The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-04-17

MNAAO NAAO O. lA6AALr aAAu 0kAACADt
whose turn was yet to come, lingering
ifnpatiently behind or resigning them
selves to the dire alternative OF spend
ing a night al the Inn.
When Prue, after the first mile or
SO, put her head out OF the window
and surveyed the long stretch of road.
with dense woods on hand and
common ON the other, she rather
wished that she too had taken the bet
ter part OF yalor and broken her jour
ney at Seven Oaks, instead OF risking
the worst part in the declining day.
However, looking back, she saw an
other carriage az no great distance, and
the sense of companionship relieved her
fears SO thoroughly that she nee more
settled herself In her corner and fell
Into q pleasant train of thought.
Planning how to exercise her most
winning arts upon the queen. who for
a whole week OF semi-inyalidism would
be chiefly dependent upon her for
amusement, Prue mentally acted half
a dozen charming little cen In
ventures in so moving and pathetic
a fashion that the queen would be
only too ready to applaud the climax
and bestow her sanction and blessing
upon the romantic pair. Robin would
be recalled and pardoned, and perhaps
his devotion. combined with her own
eloquence, would bring about a recon
Citation between the queen and her
half brother. who, In gratitude, would
shower honors upon his loyal follower
In b happy days when King James
III was come into his own.
Prue wRs reused but OF these pleas
ant fancies by the rough jolting OF
the chaise. She looked out on the
desolate landscape, rendered still more
fhNoarus hxrtthn rfofknO. u.aokNfA e. xrolln1
the sinking sun. On one hand was a
vast common. stretching away into the
vague distance, on the other rose a
steep incline, thickly wooded and al
ready gloomy with twilight shadows,
though all else was still bright. No
habitation was In sight, nor any sign
OF life except the carriage she had pre-
yfously observed and which, she re-
marked with some surprise, kept all
most within hailing distance without
any apparent haste to overtake her.
She reflected that perhaps the Occur
pant was timid and even more anx-
ious for company than herself.
The joking and rocking OF the chaise
increased so much that at last Prue
let down the front window and remon-
strated with the postboys.
Pray drive a little less recklessly, .
she cried; II cannot keep my seat and
] fear you will land me in a ditch
=" 'Tis a bad piece OF road, my lady"
replied the. senior, bringing his horses
to q ~standstill. Ere, Jimmie" he
added to his assistant, "'old the 'orses
while / looks to that near hind wheel;
faint none toe staunch and this cursed
cross road is enough to shake the lord
mayors coach to splinters."
Cross road" cried Prue. Have you
left the highway Pin the dusk?'G-she
was about to descend. scarcely knowing
what she did In her sudden alarm.
Keep your seat, lady" the man re-
piled; tits but q bit OF a short cut
! took, to ave 'alf an hour, eos It's
little with the hind wheel
and then remounted his horse,
Meanwhile the carriage which had fol-
lowed passed and went ahead in leis-
urely fashion. TX
Prue's post chaise resumed the Jour
ney, more shaky and jerky than before
although scarcely moving at a walking
pace. Very wide awake now, and ex-
tremeiy uneasy with vivid -recollections
OF postboys In league with robbers and
other perils to unprotected females,
sat as quiet as the rough jolting
would allow and tried to comfort her.
self with h assurance tha the next
post house could not be far distant and
that she could certainly find
IIlCAC " nave tn6 wheels IOOkeQ TO or
get another chaise II this n were un-
safe.
But scarcely 100 yards farther on
there was a crash and a shock and
Prue was lying In a heap in the OVER
turned chaise. The shouts OF the post
boys. the trampling OF the startled
horses mingled with her screams of
pain and terror--then other voices add
ed to the tumult and In the midst Of IL
all the door was forced open and Prue
lifted out and gently deposited on the
roadside. -.
The lady has tainted said a voice
sounded familiar. Search for wa
ter, one Of you boys; is there no brook
or stream n~earby?"# +
Nothing than the river thai I know
OF. yo1r honor" said the man, Tess
there's some In yon ditch"
You need seek no ditch water for
me- said Prue, sitting up and strug-
Cling with the wraps in which her head
was ~entagued. Since you are here, Sir
Godfrey, you may as well lend me
ON assistance
Good Gadl Lady Prue!" cried the
baronet, with q vast show of astonish-
ment- by what happy chance am /
fortunate enough to be of se to you?
Methought you were safe In Tunbridge
hours ago. 2@H XIII a. "A 4h WI
NO doubt that is why you have been
following my carriage ever since i left
Seven Oakes." she retorted. TITS
strange you should also have taken
a short cut which seems to lead to no.
where In particular"
1T has led o into an awkward
.~predicament. my dearest Prudence he
replied grayely. II shudder to think OF
the straits to which you would have
been reduced. had I not been-quite
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS at the critical
moment
Wen, as Providence has been kind
enough 10 send me q knight eFrant,
perhaps he will tell me whereI am and
how far 1t Is to the next post-honse,''
said Prue, not very g~ractously, for Sir
sGeoffrey's presence, was too opportune
to appear quite unpremeditated.
The next post-house? 2" he reflected
aPost-boy, how far Is the next post
house?' 4
Four mile or ~thereabout, your hon
or" the man returned, beginning to IN
strap the yalises.
lis there any Inn or cottage near.
where I can wait while you take horse
to the post-house and fetch me another
chaise2@ inquired Prue. The man
scratched his head doubtfully, and
looked at Sir g s9frrey as II for instruc-
tions.
Well. fellow. cannot you answer the
lady2 You surely know what houses
or entertainment there are on the road
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