The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-11-07

VIII De h WluOWs Ills pC0J VIII "
claimed by a friend and buried under
the name of De Cliffe. and If your
creditors harass you, all you have to
do is to produce your marriage lines
and they may &c hunt for their money
In robins grave"
Prue looked irresolutely at Sir Geofr-
rey. Her caprice for this marriage was
almost played out, but she wanted to
be coaxed out OF 1t, and to make a
great favor of yielding up her own will
full way to the Inconsistencies n en-
treaties of her lover. Sir Godfrey, on
the other hand. had rapidly turned the
matter over In his own mind and ar
rived at the conclusion that however
this escapade might affect Prue. 1t
would have two points in his favor.
First. the radiance of those debts which
he was SO unwilling to shoulder, and
second, the advantage that the possess
sion of such a secret would give him
In maintaining his marital authority
later on. Sir Godfrey adored Prue,
but with the experience he had gained
of her wiles and guiles. he had no OBJ
lection to the handling of a weapon
that would keep them in due subjec-
ton.
He remained silent, so after a pause
that began to be ominous, Prue said
softly, And you, Sir Godfrey; how
does this project strike you? Peggie
has given me a girls advice; 1 should
IKE d mans OPINION
He hemmed a little. and glanced from
one eXpectant face to another. 'Wom-
ans w.t." he began at last. "is often
more to the point han mans"
Wisdom" suggested Peggie, filing
in a slight h~esitancy.
He laughed dep%recatingly. ooh! my
dear Miss Margaret, 1 was not thinking
OF laying claim to wisdom-merely to
logic, with which we poor dull Drained
men try to compensate for our lack OF
feminine intuition. You, who are wise
as well as witty, can well afford to be
merciful--"
Still" persisted Prue, you are only
complimenting Peggie's wit; you are
telling us what you think of her
scheme"
"Peggie's scheme!-oh-" murmured
Margaret, soto voce.
My dearest Prudence, surely l do
not need to say that the idea of any
claim upon the woman 1 adore, is alb
horrent to me-" Sir Godfrey began,
rather pompously. "'Tis absurd to
think that a few words to a
could free you from so much anxiety,
while l, the most faithful of your slaves,
am forced by cruel Fate to stand aside.
for fear Of aggravating your woes"
Having got thus far, however, 1t oc-
Cured to him that this was too serious
a view of the matter, so he went on
with a careless laugh. ITO be sure you
would only see him once-the fellows
audacity would be rightly punished by
such a torment of Tantalus-and your
creditors-the wretches have threatened
you with the Fleet, did you say? BY
Saint George, it's no more than they
deserve to be baked Of their prey--it
seems almost worth while"
Il see," interrupted Prue, without the
least appearance Of that
you agree with Peggie. We will con
slider 1t settled. I'm so glad we have
told you about It," she went on, in her
most vivacious amer II really don't
see how Peggie n 1 could nave man
age without you; and to think that I
was foolish enough to be afraid YOU
would be shocked!-"
"Oh! l am Observation-Disclosures, at the
idea Of any IAN he began, but she
interrupted him. playfully shaking her
foretinger at him.
Now. now. don't let us try to be
sentimental about 1t. The plan is a
genius. I am proud of having original
ed 1t. Peggie, l know, Is proud of hay
ing successfully carried out the nego-
tiations, and you will have a right, my
dear Sir Godfrey, to be proud of IL
part you are going to play in bringing
1T to a triumphant end"
Il am entirely at your disposal, my
dear Prudence said Sir Godfrey, rath-
er taken aback at thus finding himself
assigned an acting part in the comedy.
but hardly know what I can do-in-
deed, the fewer persons concerned the
better, l think-the less likely to attract
attention-comment might be caused
by any-a-unusual action on the part
OF a member of parliament-the news
mongers are always on the lookout for
-"
"Ta-ta-ta! don't you ppo that 1
should make a spicier mouthful for the
newsmongers than even a af
parliament" cried Prue impatientIy.
Who is to procure the marriage license
and the priest, Sir Godfrey, unless YOU
do 1t? Don't you think 1 should attract
more attention in Doctors Commons
than Sir Godfrey Beaudesert, M. Pr
And surely, you can more easily find
some accommodating parson who will
keep the secret and be sure to tie the
knot so securely that when the time
to reap the reward, there may be
no slip 'twixt cup and lip. Then, to-
morrow morning you can conduct me
to NeWgate, on my way to dine with
the duchess. and take care that Peegie
and l do not get clapped into a dun
geon by mistake"
Iii ttcansbe done SO soon," Sir Geoff-
reg began reluctantly, yet scarcely ven
turing to make any further excuse.
III 1t cannot be done then" cried
Prue imperiously. ut will not be lone
al all. You may be sure, once I get
back to court, / shall have no time for
marrying Indicators. or members Of
either. mayhap."