The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-01-30

queen. And now. Peggie, bring down
your eyebrows out OF III hair and
don't open your mouth wide enough to
engulf me, n I'll tell you everything
that has happened to me, If you Will
undress me, for I am too tired to move
a finger"
Peggie most gladly set to work and
had her ousin unlaced and unpinned
and comfortably tucked in bed, long
before the history of the evenings
events had been expounded. From her,
Prue hid nothing; in fact she was
craving to pour her confidence into that
kindly ear and receive such %ungrudg-
ing sympathy and shrewd advice as
the circumstances prompted.
When Peggie had exhausted the vo-
cabulary of establishment, admiration.
con~gratulation and anttcipation-had
s~huddered at Prue's danger laughed at
her willy devices, marveled incredu-
lousy at her passionate avowal of love.
and rejected all possibility Of fear for
antly, declaring thai she should not
close an eye that highland was fast
asleep lmos before her head reached
the pillow.
Prue was less fortunate, and for an
hour or two tossed and turned, vainly
trying every soothing device to calm
her racked nerves and WOO repose.
While Peggte the optimistic was be-
side her, Robins escape appeared more
than probable; she could almost per-
suade herself that 1t was an accom-
plished fact But 1t looked less GER
tain, now her blood ran cool. and her
high spirit tagged In the darkness and
silence of night. Her faith in his cour-
age n resource could not entirely re-
sist the paralyzing touch of fear, and
even her confidence in the value Of the
pledge h had extracted from the
duchess was shaken by the unmistak-
able GOODNESS Of the queen, who had
listened In silence to the explanations
of her former favorite and reserved all
her praises and expressions of salts
faction for Prue. to whom she had been
cordiality itself.
Toward morning she slept SO long
n heavily, hat Peggie came and
lashes lifted and the sweet blue eyes
smiled drowsily up at her. And. even
when she woke she was loath to rise,
and fa1n to rest more than once during
the tedious process Of her toilet, in
terrupted as 1T was by an obsequious
Procession OF MERGERS and modistes,
eager to make their peace with h re-
stored favorite by the most pressing
and distntereSted services.
But a curious change had come over
the wilful beauty, and instead OF
throwing herself heart and soul into
the enhancing discussions of hoops
and poffes, sarsenet and tabbinet.
and perfumes, she declined the
counsel Of this and the coaxing Of
one, and sent the %sycophant crowd
away wondering what had happened to;
turn the most e-xtravagant Of court
butterflies niggardly. The most be-
witching head" the richest farthingale
Of careless criticism, and When Peggie.f
almost as dissatisfied as the rejected
tradesfolk, demonstrated against such
q b1Ed neglect OF opportunity, Prue
lay back YEARLY in ther chair and
droppSng her arms loosely at her side.
Cousin, cousin-I am sick to death
Of it ALL"
"All Of what?" cried Peggie brisk
~. "All you have lost for a whole
year and won back in less than a
AYE, all that and more. sick Of
court and courtiers. sick Of idle men
vapid women. sick of myself most
II ALL
Then she sprang to her feet and
burst out laughing. What a fool I
Inn, Peg, and what a fool you look
standing there, open m%outhed, drinking.
n my yaporings as though you never
lac heard me grumble before! Did
think I was in earnest? Why, I
vas never SO happy in my life. Did
lot the queen kiss me on the cheek.
the duchess swear to give me
whatever I might ask of her; even the
1rst choice Of the places she has no
onger to dispose OF and the royal fay-
DTS that she can no longer influence?
/ not invited to Windsor as lady
waiting on probation and lauded to
he skies as a heroine by"
Sir Geoffrey Beaudesert wishes to
now II your ladyship will receive
The voice Of James at the door pro-
iuced a silence SO profound that after
/ short pause he repeated his mes
age In a louder tone. "Sir Godfrey
Is below, my lady, and
wishes to see your ladyship most par
icularly."
You had better see him." said Peg
IN response to Prue's startled and
Questioning glance.
4 Will see Sir Godfrey" said Prue,
Tell him I will be down Immediately"
soh, no. no. l can play my little
,omed better to an audience Of one;
besides, you know the truth" she
:rted, and a to the mirror to see if
he battery Of her charms was In or
Ter for the fray.
Sir Geoffrey, his face set in q me-
,hantcal smile. met her with a deep
DOW and pressed q ceremonious kiss
Upon her extended hand.
Permit your slave to offer his hum
Die CONGRATULATIONS, my dear Pru-
he said. II hear that you have
yourself with even more
han your usual brilliancy."