The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-11-04
CHAPTER IIl.-cOutlnusd.

She looked at me with an infnit,
kindness I'm her eyes.
Dear Freddy" she replied. cam
you see that wouldn't do at all? Arch
lbald must prove he loves her, really
loves her, before he can know that!'
But / think he does" | 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"
Il haven't a doubt of IT," she re.
piled. IF had, do you think 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 fortune? AS II 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 bushed
charmingly, and there was a kind of
Indignation in her one. l 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 feeling
that l did not yet quite know my
wife. I'm always learning something
new, it seems to me, about the un-
selflshness and sweetness Of her char
actor
Mainly" she replied. i've been
Agatha Sixth's conhdante a 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
of furthering it present itselfl"I cried
with new enthusiasm for her loyalty
and devotion to her friends, good fell
low that you are!"
Don't" said Dearest; "Tve just
done my HART" And I laughed as l
heard this new variation of an old
theme
But still" said, q don't see why
If 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
suspense!"
Because he must prove that he
loves her, flrst" 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 egotlstical 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. It 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 !
as not, it would break off the match.
Men are that way"
i suppose you're right" / sighed,
but it seems hard"
"Suppose?' questioned my wife.
81 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 cared, before you'd pro
posed?'
NO" | said, taking out the fresh
| had just slowed away
N 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
,hance to tell him SO herself when he
lsks her, and him of the joy Of hear
ng it first from her lips? Don't you
hink it would be sacrilege?"
Murder" | whispered, and pressed
he handkerchief to her eyes. 1--WE (
we're so happy-are so happy our
elyes"-she murmured in my ear. q
1ant them to be. too, SO don't let's say
word to spoil it, to take 1t from 1
hem, Freddy, dear!" S
I'D die first" l told her, and we |
yere silent a long time while the y
ooks in the beeches outside our open v
like an army Of little old S
laids in black, scolded and gossiped d
bout US. But inexplicably enough, c
ever felt the discomfort of kneeling v
, long, though there wasn't so much 0
5 rug between my kndes and the &
ardWood floor. h