The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-12-26
cHAprER xIv-1contInuea.l

LLLHELHL LEH%... uE
CHATTER xIv-CContinued.)
Humanity" echoed the baronet. with
I'll dissembled Irritation. Such angelic
sentiments we'll become the cruel
beauty whose path Is strewn Win
bleeding hearts. But q my dear
Prudence no pity to spare for the UNI
happy swain, condemned to worse than
death by Robin, the h~ighwayman,s I'M
expected good luck r.
ION the contrary" laughed Prue,
''she congratulates you on your escape;
believe me, a far greater piece OF luck
than RObin,s.'
aDo not lest. dear one, I implore
you" said Sir Geoffrey seriously. You
certainly have not considered the posi-
ton this miscarriage OF Justice q
placed you in. Let me lay before YOU
the consequence
Pray, do not" interrupted Prue. pet
tishly. III I am resigned to the VIII
OF heaven, why persecute me win rea-
sons for rebellion 2"
sir Geonrey. with. his hand upon his
heart, bowed to the ground.
Before such piety, I am dumb he
said. Us Il permitted to ask IL you are
reconciled to your creditors as well as
to the mean you took to rid yourself
OF them I"
ct Is not. replied Prue, with over
towering dignity. That Is my private
affair and I do not care to discuss 1t,
even with Sir Geoffrey B~eaudesert. BY.
the way, Sir Geoffrey"-with an en-
tire change Of tone and manner--"you
always know the latest news 90 ten
US why Mrs. Tewkesbury has gone
home to her father, and whether her
husband is going to fight a duel or VIII
merely horsewhip' her hairdresser?" n
The conversation drifted into safer
channels, and Prue was soon her "
bright. frivolous, enchanting self. 9th
err guests dropped In, fashion, scandal,
and the duchess masquerade were dis
cussed, and Prue had a saucy answer
for every compliment and a ready laugh
for every Jest, and beneath her dainty
bodice such a tumult of fear and shame
and sharp sense OF defeat, and wtthal
such strange, swift stabs OF something
more than all the other emotions that
quickened her pulse and sent the blood
surgfng through her brain.
1T was late In the afternoon, and
Erue's guests were making their adieux
when Robins messenger cams--a rus
tic looking youth with a rudy COM
plexion and q shock OF tow colored
hair. He was dressed like the footboy
of q prosperous tradesman. n carried
an oilskin covered basket-and Of q
surety bore no resemblance to the
crippled beggar who had followed Rob-
IN so DGFBlSLcnllY OH HIS WAY " tue
conferences In Lincoln's nm. g.
Yet 1t was the same a
With an air OF dense stupidity, he
fevaded such questions as James
deigned to put to him, and reiterated
his petition for a personal interview
with Lady Prudence Brooke. for whom
he had a message that was to be de-
ltvered to her, and to her alone. James,
seeming a discreet but persistent dun,
babe him walt In the library, and o IN
yeyed his request to Prue with the
same air of respectful coincidence with
which he would nave announced any
other calamity. Although he disap-
proved of her youth and ~friyolity,
James would have yielded to none In
admiration of HIS beautiful young mis-
tress, when he lad carried In his arms
as d baby and conspired with every
other member Of Lady DrHmloch's
household TO indulge, spoil and iatter
had opened on a world full OF her
adorers.
"A young men IL waiting below, my
lady. He has a message for o which
he will not send up. / told him you
were engaged, but he said. he would
walt until you were at leisure
What sort OF a young man, James?
Does he Q as IL he came for money? ~
Prue asked, you know most of my
duns better than i do
He Is a stranger to me, my lady, but
It is likely h" may be a lawyers clerk
In disguise" A
Il will see him. James; bring him
up here" h interrupted.
The hairdresser Is here: shall ! tell
him to wait?'' inquired James.
mo; send him upstairs. Peggie. go
and have your hair dressed first, and
by that time / viii be ready
She was alone when the young man
was shown ins you want to see me?D
she said, as soon as the door was shut.
You come to fetch something, do you
not r..
The captain told me-" he began,
then stopped and stared mutely at her.
well, what did the captain tell you o.
She demanded, impatiently.
III told me I should see the most
beautiful lady In h whole world, and |
that 1 should know her for the Lady
Prudence Brooke, without asking her
name" said the lad.
Your captain Is a foolln cried Prue.
But try as hard ais she might to look
indignant, she FLUSHED diyinely and all
furtiye smile played hide and seek
among her dimples, or all Prue's many
charms there was none to equal her
smile. 1t was, perhaps, on hat ac-l
count that she smiled often and so
maintained a reputation for good ma
ture that lured many an unsuspecting
victim into disaster.
That he ISL cried the messenger,
heartily. For he said he'd done this
beautiful lady a great injury, but for1
all that he would trust his life-and
more than tkat-in her hands. Can
any man be a worse fool than 10 trust
q woman so far as that7"
rSssd hs that, In very TRUTH" asked