The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-07-25

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81 don't know wat YOU are talking
about" I said, n, !'eat!y-"bIt. Vim
cent, want 90 tell you someth NJ. I've
made discover
What is it," he said, without the
slightest interest, ell changed my
mind again.
Nothing" I said. I've forgotten
what it was"
Vincent rose. and, stretching him
self nightly. went toward his own
room. At the dor he turned and
smiled one of the smiles he does not
often give to men, and felt that this
one was not meant for me.
I've made a dis . very. too. Arch. !"
he said
stared at him in amazement, won
dering what was coming.
Whats that?" ] asked.
'Tve discovered that Miss Marsh's
eyes are gray, as cray as stars" he
said, only half aloud, and disappeared
into his room.
'Poppycock!" 1 shouted as the door
closed behind him. Vincents vagaries
are hard to follow at times-stars Ger.
tainly are not gray. That 1 knew to be
absurd
My new knowledge, while it robbed
the affair of its piQuaut mystery-for
l had decided that Agatha Sixth was
in truth the real Honorable Agatha
made my game even more exciting,
now that the stakes were assured. I
read with Agatha Sixth, walked with
her, talked with her, and played chess
with her all the first week; and as
nearly as I could make out Vincent's
program ran something like this: Be-
fore breakfast he took a horseback
ride with Agatha Fifth; after break
fast he played golf with Agatha First;
tennis with Agatha Third; and took
Agatha Second out sketching. In the
afternoon Agatha Fourth played
Chopin to him by the hour. Agatha
Sixth he had not approached, fearing
me. as was natural. In the evening
he played games with them all or re-
tired into the library with Agatha
head over him completely.
This program he repeated day after
day with reckless lack Of generalship
and yet every now and then, to my
surprise and disgust, I caught him
deep in his unfortunate Irritation with
Mrs. Armistead'S secretary. It wasn't
fair to the pooR girl, and I told Vim
cent so plainly. We were sitting on
the low stone balustrade Of the castle
Vincent in ri0fng clothes and look.
ing as fine Lad Is any in old England.
He was waiting for Agatha Fifth to 60
riding with him. although it was later
than usual, al q US having break.
tasted. For myself, wore my tennis
things, which become me greatly, Il
do say it, for intended to play q
set with those tennis fanatics. Agatha
Second and Agatha Third, as the aris-
tocratic Agatha sixth was a late riser
and had not yet come downstairs.
mo, Vincent" said, 'tt won't do.
F1irt with all the Agathas, if you must,
but when it comes to the secretary, let
her alone. To say nothing of what IL
due her, think of the time you're
wasting. We have only six weeks
think OF it-six weeks to make try
fer twenty millions Of dollars!"
'You forgot to say that a wife goes
along with the filthy lucre," he said.
and somehow felt uncomfortable.
Vincent has faculty for making one
feel uncomfortable. Il makes me quite
angry-he's no better than the rest OF
US, but he's SO 0onfoundedly innocent
about some things.
I was going to explain to him that
he needn't speaA % IL he thought that
& were the sort Of q man to marry q
girl merely for her money-whsn his
face lighted and he spoke more ration
ally.
Cad" he said, what rare lark It
would be 20 toss up Q coin and take q
chance at it. stx to one only-you'd
have q good show to via out!"
''How foolish you are. VincentI"
responded Suppose you took .
chance AZ IL, a. you say, and just pro-
posed to any one Of them, when you
had made NO attempt to win her
wouldn't she know you were fortune
hunting? And IL it should happen to
be the real Agatha she'd refuse you
on that account because It would de-
e Il were not the real Agatha she i
refuse you. too. because s;le'd know
she had no fortune 20 sire on"
"Of course" said Vincert, signing,
you're right about that, But 1 tel
you. Archibald, Pm not flirting with
Miss Marsh. She's an awfu'y sensible
little girl. and I go to her fer advice
about the course I'm pursuing with the
AgAthas. I need encoura gonent, you
know; it's all such a bea3tly mess.
One doesn't know with which one of
the attractive young ladies to fall in
1oVe. It's so difficult to decide with
shat twenty millions lowering in the
background. Just think, Arch, what
the governor would say If bis penniless
younger son should bring that amount
into the family. And the daughter of
. baroness, too, 1t would be such
matchi can just see how t:ckled he'd
be 70 have his youngest 30 well pro-
vtded for. The dear old governor!"
And Vincent's eyes moistened. $50 you
ha