The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-10-17
CHAPTER ".
THE MONEY LENDER INTER
NENES.

H'pt LiS Lady biuInlOCH III her claln-
Der long enough to try the brief pa
thence Of Prudence Brooke Sir Goef-
frey, secure of his bride, was less i'm
patient, for after all, the grandmother's
consent was q mere matter of form,
although he had reasons-upon which
he did not care to dilate-for wishing
10 propitiate the old lady, and secure
her good graces
he came to Mayfair as frequently as
his parliamentary duties permitted, and
never without sending up to the sick
room the most sympathetic messages,
acconpanled - hoquets OF rare flow,
ers. baskets of hot house fruit and
dainty porcelain or enameled boxes of
French bon bons, and his gifts to
Lowton were as lavish, though of a
different character.
Finding no abatement in her grand
mothers austerity, about a week after
Sir Goeffrey's arrival, Lady Prudence
ordered a chair, and concealing as
many Of her charms as could be hidden
by a cloak and hood, made a Pilgrim
age to the city.
Almost under the shadow of Aldgate
=. church, at the entrance of a narrow
court, of quiet appearance but sinister
reputation, lived a certain Mr.. Moses
Aarons, reputed fabulously wealthy.
Few were the gay inheritors of patcrnal
acres to whom the little office in AID
gate was unfamiliar, and in the safes
o4hu NSCo poACS llld SllCulllDc1co llle
upper floors of the dingy house many
a bond and mortgage told a history of
vast estates held by a hair, and noble
fortunes Of which little remained but
the nane
Mr.. Aarons was a man of unpretend-
ing appearance, with very little about
him to suggest the Jew money lender.
Immediately dressed, in a suit of fine
plum colored cloth, with silk stockings
of the same hue, and wearing his own
iron gray hair Slightly powdered, and
gathered in a black ribbon, he might
hav passed for a respectable lawyer
or merchant, had not some suggestion
of power in his smooth voice and
heavy lidded eye, belied the modesty
of his appearance.
The chair of a fine lady was no I'M
accustomed object at his door-nor,
indeed, was the Viscountess Brooke a
stranger. When his clerk bowed the
lady INTO MI. Aaron's s%anctuln, he rose
to greet her, and returned her sweep
ing curtesy with a bow Us ceremoni-
Gus. My Lady Brooke! This is, indeed,
q condescension,' he said. My poor
place is not adapted for the entertain
ment Of such fashion and lily"
Most excellent Aarons,' cried Prue,
a little haughtily, "a truce to your
compliments, which are only meant in
ri6icule, / fear" She threw back her
hood, however, not disdaining to try
IN ldkl NJ ~ 4 ePotA hbiiS
Jew, from whom she had come to
cajole a few hundred pounds, if posi-
BILE, without security.
Your ladyship's long absence from
London hath surely been to some magic
spring. said the usurer, with an ex-
aggerated difference that bordered on
insolence. we heard you were break
ing squires' hearts in Yorkshire, but
sure twas some southern sun that has
been ripening the peaches on your
cheeks"
Prue burst out laughing. Are you
turning poet, Mr.. Aarons?" she inquired
f%iippantly. Take my advice, and keep
to your own trade; no one will ever
read the verse Of Shakespeare or Mil
ton with half as much interest as the
magic prose that can turn a scrap of
dirty paper INTO golden guineas."
Your ladyship is tired Of poetry, and
wishes tor a little prose by way of
change, no doubt" suggested the mon
ey lender.
Change. forsooth! That is just what
am perishing for" cried Prue. Fate
has been dealing me the scurviest
tricks, and now the chance Of my life
has come; and l tremble lest I lose it
for want of a few pounds. The queen
has hidden me to court, and I hope the
best from her majesty's condescension.
But. alas! ! cannot make a fitting APP
pearance at court, for l an-aS Usual
-penniless. You must help me out of
my troubles, good Mr.. Aarons, and this
time l shall pay you principal and in
tercst. and recover the diamond neck
lace that has been so long in your
care
1T the security you offer is no bet
Ter than last time, my lady Viscountess
- the money lender began.
"Alack! this time I ave nothing at
all to offer as security" she inter-
rupted. You know where most of my
jewels are. and on my way from York
shire. l was set upon by Robin Free
mantle. the h~ighwayman. and robbed
of every thing he could lay his hands
on"
The outrageous villain! Did your
ladyship lose much" asked the Jew,
with ill-concealed sarcasm.
Il scarce remember how much, but
he left me with nothing but a few
worthless trinkets l had concealed in
my cousins jewel casket, which for
tunately escaped. So l arrived in Lon
don destitute. My grandmother is toe
Ill to thinkiof aught but prayers and
potions. and ] am most anxious to re-
turn to the court, where, doubtless, her
Grace Of Marlborough will do some
thing for me-she loves me IKE g