"Grey, Zane - Betty Zane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grey Zane)

to-morrow?"

He looked straight down into the dark eyes which wavered and fell before he
had completed his question.

"There is Isaac. He cannot see me here. I must go."

"But not before telling me. What is the good of your forgiving me if I may not
see you. Please say yes."

"You may come," answered Betty, half amused and half provoked at his
persistence. "I should think you would know that such permission invariably
goes with a young woman's forgiveness."

"Hello, here you are. What a time I have had in finding you," said Isaac,
coming up with flushed face and eyes bright with excitement. "Alfred, what do
you mean by hiding the belle of the dance away like this? I want to dance with
you, Betts. I am having a fine time. I have not danced anything but Indian
dances for ages. Sorry to take her away, Alfred. I can see she doesn't want to
go. Ha! Ha!" and with a mischievous look at both of them he led Betty away.

Alfred kept his seat awhile lost in thought. Suddenly he remembered that it
would look strange if he did not make himself agreeable, so he got up and
found a partner. He danced with Alice, Lydia, and the other young ladies.
After an hour he slipped away to his room. He wished to be alone. He wanted to
think; to decide whether it would be best for him to stay at the fort, or ride
away in the darkness and never return. With the friendly touch of Betty's hand
the madness with which he had been battling for weeks rushed over him stronger
than ever. The thrill of that soft little palm remained with him, and he
pressed the hand it had touched to his lips.

For a long hour he sat by his window. He could dimly see the broad winding
river, with its curtain of pale gray mist, and beyond, the dark outline of the
forest. A cool breeze from the water fanned his heated brow, and the quiet and
solitude soothed him.



CHAPTER IV.

"Good morning, Harry. Where are you going so early?" called Betty from the
doorway.

A lad was passing down the path in front of Colonel Zane's house as Betty
hailed him. He carried a rifle almost as long as himself.

"Mornin', Betty. I am goin' 'cross the crick fer that turkey I hear gobblin',"
he answered, stopping at the gate and smiling brightly at Betty.

"Hello, Harry Bennet. Going after that turkey? I have heard him several