The Irish standard., 1908-06-27

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
veying the landscape without perceiv-
ing anything of unusual interest.
But Vincent, in fever of haste, was
kneeling and unstrapping his golf
clubs. "Hooray," he cried, "Terhune,
a golf course as I'm a sinner. Come
on, We'll have some sport. The old
trains due to wait an hour, anyhow"
l looked again, and, sure enough, 1
saw that at intervals the close-cropped
grass was dotted with little red flags
like sparks of fire on carpet Of
green velvet Vincent has many fads,
but think he is keener on golf than
anything else. was disguised with
him. Vincent" said with decision,
this is nonsense. You can wait till
we get to Cuppstone to play golf. Ora
ham said there were public links
there"
Yes, and he also said that 1t was
the rottenest course he ever played
over" said Vincent with some heat.
II made him admit it. And this one
is a beauty. A private one, I'll
wager. Look at that turf. 1t is just
like velvet my dear fellow-like vel
vet" and he swept practiced eye over
the wide green slopes.
Now, I am fond of the game myself
within reason, and certainly the pros
F, pect was inviting for I was tired of
the confinement Of the carriage and
| Vincent was most persuasive. I knew
| it was foolish thing to do; the train
! might not stay so long as we expected
and we might get left; and yet, as
say, 1t is hard to refuse Vincent any,
thing. unwillingly permitted him to
get out my clubs.
Whose links are these?" I asked
the guard. do they belong to the
| castle?"
"Yessir," replied the guard. "They
belong to Castle Wycl1hoff, 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.
| "She must have money" said, re-
flectively. Vincent, meanwhile, was
hunting in his grip for an atrocious
f. red coatshe wears when he COLTS.
J Money!" repeated the guard
/, Money? Lor' bless you, sir, she as
millions an millions Her own ia
Their was Baron Wyckhoff, but e died
when is darter were little thing e
never 'ad shilling, but 'er stepfather,
+. that married Baroness Wyckhoff two
I. years later, was H'american and 'ad
{: more pounds than there is stones in
that castle, sir, an arter is wife died
! e 'ad the place built up again. An
| now they're both dead, sir, and is
| stepdaughter. the Honorable Agatha
g.: as 'er title is, sir, is heiress of all his
/, millions and 'er mothers estate"
"she ought to marry" 1 said, still
| reflectively, and without any personal
meaning.
I! The guard smiled knowingly.
There's many one arter her, sir"
he said; "but they don't seem to make
no progress against 'er stepfather's
i will"
| Her stepfather's will?" repeated,
with interest. do you hear that,
Vincent?"
But Vincent, his beloved coat at
last found, was half out of the car
riage. Come on" he shouted, we're
/. wasting time" And 1, perforce, was
f, obliged to follow him, although the
F! guards story promised to be very in
! teresting.
After we had played the first hole
and l had won Il seldom win a hole
from Vincent, so I was in a good
humor) told him what the guard had
I: said. $50 these grounds belong to the
| Honorable Agatha" concluded, "and
I have curiosity enough to wish that
we might behold this mysterious lady"
But Vincent wasn't a bit excited;
j you can never depend upon him when
he's playing golf. "Bosh!" he said;
i I'd rather play on her links than see
her. If she saw us she might put us
of. I'll bet she's grabbed old maid.
I'm surprised at you, Terhune, with
! your romantic notions. thought you'd
left all that sort of thing behind you in
/ London"
| l felt myself reddening slightly,
though knew Vincent didn't mean
anything, and was about to make some
retort when he drove off Unexpectedly,
and l stopped in admiration of the
clean, fast shot he made. It Just
cleared a natural bunker and sped on
beyond.
At that instant discordant mixture
Of sound burst upon our ears, as that
Of dog yelping and vigorous scold-
ing in high but sweet feminine voice.
With one accord we rushed up the
gentle rise, Ind in the depression be-
yond we bebeld one Of the hsndsomest
girls had ever seen in M life. She
was bending over a setter puppy and
!