The Irish standard., 1908-07-11

Vlue0 lot. Inc dear OLD SOVernOr!
And Vincent's eyes moistened. $50 you
see," he went on hurriedly, Miss
Marsh's attitude toward me is entirely
friendly. She is merely the confidante
of my difficulties Of the heart, and her
taste. find, is excellent"
1T is also changeable," said dry.
ly, IF the course you have been pur-
suing is through advice of hers"
Vincent smiled. "And then you
know" he went on, ignoring my
thrust, "she's writing a very interesting
book. the history of the barons of
Wyckhoff, and I'm helping her. I'm
awfly interested in genealogy, y
know"
This was true. Incongruous as It
may seem, Vincent's one serious hob
BY don't consider his paint-dabbling
serious-which had to do with re-
search and scholarship, was his love
for things ancient in general, and
family trees in particular. 1t had
been Baroness Wyckhoffs wish that
some review Of the lives of the barons
Of that name should be made, since
the last one had died, and Mrs. Arm.
istead had given her secretary this
work to do. Ieyed Vincent searching
ly as he spoke, but his face was so
thoroughly unconscious that my sus-
picions were disarmed completely.
"Yes," he said, there are lot of
very interesting old books in that
library"
YES" I said, that's why you and
Miss Marsh spend so much time there,
suppose. I'm glad to hear 1t. I
really couldn't see what you thought
was SO attractive" A sharp blow
in the chest interrupted my speech.
"shut up" Vincent hissed in my
ear; don't you see Miss Marsh"
AS he spoke that young person
tripped lightly up the wide stone steps
Of the veranda and was about to pass
on when Vincent stopped her.
Good morning" he said, his hat in
his hand. "Are you beginning work
SO early?" and he looked at the papers
carried under her arm.
Eyes," she said, II have q new idea
about that last chapter we wrote"
I'm sorry I can't be with you this
morning" he answered, and she passed
into the house. She wore a white
frock and natty little blue apron, and
/ must admit looked very fresh and
dainty, but Wilfred's tone was so cool
and conventional that mentally
freed him again from my accusation
that he was in the midst Of a warm
A}rt thn,v0h vry(O1
me that appearances had been very
much against him.
But that evening when he and L
were having our nightly bedroom COL
loquy was obliged to admit that
Vincent, considering his methods, had
accomplished great deal. With some
embarrassment he related to me the
tale of his horseback ride in the morn.
ing, and must say it completely un.
settled my belief in the discovery I
had made as to the identity Of the real
Honorable Agatha Wyckhoff. Neither
Vincent nor knew what to make Of 1t.
do you know, Arch" he said, stri.
ding up and down my room, 1--WE been
through horrible experience to-day?
It was an awful shock to me, and
lesson"
I'm glad It was lesson" said /.
There are so few lessons in Vincent's
life.
"Yes," he said, 'I felt like a beastly
cad. And don't see what I've done
to deserve it. OF course, I've held
her hand a couple of times"
stsCho% ho hoh "a -
murmured.
"And I've looked at her lot-she's
got the most soul-moving eyes "
know"
didn't know, but I nodded. The
boy was very much in earnest.
But I never thought" he went on
II never thought she-she-" He
stopped and the words seemed to stick
In his throat.
Great heaven, man." cried in my
impatience, "get 1t out. What didn't
you think she'd do?"
II never thought she'd really care
for me-" he muttered, shamefacedly,
and turned his back on me.
What do you mean?" l demanded,
!mpatiently. He is most exasperating.
"Why, this" He ceased his restless
walk and stood on the hearth rug, IA
sing me. "We'd been out about an
hour this morning, Agatha Fifth and
I, and we'd been getting up into the
hilly country, when suddenly we came
out Of the woods and saw below US
the grandest stretch of country you
can imagine"
Here he broke of and went into a
rhapsody over the skyline and the
grazing sheep, and said something
about Utopia and Eden and other
things like that, until he got through
at last and came to the interesting
part. They can't help going on like
that, these artist fellows, and Vincent
never losses an opportunity to get In
bit Of description.
Well" he continued. "I was Just
enjoying that view and saying nothing,
when she stopped switching the tops
0ff tho harohoJlo ui<h ~, ..z.