The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1908-10-01
CHAPTER lI.-continued.

The meal was we'll cooked and beau
tifully served, and by the time the
salad course arrived Vincent and had
lost much Of our censtraint and self |
consciousness and were talking and
laughing with the best of them. The
levity and freedom from the conven-
tionalities usually observed at din
her party, in which those girls in
dulged, was a bit shocking to me, al
though 1t did not seem to dlsconcert
Vincent in the least.
After dinner our adventure de-
veloped its most astonishing feature.
At the close of the meal the ladies
arose, and we were invited to remain
and smoke some exceptionally fine
cigars, but before she left the room
the secretary came over to us and in q
low tone told us that, when we had
finished our smoke, Mrs. Armistead de-
sired that we should join her in the
library to discuss business. She-the
secretary-would come for us, as we
would not know the way.
We were amazed, Busipess2 What
business could we possibly have with
Mrs. Armistead? However, we told
the secretary that we would be happy
to join her mistress in the library in
about 20 minutes, although, as l said,
we hadn't the widest idea what we
. could possibly have to discuss with
! her.
:. sWhen the secretary withdrew Vim
cent burst into flood of excited con-
lecture. Are we in a girls boarding
school, or lunatic asylum, or what?"
he demanded Il don't know what to
make of it. II it's an asylum then I'm
distinctly for lunatics! They're the
most attractive lot I've ever seen, but
II they're all sisters why didn't Papa
and Mamma Wyckhoff find different
names for EN-? Six Agathas, and all
the honorable at that! It's absurd!
But it doesn't seem to bother them;
they call each other 'Ag.' and 'Aggie,'
and Agatha just as if it were Rose,
or Gwen, or Maud! What do you sup
pose 1t all means? My heads in
whirl!" @.
my dear fellow" ! said, Il have a
presentiment that we shall find out
- D.
: Armistead in the library, And we
did. ASH have said, my intuitiuns sell
dom fail me.
The library was q little room at
some distance from the dining hall. 1t
was beautifully furnished, like the rest
Of the house, and big fireplace took
up one side of the room. Before 1t
was a massive armchair, worn and
old, as II the barons of Wyckhoff for
ages back had sat in it. On the large
/, table were some legal-looking papers,
and as we entered Mrs. Armistead
arose and placed her hand upon them.
: The secretary closed the door and took
Z up her position beside her mistress,
while we stood before them, i'll at
ease and expecting We knew not what.
Z Gentlemen" began Mrs. Armistead
7 with great gravity, Il am right, am l
not. In presuming that you are candi.
dates for the hand of the Honorable
Agatha Wyckhoff?"
(. Yes, that's just what she said: Can.
didates for the hand of the Honorable
Agatha Wyckhoff." 1t took my breath.
away, and before | had time to speak
and set her right heard Vincent calm
ly assuring her that we were candi-
dates! AS he had thus rashly com.
mitted himself | couldn't go back on
him, so / let him make all the other
answers that were necessary.
Then you wish to hear the will 2"
!, continued Mrs. Armistead, and Vincent
assented.
( READ the WILL said Mrs. Armistead
to the secretary, and the young lady in
I gray picked up one of the legal looking
! papers.
This is to certify" she began, and
read to the finish, while | held my
breath, for, when Il had heard the
whole OF that extraordinary document,
s was filled with Amusement and curl
osity, not unmixed with a certain ex.
I element. Ill orief, the provisions OF
this remarkable will ran thus:
Fletcher Royd, stepfather of the
Honorable Agatha Wyckhoff, had left
her his entire fortune of about $40, 000,-
900, provided that she obey the condi-
Z tons OF his will. Should she disregard
them the whole sum was to go to the
endowment of a Presbyterian hos.
pital at New Bedford, Mass. his native
town.