The Marshall republican., 1910-12-23

IT don't know what you call It," I
retorted Indignantly, but whether you
think 80 or not, you're with Agatha
First all the time lately. Why can't
you let her alone and tend strictly to
business?"
He glanced at me in a half embar-
raised, half triumphant way, much as
he used to do in the first Castle
Wyckhoff house party days, when he
was about to tell me of his latest clue
In regard to the identity of the real
Agatha.
well, to be quite frank with you"
he said, "the truth of the matter is
that Agatha First won't let me alone!"
Meaning" l said, that she's in
love with your"
well, of course" he replied, re.
moving his eye-glass and polishing 1t
desperately as Is his custom when he
pretends to be embarrassed, II
wouldn't like to say that exactly. I
couldn't say positively, that is, but
to a man Of my experience in such
matters and knowledge of the fair sex,
the indications are"
20 rot!" l interrupted, rudely, I
fear, but really the old boy is quite
too insufferably conceited to encour-
age. It's an old failing of his.
What makes you think SOP" I asked
after a moments consideration. AL
though | couldn't quite believe that
Agatha First was actually in love
with him, still 1 wanted to hear his
reasons for the conclusion. I didn't
want to believe 1t, that was certain.
I thought we had trouble enough on
our hands as 1t was, without having
10 reckon with a broken heart on the
part of Miss Endicott. And as this
contingency assumed an air of prob
ability to my mind, I inwardly vowed
again never to undertake another
matchmaking project. Cad, no! Let
people marry themselves hereafter
without any interference from me. I
had had all / wanted Of the thing this
time.
! What makes you think so?" l re-
peated.
Arch shrugged his shoulders. Cant
help It. She's after me the whole
timei I suppose she can't help fancy.
ing a man of my-er-if I may So
my attractions. I daresay I'm a revela'
ton to her In comparison with the
American college youths she has
probably been used to. Experience
and intellect does count, o know,
Wilfred. Besides, the results show
But l cut him short again.
, 1.-THE results show" l said sternly,
shat you're just enough of a chumr
! to heed her mania for amusing her
self with you-for I can't think she is
in earnest" had to tell him that
for his own good, though could nave
wished I felt surer this was the 7act
"Her fondness for flirting with you
fatters you so much that you'd run the
risk of losing the girl you care for,
Just for the sake of having that
egregious vanity Of yours pleasantly
tickled, as her apparent fancy for
your society undoubtedly tickles 1t!
Your old failing again! pom my word
old chap, l thought better of you!
beIter OF your prudence n foresight!
Why, ! couldn't have had less of an
eye out for my own interests myself
In the days when you and l were con
tending suitors for the hand Of one Of
the Agathas, and you insisted that II
should be the heiress and no other
and bullied me so because / didnt
take the same view! And the LORD
knows o made enough fuss about
that"
But when I reported the result o.
my remonstrance to Dearest, she sait
! hadn't been half severe enough with
him, and 1t was with difficulty that
persuaded her that speaking to hin
herself would only make matters
worse and Terhune more obstinate.