The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-10-28

who was az the piano. The girl was
mcommonly attractive and that's a
TACT. In a sort OF hand.painted, minia.
ture kind OF way She wore most
becoming gown Of cream color, and
her fine profile showed TO advantage
gainst the black OF fortunes coat as
40 stood beside her.
Nevertheless / couldn't help letting
my eyes wander 20 my wife who sat
across the room from me. delicate as
flower. supple as a young tree and
wholly sweet Her hair, which curled
o distraction about her long white
leck. made gorgeous halo about her
head.
IL was a pleasant moment, that
fter dinner interlude, as looked
round me at my wife and my guests,
no fine old room with its golden-toned
rlano and the soft glow Of many
amps But as | looked and sighed
With content, suddenly missed the
nth member OF our paTty-Agatha
llrst She was not IN the room. In
q case Of odd numbers 1t is easy not
notice the absence OF the odd one.
Poor Agatha First was undoubtedly
hat unlucky individual, having no
nan to pair Off with, though Dearest
md had tried our best not TO let her
eel this deficiency.
However, gone she was from our
lldst, that was certain enough, and
was just about 10 wonder aloud as
o her disappearance when the door
rom the hall opened and in she
gallled.
Don't let's stay indoors" she en-
reated In her breezy American voice,
its so lovely outslde The moons
lust coming up!' And she strobe Wig.
orously across the room toward the
class doors that opened upon the
avn. AS she paused at the threshold
With little commanding gesture to-
ward the terrace Ifcouldn't help think
ing that my wife's friends were both
Of them uncommonly handsome girls.
She was so superbly healthy, with
such a color IN her cheeks, such
snap to her eyes.
I caught Terhune glancing irreso-
lutely from the girl at the piano to the
Girl at the door
let me open It for you" he offered
at last, going to her and throwing
vide the long windows. And the rest
Of US, Agatha Sixth after him and
Dearest and myself last, followed
hem out, my wife and I exchanging
ooks Of more or less significance as
we did so. As well as / could read
g. her look expressed a slight appre-
tension. Mine I meant to indicate
amusement Terhune is such a con-
ccited old chap, a wink or a nod from
one Of the other sex is enough to up
set him, and he changes his allegl-
ance as easily as he changes his coat.
Tt would be just like him, after all
our pains. But, as I said later when
We had gone upstairs, prophesying
about Terhune in connection with
The fair sex, is about as much worth
while as guessing which way the wind
will blow
1t was on an afternoon a day or so
later when Dearest and I we're dis
cussing Terhune's chances OF win
ming Agatha Sixth before the eXpira-
ton Of the ten important days stipu-
lated upon by his Aunt Georgy, that l
learned an aspect Of the case which
seemed to me to simplify matters even
while It made them more interesting.
81 can't think he would be foolish
enough not to stick to one or the 9th
err" said my wife. Surely he sees
that it's impossible to waste any time
flirting when he has only ten days
eight days now-in which to win a
wife"
We were upstairs and she had come
into my room to chat before we
dressed for dinner, and had, incident
ally, wrapped herself in my blue
striped lounging robe in lieu Of an
evening frock, a costume that
thought quite as becoming as more
cBlventional attire. The turquoise
blue of the stripes set On her sparkling
hair to the queens taste, and the
rough folds Of the hood about her
throat made her Head and face smaller
and more delicate by comparison.
"a week to win a wife!" I laughed. /.
Sounds like the title of a penny
lreadful! And, by Jove! This affair
1f Terhune's is getting to have as
much of a thrill about it! It's the |
3hortness of the time, with what no
las at stake, that makes it exciting! !
Fancy picking a wife in ten days /
incl"
Yes, but of course he has the ad-
vantage of having a girl he knows |
IS well as he does Agatha Sixth. to
1ay court tol It makes a lot of differ |
,nce, you know, where the girl in the
,ase happens to care for the man in
he easel"
had been strolling about the room
ID we talked, hunting UP a favorite
vaistcoat l wanted to wear that night,
,ut at this last remark of my wife's
halted in my stride.
What did you say, Dearest?" l
.sked in astonishment. For it was
Jews to me that Agatha Sixth actual
y cared for Arch. l had only dared
lope she would eventually.
"I said that she-Agatha Sixth
ared for Terhune," repeated Dearest,
"You don't say SOL" 1 exclaimed,
With long whistle of astonishment.
"Of course~ she answered calmly.
Stupid boy not to have seen it all
long!"
We'll, didn'ti" / admitted, "and
anr,It coo hnrrr rrr1, did nithnrlW