The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-03-25
CHAPTER III.

Disappointed and somewhat cha
grned at Mrs. Armisteads $ answer, I
rose to my feet and prepared to join
the young ladies in the drawing room.
! had been so interested in discussing
Fletcher Boyds will with Mrs. Arm
istead that | had completely forgotten
Vincent At first | thought he had al
ready left the room, but in a moment
| heard him laugh and discovered him
actually sitting on the floor before the
fire. playing IL species of mumble-the-
peg with the secretary. Extremely un-
becoming conduct for both of them,
thought, and Mrs. Armstead thought
so, too, for she spoke sharply to the
secretary, who left the room with red
dened cheeks. Vincent. however, was
unabashed, and, after holding the door
open for her, he followed me to the
drawing room, without needing my re-
monstrances. He seldom does heed
them, / may say.
1t was on the third day OF our stay
when Vincent and | had begun to feel
thoroughly at home at Castle Wyclt-
feel more than thoroughly at home
with Agatha First, that | made an
important discovery. The morning
was rainy and after breakfast there
was nothing to do but to read-that
Is. until Agatha Sixth came down
stairs. | had found her to be an un-
usually well-educated girl and had
given her all my attention during the
three days | have mentioned So |
wandered into the library and began
to explore the tall bookshelves TO find
something that interested me- And |
found IL, though it wasn't exactly for
what had been looking. On the
lowest shelf discovered three heavy
but new-looking albums. From idle
curiosity TO look at what | supposed
We're pictures OF the dead barons of
Wyckhoff busted the first of the big
books and began to turn the leaves.
found II full OF Photographic repro
ductions Of oil paintings depicting the
ladies' of the family. and on the last
page OF the book ! came upon pic
ture which thoroughly startled me. 1t
was a copy of full-length portrait Of
the last Baroness Wyckhoff, whose
second husband had been Fletcher
Boyd The picture showed Il slender
little lady with straight dark hair,
an aquiline nose. and "A dark complex
ion, the living image Of Agatha Sixth!
Stunned by the importance of my
find | closed the book put back the
albums whore ! had found them and
stole from the room. ! had guilty
feeling, almost as II had done some
thing wrong, yet il had been an acct
dent for which no one could really
blame me. Full Of excitement, went
10 find Vincent TO acquaint him with
my good news and discovered him in
the morning room playing chess with
Agatha First, or rather, he was show
Ing her how 10 play, for he was hang
ing over the back of her chair and
moving her hand with his hand when
ever 1t was her move.
coughed as | entered, and frowned.
am always frowning at Vincent these
days, 1t seems to me. but really have
10. He needs little restraint.
"Good-morning. Miss Agatha" | said.
pleasantly; how does the game
progress? Is Lord Wilfred an efficient
tescher?"
Very" replied the young lady. short
ly, and both of them looked at me
with such insolent hostility that I was
obliged to leave the room, murmuring
apologies for intruding.
was rather yexed with Vincent
about this; he doesn't show me quite
the respect due an older man from a
boy OF his age. Not that am old, or
anywhere near middle age, but still
am Vincent's senior. and this incl
dent determined me not to communi-
cate my discovery to him. Why should
tell him and put formidable rival
into the field? Not that I'm afraid OF
Vincent exactly. tor J have always