Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-08-27
CHAPTER i.-Continued.

addressed myself to her the girl rose
with dignity and replied: 81 am the
Honorable Agatha Wyckhoff and l
own these grounds. So, you see, you are
trespassing."
But her tone was laughing and her
expression not at all severe, so
promptly told her who we were, and
smiling at me somewhat the way she
had smiled. at Vincent, though perhaps
a trifie more appreciatively.
1--WE didn't mean to-" said Vincent,
land hope you don't mind. You'll
| forgive us, won't your"
The girl laughed, and it was laugh
that l like to hear, not the silly, re-
pressed giggle of a London debutante.
She'll very nearly do" l thought,
"even If she isn't more than 90"
Forgive your" she repeated. "Of
/ course | will. / think it's great fun.
haven't seen a pew man for six
weeks"
l was wondering what she meant
| by using the word new" and waiting
| for Vincent to reply, when, instead of
answering her, he suddenly pointed
over my shoulder with look of hor-
ror. "The train" he cried, 'the train!"
Sure enough, when / turned / saw
our train had started and, although
moving slowly, was we'll on it's way
| 20 the little town in the distance.
We were three-quarters of a mile
from the tracks by this time, and of
course pursuit was useless.
Left behind" cried Vincent, dra.
matically, and burst out laughing.
That's just like him-he always
laughs at everything. For my own
part l couldn't see anything funny
about it. Here we were set down in q
little town that probably did not con-
tain an inn, while our luggage travelled
merrily on to Cuppstone, all because
of foolish within of his. The girl
laughed, too, so there was no use in
telling him what thought of him then.
We'll, what are we going to do?"
asked sharply.
"Do?" echoed Vincent. why, with
her permission, we'll play game of
gold with the Honorable Agatha, and
then go on to the station, whatever it's
name is, and take another train for
Cuppstone."
Its name is Wye" said the Honor
able Agatha, "the town of Wye, and
that's a very good plan. That's just
what we'll do"
And it was just what we did do. And
you should have seen that girl play
golf! By the time we had been around
the 1S-hole course felt little fatigued
one has to keep in training to do
that sort of thing at minutes notice
but Vincent and the Honorable
Agatha seemed as fresh as when we
started and proposed race to the
station. l told them to run on ahead
and I'd meet them later. so away
they dashed, with Rudolph leaping and
barking in front Of them, never doubt
ing that the whole thing was planned
for his especial benefit.
When / reached the station at last,
instead of seeing about our train or
telegraphing to Cuppstone about our
late arrival, there was Vincent sitting
on the luggage-truck with that girl,
and, am ashamed to say, he was hold
ing her hand When they spied me the
girl tried to pull her hand away, but
Vincent held on.
THAT you, Archibald?" he called as
if it could have been anyone else
Come on up here. We've been telling
fortunes, and Miss Agatha's hand is
very interesting"
mo doubt" | answered, dryly: but
what have you done about telegraphing
to Cuppstone, and what train have you
found we can take?"
There isn't any train" said Vim
cent, as cheerfully as If he were tell
ing me a bit of good news. "Only two
trains a day run through Wye from
London, and ours was the last. Any
way, your friend, the guard, thought
We ought to get off here and put off all
our luggage"
looked around in CONSERVATION and
there were our boxes, all piled neatly
at the far end Of the platform.
For goodness sake, Wilfred"-I
call him Wilfred when / am angry
said, turning on Vincent, who was
! again busy telling fortunes-"do take
some interest. What are we going to
do? Isn't there station master here
who can tell us about the inns of this
place, If there are any? I'm starving"
Vincent looked up and again
smiled that irritating smile of his.
Don't get hot" he drawled; its all
right The Honorable Agatha has in
yited us to the castle and she's tele-
phoned for the dogcart and a wagon for
our luggage. Haven't you, Angelo" he
ended, turning his handsome bronzed
| face to the girl, with one of his best
smiles, one of the kind he reserves
especially for the fair sex.
| frowned. Vincent really makes
advances too quickly.
why didn't you say so at first?" |
| said, rather peeyishly, as | sat down
on the steps to await the dogcart which
I one could see already, black speck
! in the distance on the winding road
from the castle. The speck finally dis
appeared behind clump of trees, and
when 1t emerged and drew up at the
station We saw what stunning little
turnout 1t was. The horse was as
fine as any you'd meet on the Lady's
Mile, the harness was blinking and
shining with ornaments, and the cart
and the grooms livery were faultless.
The Honorable Agatha mounted the
box seat. Christopher" she said to
the groom, I'm going to drive. You'd