Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-09-24
CHAPTER w.

CHAPTER w.
For some days after that was in a
quandary. Here, in the face of my
positive information that Agatha Fifth
was the heiress. Reluctantly l de-
termined that the likeness between
Agatha Sixth and the picture of the
baroness was accidental, and began
to devote myself to the unfortunate
Agatha Fifth. She seemed much in
clined to discourage me, but l perse-
vered and we soon became great
friends l found she was only IS, and
drew my own conclusions from this
fact. At Is ones convictions are never
very deep-rooted, neither are ones
love affairs, and | thought it likely
that the girl would soon forget her i'll
prospered attachment for vincent's
handsome face, and might begin to
think of someone else. Surely this was
a very natural belief! So the first two
weeks of our stay at the castle sped by
and | saw to my satisfaction that
was gaining ground with the Honor
able Agatha every day, while poor
Vincent wasted his time flirting with
each Agatha in turn Che had taken
up Agatha Sixth since my desertion)
or in assisting Miss Marsh to write up
a lot of old dead barons who were
much better left to a decent and dig
nified obscurity.
One day, toward the close of the
txryn he I 90
through the hall toward the stairs.
He had on an old velveteen coat COW
cred with paint daubs, his luncheon
basket was over his shoulder, and l
guessed that he was going on one of
his sketching tours in search of fresh
woods and pastures new.
Where are you going, Wilfred?" l
asked, as he stopped, "and where's
Agatha Second?" She usually accom-
panied him on his sketching expedi-
tons.
Painting" he replied, concisely, ig-
noring my second question; land
where may you be going?"
For a walk with Agatha Fifth"
answered. smiling at him-a little pity
ingly, perhaps. He had lost such a
chance!
Vincent chuckled and his eyes looked
wicked. Wish you luck, Arch" he
said. I've been watching your char
table efforts to cut me out and be a
father to my little friend, Agatha Fifth,
with great admiration-but / forgot to
tell you"-he lowered his voice, for
we could see Agatha Second on the
veranda talking to Agatha Fifth-'I
forgot to tell you that what Agatha
Fifth told me isn't true!"
Isn't true?" l repeated in conster-
nation.
mo; she confessed to me about a
week ago that she only said she was
he real Honorable Agatha to make
me marry her. She thought, the fool
ish little girl, that she only had to tell
me she was the heiress to make me
love her. And she said she was sorry
and wouldn't do it again and cried like
child, and l forgave her and COM
forted her. She'll get over it all
right" and laughing hilariously the
young EdSCdl ran upstairs.
was really vexed with Wilfred
about this / thought it was very I'M
kind of him to keep me in the dark for
so long about Agatha Fifth's confes-
sion. What a lot of time I'd been
wasting! / resolved that / would re-
turn to Agatha Sixth at the first OPP
portunity, and felt glad, even justi-
fed, that had not told him about that
album which had betrayed the secret
to me. At this moment Agatha Sec
ond appeared in the doorway.
"Hullo, Mr.. Terhune," she said,
where's Lord Wilfred?"
HE went upstairs" | said; Il don t
know for what" / could hear him in
the distance singing at the top of his
lusty young voice
Gentlemen rankers all are we-e-e-"
till an ear-splitting shout from Agatha
Second drowned the song completely.
"O-h-h-h. Freddy" shrieked the
young lady, with lung power that
equaled Vincent's.
/ shivered with indignation at the
liberty. Freddy" indeed!
At the third shout he heard her aad
stopped singing to rend the air with
an answering cry.
For goodness sake, what are you
so long about?" she called. do hur-
ry up!"
Coming" roared Vincent, clatter-
ing down the two flights of stairs like
wild horse. and l hurried out to
join Agatha Fifth, my hands over my
ears. Young people are 10 noisy nova
days.
Several evenings later Agatha Fourth
had arranged to give a progressive
dinner party. She was to be the hos
tess and the rest Of us were her
guests. 1t was an evening-dress affair,
and / must say as we sat down to din
ner l never saw prettier group Of
glrls.
Then the fun began. Agatha
Sourth's idea in having a progressive
dinner party was for each Of the girls