Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1910-12-01

"She told me If were the last man on
earth she wouldn't marry me! 1t was
very cruel and can't imagine why she
should speak so harshly!" / thought
could. / fancied | understood Agatha
Sixth's reasons for behaving as she did
perfectly well, in the light of her suit
or's performance the previous evening.
But of course Terhune was still IL the
dark as to our knowledge of that cpl
sode.
Cad, Wilfredl" he went on in de-
spairing tones. Think what I've lost!"
YES" | agreed. Dash 1t all! I
thought we had you all fixed for for
tune, Arch!"
But he didn't appear to hear me, for
he dropped despondently into an arm
chair, repeating as II to himself,
Think what I've LOST"
There was a momentary silence in
the room, broken only by the dry
clearing of Mr.. Barnes legal throat.
Then went over and put my hand on
Arch's shoulder. felt sorry for him,
and | couldn't bear to see all my
bright plans for his future end so. l
wouldn't have 1t, in fact. Come,
comet" expostulated, Don't give up!
You must make another try! Surely
you're not going to throw away your
only chance of inheriting a property
that will make you rich for life and
which should be yours by right Of your
aunt's promise, for the lack Of little
spirit! Or If you do. it's not like you,
that's ALI"
But my words did not succeed in
arousing him.
"Oh, as to that" he said, speaking
from the depths of his misery and the
arm chair, las to having another try,
look at the clock!" looked. 1t was
half after twelve.
Times up at one, isn't it, Barnes?"
he asked, taking notice of that worthy
barrister for the first time.
II believe it is. Mr.. Terhune," re-
piled Mr.. Barnes, as indifferently as If
it were only question of boiling
breakfast eggs.
You see," said Arch, looking at me
despairingly, there's no use talking Of
urging her again. l could do nothing
at all with her in that short time, even
If were inclined to. It's a pity, of
course. | rather fancied that property
of my aunt's. An income of $4,000
year is a good deal to lose at one blow.
Especially when the blow is unexpect-
ed! By Jove, you know, she did half
way promise to marry me, after all!
Can't think why she changed her
mind!" But of course l could think,
and didn't quite see how Terhune
could call the blow unexpected.
You know / warned you that you
we're paying far too much attention to
Agatha First" said, but you would
indulge your fondness for Irritation and
you see the result-an upset kettle Of
fishp It was all the reference to the
scene in the drawing room Of the night
before that intended to make. After
all, as in the case of my discovery of
the red automobile in the wood, we had
seen what we were not meant to have
seen. And until Arch came to me and
spoke Of that event himself and asked
my ADVICE, my hurt friendship made
me resolve not to demand his conf
dence or thrust advice upon him. Let
him keep his secret If that was his
wish. l would not intrude upon 1t,
though his reticence panied me ever SO
much
II couldn't very well help it," he re-
piled. Upon my word couldn't. The
girls very fetching, you know, and she
seemed to take such an extraordinary
fancy to me that couldn't help re-
spending Agatha Sixth, on. the other
hand, had hardly word to say to
mel"
"Of course not!" | said holly. THE
more attention you paid to Agatha
First, the less Miss Lawrence paid to
you. That was quite natural. You'd
asked the girl to marry you, you know,
and she couldn't understand why you
should want to have anything to do
with anyone else!"
"Yes, did ask the girl to marry me,
I-and she chose to keep me waiting for
an answer" replied Arch impatiently,
which kept everything at standstill.
couldn't go ahead till she said the
word, and as time hung heavy on my
hands"
"You made love to some one else.
Deuced clever!" interposed sarcastic
cally.
well, l couldn't make love to her
very well, could l, when she wouldn't
say positively whether she wanted me
to or not? She kept me at arms
length all the time!"
CTo BE CoNTINUED)