Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-09-03
CHAPTER II,-Continued.

| leVlty ana freedom from the COnNen-
tionalities usually observed at a din
ner party in which those girls in
dulged, was a bit shocking to me, al
/ though it did not seem to disconcert |
Vincent in the least.
After dinner our adventure de-
velOped it's 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 a |
| 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 |
eCretary-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 | said,
we hadn't the widest idea what We
could possibly have to discuss with
her.
When the secretary withdrew Vim
cent burst into a flood of excited con-
lecture. Are we in a 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
if 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" said, Il have
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. 1t
was beautifully furnished, like the rest
of the house, and big fireplace took
up one side of the room. Before it
was a massive armchair, worn and
old, as if 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
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 Wyckhotf." 1t took my breath
away, and before | 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
niitted himself l couldn't go back on
him, so | 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 | held my
breath, for, when | had heard the
whole of that extraordinary document
| was filled with amazement and curl
"a osity, not unmixed with a certain ax
element. In brief, the provisions Of
this remarkable will ran thus:
d. Fletcher Boyd, stepfather of the
to Honorable Agatha WyCkhoff, had left
K. her his entire fortune of about $40, 900,
900, provided that she obey the condi
no lions of his will. Should she disregard
them the whole sum was to go to the
d, endowment of a Presbyterian hos
pital at New Bedford, Mass, his native
sh town.
yh The will then went on to say that
hs wishing to protect the girl. who was no
ia yet 81 years of age, from fortune-hun
tiers, her stepfather desired her, a
the completion of her education, to sc
lg cure not less than three, nor NOR,
81 than SIX girls from IS to % years o
uf age, each bearing the name of Agatha
lIs who would be willing to live with tn
~. Honorable Agatha at her castle il
ar Shropshire near Wye, England, TO
two years; in return for which the
~ were each to receive generou
monthly stipend, enjoy luxuriou
81 lodgings and rich fare, and to live
sE life of idleness, with ample entertain
a ment.
VA 1t was further directed that, befor
~ the girls left for England, some Ems
- fish lady Of rank or position be So
" cured to dwell at Castle Wyckhoff 1
Il the capacity of chaperon, in considel
~ alton of handsome salary, this lad
|5 to be, preferably, Mrs. Armistead, sil
- ter of the real Honorable Agatha
~ mother. For the first year after M
Boyd's death the Honorable Agath
- was to observe mourning by not q
ing to London festivities; but durin
this time she was to be permitted
amuse herself and friends by ente