Gilpin observer., 1908-06-25

ing school, and by my arrangement
cnaperoned the party Of girls on theil
trip over. When met her she seemed
such bright. capable little thing en-
gagged her at once for my secretary
a. my eyes are bad. AS for the Agath.
a.. 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" )"
I said again.
"They are attractive. aren't they?"
she assented; "and their frocks are
pretty, too. | made them get colored
things to wear this second year of
mourning for my brother-in-law. I 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. II
thought they seemed more like Amer
ican than English girls. And how
asked the last question because I
was afraid the conversation was going
to stop and I felt that in another mo-
ment Mrs. Armistead might mad
vertently drop hint as to the identity
of the real Agatha. 1t was very ex-
citing
Nearly a 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-in-
law disapproved of girls coming out
as they call it. 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 off my
ntece's presentation as long as he
could. hoping she'd be married before
that time, l think"
And have you entertained many
young men as YETI"
my dear man. I 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
Dear, dear!" she went on, how
cautiously they did go about their
courtships, They were all after the
money. | fear. This is a mercenary
world. All the girls have received
offers. but none of them has accepted"
What hard-hearted misses they
must be-" l exclaimed. Are they all
like that in America, l wonder?" And
couldn't help thinking of that girl 1
met last summer.
II don't know, I'm sure" replied
Mrs. Armistead. ITS not like English
girls. They're always ready and will
ing to marry on whenever their NAM
mas have provided eligible parts for
them. But l can understand it in this
case. No one OF the Agathas is more
than 22 years old. and it's great fun
for them, this care-free life at Castle
Wyckhoff. They have 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 OF.
Really 1t isn't strange to me that no
one Of them has been able to make up
her mind to leave the enchanted cas-
tle-though, to be sure, think that
young Murray Brancepeth very nearly
carried of one Of our Agathas. She
seems to fancy him, and between our
selves l think he'll win her yet"
And II he does he'll win the twenty
millions with her, l suppose?"
l said this coolly. in matter-of-fact
tone. and waited for her denial or ac-
quiescence. successfully concealing my
interest in the reply.
But she gave me neither; she began
to say something. but checked herself
suddenly and looked at me admiringly.
You're a clever man." she said. in
stead. but you can't get any informa-
tion out OF me. Lots OF them have
tried. but it's no use. Besides, It isn't
fair.
CHAPTER ~.
Disappointed and somewhat cha
grined at Mrs. Armistead's answer.
rose to my feet and prepared to Join
the young ladies in the drawing room.
had been so interested in discussing
Fletcher Boyd's will with Mrs. Arm
istead that had completely forgotten
Vincent. At first thought he had al
ready left the room. but in a moment