Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-11-14
CHAPTER VIII.
AN ORDER FOR A PARsoN.

CHAPTER VIII.
AN ORDER FOR A PARsoN.
Scarcely had Margaret Moffat alight-
ed from her chair, when Prue darted
out into the little hall and greeted her
with embraces.
OH! Peggie, Peggie, I have been
counting the minutes for your return"
she cried, literally dancing round her.
Since you went away, all sorts OF de-
lightful things a happened. Our
boxes have come from Yorkshire;
think of 1t. all -finery-packed any
how, to be sure, but a hot iron will
repair the damage-and we can go to
court and to church and to the play,
and to the Duchess Of Marlborough's
masquerade. Oh! Peggie, / am crazy
with joy" and she kissed her cousin
again. with an ardor that must have
been rather exasperating to Sir Geoff-
rey, who vas looking on.
BY this time, Peggie had thrown off
her wraps, and forgetting all about
Robin. had become as joyously as Prue.
oh! the masquerade-shall we be
invited? l was breaking my heart to
think of missing it,"
We are invited! Scarcely had the
trunks arrived. when there came a
messenger from h duchess with the
invitations for the masquerade, and a
note bidding me to dinner with her
grace, tomorrow, at noon. Think how
overjoyed I was to be able to accept
both invitations. l flew up to grand
mother to give her the good news
do aught but scotland found her in
a most gracious mood. She gave me
Il lovely lace founce. Oh! Peggie, you
know her rose-point? there's some for
you. too: n what do you think? She
offered to lend me her pearls, and
promised to give us fifty guineas to
help make US ~presentable at the queens
next drawing-room. Isn't that good
newso And now. Peggie, you must
help me prepare for tomorrow; hat is
even more important than the mask,
for if the duchess should be in great
g~ood-humor with her little Prue. she
might take her to Kensington Palace
20 make her peace with the queen!"
Tomorrow morning you a al
:eady n very particular engagement
cried Peggia. laughing. Il see. how
ever. that Door Robin was right i'll
linking o might change your mind
before [ got back
seoffrey. and turned scarlet. Then her
yes danced with mischief. Tell US
all about 1t, Peggie; Sir Godfrey may
5 we'll enjoy the joke"
Margaret hesitated, and would have
changed the subject. but Prue, wilful
IS usual, would not be denied.
"'Tis too good to keep she laughed.
am desperately in debt; tits no secret,
though no one but Peggie knows how
| have been driven and harried by my
creditors. Well, in utter despair, l hit
upon a most original way of paying
my debts. l decided to be the widow
demned to be hanged next Monday
THE widow Of Robin Freemantle!'
he exclaimed. with evident mystif.ca-
ton. pray, how can you be a widow
without first being a wife,"
That was the only %dificulty." cried
Prue, with a mock serious air, 80
persuaded Peggie to go to Newgate and
sent, Peggie? Did ne make terms and
demand a bribe. or am / forestalled by
some fair Molly Of the Minories. and
must I pine In the Fleet. or marry good
Mr.. Aarons?"
Sir Geoffrey. who was. perhaps. 9
not dissemble his perplexity. He had
passed h afternoon at the feet Of his
capricious mistress. or rather under
the high heels of her dainty slippers
for h had laughed at his VOWS anl
persisted in turning his poetic rhapso.
dies into coolest prose. Even her JOY
over the arrival Of her trunks and the
duchess invitations. had not improved
matters. for she took little pains t.
conceal that the prospect of returning
to the field of her former triumphs hal
reawakened a thirst for further con
quest, which might prove disastrous
both to his matrimonial views and hi:
rash wager.
It was certainly disconcerting to heal
his betrothed calmly discussing he,
possible marriage with this one an,
that one while he was racking hi
brain to devise some means Of marry
ing her without burdening himself witt
the debts she must needs bring In he
little hand. And Sir Godfrey ha,
already discovered that Prudence wa
never 20 likely to be serious. ~ whel
she appeared most frivolous.
Miss MofIat has been to Newgate?
he exclaimed. grasping that one fac
out OF bewildering array Of vagu
possibilities. what an ex~traordinar,
adventure! And did you really 80 til
miscreant?"
r saw him." replied Psggie. IAN,
for Q miscreant, he was really quits In
J o3enstve. and even agreeable" ID
omiled fnrtivoly: - she thought Of th
two Kisses ho had stolen. and II. pru
win choose that way out of dc
troubles shs may: for he's ready I
llRaxEx her te0oEFoX. Il she WIN provid