He looked at her steadily, and Betty's dark lashes
drooped as the color mounted to her face.
"I don't," she said quickly. She rose from her chair, and
Carrington followed her example with a lithe movement that
bespoke muscles in good training. She led the way through the
wide hall and out to the porch.
"Now I am going to show you all over the place," she announced
resolutely. She stood on the top step, looking off into the
flaming west where the sun rode low in the heavens. "Isn't it
lovely, Mr. Carringtonisn't it beautiful?"
"Very beautiful!" Carrington's glance was fixed on her face.
"If you don't care to see Belle Plain," began Betty, rather
indignantly.
"No, I don't, Betty. This is enough for me. I'll come for that
some other time if you'll be good enough to let me?"
"Then you expect to remain in the neighborhood?"
"I've given up the river, and I'm going to get hold of some land--"
"Land?" said Betty, with a rising inflection.
"Yes, land."
"I thought you were a river-man?"
"I'm a river-man no longer. I am going to be a planter now. But
I'll tell you why, and all about it some other day." Then he
held out his hand. "Goodby," he added.
"Are you going--good-by, Mr. Carrington," and Betty's fingers
tingled with his masterful clasp long after he had gone.
Carrington sauntered slowly down the path to the highroad.
"She didn't ask me to come back--an oversight," he told himself
cheerfully.
Just beyond the gates he met that same young fellow he had seen
at New Madrid.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173