will be safe
at Belle Plain with just the Caven'
dishes, l am going into Raleigh te
wait as best l can until pring." HI
spoke so gravely that she asked. II
I quick alarm. IS
And then, Bruce-what?"
And then Oh, Betty, I'm starv
, ing" All in a moment he liftet
her slender figure in his arms, gath
, ering her close to him. And then
!. this-and this-and this, sweet
, heart--and more-and-oh. Betty
/ Betty"