Daily Republican., 1884-10-16

Rhoda promied to call ON me to-mor-
row, and then, without doubt, the lit.
tie madcap will let me into the secret Ut
her friend's identity"
And when, on the following day,
true to her promise, vivacious Rhoda
stepped In &C Chetwynd Manor. great
was her surprise when she WAS in.
formed that Edgar Darrell. was visiting
there.
He is actually trying TO evade an
heiress," said Jessie Just think OF
1t | Don't 1t sound romantic ? And he
has really ALLEN In love with your
charming guest. But do tell me all
about her. am 30 anxious 10 let Mr..
Darrell into The secret"
And when laxative Rhoda did so,
Jessie looked ut her In amazement
=" But 1t cant be possible that she IL
! the pert, consequential creature he told
us OF ?" she said.
vt IT,, answered. Rhoda, her dark
eyes twinkling mischievously. "In
trying TO evade each other by their
foolish fancies, they have gone TO the
same retreat. Jessie, my dear, II wecan
carry out little scheme that have in
Wow, know this love affair will end
happier than any romance l ever
read
And after Rboda had told her what
the plot really was, she clapped her
hanus with girlish delight, aud prom
Used TO aid her vivasious friend.
Osy til Merle sat alone in the larg ,
old.fashioued sitting room of the Carl
ton farm house, gazing dreaInily AT the
logs which burned SO cheerily IN he
fireplace, u suspicious III DISTURB vi IN.
sheu tears in her large glorious eyes.
Why was there NO instinct to warn
mu OF this" she said. clasping her tiny
hands in her lap. "If this handsome,
noble hearted man suspected that l was
not Rhoda Carton, what would he say?
Oh, why did l use such deception,
and with one whom loved 80 passion
ately? l must reveal ell to him, and
yet how can tell him? ?"
A soft footstep at the door reused her,
and turning, with . frightened look up
on her pretty face, she met the subject
OF her own thoughts.
How you start cd me, Mr.. Darrell, -
she exclaimed. ~ understood You
had gone into the village with Osyth.
We did not go because We have
Iquarrsled," hs said, slowly, coldly,
anu l have come To you now for sol.
ace. You are aware of the circum-
stances through which Osyth is to be-
come my wife, but, Miss Carlton, from
the frat day I met you, have realized
that You are the only one who can fill
the void in my heart; yet 1t is folly
Tor me to love you! God knows what a
terrible ordeal 1t in for me when
realize that you can never share my
life! Forgi, me for what have said;
an now, since duty compels 1t, let III
try to forget all"
Her face paled at his passionate words
tue made no effo to restrain him from
pressing his lips to her tiny hand, but
looked up timidly AZ hun, and said:
too, have a confession 10 make,
her voice trembling despite herself,
and one in which have silently suf
fered. That suffering 1 brought upon
myself through my own folly. Oh
Mr.. Darrell, do not think TOO harshly o.
me when tell you all. In trying t,
avoid each other we came to the SAINT
retreat, where We have learned to low,
leach other. and my little scheme Il
test your love for the heiress you arr
soon to marry has indeed been carried
tout, for-oh Edgar, 1 Am Osyth Merle
and not Rhoda Carlton. We have beer
personating each other. Try and for
give me, for 1 never once paused II
realize what the consequence might be
and"
But he hal caught her in his arm
with Ga, Of joy; and as he raine'
kisses II her sweet, pretty face, sh'
knew ,he had won the love Of her tn
,u,. lold and master after all.