Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-04-25

I balmy springtime, was drawing thither
quite a rush OF visitors.
Gallants on horseback, numbering
family coaches and dashing chariots
followed one another in quick success
sion. some forging ahead, only to be
overtaken, perhaps, in a ditch with a
wheel off, or at the post house wait
ing for relays-a mfshap that kept Prue
waiting a couple of hours at Seven
oaks, to her great chagrin. However,
the Inn was hospitable and'a good din
ner compensated in some measure for
the delay. though the afternoon shad-
wv were perceptibly frightening when
the journey was resumed.
The road was more lonely now, those
lucky folk who had secured the earliest
relays having hurried forward to make
the most of the daylight. and others,
whose turn vas yet to come, lingering
impatiently behind or resigning them
selves to the dire alternative Of spend
ing a night at the inn.
When Prue, after the first mile or
80, put her head out of the window
n surveyed the long stretch Of road.
with dense woods on n hand and
q desOlate vastness Of .uncultivated
common on the other, she rather
wished that she too had taken the bet
ter part of valor and broken her jour
ney at Seven Oaks, instead of risking
the worst part in the declining day.
However, looking back, she saw an
other carriage at no great distance, and
the sense of companionship relieved her
fears SO thoroughly hat she once more
settled herself in her corner and fell
into a pleasant train of thought.
Planning how to exercise her most
winning arts upon the queen, who for
q whole week OF semi-tnvalidism Would
be chiefly dependent upon her for
amusement, Prue mentally acted half
a nnl0n Nn0 THninO Hffln 0n0nna IN
which h would relate Robins adj
ventures in so moving and pathetic
q fashion that the queen would be
only too ready to applaud the climax
and bestow her sanction and blessing
upon the romantic pair. Robin would
be recalled and p%ardoned, and perhaps
his devotion. combined with her own
eloquence, would bring about a recon-
Citation between the queen and her
nalf brother. who, in gratitude. would
shower honors upon his loyal follower
IN the happy days when. King James
III was come into his own.
Prue was reused out Of these pleas
ant fancies by the rough jolting of
the chaise. She looked out On the
desolate landscape, rendered still more
dreary by the rising mist that yelled
the sinking sum-. On one hand was a
vast common. stretching away into the
vague distance. on the other rose a
steep incline. thickly wooded and al
.S00y 8aOOAAy VIII TWILIGHT SHADOWS.
hough all else was still bright. No
habitatfon was in sight, nor any sign
OF lie except the carriage she q pre-
vlously observed and which, she re-
marked with some surprise, kept al
most within hailing distance without
apparent haste to oveftake her.
She reflected that perhaps the occu-
pant was tt1nid and even more anx-
ious for company than herself.
The Joking and rocking OF the chaise
l~ncreased g much that at last Prue
strated with the postboys.
Fray drive q little less recklessly."
n cried; Il cannot keep my seat and
1 fear you will land me in a ditch"
.Iis a bad piece Of road, my lady"
to a standstill. ERE. Jimmie" he
added to his assistant, a'old the 'orses
while 1 looks to that near hind wheel:
faint none too staunch and this cursed
cross road Is enough to shake the lord
mayors a to splinters."
Gross road!" cried Prue. ..Have you
LETT the hishway?-in the dusk ?"-she
WAS about to descend, scarcely knowing
what h did In her sudden alarm.
Keep your seat, lady" the man re-
piled; tits but q bit Of q short u
/. Ire2s . to rave ALI an hour, cos it's
little with the hind wheel
and then remounted his horse.
Meanwhile tho carriage which had fol-
lowed passed and ven ahead in leis-
urely fashion.
Prue's post-chaise resumed the four
ney. more shaky and jerky than before
although scarcely moving at q walking
pace. Very wide awake now, and ex-
tremely uneasy with vivid recollections
OF postboys In league with robbers and
other pertls to unprotected females,
Frue sat as quiet as the rough joitinR
would allow Inc tried to comfort her.
SELF with the assurance that the next
pOst-house could not be far distant and
n h could certainly find means
there to have the wheels looked to or
get another chaise lie this one were UNI
safe.
But scarcely 100 yards farther on
there was q crash and q shock and
Prue was lying in q heap in the over
turned chaise. The shouts Of the post
boys. the trampling Of the startled
horses mingled with her screams of
pain and ~terror-thenN other voices add
ed to the tumult n In the midst OF 1t
all the door was forced open and Prue
lifted out and gently deposited on the
roadside.
THE lady has tainted" said a voice
that sounded familiar. Search for wa
Eter. one of you boys; is there no brook
Nothing than the river that / know
OF. your. honor" said the man, ''less'
there's some in yon ditch--"
You need seek no ditch water for
INC" a Prue. sitting up and strug-
Cling with the = IN which her head
was Since you are here. Sir
IGeOKrey, you may as well lend me
some assistance"
Good Cad! Lady Prue!" cried the
barcnet. with q show Of astAnish-
lment. by what happy change am I
fortunate Q to be OF use TO you?