The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-07-11

again busy telling fortunes-"do take
some interest. What are we going to
DO? Isn't there station master here
who can tell US about the inns of this
place, If there are any? I'm starving"
Vincent looked up and again
smiled that irritating smile of his.
Don't get hot he drawled; Its all
right. The Honorable Agatha has In
Vited US to the castle and she's tele-
phoned for the dogcart and q wagon for
our luggage. Haven't you, Angel?" he
ended, turning his handsome bronzed
face to the girl, with one of his best
smiles, one OF the kind he reserves
especially for the fair sex.
frowned. Vincent really makes
advances too quickly.
Why didn't you say SO at f1rst?" I
said, rather peevishly, as 1 sat down
On the steps to await the dogcart which
one could see already, q black speck
In the distance on the winding road
from the castle. The speck finally dis
appeared behind clump OF trees, and
when it emerged and drew up at the
station we saw what stunning little
turnout it was. The horse was as
.
Mile, the harness was clinking and
shining with ornaments, and the cart
and the groOm's livery were faultless.
The Honorable Agatha mounted the
box seat. Christopher she said to
the groom, I'm going to drive. You'd
better ride back with the trunks"
Then, before had time to interfere,
Vincent leaped nimbly up to the seat
beside her and I was obliged to take
the rumble with Rudolph, who leaped
up beside me as if to his accustomed
seat. I was too anxious to get to the
castle and get something to eat, how.
ever, to mind, and the Honorable
Agatha proving to be as good . whip
as she was golfer, we were soon
winding up the last gentle slope that
led to the big building. AS we drove
down the long avenue another dogcark
approached us rapidly, and as it came
] almost abreast, to my surprise
| recognized the young man who was sit.
| ting with the groom as young Murray
| Brancepeth. He saw us at the same
moment and both dogcarts stopped.
"Hullo, Murray" said Vincent and !
together
1
tention to us. Instead, he jumped
lightly from his high seat and came
around to the Honorable Agatha's side
of our cart. Reaching up he caught
her hand.
Il don't care whether you're the real
Agatha or not" he said, his dark face
flushed with the intensity OF his feel
ing. you've got to marry me some
time. I'm not after money. I've some
OF my own and I'll make some more
When you're tired of this folly I'm
coming back for you. Good-by." And
he wrung her hand till the Honorable
Agatha WINGED. Then he was gone IL
rattle of gravel and dust.
We couldn't help hearing what hi
said and he didn't seem to care
whether we did or not. But we coult
hardly believe our ears. Young Mur
ray Brancepeth, that gilded idler, de
claring himself the victim of q mighty
passion, and, more astounding still
swearing that he would make some
money! He, who had never done AM
work In his life besides that necessary
to bleed his rich old uncle Of his living
expenses.
/
about the real Agatha and 'folly?'
What did it all mean?
AS we drove up to the castle en-
trance two girls of about 10 and 20,
should say, came tearing around thu
corner, tsnItis racQuets in hand, ant
shneked aloud. evidently with sur
prised delight at seeing us.
"Oh, Aga Lha," cried the foremos
OF the two. tall, brown-eyed, brown
faced sylph, with profusion of wav.
and very dis orderly brown hair. ooh
Agatha, whe re did you get them? In
SO tired OF F Esncepeth."
| eyes," cried the other one, "wher
did they DR. Dp from? I thought yo
were playin & goN." She was a joll
little thing, this second one, small, blu
plump, with fair skin and blue eyes
really very attractive.
This was somewhat embarrassin
to me, but Vincent stood there, utterl
unperturbedl, bowling with that cas-
grace Of hifI, as the Honorable Agath
introduced us. But imagine our SUI
prise whom she presented each {
those two young things as '"the Homo
able Agai ma Wyckhoff!"
But I Thought you were the Homo
able Aga kha," 1 cried, unable to r
press my establishment.
$50 I .am," she answered, smilin!
and we followed her into the hous
silent tJut wondering.
| NM 1a n0V%snuad Vaavf uAatSA