Gilpin observer., 1908-06-25

Iouno IL full OF Photographic repro
ductions Of oil paintings depicting the
ladies Of the family, and on the last
page OF the book I came upon a pic.
ture which thoroughly startled me. II
was copy Of full-length portrait OF
the last Baroness Wyckhoff, whose
second husband had been Fletcher
Boyd. The picture showed a slender
little lady. with straight dark hair,
an aquiline nose. and dark complex
ion, the living image Of Agatha Sixth!
Stunned by the importance of my
find l closed the book. put back the
albums where l had found them and
stole from the room. had guilty
feeling. almost as II had done some
thing wrong, yet 1t had been an acci-
dent for which no one could really
blame me. Full of excitement, | went
to find Vincent to acquaint him with
my good news, and discovered him in
the morning room playing chess with
Agatha First, or rather, he was show
Ing her how to play, for he was hang
Ing over the back of her chair and
moving her hand with his hand when
ever it was her move.
/ L u,
1 am always frowning at Vincent these
days, 1t seems to me, but l really have
to. He needs little restraint.
"Good-morning, Miss Agatha" said,
pleasantly; how does the game
progress? Is Lord Wilfred an efficient
teacher"
Very" replied the young lady, short
/ ly, and both of them looked at me
with such insolent hostility that was
, obliged to leave the room, murmuring
/ apologies for intruding.
I was rather vexed with Vincent
about this; he doesn't show me quite
the respect due an older man from
boy of his age. Not that / am old, or
anywhere near middle age, but still
l am Vincent's senior, and this Incl
| dent determined me not to communi-
cate my discovery to him. Why should
l tell him and put formidable rival
into the field? Not that I'm afraid Of
Vincent exactly, for l have always
fun they are very glad to fall back
upon an experienced man like myself,
who has seen the world and is &C.
quainted with Shakespeare and the
musical glasses. Nevertheless, 1t
seemed pity to invite Vincent to en-
ter the lists against me, for had fully
made up my mind to win Agatha
Sixth. Not that l am mercenary--not
at all. But 1t had been some time
since / seriously considered marrying,
and, after all, thought, why not con-
slider 1t now, and, as long as l was Sc
lecting a wife, why not pick out one
Of these six girls? They were all
beautiful and accomplished. And
why not" I asked myself while l
am about it, make it that one OF the
Agathas, whose title was the honor
able, with twenty millions?" Twenty
millions, when you think of it, ought
to keep a careful man comfortable
for life, and Vincent was smart
enough-let him look out for himself.
And thus l decided not to tell him
Of my discovery.
We spent the evening of that day
each according to his fancy-vincent
playing tag and hind-mans buff with
four OF the girls. while the fifth played
on the piano, and l in the next room
reading Edmund Burke's speeches
aloud. while my adored Agatha Sixth
did fancy-work. She really did every
thing very we'll. Finally Vincent and
took our leave, and when we were In
our own rooms and Vincent had
wrapped himself in my favorite bath
robe and appropriated my armchair.
was almost tempted to tell him all
about it. Just as l was about to begin
he spoke.
Arch. my boy" he said-a disre-
spectful method Of address, by-the-way.
but let him proceed-"Arch, my boy.
do you know I like that girl, Agatha
First? She's q true sport, and that
plump little one with the blue eyes
IL q pace-setter."
Agatha Third, you mean?" asked.
II was not aware that you had got any
! further than our introduction with
/ her"
"Oh. yes" said Vincent, as though
It were the easiest thing in the world:
II told fortunes with her all after
noon and played tag with her most of
the evening yesterday"
Really. Vincent" said sarcastical-
iy. that fortune-telling game Of yours
Is . little old. Can't you find some
thing new?"
What's the use, so long as II
works?" he replied, watching the
smoke from that nasty pipe of his curl
upward to the ceiling. But tell you
what" he pursued. rehectively. that
girl with the fair hair who played the
piano. Agatha Fourth. she's a stun
ner."
Upon my word. Vincent" expostu-
lated. where do you find time for so
many Of them at once? Doesn't
Agatha First feel neglected."
'T suppose So" replied the young in