Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-06-03

your letter about your girl, and
see the force of what you say. You
tell me she has been educated in a
convent, but is still Protestant.
am glad to hear that this is so. /
thoroughly agree with you that your
life is not one that should be shared
by an innocent girl. My first thought
was to suggest to you that you should
get her home in some respectable
English family, but my wife wishes
her to come here. My own daugh-
ter Is just eighteen; Rhoda will be
able to help her with French and
music. You say she Is proficient in
both. OF course 1t is quite under
stood between us that any communi-
cation on your part with Rhoda will
lead at once to her losing the home
I offer her.
/ am yours, etc.
George Dering.
"a pleasant letter from brother
to a brother, eh. Rhoda?" said Mr..
Dering, as Rhoda folded the letter
and placed 1t upon the mantelpiece.
when does he think that l left
the convent?" she asked.
That's the joke of 1t, my dear.
He thinks you are still there-that
mother died, twelve years ago."
THAT means that you told him
so"-
Exactly"
"Why?"
Mr.. Dering had seated himself
upon chair by the window. and
Rhoda turned towards him to ask
the question.
IF / had told him you left the
convent two years ago, do you think
you would have received that invi-
tion?'
do you wish me to accept it?"
"By Jove, l do! Look here,
Rhoda, you are clever girl and a
handsome girl. l want you back at
Dering; things are pretty we'll
played out here. You see what our
luck is, and how our funds stand.
intend you to make your fortune at
Dering.'
"As a governess to my uncle's
daughter?"
We'll, not exactly like that. Do
you remember what / told you of
your aunt Millicent?"
"Of course"
We'll, she's at Dering. Flatter
her little weaknesses, my dear, and
get your name down in her will.
hot Nf II, fr-
tune"
She is not much older than you,"
returned Rhoda.
Not much, certainly. But that's
only one way out of the wood for
you, though. You can make a good
marriage, Rhoda."
"Yes, there Is that to think off,"
the girl answered quietly. She
paused a moment, and then said, II
suppose you dwelt upon the impos-
sibility of my living with you?"
Exactly. I used two colors only
in my letter-white for you, black
for myself; lamb and wolf. You
were leaving the peaceful shelter of
the convent, what was I to do with
you? All this, and more, said. The
letter went, and voila!" He waved
his hand towards the answer. "The
first attack has been crowned with
victory, Rhoda. my girl. Now 1t is
your turn. Mere Amelie will re-
ceive you for a week or so. Write
from the convent an answer to that
letter. Say how glad you will be to
embrace your dear relatives, scatter
a few French expressions over 'the
pages, talk Of your happy convent
life and the dear nuns. Avoid all
reference to me. Then off you go to
Dering under some safe escort; get
under the same roof with my dear
sister, Millicent, and in a month my
clever daughter will be first on her
list of favorites. Then will come a
season In town, a brilliant marriage,
and then-why, then you can think
of your old father"
"An alluring prospect" said
Rhoda, with a bitter smile.
ITS perfectly safe thing, my
dear. l should like to bet on it,"
THE cards are more against us
than you realize" the girl answered.
How am l to play the part of a
girl fresh from a convent? l have
lived with you for two years."
II have all your convent letters to-
me, my dear; you shall read them
and take them with you. Then re-
call what you were like two years
ago-what truthful, innocent,
sweet-faced little maid you were"
A look of intense bitterness passed
over Rhoda's face. She did not
speak, but she took up her uncle's
letter again and read 1t through.
Her father watched her, drumming
with his fingers on the table beside
him.
'It's our only chance, Rhoda," he
said, after moment. Il am played