Gilpin observer., 1908-07-16

complained OF headache and excusine
himself. went up to his room. Wher
went up to my own room raped
on his door. but he made no answe,
and l concluded that he must be
asleep. the next morning, much to
] my astonishment, he did not saunter
In and out of my room as he was ac.
| customed to do of morning, but
as 1t was late / did rot ston to inyes.
t:sate. But when ten o'clock came,
and still no Vincent, l went up to his
room, for l thought he should be up
and doing on this. his last day at Cas-
tie Wyckhoff, when he was to leave
for London on the AIS train that aft
ernoon. l say "ne" not we" 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, l felt that 1t
was very possible that in the guise of
accepted lover l might not have to
take the 4:15 that afternoon.
When I reached Vincent's room l
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, l tore
downstairs and called for Mrs. Armi-
stead. That good lady met me at the
foot Of the stairs in answer to my sum-
mons, with an air as anxious as my
own.
Have you see Lord vincent?"
asked her.
Have you seen my secretary" she
replied, without answering my ques-
ton. She's not in her room, though
her bed has been slept In. But she
hasn't had her breakfast, and can't
find 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. "I
meath the mail bag"
Her anxiety was apparently sincere,
and yet somehow it rang false to me-
With impatient fingers I seized the
folded paper she drew from her reti-
cule.. 1t read as follows:
Dear Old Arch: Sorry to deceive
you SO. but I've gone and done it-that
rash. foolish thing you told me not to
do: at least. by the time you get this
note the deed will be done. And I SO
dreaded your reproaches that 1 never
so much as asked you to be the best
man. But couldn't help II, Arch, hon
est couldn't. Not to save my soul.
She shouldn't have had eyes like stars
and hair like autumn leaves. AS for the
money. hang the stuffy old millions
say! Every pound of II is many
glass beads to me in comparison to
what I have this day gained. I wish
you Joy of them and of the Honorable
Agatha. Dear old boy. forgive me II
you can; and IL you want to do me one
last favor come down to the station
in time to meet the eleven-seventeen
for London and hear my last injunc-
tions. VINCENT"
When did you find this?" 1 gasped.
But l didn't wait to hear her reply,
for glance at the hall clock told me
that 1t was Ave minutes Of eleven Bare
headed I rushed around to the stables
and fortunately found Christopher just
putting the mare into the dogcart
Get in" yelled. and drive like SIM"
"Sin. sir? Where. sir?" asked Chris.
topher.
THE station!" I cried, jumping up
beside him; and we few down the
| winding drive at a pace that I would
not think Of attempting in cold blood.
Through Mrs. Armistead's criminal
delay in handing me the note many
valuable minutes had been wasted, yet
I thought l should still be in time per
haps to save Vincent from carrying
| out the last fatal step of his incredible
folly. 1t might not be too late to part
them, for in spite of what he had said
in his note could not believe that the
worst had actually happened. AS we
approached the last strip Of woods be-
fore we reached the station | caught
sight Of a puff OF white smoke down
the track. A moment later, when we
drew up at the platform, the great
locomotive Numbered into the station
and there. at the other end of the plat
form. I saw them. There was Vim
cent, clad in the things he had worn
on the train when we had first come
through the fields OF Wye, and with
him was remarkably pretty girl with
beautiful wavy red hair. in a gray
tailor suit and a smart black hat. OF
course 1t was the secretary.
| l waved at them frantically and they
waved in return. and l could see Vim
cent smiling happily At me as the,
entered one of the carriages. As
came up with their carriage Vincent
opened the window wide and thrus
his head out. "Oh. Vincent" was al
said; "am l too late?"
Not at all he said, genially
you're just in time to congratulate,
me. But what wanted OF you, Arch
and he leaned toward me and low
cred his vcice-"was to ask you t
break II to my father"
Then It's true?" l said. not quit,
able to believe it, even yet.
Yes. it's true" he said aloud, and
i n