The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-08-29

Ugate. But when ten o'clock came.
and still no Vincent, I went up to his
room, for I thought he should be up
and doing ON this, his last day at Cas-
tie Wyckhoff, when he was to leave
for London on the AIS train that aft
erPOon. 1 say .'he" not we" for 1
felt more confident of my success
with Agatha Sixth that day than / had
done the evening before, and although
had not yet had the opportunity to
put the great question, I felt that it
was very possible that in the guise of
accepted lover I might not have to
take the rs that afternoon.
When 1 reached Vincent's room l
knocked twice, and, receiving no an
swer, entered, and was somewhat
alarmed to find that he was not there,
though his bed had been slept in.
Anxious, without knowing why, 1 tore
downstairs and called for Mrs Armi-
stead. That good lady met me at the
foot of the stairs in answer to my sum
mons, with an air as anxious as M
own
Have you see Lord vincent?"
asked her.
Have you seen my secretary" she
replied, without answering my ques,
ton. She's not in her room, thou IN
her bed has been slept in. But she
hasn't had her breakfast, and I can't
find her anywhere"
You don't mean it," I calculated,
and a sickening fear turned me cold.
Perhaps this has something to do
with it, said Mrs. Armistead 81
he hoI
meath the mail bag"
Her anxiety was apparently sincere,
and yet somehow it rang false to me.
With impatient fingers l seized the
folded paper she drew from her reti-
cule. 1t read as follows:
Dear Old Arch: Sorry to deceive
rash. foolish thing you told me not to
do; at least, by the time you get this
note the deed will be done. And I so
dreaded your reproaches that l never
SO much as asked you to be the best
man. But couldn't help it. Arch, hon.
est couldn't. Not to save nay soul.
She shouldn't have had eyes like stars
and hair like autumn leaves. AS for the
money, hang the stuffy old millions,
say! Every pound of it is so many
glass beads to me in comparison to
what I have this day gained. I wish
you joy of them and of the Honorable
Agatha. Dear old boy. forgive me Il
you can; and If you want to do me one
in time to meet the eleven seventeen
for London and hear my last injuAo-
tons VINCENT"
When did you find this?'' l gasped.
But 1 didn't wait to hear her reply,
for glance at the hall clock told me
that it was five minutes of eleven. Bare
headed I rushed around to the stables
and fortunately found Christopher just
putting the mare into the dogcart.
Get in" yelled, "and drive like sini"
Sin, sir? Where, sir?" asked Chris
topher
''The station!" I cried, jumping up
beside him; and we flew down the
winding drive at pace that 1 would
not think of attempting in cold blood.
Through Mrs. Armistead's criminal
delay in handing me the note many
valuable minutes had been wasted, yet
thought I should still be in time per
haps to save Vincent from carrying
out the last fatal step Of his incredible
folly. 1t might not be too late to part
them, for in spite of what he had said
in his note could not believe that the
worst had actually happened. AS we
approached the last strip of woods be-
fore we reached the station I caught
sight Of pun Of white smoke down
the track. A moment later, when we
drew up at the platform, the great
locomotive Numbered into the station,
and there, at the other end of the plat
form, I saw them. There was Vim
cent, clad in the things he had worn
on the train when we had first come
through the fields ~ Wye, and with
him was a remarkably pretty giT2 xitb
beautiful wavy red hair, in a gray
tailor suit and a smart black hat. OF
course it was the secretary.
I waved at them frantically and they
waved in return, and could see Vim
cent smiling happily at me as they
entered one of the carriages. AS 1
came up with their carriage Vincent
opened the window wide and thrust
his head out. "Oh, Vincent!" was all
said; "am 1 too late?"
Not at ALL he said, gemially;
you're just in time to congratulate
me. But what 1 wanted of you, Arch"
and he leaned toward me and low
cred his voice-"was to ask YOU to
break it to my father
Then it's true?" I said, not quite
able to believe it, even yet
Eyes, it's true" he said aloud, nd
with radiant smile ne drew back. a
little so that could see the erstwh he
Miss Marsh. TITS true that I've mi Ir-
ried the secretary"
But it's not" said that lady, mu' III
to my surprise, and thrusting out er
pretty head. It's not true a bit. &c
hasn't married the secretary at all
was only playing secretary. He Is
married no one but the Honorab FIe
Agatha, the first, last. and only homo a
able,"
And for proof of her astonishing
words she snatched OF her glove and 1
displayed to my marveIing gaze the
big emerald cross of the Wyckhoff /
ing, winking in the sunshine.