Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-12-08
CHAPTER X.-Continued.

She was only trying you" replied,
taking Dearests sayso as my authori-
ty for advancing this opinion "She had
a right to do that! Every girl does it,
in fact!"
"She nearly tried me too far" he
said doggedly. But I'm sorry it all
happened, and if l had known
wouldn't have risked my happiness for
the world!"
There didn't seem much more that
I could say after that, and I gave up
trying.
We'll, anyway, it's a deuced shame"
/ ended. Il must go up and see what
my wife thinks about it, Meanwhile
you might be trying to persuade Barnes
over there" smiled at the stiff elderly
gentleman on the hearthrug, ito give
us more time. 1t can't be twenty min
utes to one now, and I'm afraid it
would take more time than that to per-
suade certain young lady to change
her mind, even if Dearest were to make
the attempt" But 1 got 10 answering
smile from Barnes.
Il have no voice in the matter what
ever" he said q am here merely to
carry out the instructions of my client
Mrs. James, to see that her injunc-
tons in regard to the condition upon
which Mr.. TeThune is to inherit the
piece of property in allegiance are
obeyed faithfully and to the letter"
Having finished this unfeeling speech,
which he had couched in as formal
phraseoIogy as if he had been address
ing judge and jury instead of poor old
Arch and myself, he lapsed into medi-
tatiye silence.
My friend, perceiving that there was
no help to be had in that quarter,
turned imploringIy to me. Go up and
see what you can do, Vincent" he
said, there's a good chap"
With all the pleasure IN Iife!" re-
plked. And I may persuade her to re-
lent, who knows? So cheer up, old
fellow" And l left them.
What is all this about Terhune?" I
asked excitedly, bursting into my w1fe's
room without my usual preliminary
knock, and quite forgetting Williams
caution that she did not wish to be
disturbed.
DO you mean to say that she has
really refused the old boy? I thought
you said" But there | stopped, for
there on the floor with her head in
Dearest's lap, was Agatha Sixth and
l caught a glimpse of a little tear
stained cheek that smote my heart
with a guilty sense that there were
two sides to every question always,
and that something here was very
wrong.
viii you be kind enough" began
my wife. She had been going to ask
me to leave the room, knew, but 1t
wasn't necessary. Agatha Sixth got
to her feet on a sudden and with a
murmur of gratitude to my wife,
slipped past me with averted face and
fled down the corridor to her room. We
heard the door bang in the distance /
looked at Dearest, and Dearest looked
at me.
Its the cruelest thing l ever heard
Of. she said, speaking first, and
should think you and your worthy
friend would be proud of your work."
lSSt luaI > just HIdL sue Selu. never
was so taken aback in my life. Dear
est speaking so to me. Why was to
blame, I wanted to know! And fancy
referring to old Arch, whom Dearest
had vays petted and made even more
of than / have, as my worthy friend"
Really. It was amazin'!
But. my dear girl" l said, ct isn't
my work, and Terhune's more to be
pitied than to be blamed as far as
can see! He's awful unIucky, I'll ad,
NIT, but, after all, making love to
Agatha first on the sly isn't a hanging
matter. is it,"
Very well" said. Don't answer
me if you don't choose, and I'll go fast
enough. I don't care to stay any long
err. But l think you're making a great
fuss over nothing. and I don't see that
the misfortunes of our friends is ex-
cuse enough for a row between US, at
all" | said this with much dignity
and went toward the door. Reaching
it, threw a parting shot as I went
Besides I said, you know you'll
have to see me pretty soon in spite of
yourself. 1t will be time for luncheon
in a quarter Of an hour, and I suppose
you intend to come DOWN."