Pocahontas star herald., 1908-08-28
CHATTER M.


Disappointed and somewhat cha
grined at Mrs. Armstead's answer,
rose to my feet and prepared to join
the young ladies In the drawing room.
had been so interested in discussing
Fletcher Boyd's will with Mrs. Arm
istead that | had completely FORGOTTEN
Vincent At first thought he had al
ready left the room. but in a moment
heard him laugh and discovered him
actually sitting on the floor before the
fire, playing a species of mumble-the-
peg with the secretary Extremely uns
becoming conduct for both of them |
thought, and Mrs. Armistead thought
so, too, for she spoke sharply t the
secretary, who left the room with red
dened cheeks Vincent, however, was
unabashed, and, after holding the door
open for her, he followed me to the
drawing room, without needing my re-
monstrances He seldom does heed
them, | may say
1t was on the third day OF our stay
when Vincent and had begun to feel
thoroughly at home at Castle Wyck-
hon, and when Vincent had begun to
feel more than thoroughly at home
with Agatha First, that | made an
important discovery. The morning
was rainy, and after breakfast there
was nothing to do but 10 read-that
is, until Agatha Sixth came down.
cfafrn haI hnsr ~ hn a N n
usually well-educated girl and had
given her all my attention during the
three days | have mentioned. So |
wandered into the library and began
to explore the tall bookshelves to find
something that Interested me. And |
found it. though 1t wasn't exactly for
what / had been looking. On the
lowest shelf discovered three heavy
but new-looking albums. From idle
curiosity to look at what ! supposed
were pictures of the dead barons Of
Wyckhoff / busted the first of the big
books and began to turn the leaves.
found it full of Photographic repro
ductions of oil paintings depicting the
ladies of the family, and on the last
page of the book | came upon pic
ure which thoroughly startled me. IT
was a copy Of fulllength portrait OF
the last Baroness Wyckhoff, whose
second husband had been Fletcher
Boyd The picture showed slender
little lady, with straight dark hair
an aquiline nose. and a dark complex
ion, the living image Of Agatha Sixth!
Stunned by the importance OF my
find | closed the book, put back the
albums where ] had found them and
stole from the room. | had a guilty
feeling. almost as II l had done some
thing wrong. yet It had been an acci'
dent for which no one could really
/ blame me. Full OF excitement, | went
/ to find Vincent to acquaint him with
my good news, and discovered him In
| the morning room playing chess with
Agatha First, or rather, he was show
ing her how to play, for he was hang,
ing over the back of her chair and
moving her hand with his hand when
ever it was her move.
coughed as entered, and frowned'
! am always fEowning at Vincent these
days. it seems to me, but | really have
TO- He needs a little restraint.
"Good-morning. Miss Agatha, said
pleasantly; chow does the game
progress? Is Lord Wilfred an efficient
teacher?"
"yery,p replied the young lady short
ly, and both of them looked at me
with such insolent hostility that l was
obliged to leave the room, murmurlng
apologies for intruding.
was rather vexed with Vincent
about this: he doesn't show me quite
the respect due an older man from
boy Of his age. Not that am old, OF
anywhere near middle age bat sun
/ am VIncent's senior, and TINS inci'
dent determined me not to communi-
cate nv discovery IN him why should