The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1913-01-02

/ might say against you would only
drive her into your arms. This is the
first time 4 have seen the Lady Pru-
dence since Her Majesty requested her
70 retire from the court a year ago,
She appears to me ven more beauti-
fui n vivacious than formerly. ]
must endeavor to make my q with
her; one not afford to be at odds
with so bewitching a creature, especi-
hliy II she is TO be attached to the
queens household again, where we
shall be obliged to meet congtantly.t'
Sir Godfrey was so ~dumfounded by
what he took to be the earl's audacity
and discrimination, that he fell back
and allowed him to follow In the wake
OF the subject OF their conversation. IL
was but a small consolationsto him that
Prue was in his owe through her
rash marriage; she had already shown
him that she considered him particeps
criminis, IL she did not go so far as
TO lay a blame on his shoulders. IL
was plain to him that Beachcombe
would give him no opening for a quar-
rel about her nj that he would have
TO ind some other cause for the duel
he was determined to force upon him,
but that gave him no ~uneasiness. AT
$500 RDAAVA AhCliA6y lLlOukn hOulIudlly
unlawful was q highly popular means
or settling any and every differences
between gentlemen, and love-, cards,
etiquette, family jars, political opin-
ions and q lost OF more or less trivial
causes gave plausible excuse for the
indulgence OF personal hatred. Sir
Geoffrey was q dead shot and a fairly
skilled swordsnan, and had come OFF
s~cathless In encounters with far more
formidable antagonists than this young
Iordling, whose prowess was still UNI
tried n whose reputation for courage
or any other lofty quality was yet to
With a wager Of ave thousand
guineas contingent upon Prue's fidelity
20 him, Sir Geoffrey was not prepared
70 pc oyernice about the pretext that
would put such In antagonist hors de
combat for a few weeks.
Whil he was turning over in his
mind a variety of bats by which he
might draw Beachcombe into a quar-
rel, he-latter pursued his way through
the crowd, exchanging greetings and
receiving congratulations upon the adj
vent OF his son and heir, and at last
reached Prudence. Tt was no very easy
task to edge his way through the
throng OF her admirers. nor, had he
any special reason to felicitate him
self upon his success when he had
gained IT, He came up, bowling low,
with his hand upon his breast. pour
ing out the customary stream Of high
Flown compliments and a~sseyerations
that the sun, moon and stars had re-
fused their light since her eyes, the
brightest of all luminaries, had been
withdrawn from the ARMAMENT W IT
Prue regarded him with one of her
most beaming smiles.
" And pray, sir, when came you from
Our friends there-did you leave them
she INQUIRED, with an air of flattering
interest. 1
In the midst of the laughter that
greeted this sally, Peggie was heard to
exclaim, in a voice of mock-horror,
"Prue! how ~shocking!" "" :
My dear, you must blame Mr.. Prior
not me. If you object to the quotation
said Prue demurely. *
Maybe" retorted Peggie; but in
conversation can o see the In
Yerted commas, and you know Lord
Beachcombe does nj read poetry
True, I apologize" said Prue. and
turning again to her former suitor, she
dropped a deepcurtesy. How Is 1t,
seen you earlier? ' she asked gracious-
~. When did you arrive from
home? and did you leave her ladyship
and the baby well2"
The laugh that followed this was
utterly incomprehensible to the proud
father, who replied with urbanity.
feeling that Prue showed great self
denial in making these injuries SO
publicly and exposing herself to the
hilarity Of those who could not fail
to remember how she had forfeited
the proud position of wife to the pres
m and mother of the future Earl of
B~eachcombe. He felt quite sorry for
the regret and modification she must
be suffering and was inclined 10 con-
cede that the punishment was over
harsh Tor the fratlty OF a creature so
winsome. E-.s nE " - =
He offered his hand to lead her into
the supper-room and the magnetic
thrill OF her touch sent the blood surg
ing through his veins in the old ac-
customed way-he looked down into
the sparkling depths Of her Lovely eve
n straightway forgot-everythinR
that he ought to have remembered X
needed but the gloomy frown OF Sir
Godfrey Beaudesert to inctte him to
offer the most ~effusive attentions and
Prue to permit. IL not actually en-
courage them, until wearying OF a pas
time that had nothing to recommend
IT but its folly, she turned the battery
OF her destinations in another direc-
ton.