The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-12-26

stately figure, picturesquely draped IN
2 red domino. had nothing
apout 1t to attract attention, and a red
mask with q deep fall Of goid-lace
concealed the entire face, except the
LTD mouth end strong. square chin.
iWhat made you come here. of all
places IN the wcrld?" she asked
Chiefly TO see yon. but partly be-
causesI had business here" he an-
Poor Prue thought Of the bank
notes and almost collapsed. What
business could a highwayman have at
q ball unless to rob the guests while
pretending to be one Of them? Just
me- Peggie drew her attention by pull
n at the CORD
For heavens sake" she whispered,
come U Of this crowd. 4 am SO
NOT muffled in this s~heepskin, / shall
ole IT / don't get to h air."
Frue signed to Robin to follow, and
LED her lambkin away. Outside the
nanroom, they Were soon In compare
tive solitude. In the card-rooms q
few elderly people had thrown off their
masks n given themselves over to
the full enjoyment of whist and ecarte.
dere and there a tete-a-tete was pro-
crossing behind the kindly shelter Of
sedate couple unused side by side over
ne latest number OF the Spectator.
upside down, while two OF three portly.
pe-starred and ~be-ribboned fogies dis
cusseo the threatened Jacobite upris-
Ing over an exclusive bottle OF Bur-
gundy.
Prue was at home in every corner
OF Marlborough house.. and had no diff
Ilculty In plotting her companions into
where the sound Of voices and music music
reached the a ~agreeably softened by
distance.
Every one has seen me-" said
reggie; IN get rid Of this %sheepskin,
and then [ can Dance"
rPeggie would rather dance than eat.
sleep or go to church,, remarked Prue.
seatlng herself and making q little.
Misunderstanding, inviting move
ment toward the seat beside her.
RoDin was not slow in awaiting HIM
opportunity. There was something in
prue's manner that allured him. While
1t kept him at a distance He longed to
take her in his arms as he had done
once; yet he dared not touch her hand.
Il am glad to have an opportunity
or speaking to YOU" she said, removing
her mask. You sent me something to-
day
"Yes-oh! you don't know how hap
Them" he said earnestly.
AS! yes" h started and looked
down at the gloves: they are beautiful
Just the very thing for my dress,
TOO. But that was not what 1 meant"
A deep flush burned his face under
the mask. Il beg and implore you not
to speak of anything else I sent he
said, In a low, tremulous voice. 'Let
me deceive myself into the belief that
you acknowledgement, at least, as my
rightful privilege"
She raised her lovely ewes to his
with a puzzled expression, then dropped
them, e little embarrassed. w will
not discuss that" she said, 'rbut unfor-
tunately 1 can not avoid speaking about
the money, because-you see, I can not
that perhaps it honestly belongs to
somebody else IND you have no right
to give 1t to me. There!" She looked
apprehensively at him, fearing an out
burst of rage, but he was quite calm,
andthe mask concealed any change of
countenance.
You are very scrupulous," he said
coldly.
ooh! / know you had no reason to
claimed, with a touch Of temper in her
voice. But when you threw your
purse to me in the carriage. I had no
opportunity Of returning it and / never
expected to see you again. Besides. you
took mine and-and3" She glanced at
him out of the tail of her eye, but he
did not a%cceptthe challenge. "Youthink.
perhaps" she went on, quite angrily
now, that I have done a much worse
thing for money than ever you did; but
If I have married a robber-"
stop, stop!" he said authoritatively.
II you must say these things about
yourself, 1t shall not be to me. Insult
me as much as o please, but do not
accuse me Of daring to blame you for
anything you have done, or could do.
ey is my very own, will you take my
word for it?'
She hesitated and softened. Tell me
truly-in what way your own? Dc not
fear to trust me-"
Trust you! Do you not know that
you could charm ny secrets of my WI
from me by a kind word? But this is
no secret; it is the price of my birth
right, received in honest sale and barter
over a lawyers table. You will be-
lieve me, ont your"
She put out both her hands, with a
gesture Of enchanting II
will believe anything you tell me-" she
said; Il know you would not deceive
me-"
He took the two little 1uttering hands
in his, and raised them one after an
other to his lips.
II see you are not wearing a sling"
she remarked. rs your arm healed?"
i. q Quietly S = ne eured,a + he or eaid e eareiesely,
though delighted by ever so slight a
token Of interest from her. Besides,
the person whose domino I borrowed,
does not wear his arm in a sling, and
1 10 not wish any difference to be
remarked when he resumes It,"
Then you are here in some one else's
disguise?" she said quickly. What
will you do when we unmask?"
A midnight the right face will be
found under this mask" he replied.
CONTINUED Next Weekly