The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-12-16
CHAPTER lll.-Contlnued.

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 1 think he Does" l expostulat-
ed; 81 really believe he cares for her!
He's always said he couldn't forget
about her, ever since that time we
were all here together, wnen you pre-
tended to be Miss Marsh"
81 haven't doubt of It," she re-
piled. IF had, do you think l would
have invited the poor girl here to be
made sport of? Merely for the sordid
purpose of providing your friend with
a 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"
la AS she said this my wife blushed
o G harmingly, and there was a kind Of
Indignation in her tone. l gaped at
her.S 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?" l said slowly. with a feeling
that I did not yet quite know my
wife. I'm always learning something
new, 1t seems to me, about the I'M
selfishness and sweetness of her char
acter.
Mainly she replied I've been
Agatha Sixths confidante long time,
and have known of her attachment for
your friend ever since the first Castle
Wyckhof house party"
And had long ago resolved to make
her cause your own should a chance
Y OF furthering 1t 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; I've JUST
done my HART" And l laughed as l
heard this new variation of an old
theme.
But STILL" said, 81 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 1t, just to hurry things along
and put the poor old boy out of his
suspense!"
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
tnlng-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 MS 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
mat she cared for him, before he tells
her he cares for her. And as likely
as not, 1t would break off the match
Men are that way!"
suppose you're right" I sighed,
out 1t seems hard"
Suppose?" questioned my wife.
Know" corrected myself hastily
You should" she said. do you
mink you would have liked it." her
eyes suddenly grew very large and
swan in tears. IF any one had told
you that I cared. before, you'd pro.
posed?"
NO" l 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 1t 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 1t first from her lips? Don't you
mink 1t would be sacrilege?"
Murder" whispered, and pressed
tne handkerchief to her eyes. 1--WE
were so happy-are SO happy our
seiVes"-she murmured in my ear. Il
want them to be. too, so don't let's say
= word to spoil it, to take it from
tnem. Freddy. dear!"
I'd die first," l told her. and we
were silent long time while the
Il prifceeFs In the beeches outside our open
1 .dows, like an army of little old
maids in black. scolded and gossiped
aoout US. But inexplicably enough, l
never felt the discomfort of kneeling
80 long. though there wasn't SO much
as rug between my knees and the
hardwood floor.