Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-06-03
"a 1et f,fm sunoke.


Mout three o'clock in the after
noon. when we had left the comfort
able carriages Of the main line for
the ramshackle ones of the branch
line, we came to sudden stop in the
center of a big stretch OF meadow
land A few miles away we could see
the spires and roofs of little village,
and. what was more noticeable, big
castle. that stood on higher ground
some distance above the town, but
not far from where the train had
stopped. asked the guard what the
trouble was, and he told me that
something was wrong with the engine
and it might be couple of hours be
fore we could go ahead.
Just as he finished his explanation
vincent. who had been looking out Of
the window with great interest, sprane
to his feet and shook my shoulder ex
citedly. "Look there! Do you see
them?" he cried, pointing at the beau
tiful meadows with their winding
stream and gentle slopes,
See what?' | demanded somewhat
testify, adjusting my glasses and sur
vaying the landscape without perceiv
ing anything of unusual interest.
But Vincent, in fever Of haste, was
kneeling and unstrapping his goli
clubs. "Hooray," he cried, "Terhune
a golf course as I'm sinner. Come
- a11 L,x-o eop,o cnOrf Tho OlG
trains due to wait an hour, anyhow.
/ Locked again. and, sure enough, J
saw Il at at intervals the close-croNped
grass was dotted with little red flags
like sparks of fire on a carpet o.
green velvet. Vincent has many fada
but l think he is keener on-soIf than
anything else. | was disgusted witls
him. Vincent" | said with decision
'Nhis is nonsense. You can wait till
we get to Cuppstone to play golf. Gras
ham said there were public links
there"
Yes. and he also said t1iat it was
the rottenest course he ever played
over" said Vincent with some heat.
81 made him admit it. And this one
is a beauty. A private one, III
wager. Look at that turf. 1t is just
like velvet, ny dear fellow---like vel.
vet" and he swept practiced eye over
the wide green slopes.
Now, | am fond of the game myself
within reason. and certainly the pros
pect was inviting, for | was tired OF
the confinement of the carriage and
Vincent was most persuasive. l knew
+ it was foolish thing to do; the train
might not stay so long as we expected
4 and we might get left; and yet, as
1 say, it is hard to refuse Vincent any
thing. / unwillingly permitted him to
get out my clubs.
"Whose links are these?" l asked
the guard. "Do they belong to the
castle?"
"Yessir," replied the guard. They
belong to Castle Wyckhoff, the family
seat of Baron Wyckhoff. They're all
dead now, though, all 'cept the Honor
able Agatha, and she lives in the cas-
tie and owns all these acres, sir, all
you can see," and the guard waved
/ his hand grandiloquently toward the
imposing Old pile on the hillside and
the green meadows stretching away
far below It, i
4 she must have money" said, re
fIectively. Vincent meanwhile, was
hunting in his grip for an atrocioui
red coat he wears when he golfs.
II, Money!" repeated the guard
I. Money? Lor' bless you, sir, she as
millions an millions. Her own ia
ther was Baron Wyckhoff, but e died
when is darter were little thing. Z
never ad shilling, but 'er stepfather
that married Baroness Wyckhoff two
years later, was H'amerIcan and al
more pounds than there Is stones II
that castle, sir, an arter is wife dice
e ad the place built up again. An
now they're both dead, sir, and II
stepdaughter, the Honorable Agatha
as 'er title Is, sir, is heiress of all hi
millions and 'er mothers estate"
"She ought to marry" said, still
reHectively, and without any persona
meaning.
The guard smiled knowingly
"There's many a one arter her, sir,
he said; but they don't seem to maxi
no progress against 'er stepfather'
Will"
pHer stepfather's' will?" repeated
with interest. DO you hear that
vincent|
But Vincent, his beloyed coat a
last found, was half out the car
riage. Come on he shouted, "we'r
wasting time" And !, perforce, wa
-obliged to follow him, although tn
guards story promised to be very II