Suddenly his arms fell at his side; his face was white.

"I was a brute to do that!--Betty, forgive me! I am sorry--no, I can't be sorry!"' "How do you dare! I hope I may never see you again--I hate you--" said Betty furiously, tears in her eyes and her pulses still throbbing from his fierce caress.
"Do you mean that ?" he asked slowly, rising.
"Yes--yes--a million times, yes!" "I don't believe you--I can't--I won't!" They were alongside the New Madrid wharf now, and a certain young man who had been impatiently watching The Naiad's lights ever since they became visible crossed the gang-plank with a bound.
"Betty--why in the name of goodness did you ever, choose this tub ?--everything on the river has passed it!" said the newcomer.

Betty started up with a little cry of surprise and pleasure.
"Charley!" Carrington stepped back.

This must be the brother who had come up the river from Memphis to meet her--but her brother's name was Tom! He looked this stranger--this Charley--over with a hostile eye, offended by his good looks, his confident manner, in which he thought he detected an air of ownership, as if--certainly he was holding her hands longer than was necessary! Of course, other men were in love with her, such a radiant personality held its potent attraction for men, but for all that, she was going to belong to him--Carrington! She did like him; she had shown it in a hundred little ways during the last week, and he would give her up to no man--give her up ?--there wasn't the least tie between them--except that kiss--and she was furious because of it.

There was nothing for him to do but efface himself.