The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-07-22

stopped singing 10 rend the air witt
an answering cry.
For goodness sake what are yc.-
so long about?" she called "Do hui.
ry up"
Coming" roared Vincent, chatter
ing down the two flights of stairs TX
a wild horse. and | hurried out n
join Agatha Fifth, my hands over N,
ears. Young people are so noisy nova
days.
Several evenings later Agatha FOurt'
had arranged to give a progressi
dinner party. She was to be the hos
tess and the rest of us were he
guests. 1t was an evening dress affair
and must say as we sat down to din
ner l never saw a prettier group o.!
girls.
Then the fun began. Agatha
FOurth's idea in having a progressivr
dinner party was for each of the g.rl
to move up one place with each cour
so that they could all have turns s.t
ting by us. 1t was delightful; really
1 q
jollier dinner party. Vincent keDj
quoting from the Mad Tea Party
alice in Wonderland" and the, girls
laughed at every single thing he said
Mrs. Armistead, am ashamed to say
was not present; her he'd ached cn6
she had dined in her room. | am NO
naturally noisy or riOtous, but the
laughter and jokes of those six gil
were so infectious that | was obliged
to join in with them. Vincent sat a
one end of the table and | at the 9th
err, with three girls on each side of us
The secretary, of course, was not
present.
Agatha Fourth had decorated the
table with some of the yellow roses
and wild fern that grew near the cas-
tie. Agatha Sixth and l had found
them many times in our wanderings
and, by the way, she was looking es-
pecially lovely that evening. The girls
all wore shimmerinS white gowns, sim.
liar in design, with silver ornaments,
but Agatha Sixths gown was cream.
color with ornaments of gold, and well
did it become her dark beauty.
We had reached the very end of the
dinner, and had just made the last
change of places, which left me with
my favorite Agatha Sixth on my right
and Agatha Third on my left.
Suddenly, as the talk died down
and a certain contented silence fell
upon us, Vincent rose to his feet, and
bowling to us formally began to speak:
Ladies and gentleman" he said
making the last word pointedly sin
gular, while the girls all laughed %
think you are all with me when l pro
pose a vote of thinks to-to-er-ouI
hostess"-Q felt that he had nearly
said Agatha Fourth!~-"our hostess
for giving us so delightful an enter
tainment" He bowed to Agatha
Fourth and went on:
IF all progressive tea parties are
termed mad hope | may attend many
such. But as l look around me, gen
tleman and ladies fair, across the REQ
glow of the candle that turns the roses
to redder gold, and as l gaze upon the
youth and beauty here assembled, the
like of which l have never before
looked upon"-he made a courtly in
clination of his head that included
every maid at the table, and they al
sighed heard them-"as look upor
this noble room, this exquisite table
and think Of the graciousness of such
hncnitnlffU fN
a toast In which | feel confident you
will all join me-" A. this climax Vim
cent raised his glass above his head
ITO the real Agatha!" he cried-"tC
the real Honorable Agathai"
There was an instant of dead 81
lence, and then to my surprise my
left-hand neighbor, Agatha Third, rost
to her feet, and, with quivering lips
started to say something But she haC
hardly time to rise before the othel
FIVE girls sprang to their feet. anC
raising their glasses, Agatha ThirC
with the rest. they cried with on,
voice: TO the Honorable Agatha
and although it seemed to me tina
Agatha Third had very nearly let tn,
cat out of the bag by rising. as If L
acknowledge the courtesy, yet by tn,
promptness of the other girls the da,
was partially retrieved. and Vincen
and | We're still somewhat at a les
as to the identity of our fair am,
wealthy hostess.
asked Vincent afterward what h
made of Agatha Thirds b ahavior.
1T looked to me-" said that youn,
person. 'as If those girls had them
selves so much in command that the
would never betray the secret they'r
guarding. no matter what you did"
But didn't ga see Agatha Thlr
get up before the others did," said
excitedly. She gave herself away.
tell you, Wilfra3 she's the real hor
Orable, without i"ur d. There can b
no two ways about it,"
How keen you are" he said. AN
tell you what it is, Arch bald'-ViI
ceut always calls me "Ach bald" wit