The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

sns sstnsa; 49, solne b uas.y
me! Cant - ~ - ~
Carffxg1oa ~ CT hie AanA.
'sYoa ere not cping to take any
risks nov. yoa heSe too much e
live tor" be sAi1 haltingiy.
no, Tn to keep away nom
Bale Plain" said Norton happily.
she Insists on that. Everything 10
to BE- kept . secret until We are
actually married: It's her wish-
Its to be soou. them! Caring
ton asked, still haltingly.
Very soon"
There was q brief silence. Car
rington, with face averted. looked
from the window.
II am going to stay here ~ loag
a. You need me-" he presently said.
Miss Nalroy asked me 70. and
then ! am going back to the river,
where I belong"
Betty ate supper with big Steve
standing behind her chair and lit
tie Steve balancing himself hrst
on one foot and then on the other
near the door. ,e
The long French windows. their
curtains drawn, stood open. She
wandered down to the terrace.
There was the sound OF . step on
the path. Betty turned. 1t was
Carrington who stood before her,
his face haggArd. Without q word
he stepped to her side and took her
hands rather roughly.
what am I to do without you?
his voice was almost . whisper.
What is this thing you have done"
Betty's heart was beating WiEA dull
sickening throbs.
III you had only GOMEZ" she
moaned. Nov ! am going to be
married tomorrow. l am to meet
him at the Spring Bank church at
10 O'clock"
How can I give you up?" he
said, his voice hoarse with emotion.
He put her from him almost rough
ly. and leaning against the trunk
of a tree buried his face in his
hands. Betty watched him for
moment in wretched silence. is2
Its good-by-" he muttered.
She went to him, and, as he bent
above her, slipped her arms about
his neck.
kiss me" she breathed.
He kissed her hair, her soft
cheek, then their lips met.
Another hot September sun was
beating upon the earth as Betty
galloped down the lane and swung
her horses head in the direction Of
Raleigh. She would keep her
promise to Charley and he should
never know what his happiness had
cost her.
Norton joined her before she had
. covered a third Of the distance that
} separated the two plantations. 80
u I'VE are to go to the church. Mr..
Bowen will be there: l arranged
. with him last night; he will drive
over with his wife and daughter,
who will be our witnesses, DEAR"
t Afterward Betty could remem-
: Der standing before the church in
! the fierce morning light; she heard
l Mr.. Bowen's voice. she heard
l Charley's voice, she heard another
Voucher own, though she scarce
= ly recognized it.
"Tll tie the horses, Betty" said
I Norton.
He had reached the edge Of tn,
= oaks when from the silent depth!
of the denser woods came the sharI
e report of a rife The shock Of thu
e bullet sent the young fellow stag
e gering back among the messy ant
myrtle-covered graves.
e For a moment no one grasped
what had happened, only there was
Norton who seemed to gropt
q. strangely among the graves. HI
Y had fallen now. Even as thu
e shadows deepened he was awar'
r that Betty was coming swiftly to-
n ward him. r.
r I'm shot" he sad. speaking
il with difficulty.
e "Char!ey-Charley-" she moan
: ed, slipping her arms about him ans
gathering him to her breast.
|, He looked up into her face.
Its all over" he said. but a
d much in wonder as in fear. But
i knew you could come to me-iea.
-" he added in a whisper.
e She felt a shudder pass through
e him. He did not speak again.
|. CHAPTER XVI, t-
:" The Judge Offers q Reward.