The Irish standard., 1908-07-25
~ copT9/C|1T 1907 or
. \. G. HfCL URd & co.

ANXIOUS, WITHOUT knowing why, tore
downstairs and called for Mrs. Armi.
stead. That good lady met me at the
loot OF the stairs In answer to my sum.
mons. with an air as anxious as NV
own.
"Have you see Lord vincent!" I
asked her.
Have you seen my secretary" she
replied, without answering my cues.
ton. shes not In her room, though
her bed has been slept in. But she
hasn't had her breakfast, and can't
md her anywhere"
You don't mean it," calculated
and sickentng fear turned me cold.
Perhaps this has something to do
with II" said Mrs. Armistead. 81
found 1t on the front hall table under.
meath the mail bag"
Her anxiety was apparently sincere,
and yet somehow it rang false to me,
With impatient fingers seized the
folded paper she drew from her reti.
cule. 1t read as follows:
Dear Old Arch: Sorry to deceive
you 30. but I've gone and done it-that
rash, foolish thing you told me not to
90: at least by the time you get this
note the deed will BE done. And I so
dreaded your reproaches that never
80 much as asked you to be the best
man: But couldn't help it. Arch. hon
est couldn't. Not to save my soul,
She shouldn't have had eyes like stars
and hair like autumn leaves. AS for the
money. hang the stuffy old millions, I
say! Every pound of it is so many
glass beads to me in comparison to
what have this day gained I wish
you JOY OF them and Of the Honorable
you can; and If you want to do me one
last favor come down to the station
in time to meet the eleven seventeen
Tor London and hear my last injuno-
tioas: VINCENT"
But didn't wait to hear her reply,
for . glance at the hall clock told me
that It was five minutes of eleven. Bare.
headed rushed around to the stables
and fortunately found Christopher Just
putting the mare into the dogcart.
Get in," yelled, "and drive like stint"
"ein. sir? Where. sir?" asked Chris.
topher.
"The station!" cried. jumping up
beside him; and we flew down the
winding drive at pace that would
not think Of attempting in cold blood.
Through Mrs. Armistead's criminal
delay in handing me the note many
valuable minutes had been wasted, yet
Y thought ! should still be in time per.
haps to save Vincent from carrying
lout the last fatal step Of his incredible
kolly. It might not be too late to part
them, for in spite of what he had said
In his note could not believe that the
worst had actually happened. Az We
approached the last strip Of woods be.
fore We reached the station caught
sight Of puff Of white smoke down
the track. A moment later, when we
drew up at the platform, the great
locomotive Numbered into the station,
and there, at the other end Of the plat.
form, I saw them. There was Vim
cent. clad in the things he had worn
on the train when we had first come
throush the fields of Wye, and with
him was remarkably pretty girl with
beautiful way red hair, in. a gray
tailor suit and smart black hat. OF
course It was the secretary.
waved at them frantically and they
waved in return, and I could see Vim.
cent smiling happily at me as they
entered one of the carriages. As I
came up with their carriage Vincent
opened the window wide and thrust
mis- head out. "oh, Vincent" was all
4 said; "am too late?"
/ mot at ALL" he said, genially;
], you're just in time to congratulate
me. But what wanted Of you, Arch"
and he leaned toward me and low
cred his voice-"was to ask you to
break it to my father" ~
Then It's true?" said, not quite
able to believe it, even yet
Eyes, it's true" he said aloud, and
with a radiant smile he drew back a
little so that I could see the erstwhile
Miss Marsh. TITS true that I've mar.
!ried the secretary"
: But it's not" said that lady, much
to my surprise, and thrusting out her
pretty head. ITS not true a bit. He
hasn't married the secretary at all. I
was only playing secretary. He's
married no one but the Honorable
Agatha, the FIRST, last, and only honor
able!"
And for proof Of her astonishing
words she snatched of her glove and
displayed to my marveling gaze the
big emerald cross of the Wyckhoft
ring, winking in the sunshine.
At this moment the train began to
move, and I was filled with q sudden
and Justidable rage that Vincent
should have 50 deceived me. To think
that he had been the secret all
the time and had 1glped to make a
fool of me! But one look at his face
proved to me that I had done him an
Injustice He was as stricken with
amazement az was, and knew that
then. and not until then, had he be.
come acquainted with the truth. Gath.
ering my wits quickly, for ths train
was moving faster, ran after their
carriage till caught up with the win.
dow again. "Good-by!" shouted,
and "God bless wont" And Vincent