The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-10-24

once giving us a hint of it. and never
once relaxing the austerity of her life,
even now she is old n sick? Besides,
now would 1t help US now, If she had a
cellar full Of gold. since she win not
give us a guinea or a gown? You have
so many friends, Prue; will none of
Them help you out?"
The women will not help me; they
are only too glad to keep me out in
the cold" said Prue pettishly. land /
am neither DID enough nor ugly enough,
10 ask favors OF a man. even a money
lender" h added, contemptuously re-
miniscent of Mr.. Aarons' advances.
Pray, open the window, coz. These
~dlstractlng cares mak me SO faint, ]
feel as though l should die for lack of
air."
Peggie obeyed, and Prue, seating her
self near the window. gradually ceased
aer lamentations and fell silent. The
outside noises foated up confusedly-
ne roll OF a passing carriage, the quar-
'eisome shouts of waiting chairmen,
and clear above all the voice of the
neWsman calling the detail of yester-
lays cock fight and the latest andal.
"Rumor of a great battle in the
Observation-Disclosures of a queens cour-
Ter with sealed dispatches from the seat
OF war-Exciting scene in the house
Of commons-Threatened resignation of
Lord Godolphln from the cabinet
Trial n sentence of Robin Freeman
lie, the highwayman. Story of his life
and confessions-iiow he fell from vir-
Tue and responsibility to end his days
on Tyburn Tree next Monday"
"Dost thou hear that, Peggie?" cried
Prue; the bold highwayman who
kissed me on Bleakmoor is condemned
% die for other crimes. %perchance less
%leinous!"
"'Tis a natural death for such as
ne" quoth Peggie philosophically.
And yet, he was a gallant man;
young. I'll be sworn, and hand
some, belize. 1t seems strange to
think hat such hot blood VIII be cola
N the veins Of a corpse in less than u
week."
Art going to wear weeds for him.
coz, because he snatched a kiss from
Jou?' leased Peggie.
wretch is breaking her heart because
she'll be a widow o Monday" said
prue pensively.
An her debts will be paid along
With the debt of nature" said Peggie
lippantly. Don't you think you could
easily console yourself in her case?"
"Forsooth. yes!" cried Prue, quickly
recovering her vivacity. II would l
we're like to be the widow of somebody
somebody l don't care for, of course
within a week. Then l could laugh It
chat old villain Aarons, and the rest
- pSNS1LcSSSAS "1Sil III
Of the debtors prison! Sure, there must
e a special hell for Jews and law
yIers!"
Peggie gave her hearty acquiescence
and returned to her book, and for some
limo no sound was heard except an
occasional snlothered laugh, when MIR.
pope's highly-spiced rhymes tickled
ner fancy more than usual. Prue fell
INTO q somber reVerie, and with the tip
of her taper finger between her teeth,
ueCame SO buried in thought that y
sharp little lire began to trace itself
distinctly between her drawn brows.
outside. the newsrnan's voice, gradu-
ally fading in the distance. still repeat
cd, Buy the life and confessions of
Robin Freemantle, the notorious high
wayman-only sixpence."t
Prue sprang to her feet. at last,
Margaret" she exclaimed, and her
voice had a c%uriously unfamiliar ring.
Her cousin started. Prue had not
called her by her full name in many a
day.
Margaret. if this highwayman has
no ~wife-people of that sort don't mar
ry, usually-what is to prevent his
marrying me and leaving me a widow
On Monday, with all my debts buried
i'll his cotrin?"
and prime minister OF Prue's exploits
that h was not easily astonished by
her. But this proposition was so en-
trely outside the bounds of reason that
she could only shake her head vigor-
ously, without even a word of protest.
Ills not so reckless as it seems,
Peggie," said Prue, sitting down lie
side her and passing a coaxing arm
around her shoulders. "LAs.e., u..l
Peg. The man must die; Gods pity on
him! What can it matter to me to be
his wife for a few hours; what can 1t
matter to him to ease me of my debts:
They will not trouble him in the next
world; neither will l."
You'll be none the richer for such
a mad freak" Peggie demonstrated.
I'll be out of danger of the fleet.
thought" cried Prue, renewing her
caresses. Fancy your poor little
cousin in a debtors prison, Peggie.
with all sorts of wretches who can not
pay their butchers and bakers-and
mean and low that they have not a
soul to help them-and fancy me just
as n-off inc forlorn as they!'' Peggic
began to melt. You saw thai letter
from Madame Taffetine's lawyer, I'm
less we receive the payment, SO fire.
quently promised. within 48 hours, the
law will be enforced without any fur
ther delay. The other man is even
more explicit; he threatens me with
Imprisonment in SO many words! Oh,
Reggie. am the most miserable girl
in the world"
Sir Godfrey will marry you, and
you will both be safe and happy"
counseled Peggie.
Sir Godfrey! I'm not so sure 1
wouldn't rather marry the highway
cried Prue. AT IN rate, I
can not offer myself to him, and
doubt If he be in the mood to hurry
me. Besides, there's like to be a dis
solution of Parliament, and then he'll
be in a worse plight than / am now.
lis true" she laughed, but not quite
merrily, there is Mr.. Aarons, who was
kind enough to place his hand and
his money bags at my feet, but the
doors that are open to the poor Wis
countess Brooke might be slammed in
the ace of he rich Lady Prudence
Aarons!"
Robin Freemantle would be better
than Mr.. Aarons," Peggie conceded.
Robin Freemantle, at this moment,
will do better than n one else,' said
Prue. II tell you, Peggie, my mind is
made up. You may as well help me.
for If you don't I'll do it all alone-but
you won't desert me, will you Peggie,
dearest?" So, with tears and kisses
and wiles most varied, but, all through