Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-10-13
CHAPTER iil.-continued.

She looked at me with an infinite
kindness in her eyes.
Dear Freddy" she replied. cant
you see that wouldn't do at all? Arch
ibald must prove he loves her. really
loves her, before he can know that"
But I think he does" expostulat-
ed; i really believe he cares for her!
He's always said he couldn't forget
about her, ever since that time we
we're all here together, when you pre-
tended TO be Miss Marsh"
Il haven't a doubt of it." she re-
piled. IF had, do you think I would
have invited the poor girl here to be
made sport of? Merely for the sordid
purpose of providing your friend with
chance to win a fortune? AS If the
thing were kind of game of chance,
and she the prize for the man lucky
enough to guess right"
AS she said this my wife blushed
charmingly, and there was kind OF
Indignation in her tone [ gaped at
her. / didn't see what there was to
get so mad about
So that's what you did it for? Be-
cause you wanted to help Agatha
SIXTH" ! said slowly. with a feeling
that did not yet quite know my
wife. I'm always learning something
new, it seems to me, about the I'M
selfishness and sweetness of her char
acter.
Mainly" she replied. 1--WE been
Agatha Sixth's confdante a long time,
and have known of her attachment for
your friend ever since the first Castle
Wyckhoff house party"
And had long ago resolved to make
her cause your own should a chance
of furthering it present itself!''I cried
with new enthusiasm for her loyalty
and devotion to her friends, good fell
low that you are!"
Don't" said Dearest: 'Pve lust
done my hair!" And I laughed as l
heard this new variation of an old
theme.
But still" I said, 'T don't see why
II they both love each other and you
know that they both love each other
| don't see why we can't tell Arch
about it, just to hurry things along
and put the poor old boy out of his
suspenSei"
Because he must prove that he
loves her, first" said Agatha, in tones
OF decision. HE must, indeed, Fred
dy. It's imperative that he should
He's an old dear, of course, but at the
same time he's too egotistical for any
thing-too conceited for words! He
thinks every girl he meets is in love
with him! And for that reason the
pursuit, the wooing, must be entirely
on his side and fostered by us with
the greatest care. 1t would ruin
Agatha Sixth's chances of happiness,
suppose she should marry him, If he
were to hear by any means whatever
that she cared for him. before he tells
her he cares for her. And as likely
- not, 1t would break off the match.
Men are that way!"
Il suppose you're right" I sighed,
but it seems hard
'Suppose?" questioned my wife.
Il know" l corrected myself hastily.
You should" she said DO you
think you would have liked it." her
eyes suddenly grew very large and
swan in tears, IF any one had told
you that l cared, before you'd pro
posed?"
NO" said, taking out the fresh
handkerchief I had just slowed away
in the pocket of my dinner coat, and
| knelt down beside her.
Then don't you think it would be
very unkind of us to rob her of the
chance to tell him so herself when he
asks her. and him of the Joy of hear
ing it first from her lips? Don't you
think it would be sacrilege?"
Murder" I whispered, and pressed
the handkerchief to her eyes. I'VE
were so happy-are so happy our
selves she murmured in my ear. 81
want them to be, too, so don't let's say
a word to spoil it. to take it from
them, Freddy, dear!"
I'd die first" I told her, and we
we're silent q long time while the
rocks in the beeches outside our open
windows, like an army of little old
maids in black, scolded and gossiped
about us. But inexphcably enough,
never felt the discomfort of kneeling
so long, though there wasn't so much
as rug between my knees and the
hardwood floor.