The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-12-19
CHAPTER XIV.

When Robin Freemantle left Prue,
she ran to the mirror and critically
examined her reflection In It.
What a fright I lookl" she ex-
claimed with my hair plastered down
and my nose red n swollen. Peggie,
! should not be surprised IL that man
were as disappointed with his bargain
AZ / arm with mine"
You don't look much like yourself"
Peggie admitted frankly. But even
as you are, o must be a great deal
prettier than the sort Of women a
highWayman would be used to-"
Why. Peggte, do you think-do you
suppose Robin has women-thieves for
friends? Ptckpockets. perhaps-or Clip
sizes! Yet he looks like a gentleman.
H~ighwaymen are sometimes brave and
chiyalrous-one hears of their doing
generous t~hings--they are not like COM
mon malefactors- X
They get hanged. all the same"
said Peggie un~thiitkingly. te
"oh! Peggie. youF wicked. cruel
such things!" cried j. Prue in
dignantly. robin hanged! New
er. never! / would rather go
to the queen and implore a
Peggie, you saw him yourself.
He Is handsome, is he not, and dig
nified? He made me feel very much
ashamed Of myself; yet I hate himi I
would I had neyer set eyes on him!
Do you suppose he despises me, Peg
Il shouldn't think he would have the
impudence!" exclaimed Peggie. "A
common adventurer, IL no worse"
"~Adventurer, tits true, but which Of
us Is not? Am / not an adventures,
Peggie? Aye, and not SO very honest
Q one either. Say he will rob my Lord
Bishop Of his wig and my Lord Tom
noddy OF his purse; what better do I
when Ibuy what I cannot%pay for, and.
marry a man condemned to be hanged
In order to cheat my creditors? Oh!
my dear Peggie, there are many fine
folk with their noses In the air, who
cannot glance into a mirror without
seeing the reflection OF an adventurer."
mot a doubt Of it." said Peggy,
philosophically. but most people, when
they look In a mirror, see nothing there
but what they want to see.
Wei, what ] see Is Just the reverse
OF that" said Prue, casting q dissatis-
led glance at her W reflection, as she
hurried away to rid herself OF her
somber dress and release her curls from
their accustomed bonds. This was
hardly accomplished to her satisfaction
when Sir Godfrey Beaudesert arrived,
In a state Of great excitement.
r. 0 morning, fair ladies'" he cried,
salutlng them with less ceremony than
usual mo need to ask whether you
have seen this mornings Courant."
Why not?" inquired Prue, limo
Gently.
Because you look too happy and I'M
concerned to ave heard the disastrous
news" he said. with a ~portentious air.
Il grteVe to be a h~arbinger of misfor-
tune"
You alarm u.s." cried Prue. what
| has h nnannd1 CrnalrIU
Calm yourself, dearest Prudence.
and remember that I will not suffer
any harm to ctme to you" Sir Geoff-
rey lowered his voice, to a mysterious
whisper. The ~highwayman you wot of
a escaped"
rs that aIlT" said Prue. with a
shrug; i thought you had news for
US. We knew that an hour ago"
You knew it2- How? Has the viii
liam dared"
How did we know tit" PeRRie inter-
rupted quickly, to prevent a retort from
her cousin. Why, the same way you
did" and she displayed the printed
a gallows, gave a minute account Of the
mornings executions. adding that the
queens clemency had been extended to
Robin Freemantle, through the in
fuence Of powerful friends In certain
quarters, and that he had left Newgate
with great secrecy late Sunday evening.
Sir Geoffrey was greatly vexed at
having his surprise discounted. I'm
glad to find you taking II SO uncon-
~cernedly," he observed, looking any
thing but glad. II feared that you
would be crushed by such a calamity"
Did you, indeed, think us blood
thirsty enough to regret the saving of a
fellow creatures life 2" said Prue, with
grave reproof. II hoped that you had a
better opinion OF our humanity.