The Irish standard., 1908-07-11

liberty. Freddy" indeed!
At the third shout he heard her and
stopped singing to rend the air with
an answering cry.
For goodness sake, what are you
so long about?" she called. DO hur.
| ~ up!"
| Coming" roared Vincent, clatter-
ing down the two flights OF stairs like
q wild horse. and I hurried out to
join Agatha Fifth. my hands over my
ears. Young people are SO noisy nova.
| days.
| Several evenings later Agatha Fourth
dinner party. She was to be the hos
tess and the rest Of us were her
guests. It was an evening-dress affair,
and must say as we sat down to din
ner l never saw q prettier group of
girls.
Then the fun began. Agatha
Fourth's idea in having a progressive
dinner party was for each of the girls
to move up one place with each course
so that they could all have turns sit
ting by US. 1t was delightful: really.
don't know that ever attended q
jollier dinner party. Vincent kept
| quoting from the Mad Tea Party in
Alice in Wonderland" and the girls
laughed at every single thing he said.
Mrs. Armistead. am ashamed to say,
was not present: her head ached and
naturally noisy or riotous, but tho
laughter and jokes of those six girls
were SO infectious that was obliged
to join In with them. Vincent sat at
one end OF the table and I at the 9TH
er, with three girls on each side OF US.
The secretary, Of course, was not
present.
Agatha Fourth had decorated the
table with some Of the yellow roses
and wild fern that grew near the cas-
tie. Agatha Sixth and had found
them many times in our wanderings
and, by the way, she was looking es-
pecially lovely that evening. The girls
all wore shimmering white gowns, sim
liar in design. with silver ornaments.
but Agatha Sixth's gown was cream
color with ornaments Of gold. and well
did 1t become her dark beauty.
We had reached the very end Of the
dinner, and had Just made the last
change Of PLACES. which left me with
my favorite Agatha Sixth on my right
and Agatha Third on my left.
Suddenly. as the talk died down
and a certain contented silence fell
upon us. Vincent rose to his feet. and
bowing to US formally, began to speak:
Ladies' and gentleman" he said.
making the last word pointedly sin.
gular. while the girls all laughed. Il
think you are all with me when pro.
pose vote Of thinks to-to-er-our
hostess"-U felt that he had nearly
said Agatha Fourth!")-"our hostess,
for giving us 80 delightful an enter.
tainment." He bowed to Agatha
| Fourth and went on:
If all progressive tea parties are
termed mad hope may attend many
such. But as I look around me, gen.
tleman and ladies fair. across the red
glow of the candle that turns the roses
to redder gold, and as gaze upon the
youth and beauty here assembled. the
like OF which have never before
looked upon"-he made courtly in.
clination Of his head that included
every maid at the table, and they all
sighed heard them-"as look upon
this noble room, this exquisite table.
and think Of the graciousness Of such
hospitality. I am inspired to propose
toast in which feel confident you
will all join me-" At this climax Vim.
cent raised his glass above his head.
ITO the real Agatha!" he cried-"to
the real Honorable Agatha!"
There was an instant OF dead 81.
lence, and then to my surprise my
left-hand neighbor. Agatha Third, rose
to her feet. and, with quivering lips.
started to say something. But she had
hardly time to rise before the other
five girls sprang to their feet, and
raising their glasses, Agatha Third
with the rest, they cried with one
voice: ITO the Honorable Agatha"
and although It seemed to me that
Agatha Third had very nearly lot the
cat out Of the bag by rising, as II to
acknowledge the courtesy. yet by the
| ~ OIuPIucSS VI IIlC OLueT glTIS Lne Qay
was partially retrieved. and Vincent
and were still somewhat at a loss
as to the identity OF our fair and
wealthy hostess.
I asked Vincent afterward what he
made OF Agatha Thirds behavior.
ut looked to me-" said that young
person, "as II those girls had them.
selves so much in command that they
would never betray the secret they're
guarding, no matter what you did"
But didn't you see Agatha Third
get up before the others did?" said,
excitedly. "she gave herself away.
tell you, Wilfred, she's the real hon.
orable, without doubt. There can be
no two ways about it,"
How keen you are!" he said; "and
I tell you what It is, Arch baldwin,
cent always calls me "Ach'bald" with
the Il" left out and the emphasis on
"bald" when he's particularly affec-