Gilpin observer., 1908-07-16

AGATHA
plano and played everything she
could think Of. while lay on broat
divan where / could watch her ant
listen to the soft music.
suppose that my bad night hat
something to do with the fact thai
I was boor enough to fall asleep while
the beautiful Agatha Fourth was play
Ing for me. Certainly I know that
was guilty OF that appalling rudeness
for was suddenly brought to state
Of consciousness by the sound OF
clock striking. counted the stroke,
Observation-Disclosures were ~. I musi
have slept for hours. and. sure enough
the room was dark except for the fire
light. and my slighted hostess wa.
gone from the plano stool AS I was
about to rise heard voices. and, turn
ing. saw on the other side OF the
plano man and a girl. The man was
Vincent. Of course, and I thought. a.
I looked at him sitting full in the
bright freight. that he had never
looked sc handsome. His evening dress
showed OF his superb athletic form
to the best advantage. and his face
was fresh and strong. with the bronze
Of his tan extending to the roots OF his
hair. which was cut close to conceal
a wave in the gold OF It, It occurred
to me at once that his face had lost
much Of its boyishness and he looked
every inch a man. But It took me
some time to realize that the girl who
sat with him was none other than the
secretary.
At first l could not tell what It was
that had so changed her. whether II
was her shimmering white evening
gown. or the cleaning bracelets. until
It last 1t came to me in a fash that 1t
was nothing more nor less than the
glory Of her hair that had WI ought the
transformation. l had never seen the
secretary with her hair done any way
but plainly and unbecomingiy, but
now It was dressed as knew it should
have been dressed long ago. She wore
Il low on her long. slender neck rolled
1t the sides and ripping loosely back
from her forehead, in shining waves
and little willful rings held in place
with big shell combs.
anu "hcu dt last IL uaWueu upOu
me that 1t was really the secretary
who was Vincent's companion, SO
breathless was l with amaze that at
FIRST hardly realized that l could
hear perfectly what they were saying.
And when l did realize II. wanted to
rise and let them know that | was
there. but on second thought | saw
that l must have been there for so long
that they would never believe that
had not heard the whole of their con-
versation. Furthermore. 1t occurred
to me that It might be we'll II stayed
to hear what Miss Marsh had to say
for herself.
And so calmly took the dress and
put 1t on, Just to amuse myself"
heard the secretary saying, "and did
my hair the way the others do theirs,
you know. And It was 80 late thought
no one would find me here"
And II l hadn't left my pipe on the
table no one would have found you.
and think what should have
missed" vincent's voice was elo-
Quent.
"Of course. It was very vain Of mo,
very vain." she went on: but you
know when girl has to earn her own
living she gets = little tired Of all
work and no play. and sometimes the
impulse to pretend she's fortunate and
happy and-and pretty"-the secretary
flushed under vincent's gaze as she
faltered the last word. and hurried on
and like the others-is 80 strong
that It tempts her to deck herself out
In borrowed plumes and sit In an