Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-08-13


"They won't love yeu any more
than they love me. Molly and Mrs.
Dering have all the love George has
still to give; and your aunt Do
you like your aunt, Rhoda?"
II have seen SO little of her."
"Ah, you are cautious! Come, sit
down again and forget all my foolish
words. But 1t was like seeing ghost
to look at you, Rhoda. Only you are
pale and grave. That was not like
me; was the life of the house. Did
your father ever talk of me?"
Rhoda paused before she answered
and Miss Dering went on.
But, of course, you have not seen
him for years. You are like him,
Rhoda. We were very much alike,
Arthur and I. He would not know
me now"
you saw my mother once?" said
Rhoda.
IT went to see them at Lucerne.
That was before you were born.
Your mother was not lady, Rhoda,
and we were all very angry with
Arthur for marrying her. That was
his first offense. My father was a
proud man, he struck Arthur's name
out of his will. went secretly to
Lucerne to see your father; but we
quarreled. He had a very bitter
tongue; and he did not spare me.
But I saw your mother-a sweet fair
little girl; can see her now"
You never saw her again?"
Never. We lost sight of them for
years. 1 had my own troubles to live
through. I have had great troubles,
Rhoda. I was to have married Lord
Woburn's eldest son; but he died.
And had other troubles after that.
And now l am desolate and only
borne with for my money. You
know / am very rich, don't you?"
Molly told me So"
Mrs. Dering thinks that shall
leave it all to Molly. Perhaps I
shalt" She gave Rhoda an odd
look and settled her draperies
round her with trembling fingers.
DO 1 look very haggard and
old?" she said, with a piteous look.
Tell me frankly, Rhoda."
very haggard. You look older than
you ought to look because you dress
so youthfully."
Rhcda had meant to speak very
differently-to please; to f1atter;
but the words came despite herself.
Miss Dertng went to the glass and
looked at herself. Then she turned
to Rhoda.
How would you like me to
dress?" she said sharply.
You ought to wear a pretty cap
and different dress, and let more
light into your room. You would
look beautiful still, Aunt Millicent-
as beautiful as you did when you
were young, only with a different
kind of beauty"
Miss Dering dropped the curtain
and sat down again.
You are a very extraordinary
young woman, Rhoda," she said.
80 you do not like my room or my
dress? You would like me to dress
as your nuns dressed, suppose?"
You would not like that" re-
piled Rhoda, with faint smile.
They have dressed you very
prettily. Rhoda, what would give
for your youth and your quiet un-
troubled past!"
Rhoda did not answer, and Miss
Dering went on in lighter tone.
THE nuns have t2ught you how to
dress and taught you the virtue o.
plain speaking. You will have to
forget the latter lesson, Rhoda."
You asked my opinion" said
Rhoda gently.
"Oh, like your frankness, l was
Just like that; you are what l was
Rhoda. If you had been like your
mother. Mrs. Dering would have
liked you better, but you would no
have been the same to me-"
You ought to be angry with me
for my rudeness," said Rhoda.
mo, am not angry. know l an
frightful old woman. Don't shak,
your head and spoil your truthful
ness. 1 shall tell Mrs. Dering wha
you have said to me-" She Leaned
back, still looking fxedly at Rhoda
"You must come to see me ever,
day." she said. "and say to me ex
actly what you think. Perhaps yo,
will get me to wear caps and leav,
off powder. Now call Stanton and g
away. Tell Mrs. Dering l shall
come down to luncheon"
The days passed, and the intens,
longing to tell the truth which Rho
da had at first felt gradually wor,
off. Her relatives so completely tool
her past for granted, they showed 81
little curiosity about 1t that 1t wa
easy to go on. Molly was too full o
her own experiences to care much t,
listen to Rhoda's stories of the quie
convent days. The two girls spen
many happy mornings in Molly's lit
tie room. When work was over, Mol
ly was the chief talker. Rhod;
heard all about the escapades will
Jack that had made Molly's child
hood such an exciting time.