Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-06-10

"1s Uncle Arthur very wicked?"
she asked, in low tone.
do not speak of him." said Mrs.
/ Dering sharply. Never mention
him to Rhoda; l wish her to forget
that she has a father living"
"She has not seen him for years,
has she?"
"She has not lived with him. Do
not speak about your uncle, Mary;
he is the first Dering who has dis
graced the name, and we wish to for
get him." Mrs. Dering sat down at
the writing table and gathered up
the flowers. Take away your
flowers, Mary"
"Oh, l forgot my pretty roses!
They are for the luncheon table; I
will go and arrange them" Mary
rose and picked up the flowers.
will run away and leave you in
peace, mother"
DO not go into the stables, Mary"
II am going to change my frock
| and tidy my hair to do honor to the
heir of Dering," the girl answered.
with gay laugh.
|
| BILE for short time with a sheet of
note paper before her; but she
| wrote nothing Presently she got up
and went out into the great hall and
up the low wide stone stairs. She
| stopped at the first door in the west
| corridor, and, after a low knock.
opened it. A thick curtain was
| drawn over the door inside, and,
raising this, she entered a little
ante-room, where a pleasant-faced
woman sat sewing by the fire.
'Is your mistress up, Stanton?"
Eyes, ma'am; she will be glad to
see YOU"
Mrs. Dering went into the inner
room; it was beautiful room. with
bedroom beyond it. On a low
couch by the fire lay Millicent Der
ing. rose-colored curtain was
| drawn over the window behind her.
and the softened light fell upon the
rich exquisitely tinted draperies Of
her morning dress and set off the
handsome outline of her pale cold
| face. She looked about twenty
| eight or thirty in that light.
"Well, Millicent, l hope you are
BETTER" said Mrs. Dering abruptly.
as she crossed the room.
Miss Dering raised her beautiful
slender hand with a gesture of ap-
| peal.
"Will you speak more softly,
Agnes?" she said in a low weary
tone. my head is still very bad"
Mrs. Dering sat down opposite to
her, surveying her with a cooi crlti-
cal glance.
Are you coming down to lunch
con? We expect Adrian"
"Jack is here. l may as well pre-
| pare you; you know what it is when
| he and Molly and father are to-
gether."
Miss Dering raised her hands.
That boy here again! Agnes
wonder at you!"
Mrs. Dering frowned.
II do no know what to do. l can
| not forbid him the house; his father
| is Georges oldest friend"
"And his son is Mary's dearest
! friend"
THAT is why want Rhoda here"
Mrs. Dering went on. You know
how opposed l was at first when
| George proposed it. George cannot
| forget that she is Dering; but do
not look at it like that. l want her
because she will be useful as COM
panion to Mary"
"Will she be as amusing as Jack?'
said Miss Dering, in a mediative
tone.
Mrs. Dering forwned again.
81 shall make Rhoda responsible
| for Molly's French and music. And
| George must talk to Jack; | will not
| have him here so often"
81 should like to make somebody
| else responsible altogether for
Mary" Miss Dering said gently. 1T
is quite time that Adrian proposed
to her."
"Molly is child-a perfect
child! She laughs at Adrian and
hasn't thought for the future"
But Adrian should have. He
quite understands what is expected
of him, doesn't he?"
Really, Millicent, one would
think that we had threatened Adrian
with disinheritance If he did not
marry our Molly
''The estate Is entailed, isn't it?"
said Miss Dering. But | am sure
Adrian means to marry Mary"
"You know how much l wish it
not because he will have Dering. but
because he is what he is"
"Of course"
Come down to luncheon, Milli-
cent They are always quieter when
you are there"
| Wont Adrian be enough? He Is
sufficient to awe Jack, l am sure.
but not Molly; Molly loves to
defy him"
| s1rboy COW that Won ought to be.