The Marshall republican., 1910-12-16

earnestly; please don't, Agatha,
dear!" Dearest wal surprised. and,
by Jove. so was l, or puzzled, at
least! The girl seemed so awfully
arnes about not wishing us to see
Mrs. Chiltern-out of all proportion
to the Importance of her request, It
seemed to me. But why not?" my
wife couldn't help asking.
Because we have such a little time
left to be together, you and Lord
Vincent and MIR. Terhune and Agatha
Sixth and myself" she said. "Mr.
Terhune tells me he has to go back
to London In a day or two, and I
think it's a shame to waste a whole
day by going over to Chiltern house!
Besides, you said they owed you a
CALI" She had lowered her voice
during this last statement, but II was
not necessary. Freer had strolled off
to the ruins and Archibald and Agatha
Sixth were toe absorbed in each 9TH
er's company to notice us.
Her reasons we're specious and H.
logical enought, but Dearest, to my
surprise, seemed inclined to accept
them and I had to interfere.
"ThoJ do owe us a CALL" I said,
"but that wouldn't prevent us from
having a jolly time OF II II we all
chose to 60 over together! On the
contrary, it would be something to
dol"
Then Agatha First, evidently goad-
ed into a corner, set her young face
In a fashion that was almost desper-
ate. But Agatha Fourth-Mrs. Chill
tern-isn't there!" she declared. "She
told me she was going down to Lon.
don for a week or two!"
Dearest stared at her, but she did
not ask her. as I wanted to do. why
she hadn't said so In the first place.
Instead she took pity on Agatha
First's white face, for the girl had
actually turned pale, and assured her
chsritably that she had entirely given
up all thought of an expedition to
Chiltern house, though. as l told her
afterward, obviously the young lady
was examining her. But Dearest has
the kindest heart in the world.
Freer had returned from his VISIT
to the ruins and was ~endeavoring to
interest the rest of us, Arch and
Agatha Sixth and Dearest and my
self in a dissertation upon rose-win-
dows, when Agatha First interrupted
us by running up and exclaiming:
do come and see the waterfall.
Peterson says there's a beauty over
there in those woods!" She had been
down to the road with something or
other from the spread, where the au-
tomobile and the chauffeur awaited
return.
"A WATERFALL" said Archibald.
Dear me! How jolly! Let's go and
see III"
Come on, them" cried Agatha
First, pausing and looking at him
expectantly. He rose obediently, but
before he could more than utter the
words Delighted, I'm sure!" Agatha
Sixth had risen also, and was now
confronting him, as she coldly and
h%aughtily reminded him that he had
promised to go and look for wild
flowers with her. 1t was putting the
old boy in an awkward position, / adj
NIT, but that's no excuse for his sub.
sequent behavior. A tactful speech
would have saved the day, but that
something perverse about him, which
he has in common with most men,
made him want most at that moment
the girl who wanted him least. And
that girl was certainly Agatha First,
for without uuatttn0 10 oaA uyhnfhnr ha
came or not, she had run off by her.
self, all eagerness to see the water
fall.
Without considering the rashness
of such a speech, Archibald replied to
Agatha Sixth's re5uke by remarking
casually: $50 / did promise to go
and look for wild flowers, but I didn't
wouldn't you rather come and see
that flrst?" We shuddered to hear
him, Dearest and I. 1t was pretty bad
you know. Yet. as l say l thought
/ understood Just how he came to say
the fatal w~ords-just what spirit
prompted him. But Dearest thinks
not. She says that he's far too cal
SuA1Iihb wv "uSh III Nv iooh
out for his own interests to run the
risk of losing Agatha Sixth deliberate
ly. She thinks he raj only embar
raised. But we both thought that
the most peculiar thing about the
whole affair was the fact that Agatha
First, having left the group immedi
ately her unfortunate invitation was
given. must have been quite ignorant
of the trouble It had caused. She
seemed, indeed, the whole time to be
absolutely oblivious to the situation
In regard to Agatha Sixth and Ter
hume. And this was the more ex
t%raordinary because any one else. any
impartial observer with his eyes
open, must, It seemed, have been
aware of an affair Of some kind OF
other between the two. But Miss
Endicott. It appeared, walked with
her eyes shut, like a person in Q
dream, her thoughts upon some Other