The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-10-31
CHAPTER WI.
A w-EDDING-RING FOR A KIs.

rEs SAS 6oASs ang~Ee N5tsNeZ
CHAPTER WI.
A WEDDING-RING FOR A KISS.
Robin had been alone half an haur
or SO. when the door was again opened,
another visitor announced.
here, highwayman," cried the jail
You knights Of the road are always in
with the women"
know no women" said Robin
roughly. Certainly none that would
come here to see me-"
Well, shall this n come in?" de-
young and pretty. and a real lady.
TOO! h came in a chair
Obi! let her in, let her in. Pray
don't keep a real lady waiting in the
passage" said Robin, who foresaw
some begging petition. or, perhaps. the
a lock Of his hair for her album, or q
beQuest Of the rope that hanged him.
for luck! BE seated, madam" he
added, as a slender figure. wrapped in
q heavy cloak and closely yelled, glided
timidly into the cell. what service
Can I nave a few words alone with
your? murmured the visitor. The
jailer, who had been hanging round,
curious to see and hear. withdrew.
with a laugh and a coarse jest, and
locked the door after him.
The lady threw off her veil, reveal
Ing the homely features and sparkling
eyes of Margaret Moffat.
You know me not" she said. Yet
we have met before. Robin Free
IT can not believe" replied Robin
gallantly. that, once seen, you could
ever be forgotten by me-"
Well, possibly you did not see me;
one far more attractive engrossed all
your attention. and tits from her I
come, to ask as favor from you, hat
which many Of the highest in the land
have offered in vain"
You puzzle me greatly" said Robin.
What v can any lady desire of a
man as good as dead?"
"Why-that's just where it is-an'
you were not condemned to die, you
could do nothing for my lady"
NAV MY a lsay q And who is your lady
I'll tell that presently: but first, be-
thing truly. Are you marrted?"
Married? No. the saints be praised!
but how can that concern your lady?
%chance?" cried Robin ironically.
That is just what she does wish,'
said Margaret, as demurely as though
she had really been the waiting maid
she feigned to be. "And for a token,
she sends you this" And she threw
flung into Prue's lap on Bleakmoor.
He took it up, recognizing it with a
whirling brain. The whole scene
sprang up before him as under a sud-
den ilumination-the gathering dark
ness and the falling rain-the old
chariot, with its steaming horses n
frightened servants-and by the light
of his lantern, the lovely face of o
girl. with her hood thrown back and a
tangle of dark curls against the milky
whtteness Of her neck. He saw the
round, bare arms n tappering hands
extended, to show that h had no
jewels about her, the roguish smile dis
closing the little even teeth and spark
ling in the depths of the starry eyes,
and for a moment his lips once more
brushed her scarlet mouth, and the
perfume of her breath again clouded
his brain.
Margaret watched him with amuse-
ment. as his face disclosed something
of the varying emotions, over which
amazement predominated.
Does that surprise you?" she in
CURED mockingly. Sure, it's no I'M
common thing for a man to pay for a
kiss with a wedding ring!"
There must be some other reason"
he said, more to himself thai in reply
to her. THAT kiss meant nothing to
her."
Ibid it mean anything to your"
Margaret, beginning to feel interested.
TO me?" His face was suddenly
irradiated. you, who bask in the light
OF thai Incompatible loneliness all the
time, can never understand what It
means to the man who sees it for the
first time-and not only sees. but
touches!-touches with his unworthy
lips that cheek of down-those lips!
All! how many times since l felt the
thrill Of that kiss, and wondered if she
could recall it without horror" >
We'll, horror can scarcely be the
sentiment you inspired, since she wish
es to marry you" simpered Peggie.
The mist of passion suddenly cleared
from his eyes, and he bent on her so
steady and penetrating a glance. that
her eyes fell, and she waited %nervously
for his next words to give the cue to
his thoughts.
"Ha! she wishes to marry me?" he
said slowly. us it an honest wish of
her own. or is it a trap set by some
one else?"
"Oh! indeed, it is entirely her own
ideal!' cried Margaret eagerly; mot a
soul has any suspicion of it but her
self and me. and If you refuse, you
Will not ever know her name, and the
secret will be buried in your grave"
give me a reason" he said,
apparently relieved by her unmistak-
able honesty. "Give me the real rea-
son, for 1 see this is something more
than a mere fine lady's caprice"
Continued Next Weekly