The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-10-10

6d0AG GhAh6CN IA yOhi SyAipAOAlSJ 1htA
ceived the congratulations OF many
anxious friends" returned Prue pa
thetically. iris true I have no heart
for frivolous pleasures while my dear
grandmother Is iIl--but the court Is an
other thing, and people begin to won
der at my absence.
well, what is the matter? Why
make excuses at all? I am not aware
that 4 have imposed any restrictions
upon YOU" said the old lady crisply.
"Lowton has taken very good care OF
me for q year, and you may still ven
ture to trust me to her for a few
hours, 'Tis news to mo that you should
be SO averse to frivolous pleasures
that you need make me an excuse for
giving them up"
Indeed, dear grandmother, 1t was
no vain e~xcuse-twas the truth" Prue
protested. NYet not the Whole tTdth,
whence we fled In such q hurry that
we brought naught away with us but
what we Travelled In"
We'll? Are there no milliners and
mantua-makers In London2" inquired
the countess, with an air Of surprise
Several hundred, I should think
and every one OF them threatening me
with the laws worst penalties for debt
The wretches! They were eager enough
to fling their wares under my feet when
they believed me rich--or likely to be.
But now--neyer a mercer or tailor viii
trust me for a gown"
What! Not with the prospect of d
husband in parliament" cried heI
grandmother. laughing maliciously.
Indeed, no, Grannie," sighed Prue
piteously; mot unless ! pay, at least
for what i order now"
They have learned wisdom at last,
retorted Lady Drumloch coldly, 'and
that Is more than can be said of you
who during four or five years of widow
hood have Tilted half the peerage, made
yourself the byword of the court, and
now go in fear of the debtors prison
There was no talk OF a debtors
prison for me when / "a Queen Anne's
fayorite lady In waiting" said Prue,
with q touch OF arrogance, but now
they only remember that I was ban
ished from court" ~,
"And that the rich lovers you Tilted
have married other women, while you
are still the Widow Brooke" Lady
Drumloch interrupted. '""
But they will change their tone
when they find that the queen has for
given me-" said Prue, ignoring hel
grandmother's last thrust, "and now
she has SEN me such a gracious mes.
sage by Lady Limerick-~bHt, alack the
day!-what am ! saying2 How a.
present myself before her majesty
oh, grandmother" She fell on heI
knees and would have clesped the pale
slender hand that lay on the cover.
let. But Lady Drumloch drew back
out of her reach and regarded her with
resentful eyes. X
'Well?" she queried in her driest
voice. What do o propose to do;
II v~aN EnMEn ~1nn DY.h a. A0aAya
plish what you have set your heart
upon" ~
mo, I have no plan," cried Prudence
| despairingly, but surely you, deal
grandmother, will not let your little
Prue lose her last chance Of winning
back the queens favor, for lack of O
few guineas to buy a gown?" and once
more she tried to get possession OF
| the reluctant hand.
But Lady Drumloch pushed her away
with such force. in her anger, that she
almost overturned her on the floor. u
thought / should o come at the
cause of all your pretty speeches, you
false jade" she shrieked. "Is it moi
enough that I give you shelter in the
home you have disgraced with your
| reckless follies that l have to admit
your wanton companions-only Mary
| Warburton and Lady Limerick, for
sooth. Do you think I am so deaf as
not to have heard the voices Of hall
a dozen men and your dear friend
Barbara Sweeting, sharer and inspirel
OF half'the mad frolics that have made
| you notorious ?--but I must pay your
| debts and give you money, when Tn
so poor I can only afford one woman
to wait on me, and can not go out fol
an airing because q carriage is toe
great q luxury for me-even q hired
one. C'est honteux-c'est infame"--an6
the angry old woman, who seldom,
lapsed into French, except In moments
of great agitation, burst into hysteriC
cries and weeping, at which Lowtol
hurried in, and the girls, with scared
faces, fed.
"She Is much worse than she useC
to be-" whispered Peggie. Formerly
when you asked her for money sh;
used to tell you to go to the devil anC
scold you roundly-but she gave h
after. all. And now~-I do not think she
will"
"If she waits until, I ask her. she
certainly never WILL" said Prudence
Acknowledgement / vowed the last time
should be the very last"
The girls were still lingering upoI
the staircase, listening to the soothinf
murnnurs OF Mrs. Lowton and the out
cries OF the invalid. gradually sinking
into WhlrnperS, when q loud knocking
announced the arrival Of q visitor o
Importance, and James presently cam,
up with q petition from Sir GeoffreN
Beaudesert for a few words with tn,
Lady Prudence, Notwithstanding tn,
lateness OF the hour.
THE lateness of the hour! why, I'll!
barely 0 o'clock" cried Prue, blushinI
and sparkling with delight. GO, James
and tell Sir GeoffreygI will be with hin
Immediately. Come. Peggie."
And away she few to reassure her
self, by a glance at her mirror, tina
her cen with Lady Drumloch had no
dishevelled her luxurious curls, and Il
disguise the shabbtness of her cow
with a lace kerchief and a knot o
ribbon. E&E.
"A plague on all milliners and tail
ors," she pouted: ito think that
should have to receive my. betrotheC
after three weeks separation, lookinl
more like my lady's scuIlery maid thar
her granddaughter
"Sir Geoffrey will never know wha
you wear II you sit away from thu
lamp, where he car just see your eye:
by the freight" counseled Margaret
mo man cares to look at your gown
who can see your face"
"FTattereri" cried Prue; but she
kissed her cousin on both cheeks, AM
certainly gave no sign OF doubling he
veracity. /. - =.
Sir Geoffrey was impatiently waitins
In the dim drawing room, where James
had reluctantly lighted q pair of can,
dies in an ancient silver sconce tina