Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-12

one side or the room. BEFORE IL was d
massive armchair, worn and old. as
if the barons of Wyckhoff for ages
back had sat in it, On the large ta-
BILE were some legal-looking papers, and
as we entered Mrs Armistead arose
and placed her hand upon them The
secretary closed the door and took up
her position beside her mistress. while
we stood before them. i'll at ease and
expecting we knew not what.
Gentlemen" began Mrs. Armistead
with great gravity Il am right am |
not in presuming that you are candt-
dates for the hand of the Honorable
Agatha Wyckhoff?"
Yes, that's just what she said: Can
Ididates for the hand of the Honorable
Agatha Wyckhoff." 1t took my breath
away, and before l had time to speak
and set her right heard Vincent calm
ly assuring her that we were candi-
dates! AS he had thus rashly COM
mitted himself l couldn't go back on
him. so l let him make all the other
answers that were necessary.
Then you wish to hear the will?'
continued Mrs. Armistead. and Vincent
laSsented.
Read the will" said Mrs. Armistead
to the secretary, and the young lady in
gray picked up one of the legal-looking
papers.
This is to certify" she began, and
read to the finish while l held my
breath, for when I had heard the
whole of that extraordinary document,
| was filled with amazement and curl
osity, not unmixed with a certain eX-
citement. In brief, the provisions of
this remarkable will ran thus.
Fletcher Boyd. stepfather of the
! Honorable Agatha Wyckhoff, had left
her his entire fortune Of about $20,00O,-
600. provided that she obey the condi-
tions Of his will. Should she disregard
them the whole sum was to go to the
endowment of a Presbyterian hospital
at New Bedford, Mass, his native
town.
The will then went on to say that,
wishing to protect the girl, who was not
yet 21 years of age, from fortune-hun-
ters her stepfather desired her. at the
the completion Of her education, to Sc
cure not less than three, nor more than
six. girls from Is to % years of age,
each bearing the name of Agatha, who
would be willing to live with the
Honorable Agatha at her castle in
Shropshire near Wye, England, for
two years: in return for which they
were each to receive a generous month
ly stipend. enjoy luxurious lodgings and
rich fare, and to live life OF idleness,
with ample entertainment.
1t was further directed that, before
the girls left for England, some Eng
llsh lady of rank Of position be Sc
cured to dwell at Castle Wyckhoff in
the capacity of chaperon. in consider
alton Of handsome salary this lady
to be. preferably, Mrs. Armistead, sis
ter of the real Honorable Agatha's
lmOther. For the first year after Mr..
Boyd's death the Honorable Agatha
was to observe mourning by not going
Ito London festivities; but during this
time she was to be permitted to amuSe
herself and friends by entertaining at
the castle any young men of whom
the chaperon might approve. Mrs. Ar
lmistead (shOuld she be the chaperon
securely was likewise charged to keep
the castle supplied with guests, the
IbeSt young men that England could
Imitted her to do. Each visitor in the
role of suitOr for the hand of the Hon
orable Agatha was limited to six weeks
stay at the castle, as Mr.. Boyd con-
sidered that length of time sufficient
for him to find out whether he loved
Iany of the AgathaS or not and the
ISuitOr was not to make his declaration
until the very last day of the six
weeks allotted him, and, of course,
was limited To one proposal. In the
event of any of the young men pro-
posing to any of the AgathaS who was
not the Stepdaughter Of Mr.. Boyd, the
will permitted her to marry him, if
she desired. but with the distinct un-
Iderstanding that she was not the Hon
orable Agatha WyckhOff. In that case
Mrs. ArmiStead was to secure another
Agatha, and the girl who desired to
marry was to receive a dowry amount
ing to the full sum of the monthly
Istipends which she would have re-
ceived had she remained at the castle
for the entire two years. The same
lprOviSiOn for her companions was
made in the event of the real Agatha S
marriage before the expiration of the
time. If any young man proposed to
the real Agatha ignorant Of her iden-
tity. and she accepted him, she was
ldirected by the will To produce and
wear upon the third finger of her left
er'S family. a gold ring set with big
lcroSS of emeralds. as proof of her
identity as the real Agatha. Mrs. Ar
miStead and all the girls were to Re
bound by oath not to reveal the identi-
Ity Of the real Agatha, and each of the
latter was to be likewise addressed as
the Honorable Agatha Wyckhoff. by
suitors and servants. in order to pre-
serve the secret. This condition could
be carried out without fear of recogni-
itiOn by the servants. as the real Aga
tha had not been in England since her
Iearly childhood. Thus her identity
cuuId he easily concealed. and. by this
means, if any proposal of marriage
were made To her ii would be from q
man whose motives were not mercen-
larry. but purely those of natural af-
Election. which was the Stepfather's OBJ
iect in making the will.
The will closed with the appointment
lof executors and trustees and then
Icame the witnesses. the date. and the
lplace of residence.
Then we can stay in thus bully old
place for six weeks" said Vincent
l"Hooray!" He's such kid!
The secretary smiled at his enthu-