The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-10-10
CHAPTER II.-continued.

CHAPTER ll.-Continued.
The meal was well cooked and beau |
tifully served, and by the time the
salad course arrived Vincent and had
lost much of our constraint and self
consciousness and were talking and
laughing with the best of them. The
ievity and freedom from the conven-
tionalities usually observed at a din
ner party, in which those girls in
dulged, was bit shocking to me, al
though 1t did not seem to disconcert
Vincent in the least.
After dinner our adventure de-
yeloped 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
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. Business? 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.
When the secretary withdrew Vim
cent burst into flood of excited con-
lecture. Are we in 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
rhe 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 it all means? Ny heads in q
whirl!"
My dear fellow" | said, Il have 6
presentiment that we shall find out
what it all means when We join Mrs
Armistead in the library" And We
did. AS have said, my intuitions sci
dom fail ME.
The library was little room a
some distance from the dining hall.
was beautifully furnished. like the res
of the house, and big fireplace tool
up one side of the room. Before
was a massive armchair, worn an,
old. as if the barons of Wyckhoff TO
ages back had sat in ii. On the larg
table were some lcgal-looking papers
and as we entered Mrs. Armistea
arose and placed her hand upon then
The secretary closed the door and too
up her position beside her mistres!
while we stood before them, Ill a
ease and expecting we knew not wha
Gentlemen" began Mrs. Armistea
with great gravity, Il am right, am
not. in presuming that you are cand
dates for the hand of the Honorabl
Agatha Wyckhoff
Yes, that's just what she said: "Cal
didates for the hand of the Honorabl
Agatha Wyckhoff" 1t took my breat
away, and before had time to spea
and set her right heard Vincent calr
ly assuring her that We were cand
dates, AS he had thus rashly cor
mitted himself couldn't go back G
him, so / let him make all the 9th,
answers that were necessary.
.'Then you wish to hear the will
continued Mrs. Armistead, and Vince
assented.
Read the will" said Mrs. Armiste;
to the secretary, and the young lady
gray picked UP one of the legal-lookiI
papers.
This is to certify" she began, al
read to the finish, while | held II
breath, for, when had heard I
whole of that extraordinary documel
I was filed with amazement and Gu
osity, not unmixcd with certain {
citement. In brief. the provisions
this remarkable will ran thus:
Fletcher Boyd, stepfather of t
Honorable Agatha Wyckhon, had Il
her his entire fortune of about $4,000
600. provided that she obey the con
fsons of his will. Should she disrega