The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-11-14
dropped their warlike air, ana robin.

dropped their warlike air, and Robin,
was sastbunded to recognize Prue
IN Sir Gcoffrey'st companion, seemed
petrified into q statue OF expectancy.
If We can have q few nainutes' pri-
vacy-?"3fshe suggested.
Sir Godfrey beckoned to tho jailer,e
and after d murfnured conference, en-
livened by the cIinking of coin, the
latter consented to see that they were
uninterrupted for asslong as they
While that was being arranged.
Prue approached Robin with q timid
air. Master Robert de Cliffe-or Robin
FreemantIe"-she said. II thank you
for c~onsenting to my wild scheme, n
| pray gu. forgive me II It seems
Madam, I deem myself fortunate, IL
my death be Of any use to you" he
replied, with a ring Of bitter sadness
in his tone.
Prue, greatly surprised by the voice.
which had none of the ~roughness of the
robbers greeting on Bleakmoor, looked
more closely at Robin, and discovered
that he. was young, handsome, and by
no means ferocious looking.
II would not have you feel harshly
toward me-" she said. In a low. thrill-
ing voice. TT is not too late, even
now, for me to withdraw IL you deem
me OVERLOAD"
A spasm of apprehension shivered
through him. Had she brought his
snatch it from him? Gould a woman
be SO cruel to a dying MANI He met
her questioning look with one Of
agonized supplication. Withdraw
now" he muttered, unable to voice
the prayer Of his eyes. Then why
come at ALTO mock me?"
But Prue was quick to read mems
hearts, and what she saw in Robins
translated his few arupt words into q
language that stirred hers to pity.
Therefore, to console him (the jailer
having by this time retired), she now
threw off her wraps, and revealed such
a vision of %lovliness as fairly illuminat-
ed the dingy prison cell. His look of
delighted surprise satisfied her.
Il recognize you now, but you are
dreams of you! And have you really
made yourself so fine to gladden. q
poor prisoners eyes?" said Robin. gaz-
ing with rapture upon the graceful
figure in its dainty garb of brocade
and lace, the lovely face. from which
smiled alluringly Upon him: the little
hand, SO tapering and dimpled stretched
out to him with a gesture. half-en-
treaty and half command. AS he took
it in his, she blushed a little remem-
bering how he had behaved the other
time she offered it. But this time.
he bent his head and laid a courtly and
reverential salute upon it.
wv have nothing to wait for now"
said Sir Godfrey, impatiently observ-
ing this little episode. "Parson Good
ridge, have you shown the papers to
this gentleman. to make sure they are
correct I"
Robin mechanically look up the pa
pers the parson had laid on the table,
n read out the names from the mar
riage license. Robert Gregory de
Clffe he nodded approval and
glanced further Town. "Prue, widow
of James Stuart Brooke and daughter
of Reginald Wynne and Anne Drum
loch, his wife" All the titles had been
eliminated, and there was nothing to
show that the bride was not Of plebe-
ian origin. Robin smiled slightly. Was
it worth while to be mysterious with
a man virtually dead? He recalled
that Peggie had made him promise to
keep his marriage with my lady" a
secret, but it was apparent that he was
not to be trusted with more of the Sc
cret than was absolutely necessary.
1T is quite correct" he said, laying
the paper down.
Then let US proceed to business.
lquickly. Let us have no homilies on
the duties n pleasures of matri-
mony," Sir Godfrey laughed malic-
iously. but make the ceremony brief
ana binding. We will not intrude on
your privacy" he added, turning to
Robin. any longer than is necessary"
II am ready" said Robin CURLY.
h was quickly per-
formed. Robert Gregory and Prudence
duly accepted each other as man and
wife for all the vicissitudes Of their
mortal life, ~severally vowed love, hon.
or and all the rest Of it, pledged them
selves by giving and receiving of a
ring, to share each others worldly
goods and finally received the bless
ing OF the church, borne on the gin
favored breath Of Parson Goodridge.
"A short 10 minutes having sufficed to
make the Vtscount Brooke's widow the
h~ighwayman, Robin Freemantle's,
wife, the parson pocketed his dog-eared
book, also a generous fee from the
bridegroom, and took his departure.
D not forget to keep your own
counsel" Sir Godfrey warned him.
This has been a good mornings work
for you, Master Goodridge, and there
Is better to come when your testi-
mony is wanted. if the secret be well
kept"
Il shall keep it, never fear; I shall
keep it," mumbled the degraded crea-
ture, already drunk in anticipation OF
the glorious possibilities of a pocket SC
unusually well lined. "A secret is the
only thing I have ever learned to
keep"
And he disappeared. chuckling at his
own wit.