Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-11-28
CHAPTER lx-(continued.)

Now said Sir Godfrey, turning to
prudence with q smile. all that re-
mains is the pleasant ceremony of con-
graduating the bridegroom and salut-
ing the bride, .nd then WI q better
be going"
Prue was standing a little apart,
with owncas eyes and a certain trou-
bic in her pensive face. that almost
step at Sir Goeffrey's words, and put
up her hand, palm outward.
Let us have no more mockery,' she
said coldly. I'VE have made ourselves
quite contemplate enough, without fur
Their b~uffoonery. SO far from congrat-
better to apologize to him." She
stamped her foot slightly but posi-
lively, as he ssemed disposed to persist.
\ to the bride, sir, for once she is
In no humor for folly. BE kind enough
to take NY cousin out and find a chair
me to my carriage"
And leave you here::" he exclaimed.
Where else would you leave me %
she retorted. in a jeering tone. Are
you afraid to leave me with my hus-
band?''
Sir Godfrey would still have fingered
to demonstrate. but Peggie. whose
ready sympathy OWNED her cousins
motive, placed her hand within his arm,
and drawing her veil closely over her
face, announced herself ready for de-
parture.
she remarked demurely. 1T would
scarcely be proper to leave me alone
with him, and you cannot escort us
both at once"
But when they were alone, the words
of extenuation Prue intended to speak.
seemed hard of u%ttclance. There was
q little lump In her throat, and she
could think of 70 commonplace form
OF excuse that seemed to At the occa-
sion. Robin gazed at her as though
he wished to fill his whole soul with
her image. Yet, although they were
scarcely 20 inches apart, he made no
attepmt to touch her.
"Morituri te salutant,".he said. with
a curious mingling of irony and tender
ness In his voice. Accept the bless
ing Of a dying man.
oh! poor soul-must thou really
die?" sighed Prue, at last raising her
eyes,, filled with tears.
At the sight OF those sweet, dewy
eyes. the newly made husband thrilled
III every nerve. IF those tears are for
me. sweet Prudence" he said, death
Is not SO hard to bear"
"'Tis said; indeed. would could
do aught 10 comfort thee!" she muir
INJURED, half turned away. yet lingering.
A dark flush swept his cheek. II could
tell You. if l dared. how to make me
forget everything but-yourself," he
said.
If you dared!" She flashed an arch
glance at him. "On Bleakmoor, you
were not $3.50 ceremonious, Sir High
wayman. Ask me for what o please.
My powers are limited, but / will glad
~ do what l a TO console YOU"
A thou wouldst really comfort me.
kiss me once. as though I were thy
real husband and thou lowest me-" He
held IL his arms to her. with such
prayer and such insistence in his eyes,
that Prue. startled, hung back an in
slant, II then. half involuntarily,
dropped toward him, n permitted her
self to be clasped in his passionate em-
brace.
When she drew herself away, her
cheeks were rosy read and her eyes
cast down. But Robin, transferring his
lips to her hand, fell OF his knees be-
fore her.
Obi" he softly uttered. Il can bear
to die now. Death itself cannot rob me
of your kiss"
Then you forgive me for-marryins
you?" she said.
Forgive you! OH! IL you had killed
me, l could have blessed you, but would
not have presumed to think Of pardon
ne passton0tely breathed. land Ow-'
Words failed. n his lips finished the
invocation on her hand
She placed her other hand gently on
his bowed head, and pressing It back
stopped nj kissed him on the fore
head. II WAS as pure and tender q
caress as a mother could have bestowed
on her sleeping babe. but It touched
both hearts az the most passionate en-
brace Of love could not havexd6ne. II
was 9 farewell benediction.
Not another wOr was spoken, and
when Sir Godfrey returnA0. Prue al
lowed him toswrap her in her cl0ak and
hood n lead her away. without ven
backward glance at Rnhln, who. q
soon AZ the door had closed behind
them. threw himself: ON the floor where
she had stood. and gave way to ~
exstasy of recollection, none the lesl
/ oeltCtOu0 becau1e there was no future
to discount it, bliss.
h al last he rose to his feet, hi
gathered up the manuscript 1t which
he had worked since daylight, and tori
Il Into fragments.
HSince my death will beneht her.
$tIl not attempt I o live.' he exclaimed
sEhe has paid for my life IN full anS
aith Interest. and I'll no cheat her o
her bargain"
He Shutdown. and on his last remain'
Ing sheet q. paper, wrote = short lot
II ter. ~.
sfsriends steve:
EoonssaS I am dead and accord
line TO your promise lin WhtchslShav
Ian cd00denoe9, buried. ~ Wo ogsoet
YtugeeAaSy svo0sWtli take the iron boz
sfIQu W0eEof 81 conNey IT'D 91lekroe
Eeko6eAcosBeootossto vEhousSf b1Q6ea4l
tAsto do 4antovGS oAa Ntu with ~
kssohAxuka ! do not know Whsro III