Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-01-10
would be necessary to And some other

would be necessary to And some other
cause of quarrel.
Beachccmbs, meanwhile. unconscious
of what had happened under shelter
of his disguise. saluted his hostess and
his sovereign and passed on With a
bland exterior n IL temper in 81
highly infiammable state.
Sir Geoffrey lost no time in throw
ing himself in B~eachcombe's way. They
goes the c~ourting?!" asked my lord.
"How is 1t you are not in attendance
on the fair widow"
Sir Geoffrey's fury cho&ed him. Was
ever such impudence as this oun
drel's?
the subject" he said. between his
c'enched teeth.
Far from ii" retorted Beachconlbe.
With a jeering laugh. 1T will be quite
enough for me to know that she has
Tilted You: l care nothing for the de-
tails. Sti!!. If i We're you. 1 would no!
carry my willow quite $ openly"
NO doubt your lordship regards 1t as
quite permissible to prejudice the Wis
countess Brooke against "a sutton who
has a wager With you. dependent IN
her favor sneered Reaudesert.
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
probably never pardoned my speedy
consolation. ! doubt o that anything
might say against you would only
drive her into your arms. This Is the
first time l have seen the Lady Pru-
deuce since Her Majesty requested her
to retire from the court a year ago.
She appears to me even more beauti-
fllI and Niy'0Oin,1C than f,rv,nW1Hr I
nus endeavor to make my peace with
her; one can not afford to be at odds
with so bewitching a creature. especi-
ally If she is to be attached to the
queens household again, where We
shall be obliged to meet constantly"
Sir Geoffrey was so d~uinfounded by
what he took to be the earls audacity
and assimilation, that he fell back
and allowed him to follow in the wake
OF the subject of their conversation. 1t
was but a small consolation to him that
Prue was in his power through her
rash marriage; she had already shown
him that She considered him particeps
to lay. the blame on his shoulders. 1t
was plain to him hat Beachcombe
would give him no opening for a quar-
rel about her and that he would have
to find some other cause for the duel
he was determined to force upon him,
but tina gave him no uneasiness. AT
that period dueling. though nominally
unlawful. was a highly popular means
OF settling any and every difference
between gentlemen, and love, cards,
etiquette, family jars, political opin-
Ions n a host of more or less trivial
causes gave plausible excuse for the
indulgence Of personal hatred. Sir
Geonrey was a dead shot and a fairly
skllled sWordsman, and had come off
In encounters with far more
formidable antagonists than this young
lorol1ng. whose prOwess was still I'M
tried and whose reputation for courage
or any other lofty quality was vet to
make.
With a wager of five thousand
to him, Sir Geoffrey was not prepared
to be overnice about the pretext that
would put such an antagonist hors de
combat for q few weeks.
While he was turning over in his
mind a variety of bats by which he
might raw Beachcombe into a quar-.
rel. the latter pursued his way through
the crowd. exchanging greetings and
receiving congratulations upon the ad.
vent of his son and heir, and at last
reached Prudence. 1t was no very easy
task to edge his way through the
throng of her admirers. nor had he
any special reason to felicitate him
NROsA IT'S SAOCC0S W1lcu ne HdO
gained it. He came up bowling low
with his hand upon his breast. O
out the customary stream of high.
Flown compliments and asseverations
tnat the sum-. moon INT stars had re-
fused their light since her eyes, the
Of all luminaries. had been
from the armament!
Prue regarded him with n of her
most beaming smiles.
;" And pray. sir, when came YOU from
hell?
Our friends there-did you leave them
well?'"
she inquired, with an air Of flatterinx
interest.
In the midst OF the laughter that
greeted this sally. Peggie was heard to
exclatm. in q voice Of mock-horror.
'sPrue! how shocking!"
My dear. you must blame Mr.. Prior.
me. il you object to the quotation
said Prue demurely.
MAYBE" retorted Peggie; but in
onvcrsation n can not see tho In
verted commas. and you know Lord
does not read poetry"
True. I apologize" said Prue, and
turning again to her former sutton, she
dropped I, = deepcurtesy: How is It.
seen you earlier?!" she asked sracious-
y: When did you arrive from
home? and did you leave her ladyship
and the baby well?"
The laugh that followed this was
utterly tncomprehensible to the proud
ether: who replied with urbanity.
denial In making these injuries 80
publicly and exposing herself to the
htlarfty OF those who could not fail
remember how she had forfeited
the proud position OF wife to the press
By n mother OF the future Earl Of