The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-10-17
CHAPTER ".
THE MONEY LENDER INTER
yENES.

kert my Lady Drumloch In her cham
Der long enough to try the brief pa
tience OF Prudence Brooke. Sir Goef-
frey, secure OF his bride, was less I'M
patient. for after all, the grandmother's
consent was q mere matter OF form,
although he had reasons--upon which
he did not care TO dilate--for wishing
10 propitiRte the old lady, and secure
her good graces.
lie came 10 Mayfair as frequently as
HIS parliamentary duties permitted, and
never without sending UP to the sick
room the most sympathetic messages,
accompanied by boquets OF rare fiow-
eYg, baskets Of hot house fruit and
dainty porcelain or enameled boxes OF
French bon hons. and his gifts 20
Eowton were as lavish. though OF "a
Finding no abatement "a her grand
mothers austerity, about a week after
Sir Goetfrey's arrival, Lady Prudence
ordered a chair, and concealing as
many or her charms. as could be hidden
by q cloak and hood, made o pilgrims
& to the city.
Almost under the shadow OF Aldgate
church, at the entrance OF O narrow
court, OF quiet appearances but sinister
reputation, lived d certain Mr.. Moses
Aarons, reputed fabulously wealthy.
Few were the gay inheritors OF paternai
acres to whom the little Office in AID
gate was unfamiliar, and I'M the safes
and deed boxes that encountered the
upper floors of the dingy house many
q bond and mortgage told a history Oh
vast estates held by a hair. and noble
FORTUNES OF which little remained but
the name.
MI. Aarons was a man Of unpretend-
Ing appearance, with very little about
him 70 suggest the Jew money lender.
immediately dressed. In a suit OF fine
n14fYSr Rnlnrah ntnfh with aillFT stockings
OF the same hue, n wearing his wi
iron gray hair slightly powdered, ana
gathered In a black ribbon, he might
have passed for a respectable lawyer
or merchant, had o some suggestion
OF power In his smooth voice and
heavy lidded eye. belied the modesty
or hia appearance.
The chair OF a fine lady was no n
accustomed object at his door--nor,
Indeed, was the ViscOuntess Brooke a
stranger. When his clerk bowed the
lady into Mr.. AarOn's sanctum, he rose
20 greet her. and returned her sweep
Ing curtesy with q bow as ceremoni-
a c-ondescension." he said. MY poor
place is not adapted for the entertain
ment Of such fashion and beauty"
AMost excellent Aarons," cried Prue,
o. little haughtily, "a truce to your
compliments. which are only meant In
ridicule. 4 fear. She threw back her
hood, however, not disdaining to try
the nun etfect OF her charms upon this
jew. from whom she had come 10
catole q few hundred pounds, II possi-
BILE, without security.
Your ladyship's long absence from
London hath surely been to some magic
spring" said the usurer. with an ex-
hggerated Difference that bordered on
insolence. W. heard you were break
ing sQuires' hearts In Yorkshire, but
sure twas some southern u that has
been ripening the peaches on your
cheeks"
Prue burst out laughing. Are you
turning poet, MI. Aarons? 2" h inquired
fIippantIy. take my advice, and keep
to YOU Own trade; no one will ever
read the verse OF Shakespeare or Mill
ton. with half as much interest as the
magic prose that can turn q scrap OF
dirty paper Into golden guineas."
t'EOur ladyship Is tired Of poetry, and
wishes for q little prose by way OF
ehRngs. no doubt" suggested h mon
ey lender.
@ChanRe. forsooth. That Is Just what
I am perishing for cried Prue. Fate
has been dealing me the scurviest
tricks, and now the chance OF my life
haE come, and i tremble lest 7 lose II
for wasn't OF q few pounds. The queen
has bidden me to court. and 4 hope the
DEat from ueE maJeBty6 COuuebCHuSlOu
But. alaSi I cannot make q fitting APP
pearanca at court, for I am--as usual
-penniiees. You must help me u Of
my troubles. good Mr.. Aarons9 and this
time ! shall pay you principal and In
teEest, and recover the diamond neck
lace that has been so long In your
care
II the security you ofrer is no bet
tier than last time. my lady Viscountess
the money lender began.
Alacks this time I have nothing al
all TO cffer as security" h inter-
rupted You know where most OF my
Jewels are. arid on my way from York
shire. J. was set upon by Robin Free
mantle. the highwayman, and robbed
of every thing he could lay his hands
onio
The outrageous villain! Did your
~ladYShip lose much? ~ asked the jew,
with fil-concealed sarcasm.
n source remember how much, but
no left me with nothing but % Jew
worthless tfinkets / had concealed In
my cousins jewel casket, which for
tunateiy escaped. So I arrived in Lon-
don destitute. Ny grandmother Is too
al TO think Of nught but prayers and
potions, and r am most anxious to re-
turn@to the court. where, doubtless. her
Grace OF Marlborough VIII do some
thing FOR me--she loves me like q