The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1913-01-02
CHAPTER XVI.
AT THE ~uNMAsKING.

When Prue and Robin had left the
conservatory a sufficiently long time to
insure their return to the ball room,
out from behind a clump of plants
slipped Sir Geoffrey B~eaudesert. OBJ
serving her exit from the ball room with
a tan and conspicuously habited masker
ne mad followed with the intention OF
~nterruptln q te~te7a-tete and fore
stalling n of Prue,s little limitations
that, however harmless in themselves,
were dangerous. as he knew by expert
ence, to anterior claims. Il
When he found that. avoiding the
wen lighted rooms, Prue guided her
companion to an out OF the way re-
treat where IL was unlikely that they
would be disturbed by anyone less ia
miliar with h house than herself. his
annoyance increased, and with it his
anxiety to know who the favored swain
might be, and when Peggie. with the
gooo natured intention OF giving Robin
an opportunity, left them to rid herself
OF her sheepskin. the green eyed mon
ster took complete possession of Sir
Geonrey and prompted a baseness of
which, a moment before, he would have
blushed to think himself capable.
The only available ~concealment
was at such a distance that at
hrst noting reached him but the
murmur OF voices. He could see that
Prue stretched out her hands to her
companion, and that he kissed them
With ardor, but until his own name
was mentioned, he heard nothing but a
dis1ofnted word here and there. Then.
with ears Ipreternaturally ~sharpened by
something even more poignant than
jealousy he overheard Prue's repudfa-
tlon1 or himself and her companions
expression OF relief and gratitude for
the same. .r =
IS " was fortunate. perhaps, that the
colloquy was so soon brought TO an
END by Peggie's eagerness to carry her
cousin on to the BAH room, whittier Sir
Geoffrey followed as quickly as he
deemed wise, only to find Prue already
standing up in a eouhtry-dance, and
the Tall masker in scarlet missing. He
hunted everywhere for him, but in
vain, and finally withdrew to one of
the card rooms, where he played with
a marked absence OF his usual skill.
and also of the luck for which he was
~pcoverbial. "@ .IE
At midnight a flourish OF trumpets
announced that the moment for un-
masking had arrived. The dancers
formed a double line and marched past
the dais, each couple unmasking as
they saluted h duchess and her royal
Suest. Following them came an almost
interminable procession IF the beauty,
talent and rank Of the country, and
among the very last OF these, Sir Geo
nreyts search was rewarded. The tall
figure in its scarlet drapery suddenly
appeared, he knew not whence, and
within a few feet of him, dotted domino
and mask and revealed the familiar but
unlooked-for person of Lord Beach
combe.
Instantly there flashed into Sir Geo
nrey's mind an explanation Of the
words he had overheard, which reused
him to an almost uncomfortable fury.
This man, once his rival, was still In
love with Prue, and after goading him
into a monstrous wager about her, had
exerted some Internal arts or argu-
ments to induce her to play the jilt
once more and thus rob him, at one
stroke, of his bride and his money.
"Oh!" he muttered, with intense BIT
terness, such a trick is worthy Of a
man who would not pay his own sis
terNs dowry, until he was sued for It!
shall answer FOR this treachery
with his hearts best blood, and as for
her His look BODIED i'll for the flu
ture OF the capricious beauty toward
whom his feeling just then was less
like love than hate. He was forced
into S~elf-control, however, by the re-
Election that to provoke a meeting on
this issue would place him in a more
than equivocal position and that it
W SAAN W. NSSS9o y ~ Illl III OLLlCA
cause of quarrel.
Beachccmbe, meanwhile, unconscious
OF what had happened under shelter
OF his disguise, saluted his hostess and
his sovereign and passed On with q
bland exterior and a temper In q
highly inflammable state.
Sir Geoffrey lost no time In throw
ing himself in Beachcombe's way. They
exchanged greetings and then, How
goes the courting?" asked my lord.
How is 1t you are not in attendance
on the fair Widow" $685..
Sir Geoffrey's fury choked him. Was
ever such impudence as this scoun-
drel's?
do you require an explanation on
the subject?" he said, between his
clenched teeth.
Far from it," retorted Beachcombe,
with a jeering laugh. 1T will be quite
enough for me to know that she has
Tilted you; I care nothing for the de-
tails. Still, III ! were you, l would not
carry my willow quite so openly" .
mo doubt your lordship regards 1t as
quite permissible to prejudice the Wis
countess Brooke against a sutton who
has a wager with you, dependent on
her favor" sneered Beaudesert.
II hardly fancy 1t would be diplo-
matte" drawled the other, not having
the clew to Sir Geoffrey's meaning,
and relishing his peevishness as evil
dence OF defeat. "As the lady has
probably never pardoned my speedy
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