The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-07-01
Agatha Wyckhoff ?"


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 let him make all the other
answers that We're necessary.
Then you wish to hear the will?"
continued Mrs Armistead, and Vincent
assented.
Read the will" said Mrs. Armistead
to the secretary, and the young lady in
gray picked up one of the legallooking
papers.
This is to certify" she began, and
read to the finish, while | held my
breath, for, when | had heard the
whole of that extraordinary document,
l was filled with alnazement and curl
osity, not unmixed with certain eX-
element 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 $20,000,-
600, provided that she obey the condi-
lions of his will. Should she disregard
them the whole sum was to go to the
endowment of Presbyterian hos
pital at New Bedford, Mass, his native
| town.
The will then went on to say that,
wishing to protect the girl who was not
| yet Fl years of age, from fortune-hu hun
tiers, her stepfather desired her, at
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 generous
monthly stipend. enjoy luxurious
lodgings and rich fare, and to live a
life of idleness, with ample entertain
ment
1t was further directed that, before
the girls left for England, some Eng
lish lady of rank or 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
mother. For the first year after Mr..
Boyd's death the Honorable Agatha
was to observe mourning by not go
ing to London festivities; but during
this time she was to be permitted to
amuse herself and friends by enter
tanning at the castle any young men
of whom the chaperon might approve
Mrs. Armistead (should she be the
chaperon securely was likewise
charged to keep the castle supplied
with guests, the best young men that
England could boast as her large &C
quaintance permitted her to do. Each
visitor in the role of sutton for the
hand of the Honorable Agatha was
limited to six weeks stay at the castle
as Mr.. Boyd considered that length Of
time sufficient for him to find out
whether he loved any of the Agathas
or not and the sutton 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 mer
proposing to any of the Agathas who
was not the stepdaughter of Mr. Boyd
the will permitted her to marry him. il
. she desired, but with the distinct un
derstanding that she was not the Hon
orable Agatha Wyckhoff In that case
Mrs. Armistead was to secure another
Agatha, and the girl who desired tt
: marry was to receive dowry amount
ing to the full sum of the month";,
. stipends which she would have re
J ceived had she remained at the castl,
l for the entire two years. The same
provision for her companions wa
made in the event of the real Agatha
marriage before the expiration of tn,
, time If any young man proposed t,
a. the real Agatha, ignorant of he
, identity, and she accepted him, sh,
, was directed by the will to produc,
} and wear upon the third finger Of he
t left hand the betrothal ring of he
mothers family, a gold ring set witt
t a big cross of emeralds, as proof of he
| identity as the real Agatha Mrs
. Armistead and all the girls were to b.
: bound by oath not to reveal the identi
> ty of the real Agatha, and each of tn
. latter was to be likewise addressed a
. the Honorable Agatha Wyckhoff," b.
A suitors and servants, in order to pre-
serve the secret This condition coul
I be carried out without fear of recogn
t tfon by the servants, as the rea
. Agatha had not been in England sine
e her early childhood Thus her ident
: ty could be easily concealed, and. b
, this means, if any proposal of maj
t riage were made to her it would b
t from man whose motives were nc
t mercenary, but purely those of natura
k affection. which was the stepfather'
t object in making the will
1 The will closed with the appoin
r ment Of executors and trustees an
e then came the witnesses, the date, an
!. the place OF residence
Then we can stay in thus bully oil
J. place for six weeks" said Vincen
"HooraY'" He's such kid.
J, Go be continued.
-o-s-o-