The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-04-10

Sir Geoffrey shrugged his shoulders.
I must make the most of my few re-
naming days Of bachelor freedom"
he said. Il intend to settle down When
of family. But I am still a gay bach
elor, and very much at your service
at the club or elsewhere"
You forget that l am already a
ried-and a father, no less!" Beach
combe replied, in his %friendliest manner
stu, have not entirely given up
worldly pleasures. 1 still book a little
wager from time to time, and as my
lady has a passion for Ombre, she an
not grumble IL I still take a hand at
ecarte or whist. Is your wedding day
fixed? No doubt the marriage of so
charming and popular a lady as the
Brooke will be a brilliant
function. All the court will wish to do
her honor; perhaps even her gracious
majesty intends to be present."
i fear that the state of her grand
mothers health will prevent Lady
shine on this occasion. AS the old
lady's heiress, of course she can not
risk offending her: even at the last
minute wills may be changed and for
tunes lost for a trife."
Ha! Is the venerable countess so
wealthy as to make her will a matter
of Importance? Yet she passes for
poor. and when I was-when I had the
privilege of standing in your present
enV1able relations to Lady Prue, she
assured me-yet these old women
are often miserly-no doubt she
VIII CIV the world a surprise when her
hoards are unearthed. I congratulate
you upon your prospects! A bride so
incompatible and a great fortune to
boot! You are indeed the favored of
the gods! With such a prize in your
grasp, you will scarcely think 1t worth
while to remember our little wager"
Five thousand guineas will come in
very handy to start housekeeping"
cried Sir Godfrey gaily. His laugh was
echoed with a boisterous merriment
that startled him like an explosion.
Lord Beachcombe was so little given
to mfrth, his laughter was SO noiseless
and so rarely responsive to another
mans hilarity. that the jovial shouts
and gleeful contortions with which he
received Sir Geoffrey's retort would
nave disturbed less susceptible nerves
than his.
The sinister sounds rang in his ears
all the afternoon as he sat through a
dreary debate which did not interest
the few members present sufficiently
fn interrupt the general conversation
What was Lord Beachcombe laughing
at? he asked himself a hundred times,
with everincreas1ng irritation. He was
not a mar to take the loss, Of a large
T'''ii VI ''iolISN Nl~iceIlullN.aZ 1oCA1C was
ir'nossible for him to have any sus-
nicion of a serious imnediment to the
marriage. Still, Sir Godfrey decided
that delay was perilous and a secret
Fnown to five persons has fifty loop
solcs TO escape throneh. so for a vast
number Of reasons Prra must be in
d"ced. by fair means. II Dossihle-but
somehow. anyhow-to marry him i'm
mediate1y.
To reassure himself. Sir Geofrey
carefnr'v read the RECORD of the wager
and satisfied himself that If merely re-
r,1rad him TO marry LADY Prudence
brooke within one month of a certain
'ete. There was no stimulation of what
kind Of marriage 1t should be. and
even should 1t he contested later. Lord
Reachcomhe could not repudiate a
wager that bad been settled. even if
the method of wirnin~ it were orep to
criticism. He heartily cursed Robin
for failing to he hanged according to
lrnliahle calculations. and was even in
c1ined TO blame Prue fo~ lack of fore
SIGHT. but he pooh-hoohed the possi-
biltty of danger in ignoring the New
gate wedding n the idea of Robin as
a serious rival brought a contemptuous
sheer to his lips.
At the first o~pnortunity he slipped
away and hurried back Nto MAYFAIR
where he found Prlle and Peggie in a
state Of p~leasurable excitement. and
the anteroom thronged with milliners
and MERGERS as In tho early times Of
Lady Pruess lively widowhood.
Surrounded by N~obseauious trades
men, anxious to atone for their late i'm
portnnfties by reckless offers of un-
limited credit to the r%einstated favor
lite. Prue vas in her element. over
her graceful shoulders a chattering.
little French woman draped a flmy
scarf. while gloves and ribbons, sacks
and heads" silken hose and rainbow
stuffs were spread before her on every
side and half a dozen voices, raised In
laudation Of these nj other wares too
numerous to mention, filled the air with
confusion.
Barbara Sweeting. as high-priestess
of fashion. criticised, selected, con-
demned n approved, while Lady
Drum1och, Installed on her favorite
sofa, half buried in her choicest cash
meres, voiced an occasional opinion in
her crisp, decisive way, to which Prue
gave more than usual heed.
fair day to you. ladies!" cried
Sir Geoffrey. IT faith, feel like a
stag-beetle among the butterflies" He
bent over Prue as though examining a
trinket in her hand. Are you choos-
ing the nuptial garments. dearest ?" he
whispered. May l have a voice in the
se~lection?"
What do you think of this? % she
replied, indicating a skirt ruffled to the
waist and surmounted by full paniers
of brocAde stiff with silver embroidery.
tbs the latest from France and vast
~ becoming to a slender shape. I shall
be glad of advice as l have but little
time for selection. The queens physi-
clans have hurried her Off to Tunl
bridge and she is even now on the road
The royal command to attend her there
without loss OF time reached me but
an hour ago, Int tomorrow / must FOL
low post-haste, So am Just gathering
a few necessaries. Barbara, would YOU
decide on that blue train or do you
think the pink stripe will go better with
the silver gray"
What are you going to do with that
lace LOUNGE? r" interposed Peggie. "You
ought to trim the silver brocade with
IT; It Is too lovely for a petticoat."
Lady Drumloch's lace!" cried Bar
bara, bouncing or it with cries OF
ecstacy. Il protest it's the finest I ever
beheld! o should keep 1t for your
wedding dress. Prue."
Prue glanced at her grandmother
and b slight smile that passed be-
tween them aused Sir Geoffrey an un-
easy thrill, though he could not have
explained why.
wish Prue to look hcr best said
4 the old lady. TT is q great opportunftx