Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-07-15
RHODA'S
SECRET
BY SYLVIA CHESTER
BY SYLVIA CHESTER
CHAPTER vi.

Rather worse Mother and Rho
da never speak to each other, Aunt
Millicent is very, very i'll, and Rhoda
is looking more unhappy than ever
Jack, if l were engaged to you, and
all the aunts In the world were Ill, l
should not look like that"
'If you were engaged? You are
engaged to me, you faithless young
person!"
II mean properly, legally en-
gagged" said Molly. Il don't call 1t a
proper engagement when ones
mother doesn't countenance it. /
wonder how long it will be before we
shall convince her, Jack?"
"Oh, it will be all right" said the
young man cheerfully. She smiled
at me last night. Molly-actually
smiled. Isn't that triumph"
poor Aunt Millicent!" said Mol
Do you know that she wants Rhoda
and Adrian to be married by special
license in her room, Jack?"
Does she? Do they agree to
that?"
II don't know. Mother said some
thing to father about it this morn
Ing; and l overheard her. There
mother is calling mel"
Molly ran away along the terrace,
turning with bright smile to her
lover at the corner.
Il was talking to Jack, mother,
she said, with halt pleading, half
audacious look at Mrs. Dering.
Jack here again!" exclaimed Mrs.
Dering.
Yes; but ne is not coming to
luncheon" said Molly hurriedly.
did you want me, mother?"
Il want you to take this telegram
down to the post Office. 1t is from
your aunt to Adrian; do not wish
the servants to see it,
Molly took the telegram. 1t ran
From Millicent Dering to Adrian
Dering: Bring down the license
with you.
Molly read it and looked at her
mother.
"Is Rhoda really going to be mar
ried by special license?"
"Yes-at once!" replied Mrs. Der
ing briefly. go with the telegram
and lose no time, Molly!"
Molly hastened away on her err
rand. She was coming out Of the
post office and turned up the village
road when she caught sight of girl
standing at the corner of the foot
path, evidently at loss as to which
road to take. She was a stranger.
and Molly crossed the road to speak
to her.
Have you lost your way?" she
said, pleasantly.
The girls heavy face frightened.
Il want to go to Dering," she said.
Its house near this village"
"Those are the woods of Dering!"
said Molly, with a smile. Il am go
ing there If you will walk with mel"
The girl looked at her doubtfully.
'Do you live at Dering, miss?"
Yes; l am Miss Dering!" Molly
returned. Can l do anything for
you?"
Miss Rhoda Dering lives with
you, them" said the girl in hesi-
tating tone. Would you take her a
letter from me, miss"
Certainly! Give me the letter.
Do you know Miss Rhoda?"
II lived with her in Paris" the
girl answered, taking somewhat
soiled and crumpled note from her
pocket please give her this, miss.
And tell Miss Rhoda l have gone
back to London!"
Won't you come to Dering and
see Miss Rhoda?"
No; give her the note. 1t doesn't
want any answer!"
Molly took the note. She was
girl had been a servant in the con-
vent
do you know your way to the
con?" she asked, as the girl
ID away.
n yes, miss, it's straight on!
you for taking the note"
Ytook the note back with her.
ere at luncheon when she re-
turned
Here is mysterious missive for
you, Rhoda!" she said, producing the
crumpled envelope. 1T does not re-
quire any answer"
Rhoda took the note. She glanced
at the writing and put it down by
her plate.
open 1t, open it," cried Mrs. Der
ing brislsly. Let us share the mys-
ter, Rhoda. Where did you get 1t
from, Molly?"
"A stranger in the village-a
rather lugubrious stupid damsel,
with heavy face. She lived with
you in Paris, she said, Rhodal"
Yes; 1t was a servant ] knew
there!" said Rhoda calmly She
opened the note with steady fingers.
1t was short
Dere Miss Dering.-The French