Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-09-18

very nard 10 bear, and you see. after
all, II wasn't true. She told me II
wasn't. Did you hear herr"
Yes" assented. land believe she
told you the truth"
"Of course: but then you're always
right. Archibald. always right. When
60 away from here and never see
her any mores--his lips quivered I'M
controlIably--'I may be able to forget
her"
"of course you wili." assured
him. cheerily. though there was lump
| In my throat Men have died, but
not for love Many have been as hard
hit as you and have recovered"
ooh, yes" agreed my patient, but
without enthusiasm: but at any rate
! had gained my point. and Vincent
| had agreed with me that marriage
| with the secretary was too rash and
foolish for him 10 contemplate.
r3y.the-by, Arch he said. careless
". as we still sat before the IRE try
Ing to make believe that the incident
of the secretary was closed, Il have
something to tell you. The secretary
told me outright which one OF the
six girls really Is the daughter Of
| Fletcher Boyd"
looked at him In utter astonish =
| ment. WHAT J said. excitedly; de
| you mean to say she deliberately gavo
away the secret Which one Is II. fok
Heavens sake And Why did she
do itY"
ITS Agatha sixth You were right
| all along. As for the reason, don't
know what she did II for. unless--un-
less he hesftated She's such an
honorable little thing think she felt
that the marriage would displease mn
family so she wanted 10 turn me
| from what she saw was coming ana
! used tho disclosure Of the Honorable
| Agatha's identity for bait. Come on
1 TO bed. he added. with little return
| OF his old spirit. you'd better get
rested for your last try for the TWEEN
| ~ millions. II you make up for past
| neglect you ought to win Agatha
Sixth hands down.
| Then you don't mean to try7'
| His face clouded again. Il don't
mean to try" he said, and We went up
4
And So we came to the last four
| days of our stay at Castle Wyckhoff,
| and began subtly and by degrees to
| win back my former place in the re-
gard Of Agatha Sixth, and with every
inch OF ground | gained In my pursuit
| OF the Honorable Agatha thought II
Vincent with fresh pity.
The evening before the last day Of
| our stay we all spent together In the
music room We were very jolly, and
yet underneath II all think the girls
/ were a little saddened by our ap-
preaching departure, and Wilfred ana
felt certain regret that the end
| OF our delightful visit had come.
though OF course I had fully deter
mined to propose to Agatha Sixth on
the morrow. was rather surprised.
| therefore, when Vincent suddenly
complained Of headache and, excusfnk
himself, went up to his room. When
/ went up to my own room raped
on his door. hut he made no answer
and | concluded that he must be
nsleep. The next morning, much to
my establishment. he did not saunter
II
customcd to do OF 4 morning, but
as II was late did not stop to inyes.t
1 tigate. but when ten o'clock carr \,
and still no Vincent / went up to hls
room, for thought he should be up
and doing on this, his last day at Cas-
tie Wyckhor, when he was to leave
for London on the 4.15 train that aft
ernoon. say Ahe" not I'VE" for
felt more confident Of my success
with Agatha Sixth that day than had
done the evening before, and although
had not yet had the opportunity to
| put the great question, felt that Il
was very possible that in the guise Of
accepted lover / might not have to
take the 4:15 that afternoon.
When I reached vincent's room |
knocked twice. and. receiving no an
swer. entered. and was somewhat
alarmed to find that he was not there,
though his bed had been slept In.
Anxious, without knowing Why ] tore
downstairs and called for Mrs. Arni-
stead. That good lady met me at the
foot Of the stairs in answer to my Sum-
mons, with an air as anxious AZ my
own.
"Have you see Lord Vincent" !
asked her.
"IIaye yon seen my secretary she
replied. without answering my ques
tion. she's not In her room, though
her bed has been slept In. But she
hasn't had her breakfast, and can't
ind her anywhere"
You don't mean IT." I calculated.
and sickening fear turned me cold.
Perhaps this has something to do
with IT," said Mrs. Armistead. II
found 1t on the front hall table under
meath the mail bag"
Her anxiety was apparently sincere.
and yet somehow II rar s false to me.
| With impatient fingers 7 seized tho