Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-06-10
such 4 plan as that ,

MTS. AEmlSIedu lduBneu. Il JnIuk
he was" she said. Il saw my brother.
in-law only once in my life, but that
was enough to impress me with the
strength of the mans character and
his eccentricity. He was intensely
American4-what they call 'self-made
man over there, imagine-and II
was his determination that his step
daughter, the Honorable Agatha, in
spite Of her English birth, should be
educated "a America. To this her
mother agreed, on condition that she
should be allowed to bring her daugh-
ter out In England and that she should
make that country her home when her
schooling had been completed Ac.
cordingly, when Lady Wyckhoff died,
the child being about II years old,
Fletcher Boyd promised his 4wife to
carry out her wishes In that respect.
A few years later he began the work
Of building up this old castle of Wyck-
hon and putting in every modern con-
venience, as you see, 80 that 1t should
be ready for his daughter to live In
temporarily, before Ne established her
in London with some good lady to
oversee her presentation into society,
according to her mothers IDEAS"
This was long speech for the
good Mrs. Armistead, and she paused
for breath.
I see,' commented. "EIe made Q
very excellent job OF it. Then, AZ /
understand 1t, his daughter has never
been in England since her early child
ho6d?"
NO" said Mrs. Armistead. Poor
child, IT'S practically all new to her.
But mustn't pity her! The way she
and those friends of hers take hold
of things passes my understanding"
"And where did she find so many at
tractive girls, each bearing the Chris
tian name of Agatha?" / inquired. 1T
is an unusual name, and should have
thought that part of the will difficult to
fulfill"
They're all Americans" replied the
accommodating lady--"even my sec
retary. She was at my niece's board
ing school, and by my arrangement
chaperOned the party of girls on their
trip over. When met her she seemed
such i bright capable little thing en-
gagged her at once for my secretary,
as my eyes are bad. AS for the Agath-
as, one of them roomed with my niece
at school, another she met while visit
ing her friends in holiday time, anoth-
er she became acquainted with quite
by accident on the train, and the 9TH
ers came In answer to an advertise
ment."
Wonderful that SO many girls could
be found who were all so attractive"
said again.
They are attractive, aren't they?"
she assented ''and their frocks are
pretty, too. made them get colored
things to wear this second year Of
mourning for my brother-in-law. do
70 hate to see young girls wearing
black, and every article they put on
comes from New York city"
Il thought as much = l said. Il
thought they seemed more like Amer
lean than English girls. And how
long has your niece been here?"
asked the hast question because /
was afraid the conversation was going
to stop and felt that in another mo-
ment Mrs. Armistead might inad-
vertently drop hint as to the identity
Of the real Agatha. It was very ex-
citing.
Nearly year. This is the last six
weeks Of the second year OF mourning,
and the frst Of the two years she is
TO spend with her girl companions at
the castle. YSnu know my brother-in-
law disapproxed OF girls coming out,
as they calF It, and placing themselves
on the marriage market He'd rather
have the young men come to see them
in their own homes. so he put on my
niece's presentation as long as he
could, hoping she'd be married. before
that time, I think"
"And have you entertained many
young mengas yet3~
my dear man! l should think We
had, nearly two dozen at least. And
they were too funny, unobtrusiyely
trying to discover which was the girl |
with the money, although that Is really
against the spirit Of the whole thing,
as 1t is contrary to the object OF the
WILL"
AT this point grew rather thought
full.
Dear, dear!" she went on, nov
cautiously they aid 90 about their
courtnhips! They were alI after the
-oney, fear. This Ii q mercenary
orld! All the girls havs received
offers, but none 81 them has accepted.
what hard.hearted misses they
must bel" I exclaimed. .Are they ali I
llIke chat M America, wOnderf' Ana
couldn't help thinking OF that girl III
met last summer.
Il don't know, I'm sure,p replied
Agrn. Arnintead. TITS not like English
girls. They're always ready ana win
Ing TO marry on Whenever their mann
mae have provided eligible partla tor
them. Hut can understand II III this
case. No one og the Aaathas IL more
than ~ years old, and it's great FUN
lor them, this care.freo life at Castle
VVvnkh01 They hnvn ewnrvthi,,e, !, ~ II.