The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-04-17

relays having hurried forward to make
the most of the daylight, and others,
whose turn was yet to ONE lingering
impatiently behind or resigning them
selves to the dire alternative OF spend
ing a night at 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 one hand and
common on the other, she rather
wished that she too had taken the bet
ter part OF valor 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 at no great distance, and
the sense Of companionship relieved her
fears so thoroughly that she once more
settled herself in her corner and fell
into a pleasant train of thought.
Planning how to exercise her most
winning arts upon the queen, who for
a whole week of semi-invalidism would
be chiefly dependent upon her for
amusement. Prue mentally acted half
a dozen charming little scenes in
which she would relate Robins ad-
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 n pardoned, and perhaps
his devotion, combined with her own
~eloquence. would bring about a recon
Citation between the queen and her
nall brother. who, In gratitude, would
shower honors upon his loyal follower
In the happy days when King James
III was come into his own.
Prue was reused out of these pleas
n fancies by the rough jolting of
the chaise. She looked out on the
desolate landscape, rendered still more
dreary by the rising mist that yelled
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
hapltat1on was in sight, nor any sign
OF lie except the carriage she had pre-
viously observed and which, She re-
marked with some surprise, kept al
most within hailing distance without
any apparent haste to overtake her.
She reflected that perhaps the occu-
pant was timid and even more anx-
lous for company than herself.
Inc Joking and rocking of the chaise
increased so much that at last Prue
let down h front window and remon-
strated with the %postboys.
Fray drive a little less recklessly,"
q cried; L cannot keep my seat and
4 tear you will land me in a ditch"
us a bad piece of road, my lady,
replied the senior. bringing his horses
70 d Ere, jimmie he
added to his assistant, "'old the 'orses
while l looks to that near hind wheel:
talnt none too staunch and this cursed
cross road is enough to shake the lord
mayors coach to splinters."
Cross road" cried Prue. sHave you
leIt the highway Pin the dusk?"-she
vas about to descend, scarcely knowing
keep your seat, lady" the man re-
plled; tbs but a bit OF a short cut
| took, to save 'alf an hour. cos it's
CROWN late" He fumbled a
little with the hind wheel
ana then remounted his horse.
the carriage which had fol,
lowed passed and went ahead in ,ais-
urely fashion.
Pfue's ~post-chatse resumed the Jour
e more shaky and jerky than before
scarcely moving at q walking
pace. Very wide awake now. and exs
tfemely uneasy with vivid recollecttons
OF postboys in league with robbers and
oLner perlls to unprotected females,
Prue sat as quiet as the rough ioltine
allow and tried to comfort her.
SELF with the assurance that the next
could not be far distant and
that she could certainly find means
there to have h wheels looked to or
get another chatse If this one were nm
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 most
boys, the trampling Of the startled
horses mingled with her screams of
pain and terror-then other voices add
ed to the tumult n in the midst of It
ali1tne door was forced open and Prue
lfted out and gently deposited on the
roadside.
The lady has tainted" said a voice
that sounded familiar. Search for wa
ter, one of o boys; is there no brook
or stream nearby"
Nothing than the river that / know
pf. your honor" said the man. Tess
there's some in yon ditch"
You need seek no ditch water for
said Prue. sitting up and strug-
Cling with the wraps in which her head.
was entagued. Since you are here. Sir
Geoffrey, you may as we'll lend me
some assistance"
Good Cad! Lady Prue." cried the
with a vast show of astonish-
BY what happy chance am 1
enough to be of use to YOU?
Methought you were safe In Tunbridge
hours ago"
N doubt that is why you have been
following my carriage ever since / left
Seven Oakes," she retorted. ",Tis
0 should also have taken
a short cut which seems to lead to no.
where in p~articular!!"
It a led you into an awkward
predicament, my dearest Prudence, he
gravely. Il shudder to think Of
the straits to which you would have
been reduced. a not been-uuite
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS at the critical
moment"
Well, as Providence has been kind
enough to send me a knight errant.
perhaps he will tell me where I am and.
how far tt Is o the next post-house,,,
said Prue, not very graciously, for Sir
Geoffrey's presence was too opportune
to appear quite unprecedented.
The next post-house?" he reflected.
aPost-boy, how far is the next post
house2"
-Four mile or ~thereabout, your hon.
OF" the man returned. beginning to I'M
strap the valises.
rs there any inn or cottage near.
where l can walt while you q k horse
the post-house and fetch me another
chatse Z" inquired Prue. The man
scratched his head doubtfully. and
looked at Sir Godfrey as If for instruc-
tions.
We'll. fellow. cannot you answer h
LADY, You surely know what houses
OF entertainment there are on the road