The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-11-14

from usurers the Viscountess Brooke
must be coming to q pretty pass"
With which she made a deep curtsey
to as much as she could see Of the Wis
countess Brooke in the little looking
glass, n running out of the room
met Miss Monat coming up stairs.
Hasten, Prue,5 she whispered
breathlessly. All Is arranged. Sir
Godfrey has the ring and license in
his pocket n a parson in the car
rtage. II the bride Is ready" She
had entirely recovered from her brief
spasm Of reluctance and was as merry
as q child and as reckless OF conse-
quences. .....
THE bride is quite ready" cried
Prue. Nothing is lacking except"
Except what?" inquired Peggie, as
she broke Off abruptly.
"Ohl q tr1he or two; nothing worth
mentioning" laughed Prue, snatching
up her cloak and hood and running
lightly down stairs, where Sir Geof-
Trey awaited them, not altogether at
ease about his own part in the. affair,
and palpably relieved that Prue was
! the best Of spirits and inclined to
treat the whole adventure as a frolic.
"Tts all your own fault-and Peg
gfe's," h laughed IN her sauciest
way. IF I were not the most good
natured person in the world / should
scold you both soundly and refuse to
make a fool OF myself for your amuse-
ment.".. -
WIN you change places with me
let me a X your CHANGER" cried
Peggie. 1T can not make much diff
ference to Robin"
What, when / am all dressed I'D In
ribbons and laces for the wedding? No
dlnerence, forsooth! What do you say
to that, Sir Geoffrey?"
II was inst 0ninp IN ur,ooaz1 AhoA
you were altogether too fine a bride
for the occasion" said Sir Geoffrey,
rather glumly. "A less resplendent
toilet would be less likely to attract
attention"
Eclipse me then under this big
cloak" she replied, giving it to him.
do you. think, you foolish man. that
am dressed up like this to wed a
Lootpad2 am on my way to MARI
borough House to dine with the Ouch
ess, and must hasten or / shall be late
n may chance to get a box o. the
ear for my first course"
Robi Freemantle sat, at the rough
table In his cell, writing busily. Sew
eral closely written sheets were spread
out before him, and when he finished
the last and signed his name to II he
threw the pen down and sat drumming
on the table with hfs fingers. It was
an Idle action but by no means idly
performed, for the frown on his fore
head and the movements OF his long,
slneWy hands were fun Of purpose,
and angry purpose, too.
PRESENTLY the frown died away and
a look Of wistful sadness replaced II,
He took up the written sheets and
turned them in his fingers as though
half disposed, to tear them w. smiling
bitterly as he glanced from page to
page.
What good will 1t. do me-" he NUT
tered, when my bones are rotting in
an unmarked grave, to bequeath a
feud to perhaps unborn generations
Shall / ding down my mothers repu-
tation for the lawyers to fight over,
like dogs over a bone, when / am not
there to protect 1t, and when the out
come Of the struggle will Interest me
as little as 1t will herr"
A dim vision, more imagination than
memory, rose before him Of the fair.
young mother who had faded from his
Ire tWenty-three years ago, and be-
side 1t another face radiant with life
and laughter, a pair OF blue eyes
sparkling trough curled lashes, a pair
OK round, white arms cleaning in the
darkness, a scarlet mouth-every nerve
tingled at the thought that his own
had touched 1t, and rm~ight&aRain, But
~! n had been*merelyF playing with
him.. How could he have been fooled
by the ruse Of a spoiled beauty to feed
her own vanity and punish his auda-
cityT h want to marry him! It
was fantastic, absurd, and what could
be more improbable than the reason
for such a folly? She had a wager on
IT, perhaps, or merely wished to amuse
herself at the expense Of the daring
hlghWayman who had robbed her of a
kiss. Well, she had had her way. He
had shown that she had but to beckon
9e was ready to follow, and that
she will not come!" he said. aloud.
In q hons OF poignant disappointment,
that plainly showed how he chung to
the promisS he feigned to discredit.
The Jatier opened the door noisiIy.
visitors for the hfghwayman," he
announced: More f1ne ladies and
lgentlemen."
Robin sprang to his feet, looking
eagerly from one to another. What
ever his expectations were, the first
glance disappointed them. A pimply-
FACED, watery-eyed little man, in rusty
black, entered first, conducting Mar
garet Moffat by, the hand In a ceremo-
NOUS fashion,, that had something Ia
It reminiscent Of the time when he did
not need filling up with gin to make
him remember that he was a. student
ana a Doctor Of Divinity. And close
behind him, followed Sir Geoffrey
Beaudesert-tall, handsome, dressed
with n sober elegance that became
the budding statesman, supporting on
MS arm a lady, enveloped from head to
FOOT IN a hooded cloak, that complete
ly concealed her.
May I inquire" Robin began.
Then his glance fell upon Mar
garet, whose air OF coquettish sim
pncity would not have misbecome
my lady's confidential maid, and
recognizing her, his hopes rose
again, and he burst into a hearty
laugh "Ha, my fair friend; have you
come TO enliven my solitude once
more? What! Sir Godfrey Beaude-
sert? I can not say / anticipated the
honor OF a visit from you. I fancied
You had already seen more of me
n you approved"
Sir Godfrey flushed. My good fell
low" he said h~aughtily, IT have no
PERSONAL enmity toward you; ! merely
did my duty as a citizen in appearing
as q witness against you" :.
oh! j had forgotten that" said
Robin negligently. II was thinking of
the time when I and my friends were
chasing you and yours, and the con-
stables shot my horse-poor Firebrand,
I wonder what became Of him-and
turned the tide OF battle"
Sdeath, fellowl" Sir Godfrey began
furiously. but Prue checked him with
a light touch on the arm.
Pray, gentlemen, do not waste time
Quarrelingi what does Il matter now
who fled and who pursued?'
Al the sound Of her voice, 1t once
gentle and impeEious, the two men