Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-02-07
HER WORLD
BY AGNES G. BROGAN
" . - . /. = = - =. 30
20, 1922, Western Newspaper Union)

Rhoda went down the hall toward
the living room, where her mother-ln-
law and Gwendolen sat talking. She
hesitated postponing the meeting,
After two months acquaintance she
still felt a constrained shyness when
in Gwendolen's presence.
"Gwendolen," Mrs Wentworth had
said, was at one time engaged to our
John. l fancy that her admiration, II
not her affection, fingers. We are
fond of Gwendolen," Rhoda's mother
in-law had sighed, as she finished the
confidence.
The young wife gazing whimsicaiiy
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 stranger. While both estate
| and money were left to Rhoda, her
| fathers brother continued, In 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 youthful
thing, almost forgotten.
Rhoda. now in the hall, put out her
| hand to roll back the door between.
| Gwendolen's hooking, 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-simpliclty
| duughter-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 its touch
wounded her fingers
"Oh! the business" she heard her
mother-in-law reply, "is in bad shape
| indeed. The reliable business of my
husbands time. Competition, Owen,
competition. John hopes to raise a
large amount of money to tide over,
as you say, this crisis"
"Where." asked Gwendolen abrupt
ly. ''is 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
rage"
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
| a man ask n woman to marry him
| when he does not love? Unless
Rhoda caught her breath-unless he
must marry for some mercenary mo-
tive. To her came suddenly a line
from that great delineator of love
things" Why, 1t 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
err anXiously greeted him with ques-
ton: "You have been successfully" she
asked feverishly-"you have been able
t. arrange?"
John sank into chair.
ut was marvellous" he said. Some
friend, of course it must have been
one of fathers old wealthy friends,
voluntarily went to our lawyer today,
leaving Il 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 a 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.
II do not know" she said.
John did not wait to telephone; he