The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-03-06
der sentence OF banishment-a, least
Copyright. 1871. The sosh>Aerriu Company

der sentence OF baniShment-at least
permit me To withdraw
What without searching the
house, interrupted Prue ~trenchantly;
Il should advise YOU not to miss an
opportunity that may not recur."
Lord Beachcomhe drew himself up
with a grieved air. II merely wished
to withdraw any remark that might be
dispensing TO you, N~iscountess. II
would grieVe ME beyond expression to
offend you. If, in my excitement, l APP
peared in~credulouS. it was not that
presumed 10 doubt your word. but
that l found it hard 10 believe that
Fate would have played me so scurvy
a trick"
Prue accepted his apologies with q
diSnified cooiness that left him no eX-
cuse for prolonging his visit. so he de-
parted. much crestfallen, IL far from
being convinced. While he was dis
missing his follower with a none too
liberal douceur. an elderly man, at
tired with rich simplicity, saluted him
u~noDtrusttvely. Beachcombe stared
after him as he disappeared into the
house, at first not recognizing the
ing, What is that old Jew doing
here?' drove way, pondering on the
stranseness OF Prue's visitors and the
atmosphere of mystery with which she
had surrounded herself.
Could he have penetrated the actual
~ = SlN lis IL
prise would have grown into amaze
ment. for surely no greater tribute to
the versatility of Prue's charms could
be offered than the fact that they had
brought Mr.. Aarons to her feet. AT
least so OF his so years had been
spent in the exclusive pursuit
or wealth. Pleasure he only
knew by name. Love was to him
merely a curious spell under which
men became utterly reckless of conse-
quences n unhesitatingly bartered
1her present possessions and future
prospects for the means of dazzling Il
silly woman or purchasing a worthless
one That it brought easy prey into his
net was the only thing he knew in its
favor. and il must be acknowledged
mat his late proposal OF marriage to
the Brooks was o
prompted by any sentiments loftier
than those he so contemptuously dis
paraged.
He knew her to be thoughtless and
e~NtraTagant. for her visits to him had
neen the invariable result of losses at
the card table. or debts equally press
ing n Improbable Such gossip about
her as reached his ears, reused his de-
rlslon which her frequent matrimonial
entanglements certainly did not abate.
Yet he was no more capable of resist
ing her fascination than any butterfly
of the court. and although his declara-
tion a been to some extent unpre-
medltated. he was resolved, now he had
odered his hand to the Widow Brooke
TO lose no time and spare no effort to
win her acceptance.
he had waited a week. trusting that
her necessities would drive her back to
him, but hearing of her triumphant re-
turn to court, and her startling adj
ventures later, decided to wait no long
er. Therefore it was that, armed with
what he believed to be an irresistible
4 a TpIfr1aDf in tto Fot-~n@
himself at Lady Drumloch's IGOR at
the very IN of Lord Beachcombe's
hasty exit.
Prue and Peggie were in earnest con-
sultation or no less important a sub
1ect n a the imminent explanation
with Lady Drunlloch, who. after the
revelations of the afternoon, would GER
talniy requir a prompt and thorough
enlightenment. That she would be
deeply scandalized by the truth, yet
was too shrewd to be put off with any
evasion, the cousins We're quite aware,
and their consultation was as to the
form their confession should take
rather than any form of concealment
or preyarication.
When James that "Mr.
Aarons' was below and besought an
audience OF the V~iscountess Brooke
Prue was not quite sure whether this
interruption was a welcome respite or
a tiresone delay.
"Aarons." exclaimed Peggie. what
brings him here2' Then. lowering her
voice, Can he be coming to pay his
court to you, Prue?"
Il know not" returned Prue, shrug-
ging her shoulders. Il should scarce
have imagined that he would presume
to present himself here. Well, bid Mr..
Aarons come UP, James; we will re-
ceiye him here"
Wei" laughed Peggie. making for
the 600f.ALs have M yxrich t4 a tfr,
and l am sure he does not come here
on my account" And she decamped
without giving her cousin time to re-
monStrate.
Prue greeted h n lender in her
stateEiest manner, and entrenching her
self behind the little tea table, re-
quested him to be seated.
This is indeed a surprise" she said.
1 should never have supposed that the
busy Mr.. Aarons had time to spare for
visiting"
You are right, yiscountess. / never,
In my life. made a visit without an
object he replied, but the busiest of
men ma discover that there are other
things in life besides business. /, for
example, have discovered that youth,
beauty and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES as
~yours--may eutvalue wealth and pow
Her--such as mine"
You are mistaken, Mr.. Aarons," said
EPrue, IN a moralizing tone. Youth is
Meeting. beauty is but skin deep and
Haccon1plishments-such as mine-are
apt to lead their possessor into mischief
of more kinds than you wot Of"
Most mischief can be repaired by
money said Aarons in~sinuatingly,
and what cannot be achieved 81
youth, beauty and accomplishments
with unlimited wealth to SCOT? You.
dear Viscountess, have gone far without
money. Think what you could aspire
to with more h you could spend5if
You tried your HARDEST"
Why tantalize me with such vi
sionsg cried Prue. Then suddenly re-
calling the motive of her last visit to
the money lender, she added malicious
~, Sir Geoffrey. according to you, will
2 be likely to test my extrayagance
SO severely"
Sir Geoffrey!" exclaimed, with a
ffrown. ii is no match for your lady
ship. Yon a. hut TO wait d few
weeks for the dissolution of parliament
TO see him lu..uriously lodged In his
town mansion OF the Queens Bench.
Sc warned by me-, yiscountess, unless
You wish to share his lodging.
You mean that ], also. may be ar
rested for debit she retorted with dis
|dain. III Isremember Alright, YOU