Betty Zane

her but her embroidery and her reading. These she found very tiresome. Her maid was devoted to her and never left a thing undone. Annie was old Sam's daughter, and she had waited on Betty since sh

their bright chatter and merry laughter, their castle-building, and their romancing on heroes and love and marriage as girls always will until the end of time. They had not forgot

accepted this favor gratefully. He said that on the night of the dance he had been a little the worse for Dan Watkins' strong liquor, and that, together with his bitter disappointment, made him act in the mad way which had so grievously offended her. He exerted himself t

ld come down and sing for them, and afterward would coax Indian lore and woodcraft from Wetzel, or she would play checkers with the Major. If she succeeded in winning from him, which in truth was not often, she teased him unmercifully. When Col. Zane and the

of Betty's girls friends, after the usual music and singing, storytelling became the order of the evening. L

with a sharp nose. Every time Tige barked the little animal showed his teeth and swelled up his back. I wanted him for a pet. I got Sam to give me a sack and I climbed the tree and the nearer I got to

tty. "Now, Jonathan, remember that you promised

on my ramrod and cautiously poked it from behind the tree, expecting every second to hear the whistle of the redskin's bullet. Instead I heard a jolly voice yell: 'Hey, young feller, you'll have to try something better'n that.' I looked and saw a white man standing out in the open and shaking all over with laughter

d risen and gone to the door. "Now, Bett

pleasantly passing the time. We have had bear stories, snake st

nce to kill a hostile Indian an

once," answ

. I imagine it wi

ok to the water. This was what I was waitin' for. When they got nearly acrosst I shot the first redskin, and loadin' quick got a bullet into the others. The last Injun did not sink. I watched him go floatin' down stream expectin' every minute to see him go under as he was hurt so bad he could hardly keep his head above water. He floated down a long ways and the current carried him to a pile of driftwood which had lodged against a little island. I saw the Injun crawl up on the drift. I went down stream and by keepin' the island between me and him I got out to where he was. I pulled my tomahawk and went around the head of the islan

l death dances. Some of the braves got drunk and worked themselves into a frenzy. I allowed I'd never see daylight. I seen that one of the braves left to guard me was the young feller I had wounded the year before. He never took no notice of me. In the gray of the early mornin' when all were asleep and the other watch dozin' I felt cold

r eyes all aglow. "He paid his debt to

orget a promise, or a kind action,

led?" asked Betty. "I have heard as many sto

and driven from their homes. What we think hide

rs and have never seen a hostile Indian. There have been some Indians in the vicinity during that time but not one has shown himself to me. I'm not

y best horse to a keg of gunpowder that you see enough Indians before you are a

the same bet," sa

d proof that the Delawares and the Shawnees have been preparing for an expedition for months. We shall have an

alkilate on goin' on any long hunts

planter, and all those chiefs will unite their

and he ain't so bitter. Tarhe is not likely to bother us

n these chief

and they all know me,

ny a trail waitin' fo

y of 'em I'll give up

ight,

often I can get him to talk, but sometimes he tells me beautiful thing about the woods; how he lives in the wilderness, his home under the great trees; how every leaf on the trees and every blade of grass has its joy for him as well as its knowledge; how he curls up in his little bark

n one of these long jaunts and will never return. That is certain. The day is fast approaching when a man like Wetzel will be of no use in life. Now, he

me. I know he does an

not care as you seem

ame. I am sure bot

rewd. It's quite likely, Betty, quite likely. It seems

asked Bett

rent somehow," said her bro

n I am more

ometimes yo

nd-and happy," said Betty,

derfully well here in this dead place. But tell me,

at," said Betty, flushing and t

nd me. I did not mean anythi

ew short years since he had promised her that he would take care of the baby sister. How had he kept that promise made when Betty was a little thing bouncing on his knee? It seemed

* * * * *

the lilac bushes showed tiny leaves, and the maple-buds were bursting. Yesterday a blue-bird-surest harbinger of spring-had alighted on the fence-post and had sung his plaintive

d in the doorway. "The air is fresh, the sun shines

at in winter I am happier. In summer I am always worried. I am afraid for the children to b

fted down from the Monongahela settlements. Some of the women suffered considerably. I intend to offer them the cabin on the hill until they can cut the timber and r

in the settlement. I can acco

inconvenienced. I'll send Sam up to the cabin and ha

. The lad's face was dirty, his nose was all blo

s mother. "Look at the boy. Noah, c

e. Mrs. Zane turned the boy around and wiped his discolored features with a wet t

Reihart to be repaired. He came to the door with me and all at once he said: 'look at the kids.' I looked and saw Noah walk up to a boy and say something to him. The lad was a stranger, and I have no doubt belongs to these new people I told you about. He was bigger than Noah. At first the older boy appeared very fri

e laughing about it now. Ebenezer Zane, I would not put it beneath you to set Noah to fighting. I know you

her laugh. "I'll bet you that unless we lock him up, Noah

Mrs. Zane, with a

'll take her with me. You know I am to get a commission to lay out several settlements along the river, and I want

there will brighten h

h by a charming vision that had entered by the open door. Betty-for it was she-wore a little

r a week that old black hen has circumvented me, but at last I hav

up in the loft?"

ight-hearted and happy this morning, but I have not as yet grown wings. Sam

e tone. "Only last fall Hugh Bennet's little boy slid off the hay d

vehemence. "There is not a horse in the barn but would stand o

black horse Mr. Clarke left here woul

e would no

d my advice I would have told you that painting your canoe should not have been done for a month yet. Silas told me you fell down the creek hill; Sam said you tried to drive his team over the bluff, and so on. We are happy to see you get back your old time spir

of staying indoors. This morning I could have cried for very joy. Bessie will soon be lecturing me

that he had seen Eb Zane's little sister and that if he ever got his hands on her he would make a squaw of her. I am not teasing you. I am telling you the truth. Girty saw you when you were at Fort Pitt two years ago. Now what would you do if he ca

to make a squaw of me?" exclaimed Betty, h

may never see Girty. All I ask is that you be careful. I am going over to Short C

at will be

and we shall start e

profited much by her short visit. Col. Zane remarked with satisfact

blossomed; the trailing arbutus scented the air; everywhere the grass and the leaves looked fresh and green; swallows flitted in and out of the

d old Sam, when he had led the pony to where Betty s

ty pulled him into a walk. Presently her musings were interrupted by a sharp switch in the face from a twig of a tree. She stopped the pony and broke off the offending branch. As she looked around the recollection of what had happened to her in that very spot flashed into her mind. It was here that she had been stopped by the man who had passed almost as swiftly out of her life as he had crossed her path that memorable afternoon. She fell to musing o

y over the roots and stones. Betty's heart beat quicker when she saw the noble tree under whose spreading branches she had spent the happiest day of her life. The old monarch o

covered pool beneath. At that moment her eyes saw nothing physical. They held the faraway

slodged a stone from the path and it went rattling down the rock, slope and fell with a splash into the water. The man heard it, turned and faced the hillside. Betty recognized Alfred Clarke. For a moment she believed she must be dreaming. She had had many dreams of the old sycamore. She looked again. Yes, it was he. Pale, worn, and older he undoubtedly looked, but the features were surely those

f amazement when he saw the pony come tearing up the road, Betty's hair flying in th

s wrong?" cried the Colonel,

t man was here again?" she d

ol. Zane, considerably taken

id not know. I suppose you thought it a

away as well as you? I certainly cannot imagine how any man could create

retorted Betty, who was plainly on the verge of tears. "I rode down to the old sycamore tree and

vent to the Indian exclamation. "Is that

owed him down there, that I was thinking of-that-Oh!" cried Betty, passionately, and t

m out, and the older I grow the worse I get,"

thrilled her through and through. It hurt her and made her hate herself in that moment. She hid her face in shame at the thought that she could not help being glad to see the man who had only trifled with her, the man who had considered the acquaintance of so little consequence that he had never taken the tr

nded on the door and Col. Zane entered. He hesitated and came in rather timidly, for Betty was not t

aid her head on his shoulder and told him all her troubles. The desire grew strong within her now. There was

* * * * *

Monongahela River his intention had been to return to the fort as soon as he had finished his work, but what he did do was only another illustr

While there he had received word that his mother was lying very ill at his old home in Southern Virginia and if he wished to see her alive he must not delay in reaching her bedside. He left Fort Pitt at onc

oved the daring life of a ranger, and preferred to take his chances with the hardy settlers on the border rather than live the idle life of a gentleman farmer. He declared his intention to his step-father

little room in the block-house he surveyed the well-remembered scene. The

e to speak of the possibilities of a new country. I cannot deceive myself. It is she. I would walk a thousand miles and starve myself for months just for one glimpse of her sweet face. Knowing this what care I for all the rest. How strange she should ride down to the old sycamore tree yest

and went down stairs. The settlers with their families were going int

said, smiling pleasantly and extending her hand.

her and Col. Zane came up and bo

u, Clarke, I have taken a fancy to that black horse you left me last fall. I did not know what to think when Jonathan

My mother was ill all

ri

d kindly on the young man's shoulder. "I was wondering what gave you

old place with you, Col. Zan

through to Maysville, Kentucky, and start several new settlements along t

. That is more than I

e saw only Betty. By some evil chance Betty walked with Ralfe Miller, and for some mysterious reason, which women always keep to th

r one brief second, but that was long enough for them to understand e

them with flaming cheeks and with not so much as a

d composedly, and they

estroy even a little liking which she might have felt for him. Once again Miller had crossed his path and worsted him. With a sudden sickening sense of despair he realized that all his fond hopes had been but dreams, a fool's dreams. The dream of that moment when he would give her his mother's jewels, the dream of that charming face uplifted to his, the dream of the

s late in the day when Col. Zane ascended the

Col. Zane, looking down on his sister. There was a gleam in his eye an

wered Betty quickly, as her head went higher and her eye

like that in this little place where every one knows all about you and expect it to pass unnoticed. Martin's

I am indi

when he went away. Now that he has returned you won't even speak to him. You let this fellow Miller run after you. In my estimation Miller is not to be compared to Clarke, and judging from the warm greetings I saw Clarke receive this morning, ther

ty with indignation. "I do not like him. I never see him any more unless you or Bessie or so

irely innocent of those sweet glanc

lirt by you or by anyone else. The moment I am civil to some man all

You might not care for him at all, but that would be no good reason for your actions. Betty, in these frontier settlements a man is soon known for his real worth. Every one at the Fort liked Clarke. The youngsters adored him. Jessie liked him very much. You know he and Isaac became good friends. I think he acted like a man to-day. I saw the look Miller gave him. I don't l

nd she forgot her own resentment. Her heart had warmed with her brother's praise of Clarke. Then as she remembe

e never cared for m

, got up without saying anoth

d instantly regretted her hasty words. She called t

he room. She was breathless from running up the stairs and her comely face wore a look of con

Clarke had insulted me,

rs. Zane. "You don't know Eb when he is angry. He is a

she said that would not be

sked the elder woman, yield

last O

r. Clarke did not appear to be the sort of a man to insult anyone. All the girls

nt him. I never did. I am tired of hearing everyone eulogize him. I hate hi

s. Zane, who saw plainly that Betty's violent outburst was a prelude to a storm of

de him come in. He shoved open the door and went into the room. Clarke had evidently just returned from a tramp in

Have a seat. What

you to explain a rem

Alfred slowly lighting his pipe, after whi

before you left the Fort. I am sure you are neither a

ard," said Alfred coolly. He took a long pull on his p

it. She then said you had insulted her. Betty is prone to exaggerate, especially when angry, but she never told me a lie in her life. Ever since you pulled Isaac out of the river I ha

dercurrent of intense feeling in his voice, a certain deadly intent which boded ill to anyone who might cross him at that moment. Alfred's first impulse was a reckless desire to tell Col. Zane he had nothing to explain and that he stood ready to give any satisfacti

moonlight and she looked so bewitching and I felt so sorry for her and so carried away by my love for her that I yielded to a momentary impulse and kissed her. I simply could not help it. There is no excuse for me. She struck me across the face and ran into the house. I had intended that night to tell her of my love and place my fate in her hands, but, of course, the unfortunate occurrence made that impossible. As I w

ng lady who has had the privilege of saying 'yes' or 'no' to you. And Sam never had any u

ement. "I never thought of that. Good Heaven! What could she have thought of me? She would think I

er. I am glad I am justified in thinking of you as I have. I imagine this thing has hurt you and I don't wonder at it. Maybe we can untangle the p

e as he crossed the green square and started up the hill towa

Mr. Clarke gave you last October and

' no lettah, sa

e has just told me that he gave you

red the old darkey, taking a dingy pipe from

ernly. "You are getting old, Sam, and I would not like

eard him rummaging around. Presently he came back to the

lways been honest. Your act has caused great mi

yo' sistah, Mis' Betty, wit him, and I seen she was gittin' fond of him, and I says I ai

meaning but ignorant and superstitious old negro, turned and wended his way back to the house. He looked at the paper

hill to the negro's cabin. She breathed a sigh of relief when she s

rs, and, I believe it will clear up the mystery. Clarke

y settle Betty. She worries me

g lady exactly as he had left her. She gave

thing that may excite even you

nd at first refused to take it from her brother. She was at a loss to understan

razy old nigger kept it. However, it is too late to talk of that, only it does seem a great pity. I feel sorry for both of you. Clarke never will forgive you, eve

"too late," "never forgive," and "a great pity" rang through her head. What did he mean? She to

r Be

ld not speak them. I love you. I have loved you from the very first moment, that blessed moment when I looked up over your pony's head to see

night in the moonlight, I would not need to plead: you would know that the impulse which swayed m

about six or eight weeks, but I can

pe I sig

until

fre

ade her reach out helplessly with both hands. Then she slipped forward and fell on the floor. For the firs