The Marshall republican., 1909-01-08

"you're Just in time to congratulate |
me. hut what I wanted OF you, Arch"
and he leaned toward me and low. !
cred his vOico-"wns 10 ask you To
break It to my father"
"Thon It's truc?" | said, not quite
able TO believe It, even yet.
eyes, It's true" he said aloud, and
with n radiant smile he drew back a
little so that I could see the erstwhile
Miss Marsh. ITS true that I've mar
rled the secretary"
"But it's not" said that lady, much
to my surprise, and thrustlng out hor
pretty head. ITS not true a bit. lie
hasn't married the secretary at all. I
was only playing secretary, Hes
married no one but the Honorable
Agatha, the first, last, and only honor
abls!"
And for proof of her astonishing
words she snatchod OF her glove aud
displayed to my maryellng gaze the
big emerald cross Of the Wyckhon
| ring. winkinE In the sunshine,
Al this moment the train began &c
| move. and | was filed with n sudden
and justlnablc rage that Vincent
should have so deceived me. To think
that. he had been in the secret all
the time and had helped to make a
fool OF me! But one look at his face
proved TO me that | had done him an
Injustice. He was rs stricken with
amazement ms ! was, and | knew that
then, and not until then, had he be
come acquainted with the truth, Gath.
ering my wits quickly, for the train
was moving faster, | ran after their
carriage TIL ! caught up with the win
dow again. "Good.by!" | shouted
and God bless YOU" And Vincent
reaching out his big hand, had Just
time to catch mine In his stront
grasp before | dropped back, out
stripped, and he had withdrawn hi
radiant face from my view,
Afterward | learned many thing.
First, that they had been married yer,
early that morning, before the rest q
us were up, In the little chapel at wye
with Mrs. Armlstead, who vas In III
secret, as witness. That explained ne
delay In giving me the note, DreadinI
my Interference, they had not wishe
me to know until the whole thing wa
well over and Mrs, Armlst1ad nae
at Castle Wyckhoir. Second, that
had been the Honorable Agatha's ow
idea to play the part of secretary
her aunt, thus improving upon her I;
TIERS plan, and making II still NOR
, difficult for the competing suitors I
discover her identity, Third, that he
. reason for telling Vincent that AgatN
Sixth was the real Honorable ASatr
was only to rrove him nee more AL
7. 10 the uttermost. And Vincent h0
o stood the trial without falterlng NJ
. had even proved himself equal to oil
o regarding my wishes. Yet | real
: think that on that night when he M
= agreed with me that Il was best
give her up he meant to do so, b
. his love for the girl proved strong
/ than his love for gold or his feelil
y tor his friend, And 1t was thus tn
o the boy w~on-becuuse he had Low,
truly and faithfully,
IL And | also learned afterward tn
'e the six Agathas, shortly after q
" elopement of Vincent and he sec
tary.that.was, had all gone to the
homes In America, Later some of the
d. married certain suitors who had ON
y, been guests at Castle Wyckhor, Amo
he these were Agatha First and you
O. Brancepeth, who, | am happy to o.
has led a reformed life since his IN
81 riags. And It also came to pass Il
r. Vincent and his bride took posseEsi
! OF Castle Wyckhoff as their counI
ls' seat when they came back from tn
honeymoon, And there | often VtSi'
up them,
But on that eventful day when
10 train had pulled out Of the stat
ID, noRa Of these things was known
al me, aAa stood on the platform di
ny with the unexpected turn events !
'e' taken.
sr Aud so It was that Vincent
ahead OF me, Just as he has alwi
Die doAs. And so II was. also, that |
'rt turned to London, attn an eliEi
l'o bachelor, still the prey OF match-
king mammals and smiling debutSn
We There Was but one comfort
De- thought In the mixture Of disapps
Iht meat and ehagrin that Mn&e the
a my feelings rs l drove slowly b
we 10 the castle, THIS much had b
eat savvn me; AZ least l had net made
on fatal mistake OF proposing to
AT wrong Agatha, and l Rugged mysal
IN I thought how near l had oome 70
'rn ting the question TO Agatha Sixth
me very morning. That, at least, I
lth managed to avoid, From that
ith the iAnAts caution and unerring
stlAst OF Archibald Terhune had
ot served him, Thank Heayenl
THE END.
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