The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-11-21
cHAFTER x.

THE FOLLY OF YESTERDAY.
Prue came home late that afternoon,
In the .dldest OF spirits. Her return to
socieky had been a genuine triumph.
and even her enemies and ~detractors.
VINO had been successful in ousting her
from royal favor and keeping her in
disgrace for a year or more, had been
come and feign, IL they did not feel,
3 decent pleasure In her reinstatement.
Lady Drumloch, who was still unable
to leave her room as soon as h heard
Prue's voice, despatched Lowton with
Q message, commanding her grand
daughter to repair instantly to her
and give a full account OF the days ad-
ventures.
Can you picture the effect, IL we
obeyed her TO the letter." whispered
Peggie. II wonder how she would take
the announcement of your Prue
clapped her hand quickly over her
mouth, at which Peggie indulged In a
convuision OF silent laughter, indicat-
ing by signs and gestures the trium-
phant ems of power conferred on her,
by the knowledge Of her cousins tre-
rnendous secret.
Checking her exuberance by an im-
perious glance, Prue followed Lowton
into the sick room, where the old lady
reclined Q q Gouch, near a bright
1870 n 4AOOh Va AGnA 0CAAb III spa AiGNA
In the old lady's eyes when they fell
upon Prue,s figure and animated face.
Come hither, child" she cried;
kiss me and let me bless thee. Truly,
Prudence, thou dost often gex my
pride with thy follies, but thou dost al
ways charm my eyes, What said the
duchess to you? Did she chide2"
'''No such thing, dear grandmother. /
have heard no word today but dear
Prue this; sweet Lady Prue that. Her
grace kissed me on the cheek and cried
out how pleasant 1t was, for once, to
be able to kiss a face fresh from
nature, without having to pick out a
spot where the paint and powder were
not thick enough to poison one. And
I'm not surprised, for half the women
there We're plastered so thick, twas
like a frescoed wall, and one looked to
see 1t crack when they smiled. The
duchess was not much better herself;
but she was ell smiles and affability,
and all my intimate enemies took the
cue and overwhelmed me with flat
~'teries, n Lord Ripworth lisped out,
Cad, Viscountess, nothing happier
than your return has occurred In three
months. We have been so dulll that
we have taken to religion as a diver
sion; now your .1adyship has come
back 70 court, we shall, at least. have
something to talk about
lhGUE4 AZ eNlAlCL4 +. 4lAns liAOlilcI #g WAS aA a
chambermaid and if people did not
talk about her, 1t was because any
thing that could be said was too gross
for ntterance. I trust you let him down
thoroughly"
t'Oht no. ! was bent on showing
how amiable i had grown in the coun-
try. / only remarked that whatever ne
might talk about, / had ' heard
him accused Of saying anything OF
consequence. There was a large party
to dinner, and j heard all the gossip.
First, Lady Beachcombe has presented
her spouse with q son and heir
lis your own fault, Prudence, that
such an event is naught but gossip to
you,' said Lady Drumloch severely.
"Ohi la, lai no one can accuse me of
an enyious disposition laughed Prue.
Lady Beachcombe is welcome to all
the honorsAo f her position. I would
not have changed places with her this
afternoon for a dukedom. to say moth
ing Of the privilege OF nursing Lord
Perhaps tbs ali for the best" the
old lady conceded. THE present earl Is
q turn-coat, like HIS fathmer, who
came OF a loyal stock, and was so de-
voted to the throne that he offered his
allegiance TO every successive usurper
of IL. I would rather see you married
TO an honorable Jacobite. who could
Ab2N 1OdNIE AAAA0EAL0E III COuIG lot Al6
cause OF King James the Third"
"The De Cliffes are all mauvais su-
Jets, are they not2" Queried Margaret
innCcently.
mo, child, there have been De
CITIES as loyal as the Drumlochs' and
Wynnes, who were worthy to aspire to
the hand OF a woman whose fore
fathers laid down their lives for
Charles. the Martyr. Unfortunately, OF
late generations, the cuf has risen TO
the top In nor families than the
B~eachcombes."
"Wen, dear Grannie. as you think
so Ill Of Lord Beachcombe, it's az well,
upon Prue's graceful figure and amir
perhaps, that circumstances prevented
my marrying him, and left me free for
at least one more season to enjoy life,''
said Prue; "and truly, never had 7 bet
ter reason TO value my freedom than
today"
You have not told us yet what you
did this ~afternoonR cried Peggie. 20
whom her cousins triumphs always
gave intense and dnselfsh enjoyment.
After dinner, the duchess dismissed
her guests, and accompanied by Lady
limerick and myself, drove to Ken
|sington Palace, where we had audience
OF the queen Her majesty was ex4
tremely gracious, and appeared to
IldNGa I'll MY ptCCAulllOSS
She inquired II I still played the gull
tar, and when / sang one or two bali
lads composed by Herr Haendel-
whose music Is now quite the rage
was pleased to observe that I must
come to Windsor In the summer, and
sing to her In the twilight. After that
we played basset. Twas q dull finish
to the day, for the queen fell asleep
and nobody dared waken her, so the
game was not very lively"
IF you 60 to windsor. twill be as
llady-in-waiting, surely" said Peggie.
THE duchess viii do her utmost for
me, but she is less powerful than for
merly, Mrs. Masham. whom she
placed about the queens person to
further her interests, has completely
secured the queens confidence, and
means to use Is Il her own profit. /
think the duchess would like TO use
me to check Mrs. Masham-"
Sarah Churchill would scarcely be
so gracious to any one she did not ex-
pect to serve her In some fashion,
said Lady Drumloch. well, my dear.
+ wish thee good fortune. BE wise this
time, and do not let thy wild spirits
wrong thee"
Prue became suddenly pale as death.
"'Tis late in the day for me TO be-
come WISE" she said, In q low, wild
voice. "ohI Grannie, Grannie, I'm
afraid ] have given Q q great deal