Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-02-01
HER WORLD
-e
BY AGNES c. BRocAh

] Rhoda went down the hall toward
the living room, where her mother-in-
law and Gwendolen sat talking. She
hesitated, postponing the meeting
After two months acquaintance she
still felt constrained shyness when
in Gwendolen's presence.
"Gwendolen," Mrs. Wentworth had
said, was at one time engaged to our
John. + fancy that her admiration, If
not her affection, fingers. We are
fond of Gwepdolen," Rhoda's mother
in-law had sighed, as she finished the
confidence
The young wife gazing whimsically
into her mirror. She was recalling the
the marvel OF her meeting with John
at Aunt Tilden's weekend party, and
the later courtship which led to their
hasty marriage.
Uncle Brent who lived with her in
the old home that had sheltered him
in her fathers time, had welcomed
John Wentworth when he sought
Rhoda Herewith an approval the
shrewd old lawyer was not wont to
give a stranger. While both estate
and money were left to Rhoda, her
fathers brother continued, In a meas
ure, his guardianship.
All had gone well. and the young
wife, taking up her residence in her
husbands old family home, left Uncle
Brent an occupant Of her fathers
house, with her fathers servants still
to attend his comfort. When she
asked John about his former betrothal
to the Gwendolen Of her mothers
choice, he had smilingly replied that
the engagement had been a youthful
thing, almost forgotten.
Rhoda, now in the hall, put out her
hand to roll back the door between.
Gwendolen's mocking tone distinctly
reached her.
"Of course. you and know, my dear
friend" she said, that John married
simply for money. So you must make
the best of your sweet-simplicity
daughter-in-law. How is the business
going now? / have not heard, since
John was in such deep water, concern
ing it. | wish dad might have been
able to make loan sufficient to tide
him over his crisis. But, if dad had
had any money at all, why / might be
In the demure Rhoda's place today"
The unintentional listener drew
back from the door as though it's touch
wounded her fingers. -
"Oh the business" she heard her
mother-in-law reply, us in bad shape
indeed The reliable business Of my
husbands time Competition, Gwen,
competition. John hopes to raise a
large amount of money to tide over,
as you say, this crisis
"Where," asked Gwendolen abrupt
ly, lis Rhoda's money? Has the
guardian uncle any right to with
hold it,"
Dear me, no. Mrs Wentworth an
swered irritably, but John hesitates.
naturally so soon after their mar
riage."
Rhoda turned from the door to go
up the stair, to her own luxurious
room, to think this terrible thing over.
She knew that she had now just
$4,000 in her own name. 1t had
seemed a great deal. John had been
distract lately; moodily unlike him
self And he had loved Gwendolen
Else would he have confessed to a
former engagement with her. Does
man ask woman to marry him
when he does not love? Unless
Rhoda caught her ',reath-unless he
marry for some mercenary mo-
tive. To her came suddenly line
from that great deiiEeator of love
"Thinketh no evil-believeth all
things" Why. it was she who did not
love, for here she was thinking evil
motives of John, believing not in his
avowed love for her.
John was jubilant when, late that
evening, he returned home. His moth
er anxiously greeted him with a ques-
ton: "You have been successful she
asked feverishly-"you have been able
t. arrange?'
John sank into a chair.
ut was marvellous" he said. "Sonie
friend, of course 1t must have been
one of fathers old wealthy friends,
voluntarily went to our lawyer today,
leaving a loan of $4,000. The loan
is legally arranged, the name of the
donor to be disclosed by our lawyer
tonight. Rather mysterious, but sure,
Langdon says"
The call of the telephone interrupt
ed. John rushed to the phone. When
he again came to his mother, his face
was white. He spoke with difficulty,
as one trying to grasp fact.
"Rhoda,' he said, was the giver of
that money. She wanted to get away
before we should find out. Rhoda-I
don't understand. Where is she?"
Mrs Wentworth sank weakly into
chair, the subject of the afternoons
conversation returned to her.
81 do not know she said
John did not wait to telephone; he