The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-12-30
CHAPTER xl.-cOntlnued.

she was only trying you" / replied
taking Dearest's sayso as my authori
ty for advancing this opinion. "She had
a right to 60 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
|. could say after that, and I gave up
trying.
We'll, anyway, it's deuced shame"
ended. 81 must go up and see what
my wife thinks about it. Meanwhile
you migks be trying to persuade Barnes
over there" smiled at the stiff elderly
gentleman on the hearthrug, TO give
US more time. It cant be twenty min
utes to one now, and I'm afraid it
would take more time than that to per-
suade a sertain young lady to change
her mind, even If Dearest we're to make
the attempt" But got no answering
smile frOI1 Barnes.
81 have no voice in the matter what
ever" he Said. Il 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. Terhune Is to inherit the
piece of property in allegiance are
obeyed faithfully and to the letter" Z"
Having finished this unfeeling speech,
which he had couched in as formal
phraseology as If he had been address,
Ing Judge and Jury instead of poor old
Arch and myself, he lapsed into medi-
tative silence.
My friend, perceiving that there was
no help to be had in that quarter,
turned imploringly to me. Go up and
see what you can do, Vincent" he
said, there's a good chap!"
with all the pleasure IN Ifel" l re-
piled And I may persuade her to re-
lent, who knows2 So cheer up, old
tellowi" And | left them.
What is all this about Terhune?" l
asked eycitedly, bursting into my wife'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? thought
you said" But there / stopped, for
there on the floor with her head in
Dearest's lap, was Agatha Sixth, and
caught a glimpse of a little tear
stained cheek that smote my heart
with a guilty sense that there we're
two sides y 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 it
wasn't necessary. Agatha Sixth got
TO her feet on sudden and, with a
murmur of gratitude to my wife,
slipped past me with averted face and
hed down the corridor to her room. We
heard the door bang in the distance.
looked at Dearest, and Dearest looked
at me-
TITS the cruelest thing / ever heayd
Of" che said, speaking first, and
should think you and your worthy
friend would be proud Of your work."
Yes, that's just what she said. never
was so taken aback in my life. Dear
est speaking 50 to me. Why was l to
blame wanted to know! And fancy
referring to old Arch, whom Dearest
had always petted and made even more
Of than have, as my orthy friend!"
Really, it was amazin'
But. my dear girl" said, 1T isn't |
my work, and Terhune's more to be
pitied than to be blamed, as far as |
can seel He's awful unlucky, I'll ad-
NIT. but. after all, making love to
Agatha first On the sly isn't a hanging |
matter. is it?D
Very we'll" said. Don't answer
me If you don't choose, and I'll go fast
enough. I don't care to stay any long
or. But think you're making a great
fuss over nothing, and don't see that
the misfortunes Of our friends is ex-
cuae enough for row between us, at
ALI" said this with much dignity
and went toward the door Reaching
It, threw a parting shot as | went
Besides" said, ''you know you'll
have to see me pretty soon in spite OF
yourself. II win be time for luncheon
In a quarter Of an hour, and suppose
you intend 70 come DOWN.