betty zane-第8章

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vely；　to　his。　But　he　had　been　deeply　hurt。　He　pretended　not　to　see　the　friendly　hand　held　out　to　him；　and　his　voice　was　cold　when　he　answered　her。

〃I　am　glad　to　have　been　of　some　service；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　think　you　overrate　my　action。　Your　brother　would　not　have　drowned；　I　am　sure。　You　owe　me　nothing。　Good…night。〃

Betty　stood　still　one　moment　staring　at　the　door　through　which　he　had　gone　before　she　realized　that　her　overtures　of　friendship　had　been　politely；　but　coldly；　ignored。　She　had　actually　been　snubbed。　The　impossible　had　happened　to　Elizabeth　Zane。　Her　first　sensation　after　she　recovered　from　her　momentary　bewilderment　was　one　of　amusement；　and　she　laughed　in　a　constrained　manner；　but；　presently；　two　bright　red　spots　appeared　in　her　cheeks；　and　she　looked　quickly　around　to　see　if　any　of　the　others　had　noticed　the　incident。　None　of　them　had　been　paying　any　attention　to　her　and　she　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。　It　was　bad　enough　to　be　snubbed　without　having　others　see　it。　That　would　have　been　too　humiliating。　Her　eyes　flashed　fire　as　she　remembered　the　disdain　in　Clarke's　face；　and　that　she　had　not　been　clever　enough　to　see　it　in　time。

〃Tige；　come　here！〃　called　Colonel　Zane。　〃What　ails　the　dog？〃

The　dog　had　jumped　to　his　feet　and　ran　to　the　door；　where　he　sniffed　at　the　crack　over　the　threshold。　His　aspect　was　fierce　and　threatening。　He　uttered　low　growls　and　then　two　short　barks。　Those　in　the　room　heard　a　soft　moccasined　footfall　outside。　The　next　instant　the　door　opened　wide　and　a　tall　figure　stood　disclosed。

〃Wetzel！〃　exclaimed　Colonel　Zane。　A　hush　fell　on　the　little　company　after　that　exclamation；　and　all　eyes　were　fastened　on　the　new　comer。

Well　did　the　stranger　merit　close　attention。　He　stalked　into　the　room；　leaned　his　long　rifle　against　the　mantelpiece　and　spread　out　his　hands　to　the　fire。　He　was　clad　from　head　to　foot　in　fringed　and　beaded　buckskin；　which　showed　evidence　of　a　long　and　arduous　tramp。　It　was　torn　and　wet　and　covered　with　mud。　He　was　a　magnificently　made　man；　six　feet　in　height；　and　stood　straight　as　an　arrow。　His　wide　shoulders；　and　his　muscular；　though　not　heavy；　limbs　denoted　wonderful　strength　and　activity。　His　long　hair；　black　as　a　raven's　wing；　hung　far　down　his　shoulders。　Presently　he　turned　and　the　light　shone　on　a　remarkable　face。　So　calm　and　cold　and　stern　it　was　that　it　seemed　chiselled　out　of　marble。　The　most　striking　features　were　its　unusual　pallor；　and　the　eyes；　which　were　coal　black；　and　piercing　as　the　dagger's　point。

〃If　you　have　any　bad　news　out　with　it；〃　cried　Colonel　Zane；　impatiently。

〃No　need　fer　alarm；〃　said　Wetzel。　He　smiled　slightly　as　he　saw　Betty's　apprehensive　face。　〃Don't　look　scared；　Betty。　The　redskins　are　miles　away　and　goin'　fer　the　Kanawha　settlement。〃



CHAPTER　III。

Any　weeks　of　quiet　followed　the　events　of　the　last　chapter。　The　settlers　planted　their　corn；　harvested　their　wheat　and　labored　in　the　fields　during　the　whole　of　one　spring　and　summer　without　hearing　the　dreaded　war　cry　of　the　Indians。　Colonel　Zane；　who　had　been　a　disbursing　officer　in　the　army　of　Lord　Dunmore；　where　he　had　attained　the　rank　of　Colonel；　visited　Fort　Pitt　during　the　summer　in　the　hope　of　increasing　the　number　of　soldiers　in　his　garrison。　His　efforts　proved　fruitless。　He　returned　to　Fort　Henry　by　way　of　the　river　with　several　pioneers；　who　with　their　families　were　bound　for　Fort　Henry。　One　of　these　pioneers　was　a　minister　who　worked　in　the　fields　every　week　day　and　on　Sundays　preached　the　Gospel　to　those　who　gathered　in　the　meeting　house。

Alfred　Clarke　had　taken　up　his　permanent　abode　at　the　fort；　where　he　had　been　installed　as　one　of　the　regular　garrison。　His　duties；　as　well　as　those　of　the　nine　other　members　of　the　garrison；　were　light。　For　two　hours　out　of　the　twenty…four　he　was　on　guard。　Thus　he　had　ample　time　to　acquaint　himself　with　the　settlers　and　their　families。

Alfred　and　Isaac　had　now　become　firm　friends。　They　spent　many　hours　fishing　in　the　river；　and　roaming　the　woods　in　the　vicinity；　as　Colonel　Zane　would　not　allow　Isaac　to　stray　far　from　the　fort。　Alfred　became　a　regular　visitor　at　Colonel　Zane's　house。　He　saw　Betty　every　day；　but　as　yet；　nothing　had　mended　the　breach　between　them。　They　were　civil　to　each　other　when　chance　threw　them　together；　but　Betty　usually　left　the　room　on　some　pretext　soon　after　he　entered。　Alfred　regretted　his　hasty　exhibition　of　resentment　and　would　have　been　glad　to　establish　friendly　relations　with　her。　But　she　would　not　give　him　an　opportunity。　She　avoided　him　on　all　possible　occasions。　Though　Alfred　was　fast　succumbing　to　the　charm　of　Betty's　beautiful　face；　though　his　desire　to　be　near　her　had　grown　well　nigh　resistless；　his　pride　had　not　yet　broken　down。　Many　of　the　summer　evenings　found　him　on　the　Colonel's　doorstep；　smoking　a　pipe；　or　playing　with　the　children。　He　was　that　rare　and　best　companya　good　listener。　Although　he　laughed　at　Colonel　Zane's　stories；　and　never　tired　of　hearing　of　Isaac's　experiences　among　the　Indians；　it　is　probable　he　would　not　have　partaken　of　the　Colonel's　hospitality　nearly　so　often　had　it　not　been　that　he　usually　saw　Betty；　and　if　he　got　only　a　glimpse　of　her　he　went　away　satisfied。　On　Sundays　he　attended　the　services　at　the　little　church　and　listened　to　Betty's　sweet　voice　as　she　led　the　singing。

There　were　a　number　of　girls　at　the　fort　near　Betty's　age。　With　all　of　these　Alfred　was　popular。　He　appeared　so　entirely　different　from　the　usual　young　man　on　the　frontier　that　he　was　more　than　welcome　everywhere。　Girls　in　the　backwoods　are　much　the　same　as　girls　in　thickly　populated　and　civilized　districts。　They　liked　his　manly　ways；　his　frank　and　pleasant　manners；　and　when　to　these　virtues　he　added　a　certain　deferential　regard；　a　courtliness　to　which　they　were　unaccustomed；　they　were　all　the　better　pleased。　He　paid　the　young　women　little　attentions；　such　as　calling　on　them；　taking　them　to　parties　and　out　driving；　but　there　was　not　one　of　them　who　could　think　that　she；　in　particular；　interested　him。

The　girls　noticed；　however；　that　he　never　approached　Betty　after　service；　or　on　any　occasion；　and　while　it　caused　some　wonder　and　gossip　among　them；　for　Betty　enjoyed　the　distinction　of　being　the　belle　of　the　border；　they　were　secretly　pleased。　Little　hints　and　knowing　smiles；　with　which　girls　are　so　skillful；　made　known　to　Betty　all　of　this；　and；　although　she　was　apparently　indifferent；　it　hurt　her　sensitive　feelings。　It　had　the　effect　of　making　her　believe　she　hated　the　cause　of　it　more　than　ever。

What　would　have　happened　had　things　gone　on　in　this　way；　I　am　not　prepared　to　say；　probably　had　not　a　meddling　Fate　decided　to　take　a　hand　in　the　game；　Betty　would　have　continued　to　think　she　hated　Alfred；　and　I　would　never　have　had　occasion　to　write　his　story；　but　Fate　did　interfere；　and；　one　day　in　the　early　fall；　brought　about　an　incident　which　changed　the　whole　world　for　the　two　young　people。

It　was　the　afternoon　of　an　Indian　summer　dayin　that　most　beautiful　time　of　all　the　yearand　Betty；　accompanied　by　her　dog；　had　wandered　up　the　hillside　into　the　woods。　From　the　hilltop　the　broad　river　could　be　seen　winding　away　n　the　distance；　and　a　soft；　bluish；　smoky　haze　hung　over　the　water。　The　forest　seemed　to　be　on　fire。　The　yellow　leaves　of　the　poplars；　the　brown　of　the　white　and　black　oaks；　the　red　and　purple　of　the　maples；　and　the　green　of　the　pines　and　hemlocks　flamed　in　a　glorious　blaze　of　color。　A　stillness；　which　was　only　broken　now　and　then　by　the　twittering　of　birds　uttering　the　plaintive　notes　peculiar　to　them　in　the　autumn　as　they　band　together　before　their　pilgrimage　to　the　far　south；　pervaded　the　forest。

Betty　loved　the　woods；　and　she　knew　all　the　trees。　She　could　tell　their　names　by　the　bark　or　the　shape　of　the　leaves。　The　giant　black　oak；　with　its　smooth　shiny　bark　and　sturdy　limbs；　the　chestnut　with　its　rugged；　seamed　sides　and　bristling　burrs；　the　hickory　with　its　lofty　height　and　curled　shelling　bark；　were　all　well　known　and　well　loved　by　Betty。　Many　times　had　she　wondered　at　the　trembling；　quivering　leaves　of　the　aspen；　and　the　foliage　of　the　silver…leaf　as　it　glinted　in　the　sun。　To…day；　especially；　as　she　walked　through　the　woods；　did　their　beauty　appeal　to　her。　In　the　little　sunny　patches　of　clearing　which　were　scattered　here　and　there　in　the　grove；　great　clusters　of　goldenrod　grew　profusely。　The　golden　heads　swayed　gracefully　on　the　long　stems　Betty　gathered　a　few　sprigs　and　added　to　them　a　bunch　of　warmly　tinted　maple　leaves。

The　chestnuts　burrs　were　opening。　As　Betty　mounted　a　little　rocky　eminence　and　reached　out　for　a　limb　of　a　chestnut　tree；　she　lost　her　footing　and　fell。　Her　right　foot　had　twisted　under　her　as　she　went　down；　and　when　a　sharp　pain　shot　through　it　she　was　unable　to　repress　a　cry。　She　got　up；　tenderly　placed　the　foot　on　the　ground　and　tried　her　weight　on　it；　which　caused　acute　pain。　She　unlaced　and　removed　her　moccasin　to　find　that　her　ankle　had　commenced　to　swell。　Assured　that　she　had　sprained　it；　and　aware　of　the　serious　consequences　of　an　injury　of　that　nature；　she　felt　greatly　distressed。　Another　effort　to　place　her　foot　on　the　ground　and　bear　her　weight　on　it　caused　such　severe　pain　that　she　was　compelled　to　give　up　the　attempt。　Sinking　down　by　the　trunk　of　the　tree　and　leaning　her　head　against　it　she　tried　to　think　of　a　way　out　of　her　difficulty。

The　fort；　which　she　could　plainly　see；　seemed　a　long　distance　off；　although　it　was　only　a　little　way　down　the　grassy　slope。　She　looked　and　looked；　but　not　a　person　was　to　be　seen。　She　called　to　Tige。　She　remembered　that　he　had　been　chasing　a　squirrel　a　short　while　ago；　but　now　there　was　no　sign　of　him。　He　did　not　come　at　her　call。　How　annoying！　If　Tige　were　only　there　she　could　have　sent　him　for　help。　She　shouted　several　times；　but　the　distance　was　too　great　for　her　voice　to　carry　to　the　fort。　The　mocking　echo　of　her　call　came　back　from　the　bluff　that　rose　to　her　left。　Betty　now　began　to　be　alarmed　in　earnest；　and　the　tears　started　to　roll　down　her　cheeks。　The　throbbing　pain　in　her　ankle；　the　dread　of　having　to　remain　out　in　that　lonesome　forest　after　dark；　and　the　fear　that　she　might　not　be　found　for　hours；　caused　Betty's　usually　brave　spirit　to　falter；　she　was　weeping　unreservedly。

In　reality　she　had　been　there　only　a　few　minutesalthough　they　seemed　hours　to　herwhen　she　heard　the　light　tread　of　moccasined　feet　on　the　moss　behind　her。　Starting　up　with　a　cry　of　joy　she　turned　and　looked　up　into　the　astonished　face　of　Alfred　Clarke。

Returning　from　a　hunt　back　in　the　woods　he　had　walked　up　to　her　before　being　aware　of　her　presence。　In　a　single　glance　he　saw　the　wildflowers　scattered　beside　her；　the　little　moccasin　turned　inside　out；　the　woebegone；　tearstained　face；　and　he　knew　Betty　had　come　to　grief。

Confused　and　vexed；　Betty　sank　back　at　the　foot　of　the　tree。　It　is　probable　she　would　have　encountered　Girty　or　a　member　of　his　band　of　redmen；　rather　than　have　this　young　man　find　her　in　this　predicament。　It　provoked　her　to　think　that　of　all　the　people　at　the　fort　it　should　be　the　only　one　she　could　not　welcome　who　should　find　her　in　such　a　sad　plight。

〃Why；　Miss　Zane！〃　he　exclaimed；　after　a　moment　of　hesitation。　〃What　in　the　world　has　happened？　Have　you　been　hurt？　May　I　help　you？〃

〃It　is　nothing；