The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-04-22


delay in handing me the note many
valuable minutes had been wasted yet
| thought | should still be in time per
haps to save Vincent from carrying
ont the last fatal step of his incredible
folly. 1t might not be too late to part
them, for in spite of what he had said
in his note | could not believe that the
worst had actually happened. AS we
approached the last strip of woods be.
fore we reached the station caught
sight of IA puff Of white smoke down
the track. A moment later, when we
drew UP at the platform, the great
locomotive thundered into the station,
and there, at the other end OF the plat.
form | saw them. There was Win.
cent, clad In the things he had worn
on the train when we had first come
through the fields of Wye, and with
him was remarkably pretty girl with
beautiful wavy red hair In gray
tailor suit and smart black hat OF
course II was the secretary
waved at them frantically and they
waved in return, and | could see Vim.
cent smiling happily at me AS they
entered one of the carriages AS
came up with their carriage Vincent
opened the window wide and thrust
his head out. "Oh, Vincent" was all
said; am ! too late?"
Not AT all, he said, genialy;
you're Just in time to congratulate
me- But what | wanted of you. Arch"
and he leaned toward me and low
cred his voice-"was to ask you to
break it to my father"
"'fhen it's true?" said, not quite
able to believe it, even yet
Yes, it's true" he said aloud and
with a radiant smile he drew back a
little so that could see the erstwhile
Miss Marsh. It's true that I've mar.
ried the secretary"
But it's not said that lady, much
to my surprise, and thrusting out her
pretty head. It's not true bit. He
hasn't married the secretary at all. |
was only playing secretary. He's
married no one but the Honorable
Agatha, the first last and only honor.
able,"
And for proof of her astonishing
words she snatched off her glove and
displayed to my marveling gaze the
big emerald cross of the Wyckhotf
ring winking in the sunshine.
At this moment the train began to
move, and | was filled with a sudden
and iustifiable 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 as stricken with
amaZement as | 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 till | 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 strong
grasp before | dropped back, out
stripped, and he had withdrawn his
radiant face from my view
Afterward l learned many things.
First, that they had been married very
early that morning, before the rest OF
us We're up, in The little chapel at Wye
with Mrs. Armistead who was in the
secret, as witness. That explained her
delay in giving me the note. Dreadins'
my Interference, they had not wished
me to know until the whole thing was
well over and Mrs. Armistead back
at Castle Wyckhotr Second that il
had been the Honorable Agatha's own
idea to play the part OF secretary to
her aunt, thus improving upon her ia
theirs plan, and making 1t still more
difficult for the competing suitors to
discover her identity. Third that her
reason for telling Vincent that Agatha
Sixth was the real Honorable Agatha
was only to prove him once more and
to the uttermOst. And Vincent had
stood the trial without faltering and
had even proved himself equal to dis
regarding my wishes. Yet | really
think that on that night when he had
agreed with me that 1t was best to
give her up he meant to do so, but
his love for the girl proved stronger
than his love for gold or his feeling
for his friend. And 1t was thus that
the boy won-because he had loved
truly and faithfully.
And also learned afterward that
the six Agathas, shortly after the
elopement of Vincent and the secre
tary thatwas, had all gone to theil
homes in America. Later some of them
married certain suitors who had once
been guests at Castle Wyckhof Among
these We're Agatha First and young
Brancepeth, who, am happy TO say
has led reformed life since his mar
riage. And II also came to pass that
Vincent and his bride took possession
OF Castle Wyckhoff as their country
seat when tinay same back from their
honeymoon And there | often visited
them.
Rut on that eventful day when the
train had pulled out Of the station
none OF these things was known to
me, and | stood on the platform dizzy
with the unexpected turn events had
taken.
And so II was that Vincent got
ahead OF me, just as he has always
done And so il was, also, that | re
turned TO London, still an eligible
bachelor, still the prey OF match.ma
king mammas and smiling debutantes
There was but one comforting
thought in the mixture OF disappoint
Ment and Chagrln that made the sum