Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-10-08
CHAPTER v.-continued.

More apparently unfailing clews material
lie.
CHAPTER v.-Continued.
The next morning when she came
down to breakfast inquired with
great concern as to the effects of the
accident of the day previous. She
replied most kindly that she felt very
nearly as well as ever and thanked
me earnestly for my share in her res
cue. In fact, her gratitude was SO
profuse as to make me uncomfortable,
and protested volubly that what ]
had done was nothing. Nevertheless,
from that day on Agatha Second chung
to me In manner that was almost
touching. Vincent, to my surprise, in
stead OF taking advantage of his part
as hero, seemed rather anxious to
avoid the girl. whereas, before our
mutual discovery, he had seemed to be
quite taken with her. Although his
conduct was puzzle to me, yet could
only rejoice that 1t was so, for 1t left
the field absolutely free to me, and !
felt as each day passed that now, in.
deed, was hotter on the trail of that
twenty millions than had yet been.
1t was the first Sunday after the &C.
cident and the fourth of our stay. We
had breakfasted at eight and were
sitting around aimlessly waiting until
it was time to go to church.
When it was finally time to get
ready my head ached from the sun,
for had been sitting without my hat,
and / decided that would not go that
morning, though there was flattering
chorus of protests when l made this
announcement.
Il shall CO." said Vincent, positive
ly, just as If anyone had disputed it.
Il always go, don't /, Miss Marsh?" ap-
pealing to the secretary, who was pres,
ent, but who, of course, had been rath-
er left out of the conversation.
Yes" she answered, smiling at him
family. you always do-ever since
we've known you, that it. You're a
saint, Lord Wilferd." But she laughed
as she said it, and Vincent, for no rea.
son at all, looked pleased.
Then the girls all went into the
house to change their frocks, and Vim
cent, too, had to go and get himself
rugged out in all the sweetness of his
Bond street afternoon things.
Are you going to ride or walk?" |
asked him as he came downstairs
ahead of the young ladies.
Walk" he said. IT'S such a rip
ping day the girls thought they'd like
it. The phaeton is coming for us after
church. What's the matter with you?
We shall miss YOU"
ooh, just a bit off my feed this
morning. But, Vincent, my boy, do
you realize that you're going to church
all alone by yourself with six girls, the
prettiest in England?"
Seven corrected Vincent, un.
moved. "The secretary is going with
us this morning"
l shook my head at him admiringly
You're a wonderful fellow" l told
him; Il couldn't manage seven of them
at once to save my skin. 1t keeps me
busy enough when l take 'em one at
a time"
At this moment the girls trooped
downstairs. They had their prettiest
gowns on and were fully aware of the
admiration in the eyes of Vincent and
myself. And that admiration was per
fectly excusable, for the six Agathas
were looking unusually lovely in their
lowered frocks, big white hats, and
the dainty parasols to match the wide
sashes, and / should have been hard
put to 1t to say which was the hand
soonest. But as they filed out of the
big door / saw Vincent look longest
at the secretary, who walked a little
behind the others, her plain, dark blue
silk gown and little rough straw hat
with the pink roses being a conspicu.
GUS contrast to the frills and furbe,
lows of the six Agathas. l thought
/ had never seen her look so WELL and
she passed us men without so much as
glancing in our direction, though Vim.
cents gaze, l thought, was a trifie
rude.
They had been gone some Is min
utes when 1t occurred to me that il
might do my head good to go out and
get some fresh air. Besides which
had begun to regret that l had per.
mitted Vincent to go to church the
only esquire of such galaxy of beau
ty. So j put on my hat and strolled
out over the lawn and down the long
drive, and before / knew it / had
reached the bottom OF the hilly road
and had set out over the fields. The
church party had gone by the way OF
the path over the fields, for that was
a shorter route than the main road.
AS walked quickly along the we'll
beaten path between the thickets
stopped suddenly and stopped to pick
up a small dust-covered object which
proved to be prayer book. "One OF
those careless girls has dropped it,"
said to myself, for they had all car.
ried them. Opening it to find the
owners name, was much agitated to
read on the flyleaf this inscription:
ITO my daughter agatha, from her
father, Fletchsf Boyd" and the date,
1900. 1t was, then, gift which Fletch.
er Boyt Tad made to his daughter only
two years before his death.
/ was wild with excitement in a
minute would keep the book. and