Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-12-10
CHAPTER II.-contInued.

They're all Americans replied the
accommodating lady-"even my sec.
rotary. She was at my niece's board.
ing school, and by my arrangement
chaperoned the party OF girls on their
trip over. When met her she seemed
such a bright capable little thing en-.
gagged her at once for my secretary,
as my eyes are bad. AS for the Agath.
as. one OF them roomed with my niece
at school, another she met while visit
Ing her friends in holiday time, anoth.
.er she became acquainted with quite
by accident on the train, and the 9th.
ers came in answer to an advertise.
ment."
Wonderful that so many girls could
be found who were all so attractive"
! said again.
They are attractive, aren't they?"
pretty, too. | made them get colored
things to wear this second year Of
mourning for my sbrother.in.law. l do
so hate to see young girls wearing
black. and every article they put on
comes from New York city"
II thought as much" said. Il
thought they seemed more like Amer
lean than English girls. And how
long has your niece been here?"
l asked the last question because
was afraid the conversation was going
to stop and felt that In another mo-
ment Mrs. Armistead might mad.
vertently drop a hint as to the identity
of the real Agatha. 1t was very ex-
citing.
Nearly n year. This is the last six
weeks OF the second year of mourning
and the first OF the two years she is
to spend with her girl companions at
the castle. You know my brother.ln.
law dlsapproved Of girls coming out
as they call II, and placing themselves
on the marriage market. He'd rather
have the young men come to see them
in their own homes, so he put OF my
niece's presentation as long as he
could. hoping she'd be married before
that time. think"
And have you entertained many
young men as YETI"
MY dear man! should think we
had, nearly two dozen at least. And
they were too funny. unobtrusively
trying to discover which was the girl
with the money, although that is really
against the spirit OF the whole thing.
as 1t Is contrary to the object OF the
will"
At this point grew rather thought.
ful.
Dear, dearl" she went on, how
cautiously they did go about their
courtships! They were all after the
money, fear This is n mercenary
worldl All the girls have received
offers. but none OF them has accepted. "
What hard.hearted misses they
must bel" exclaimed. Are they all
like that in America. l wonder?" And
couldn't help thinking OF that girl
met last summer.
II don't know, I'm sure" replied
Mrs. Armistead. '1t's not like English
girls. They're always ready and will
ing TO marry OH whenever their nam
mas have provided eligible parts for
them. But can understand Il In this
case. No one Of the Agathas Is more
than 20 years old, and it's great fun
for them, this care-free life at Castle
WychnOu. lney haNc everything they
can possibly want that money can
buy-not one of them has ever been
in England before. and they are all de
voted friends. What wonder that the
charm and novelty Of their somewhat
unusual life have not yet worn on
Really II isn't strange to me that nc
one Of them has been able to make az
her mind to leave the enchanted cas-
tle-though, to be sure. think that
young Murray Brancepeth very nearly
carried OF one Of our AgathRs. She
seems to fancy him, and between our
selves think he'll win her yet"
"And II he does he'll win the twenty
= millions with her. l suppose?"
/ said this ooolIy, In a matter-of-iacI
tome. and waited for her denial or &C