The Elbert County tribune., 1908-10-29

But it's not" said that lady. much
to my surprise, and thrusting out her
pretty head. IT'S not true a bit. He
hasn't married the secretary at all. II
was only playing secretary. He's
married no one but the Honorable
Agatha. the first. last. and only honor
ablel"
And for proof of her astonishing
words she snatched on her glove and
displayed to my marveling gaze the
big emerald cross OF the Wyckhoff
ring, winking in the sunshine.
At this moment the train began to
move. and was filled with a sudden
and justifiable rage that Vincent
should have SO deceived me. To think
that he had been in the secret all
the time and had helped to make a
fool of mel But one look at his face
proved to me that had done him an
injustice. He was as stricken with
amazement as was, and l knew that
then, and not until then, mad he be-
come acquainted with the truth. Gath
ering my wits quickly, for the train
was moving faster. ] ran after their
carriage till caught up with the win
dow again. "Good-by!" 1 shouted,
and God bless you!" And Vincent.
reaching out his big hand, had just
time to catch mine in his strong
grasp before / dropped back, out
stripped, and he had withdrawn his
radiant face from my view.
Afterward l learned many things.
First, that they had been married very
early that morning. before the rest of
us were up, in the little chapel at Wye,
with Mrs. Armistead. who was in the
secret. as witness. That explained her
delay in giving me the note. Dreading
my Interference, they had not wished
me to know until the whole thing was
well over and Mrs. Armistead back
at Castle Wyckhoff. Second, that 1t
had been the Honorable Agatha's own
idea to play the part of secretary 10
her aunt, thus improving upon her IA
TIERS plan, and making it still more
difficult for the competing suitors to
discover her identity. Third, that her
reason for telling Vincent that Agatha
Sixth was the real Honorable Agatha
was only to prove him once more and
to the uttermost. And Vincent had
stood the trial without faitering and
had even proved himself equal to dis
regarding my wishes. Yet / really
think that on that night when he had
agreed with me that 1t was best to
give her up he meant to do So but
his love for the girl proved stronger
than his love for gold or his feeling
for his friend: And 1t was thus that
the boy won-because he had loved
truly and faithfully.
And also learned afterward that
the six Agathas, shortly after the
elopement of Vincent and the secre-
tary-that-was. had all gone to their
homes in America. Later some of them
married certain suitors who had once
been guests at Castle Wyckhoff. Among
these were Agatha First and young
Brancepeth, who. l am happy to say.
has led reformed life since his mar
riage. And 1t also came to pass that
Vincent and his bride took possession
of Castle Wyckhoff as their country
seat when they came back from their
honeymoon. And there l often visited
them.
iouL Ou tildl tNtnlIul udy W0en tHe
train had pulled out of the station
none OF these things was known to
me. and l stood on the platform dizzy
with the unexpected turn events had
taken.
And SO 1t was that Vincent got
ahead OF me, Just as he has always
done. And SO it was, also, that re-
turned to London, still an eligible
bachelor. still the prey of match-ma-
king mammas and smiling debuantes.
There was but one comforting
thought in the mixture of disappoint-
ment and chagrin that made the sum
of my feelings as l drove slowly back
to the castle. This much had been
given me: At least had no, made the
fatal mistake of proposing to the
wrong Agatha, and hugged myself as
| thought how near had come to put
ting the question to Agatha Sixth that
very morning. That, at least. / had
managed to avoid. From that folly
the innate caution and unerrlng in
stinct of Archibald Terhune had pre-
served him. Thank Heaver
THE END.