Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-02-15
CHAPTER vII.-contlnued.

CHAPTER VII.-contlnued.
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 n 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
our return.
"a WATERFALL" said Archibald.
"Dear me! How jolly! Let's go and
see IT,"
Come on. them" cried Agatha
First, pausing and looking at him
cxpectantly. 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
>haughtily reminded him that he had
promised to go and look for wild
flowers with her. It was putting the
OLD boy in an awkward position. adj
E,it, but that's no excuse for his sub
sequent behavior A tactful speech
would have saved the day, but that
something perverse about lin. which
lie has in common with most men,
nade him want most at that moment
the girl who wanted him least And
that girl was certainly Agatha First,
for without waiting to eco whether he
came or not, she had run off b. her
sclf all eagerness to see the water
faii.
Without considering the rashness
o. such speech, Archibald replied to
Agatha Sixth's rebuke by remarking
casually: $50 ! did promise to go
and look for wild flowers. but didn't
know about the waterfall then;
wouldn't you rather come and see
that first?" We shuddered to hear
him, Dearest and I. 1t was pretty bad,
you know. Yet. as l say l thought
I understood Just how he came to say
the fatal words--1ust what spirit
prompted him. But Dearest thinks
net. Shc says that he's far too cal
culating--far too much on the look
out for his own interests to run the
risk of losing Agatha Sixth deliberate
". She thinks he was only embar-
rasscd. But we both thought that
the most peculiar thing about the
Whole affair was the fact that Agatha
First. having left the group immedi-
etely her unfortunate invitation was
given. mist have been quite ignorant
OF tho trouble It had caused. She
seemed, indeed, the whole time to be
absolutely obllvious to the situation
in regard to Agatha Sixth and Ter
hume. And this was the more eX-.
traordtnary because any one else, any
Impartial observer with his eyes
open. must. 1t seemed, have been
aware of an affair of some kind or
ether between the two. But Miss
Endfcott. 1t appeared. walked with
her eyes shut, like n person IN a
dream, her thoughts upon somc other
world or scheme Of things removed
from ours.
AS matters stood, however, the re-
suit of the waterfall proposition and
Terhune's mismanagement of the
crisis It brought about, was a fiat re-
fusal on the part Of Agatha Sixth to
accompany him anywhere, and his
frightened and tardy pursuit Of
Agatha First, who was beckoning
him to follow from the edge Of the
woods. BY, Jove, 1t made me feel
inclined to go after him and tell MIN
what / thought Of him then and there,
Miss Lawrence looked so forlorn and
wretched as she watched them disap-
pear into the woods together.
"The BEAST" I began, che ought
to be-" But Dearest interrupted me,
and realized it was because. the
young lady was still standing within
earshot. Don't. Wilfred!" she said,
agatha doesn't mind Il bit-do you,
dear?" And she smiled confidently
and encourngingly into the other
wo,nans face. 1t was tho required
tonic evidently. for Miss Agatha Law
ronce-sometimes called Agatha
Sixth-at once controlled her culver
ing lip with a display of self-com-
nand upon which inwardly compli-
mented her. It's a trait Of the Amer
lean girl, think. that fine self-con-
troll. md something that / admire
greatly in my wife.
"Ot course not" she replied stead
ly. and turning upon the bewildered
Frecr. who was standing by, with the
sweetest possible smile, asked him
II he would mind hunting wild flow
ers s.th her. 'ihe invitation, l
Eoct rot say. vaa accepted with
ser7..n gratitude b. that undis-
crim!5ating and 'mDressioaabie young
mrn. Ike tho l!tt;o Cog under the
table. Frccr was noTer too Grocd to