The Irish standard., 1908-07-04

Then on my right-oh, fortunate me!
sat my little lady aristocrat, Agatha
Sixth, and next to her Agatha Second,
her unruly brown curls somewhat
subdued, and looking very fetching in
a costume of pink and white. I should
have thought that these girls were
American had not had reason to be-
lieve that they were English; there
was that breezy simplicity and becom-
ingness about their gowns which
seems to be distinctly American.
But have omitted from my cate
CORY Agatha Fifth, the Agatha of the
hazel eyes. will not now take time
to do Justice to her many charms, but
shall do so later for reasons which will
soon appear. Mrs. Armistead's sec.
rotary, who came in late and slipped
Into the seat at Mrs. Armistead's left,
completed the number of persons at
the table. She was quiet young woman
dressed in severely simple gown Of
gray, and her hair, which was done
very plainly, was distinctly red in
color. Mrs. Armistead introduced her
to us as her secretary, Miss Marsh.
The meal was we'll cooked and beau.
tifully served, and by the time the
salad course arrived Vincent and had
lost much of our constraint and self
consciousness and were talking and
laughing with the best of them. The
1evity and freedom from the conven-
tionalities usually observed at a din
ner party, in which those girls in
dulged, was bit shocking to me, al
though 1t did not seem to disconcert
Vincent in the least.
After dinner our adventure de-
veloped its most astonishing feature.
At the close of the meal the ladies
arose, and we were invited to remain
and smoke some exceptionally fine
cigars, but before she left the room
the secretary came over to us and in q
low tone told us that, when we had
finished our smoke, Mrs. Armistead de-
sired that we should join her in the
library to discuss business. She-the
secretary-would come for us, as we
would not know the way.
We were amazed. Business? What
business could we possibly have with
Mrs. Armistead? However, we told
the secretary that we would be happy
to join her mistress in the library in
about. 20 minutes, although, as l said,
we hadn't the widest idea what we
could possibly have to discuss with
her.
When the secretary withdrew Vim
cent burst into flood Of excited con-
lecture. Are we in girls boarding
school, or lunatic asylum, or what?"
he demanded. Il don't know what to
make of it. If it's an asylum then I'm
distinctly for lunatics! They're the
most attractive lot I've ever seen, but
II they're all sisters why didn't Papa
and Mamma Wyckhoff find different
names for 'em? Six Agathas, and all
the honorable at that! It's absurd!
But it doesn't seem to bother them:
they call each other 'Ag,' and 'Aggie,
and Agatha just as If it were Rose,
or Gwen, or Maud! What do you sup.
pose it all means? My heads in a
whirl!"
my dear fellow" I said, ri have a
presentiment that we shall find out
what it all means when we join Mrs.
Armistead in the library" And we
did. AS have said, my intuitions sell
dom fail me.
The library was a little room at
some distance from the dining hall. It
was beautifully furnished, like the rest
of the house, and big fireplace took
up one side of the room. Before 1t
was a massive armchair, worn and
old, as II the barons of Wyckhoff for
ages back had sat in it. On the large
table 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 l
not, in presuming that you are candi.
dates for the hand of the Honorable
Agatha Wyckhoff?"
Yes, that's just what she said: Can.
didates for the hand of the Honorable
Agatha Wyckhoff." It took my breath
away, and Before had time to speak
and set her tight I heard Vincent calm
ly assuring her that we were candi-
dates! AS he had thus rashly com.
mitted himself 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
assented.
'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 had heard the
whole of that extraordinary document,
I was filled with amazement and curl.
osity, not unmixed with a certain ex.
element. In brief, the provisions of