RHODA'S !i ►: *. | SECRET |j K ►> M K By SYLVJA CHESTER fe ►: k ti^^zir,zimwzzzir,zir,zir,ZK'j CHAPTER 11. That February morning, so bright and sunny in Paris, was bitterly cold in England. The woods round Dering were white with snow, and large Icicles hung from the tracery of the windows of the beautiful old house. It had a great marble ter race, with iron steps descending to the lawn. From this terrace the snow had been carefully swept, and some hardy shrubs, gay with berries, had been placed in groups on each side of the great windows. Mrs. Dering's morning room was at the end of the terrace. It had two windows, one looking out upon the terrace, the other upon a rose garden enclosed by high box hedges, with a fountain in the middle. The upper part of each window was em blazoned with the Dering arms and crest. The same arms and crests were stamped upon the backs of the high leather-covered chairs and carved on the high oak chimney piece. It was a severe looking room; but a spirit of disorder had entered there that morning. The large arm chair which generally stood against the wall, had been dragged before the fire; a book lay open face down wards on the floor; some knitting was on the table, and the ball of wool had fallen upon the floor; where a white kitten was playing with it; a bunch of flowers had been thrown upon Mrs. Dering's writing table and lay in a heap across the blotting book. Mrs. Dering, entering from her daily interview with the housekeep er, raised her fine eyebrows as she caught sight of all these things. With a little indulgent smile on her stern face, which wonderfully soft ened it, she proceeded to put the room in order. Her task was still unfinished when there came a clat ter of high heels on the stone ter race, a merry voice singing, "Two Lovely Black Eyes," in a high key, and Mrs. Dering turned to the win dow, trying to frown as she met the laughing glance of her daughter's blue eyes. "Open the window, mother!" cried the clear voice. "I am half frozen with cold! Quick!" "My dear Mary, how often am I to say that I do not like that song?" said Mrs. Dering, as she unfastened the window and admited her daugh ter. "That song—which song? Oh, I forgot! I heard Jack singing it just now, and I caught it up. Where is my knitting, mother?' "I found it on the table and the wool in Kitty's clutches. You untidy child, what kind of a home will you have of your own I wonder?" "Jack has brought me a puppy," said Mary, sitting down upon the hearth rug and picking up the kit ten. "One of Bruna's —such a little beauty!" "Is Jack here, then?" "Yes; he is with father in the sta bles. He Is going to stay till luncheon." "Adrian is coming." "Well, there will be enough for both," said the girl carelessly. She was a pretty girl, small and slender, with soft brown hair curling round her temples and with the merriest, sweetest blue eyes, which were sparkling with fun now as she glanced up at her mother; I wanted him to amuse me." "My dear Mary!" "Adrian does not like Jack, does he, mother?" • "Adrian naturally disapproves of him," returned Mrs. Dering, drily. Mary pulled her kitten's ears. "Poor old Jack! We approve of him don't we, Kitty? Even if he did get plucked at Oxford and get into debt and into disgrace with hla tu tor. If I had gone to Oxford, moth er, I should have been plucked too and got Into debt and Into disgrace with my tutor." "I do not like to hear you talk so lightly," said Mrs. Dering gravely. "I should not like Adrian to hear you say such things." Mary's eyes twinkled. "Let me see —Adrian got a Tre ble first, didn't he? But that must have been centuries ago!" "Adrian is just thirty years of age," was Mrs. Dering's grave an swer—" you know that as well as I do!" "Thirty years younger than father! Mother, dear, confess now—should n't you believe that he was thirty years older?" "You know how it pains me to hear you speak like this of Adrian, Mary," said Mrs. Dering with a little tremor In her voice. "It has pleased Heaven to give mo no son of my own, and Dering must be Adrian's after your father's death. Your father and I are very proud of our heir." "Oh, as heir to Dering I am prcj.d of him too; but, as a companion, I prefer Jack!" "You will have a companion in Rhoda now," said Mrs. Dering. smoothing back the curls from the white brow with a little sigh. "That is why we want Rhoda." "Poor Rhoda —only wanted be cause of me! But I am going to be so fond of her! I wonder what she will be like, mother?" '•Millicent saw her mother once. I hope she will be like her mother, she was a very pretty, fair, gentlo little thing." Mary looked up with a serious ex pression of her face. "Is Uncle Arthur very wicked?" she asked, in a low tone. "Do not speak of him," said Mrs. Dering sharply. "Never mention him to Rhoda; 1 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, I forgot my pretty roses! They are for the luncheon table; I will go and arrange them." Mary rose and picked up the flowers. I will run away and leave you in peace, mother." 'Do not go into the stables, Mary." "I am going to change my frock and tidy my hair to do honor to the heir of Dering," the girl answered, with a gay laugh. Mrs. Deling sat at her writing-ta ble for a 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 ftre. "Is your mistress up, Stanton?" "Yes, ma'am; she will be glad to see you." Mrs. Dering went into the inner room; it was a beautiful room, with a bedroom beyond it. On a low couch by the fire lay Millicent Der ing. A 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. 1 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 cool criti cal glance. "Are you comlr.g down to lunch eon? We expect Adrian." "Jack is here. I 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 I wonder at you!" Mrs. Dering frowned. "I do no know what to do. I can not forbid him the house; his father is George's oldest friend." "And his son is Mary's dearest friend." "That Is why I want Khoda here," Mrs. Dering went on. "You know how opposed 1 was at first when George proposed it. George cannot forget that she is a Dering; but I do not look at it like that. I 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. "I shall make Rhoda responsible for Molly's French and music. And George must talk to Jack; I will not have him here so often." "I should like to make somebody else responsible altogether for Mary," Miss Dering said gently. "It is quito time that Adrian proposed to her." "Molly Is a child —a perfect child! She laughs at Adrian and hasn't a 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. "Hut I am sure Adrian means to marry Mary." "You know how much I 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." "Won't Adrian be enough? He is sufficient to awe Jack, I am sure." "But not Molly; Molly loves to defy him." "They say that you ought to be gin with a little aversion," said Miss Dering. "I will come down to lunch eon. Let us hope that Rhoda will captivate Jack. That will be a sim ple way out of the difficulty." * "Rhoda and Mary will work hard together, and Jack will go back to Oxford, let us hope, and get his de gree." "I hope so. Molly won't care half so much for him when ho is respect able." "Boy and girl friends are such a mistake!" said Mrs. Dering, with a look of vexation. "Jack was suca a bonny boy too! We were all so fond of him.' "You see Molly had no brother," said Miss Dering. The remark brought a look of pain to the mother's face. It was the great trouble of her life that Molly had no brother. "If Adrian and Mary would marry I should be satisfied," she said. gravely. "And we should live happy ever after," returned Miss Derlng, with a little sneer. "Go away now. Agnes, and leave me to get a little rest. I will come down to luncheon." Mrs. Dering heard sounds of gay laughter and talk coming from the dining-room as she went downstairs. She walked quickly across the hall and opened the door sharply. Molly's roses lay on the table be side the glass bowl she had brought to arrange them In, and Molly her self, with a black puppy In her afms, was standing on the hearthrug and talking to Jack. Jack's broad shoul ders were leaning against the oak mantelshelf, and he was looking down with laughing eyes at the little figure beside him. "Don't I remember?" he was say ing, when the door opened to admit Mrs. Dering. Both started, and Jack's face grew red. "Don't scold me, Mrs. Derlng," he said, with a smile that made Mrs. Bering's frown disappear despite herself. "I am going to a tutor to morrow. This is my last day of laziness." "I am glad to hear it," replied Mrs. Dering, trying to speak severely. "Molly, I thought you were going to arrange these roses." "So I am. Look at my puppy, mother. Isn't he a pet? We are go ing to call him 'Bill.' " Mrs. Derlng glanced coldly at the puppy. "Arrange your roses, Mary; then I want you in my room. Mr. Mait land will be able to find your father, I dare say." She left the room, and Molly and the young man looked at each other with conscious faces. "Mr. Maitland!" repeated Molly, under her breath. "Mr. Maitland!" echoed Jack, with a rueful look. "Oh, Molly!" Mary picked up her roses with one hand, hugging the puppy to her with the other. She pushed the flowers all Into the bowl, which she placed in the middle of the table. "Mr. Maitland," she repeated again. Then she met Jack's glance, and the faces of both turned scarlet. "Molly, what shall I do?" "Go away to your tutor's, my dear boy; get your degree, and then—■ then you will be Jack again." "There's that Adrian—your moth er adores him!"—" Yes, she does." 'She hates me."—"That seems plain to an average intellect." "Molly!" She looked up at him and then kissed the puppy again. He came close to her, and his hand touched the soft hair about her brow. "You don't hate me?" he said pleadingly. "Isn't he a darling?" the girl said, holding up the puppy to him. "Kiss him, Jack, the darling pet!" "Molly, Just one word. I am go ing away to-morrow." "Mr. Maitland, I think you are very cruel to my pet!" "You are very cruel to me!" Molly looked up into the young man's face, and her own changed and softened as a warm wave of col or passed over it. "Not cruel. Jack; don't say that of your little Molly!" "Are you my little Molly!" he said eagerly, bending down to her. But she drew away and went quickly to the door. "1 must goto mother," she said; "and you—you. Jack, must go and get your degree!" The giri did not go straight to her mother's room; she went into her own little sanctum and sat down bo fore the fire, then she put the puppy carefully into the softest chair and covered him with her prettiest anti macassar. "Dear Jack!" she whispered to herself, as she patted her puppy's sleek head. Left to himself, Jack stood some moments in silent contemplation; then with a look of decision that gave a new character to his face, he went out towards the stables. He found Mr. Derlng still busy with the head groom and waited very patient ly until he had finished and then walked with him towards the house. When they had entered the broad walk that led from the stables to the house. Jack stopped. "Mr. Dering, 1 want to tell you— "Well, Jack?" "You will be angry—l know you will be angry; but I cannot go away without telling you." Mr. Dering looked wonderingly at the young man's pale face. "Jack," you have got into debt again—broken your promise to your father." "No —it's not thnt —I won't break that promise—it's nothiug like that. But I will make a clean breast of it, and you may forbid me the house if you will!" "Goon; lets hear what it is." "I love Molly, sir!" Mr. Dering stepped back to the other side of the path; he did not speak, and Jack went on. "I love her, sir, with all my heart and soul! I can't help It! Who could help loving Molly?" "Does she know?" asked Mr. Der lng, after a moment's pause. "I don't know; yes, I do know. She must have guessed; but I never said anything till this morning.' "Well?" "I didn't say anything plain, and she put me off. She said I must take my degree. Of course I must. But, when that's over and I come back, I must speak to her!" Mr. Dering shook his head. "It won't do, Jack!" "Why not, sir? I know I shall never be rich; but my father has enough, and I am his only child." "It won't do, Jack." Mr. Derlng repeated; "Molly Is going to mu.rry her cousin!" Jack turned pale. "It can't be true?" "It has been arranged with Adrian for years," returned Mr. Dering. "Molly laughs at him. He Is too old. too grave for her." "Not at all. You and Molly are two children. Jack, and you must forget all this. Go away, my boy, and learn to forget It!" "I am going away," Jack re turned with a dreary smile; "but 1 shall not forget it.and, when I come back, I shall do my best to win Molly, sir!' "She and Adrian are meant for each other. Mrs. Derlng will be shocked at this, Jack; she trusted you so!" The young man drew himself up with a look of pride. "I love Molly," he repeated firm ly; "I have no reason to feel ashamed! You have let us bo friends together, and I love her. I mean to tell her so when I come back!" "It won't do. Jack," repeated Mr. Derlng, shaking his head; "Molly must marry Adrian! You were right to tell me; but you will see that it will not do. It would break Mrs. Derlng's heart." "I thought it right to tell you," Jack said, ignoring the last remark. "I wont say anything to Molly now, I will promise you that, and I won't come into luncheon. Make my ex cuses to Mrs. Derlng." The young man shook hands and strode away. Dering looked after him wlh a fond look. "But it won't do!" he repeated, as he turned toward the house. He went straight to his wife's room and found her speaking grave ly to Molly, who was standing on the hearth rug, listening very demurely to her mother's speech. "Run away, Molly," said Mr. Der ing, sitting down upon one of the great oak armchairs by the tire place. "I want to speak to your mother.' "Go and change your dress, Mary," said Mrs. Dering, "and get your hair done afresh." "I shall look so neat that Adrian will ask to be introduced," the girl answered lightly. "Don't be cross any more, mother dear." "I am not cross," replied Mrs. Dering—"only anxious that you should remember that you are no longer a child." "I will be so good that you won't know me!" Molly went lightly to the door and then turned round. "I may Invite 'Bill' to luncheon, mayn't I?" "Bill —who is that?" said Mr. Der lng, who had been watching his daughter's every movement with ad miring eyes. "My darling puppy—may he come?" Mr. Dering laughed. "Go away; and bring Bill if you like." Molly shut the door and her father turned to Mrs. Derlng. "She's a perfect child still, isn't she?" "I have been speaking to her about her childish ways. I am glad that Rhoda is coming. She wants a companion." Mr. Derlng moved uneasily in his chair. "I have been talking to Jack," ho said, with a troubled glance. "To Jack? What have you been saying?" "He has been speaking to me. He says he is in love with Molly." Mr. Derlng did not meet his wife's glance, but bent over the Are to ar range the logs. Mrs. Dering got up and crossed over to him. "George, the boy must be mad! You told him it was out of the ques tion, of course!" "Yes, Agnes—l told htm so." "Well?" "Well, the boy is in earnest. He has gone to his tutor's, but he in tends to speak to Molly when he comes back." "You must forbid it! Write to his father, George, and forbid it abso lutely. Mary must marry Adrian. This must be put a stop to at once!" And Mrs. Dering looked towards her writing table as if she would then and there write a final letter. "My dear, you are not quite Just about this. I do not want Molly to marry Jack, but what are we to do? I told him that it was out of the question. I told him it wouldn't do." "I shall write to him!" "No, Agnes." Mr. Dering spoke firmly. "He has gone to Oxford, and he will be away for three months or so. If In that time Adrian can win Molly, well, then, that will be all right!" Mrs. Dering stood looking into the fire with a frowning brow and compressed lips. She completely ruled her husband in small matters, but she knew she must yield In this. "Mary must marry Adrian," she said again with emphasis. "That Is what I want. But I will not have her forced Into it, Agnes!" "Jack is a boy. Molly cannot care for him. Adrian will find It easy to win her!" Mr. Derlng said nothing, but shook his head as his wife turned away. ITo Be Continued.) Pasteur's Gift to the World. Pasteur generously gave all he knew to the world, reserved nothing, not even his life, for he killed himself working to save others. The Feminine Invasion. Spokane has a woman policeman. That's about the limit for a woman's club.—Boston Herald. EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY Many Towns Damaged and Scores Killed. Naples, June 8. —An earthquake ot unusual intensity was experienccl throughout southern Italy, Including the island of Sicily. It is believed that thirty-seven or more people were kill ed and that property losses will be heavy. The shock appears to have spent its force chiefly in the province of Avel lino, in Central Campania, east of Na ples. The village of Calitri, of about 8000 inhabitants, suffered the mo t. One report has it that hall' ol the tov.n was destroyed. One person was killed and several were Injured at CasteJlbaronia. Cala britto was badly damaged. The town was aroused by the shak ing of walls, the rattling of furniture and the falling of plaster. In a mo ment panic seized the 20,000 inhabit nnts. Half clad men, women and chil dren tied fnm their homes. Recently there was a prediction that the ap proach of Halley's comet portended !the end of the world. Taft Appoints Colored Man. Washington. June 8. President Taft nominated William D. Crura, ol South Carolina, to be minister resi dent and consul general at Monrovia Liberia. Crum is the colored man whose appointment by Mr. Roosevell as collector of the port at Charleston S. C., raised such a storm of protest In the south. BJAKTED- 1 mm AGENTS™ ample Latest Model Rfingcl* bicycle fnrnishPrl by tit. Our agents everywhere ate unking money fast. Write for full particulars and special ojTer at once. NO IVION KV KKQMKLI) until you receive and approve of your bicycle. We ship to anyone, anywhere in the U. S. without a cent deposit in advance, prepay freight, and allow TEN DAYS' FKMK TICIAL during which time you may ride the hii yc!e .md put it to any test you wish. If you are then not perfectly satisfied or do not wish to keep the bicycle ship it bark to us at our expense and you will net be out one cent. FACTO AY PRinFQ e Jurnis hthe highest grade bicycles it is possible to make rHWIVIII rnivLO at one small profit above actual factory cost. You save to fas middlemen's profits by buying direct of us and have the manufacturer's guar antee behind your bicycle. Ji>o NOT ItU Y a bicycle or a pair of tires from anyone at any price until you receive our catalogues and learn our unheard of factory Price 4 and remarkable special offers to rider ugonts. YOU WILL BE ASTONISHED s td" y o °u u r r s e u c P tb tow Prices we can make you this year. We sell the highest grade bicycles for less money than any other factory. We are satisfied with SI.OO profit above factory cost. IHCYCLiK DKALKKSi you can sell our bicycles under your own name plate at ur prices. Orders filled the clay received. D HANI) JIICYCLK3* Ve do not regularly handle second hand bicycles, bur a number on hand taken in trade by our Chicago retail stores. These we clear out rices ranging from #3 to SS»H or t#IO. Descriptive bargain lists mailed free. f*AACTrD RDAKPC BiiiKlo wheels, imported roller rim ins and pedulM, parts, repairs and vUHO I equipment of all kinds at half tlce usual retail Prices. *A£O HEDGETHORN PUNCTURE-PROOF *i| 2J A SELF-HEALING TiRES TO IN 7HIWyS |T $8.50 per pair, but to introduce we will L 3 sell you a sample pair /ors4.6o(cash with order $4.55), 9T'\.\ V . NO MORE TROUBLE FROM PUNCTURES NAILS, Tacks or Glass will not let the 112 .[; d iBl air out. Sixty tkousand pairs sold Inst year. i-, • * fijftl Over two hundred thousand pairs now in use. DESCRIPTIONt Made in all sizes. It islivcly \/ and easy riding, very durable ami line* I Me with / a special quality of rubber, which never becomes porous and which closes up small punctures without allow- I ■■ fnp the air to escape. We have hundreds of letters from satis- I Iff *•«£»• fiedcustoiners stating that their tires haveonly been pumped L9 , Htrln " II" up once or twice in a whole season. They weigh nonioretlinn JK to „rf>vnnt rim nuttlnir Tli'i an ordinary tire, the puncture resisting qualities being given P m outlust »„?'other by several layers of thin, specially prepared fabric on the %M " s ,Fr ELAsIIC tread. The regular price ohfie»e tires is J3.;so per pair,but for Y KSVHIIIINO advertisingpurposeswearemakingaspecialfactorypriceto the rider of only $4.80 per pair. All orders shippea same dny letter is received. We ship C. O. D. on approval. You do not pay a cent until you have examined and found them strictly as represented. We will allow a eatm dlttnount of 5 per cent (thereby making the price #1.55 per pair) if you send FULL* CASH WITH OKDLIt and enclose this advertisement. You run no risk iu sending us an order as the tires may be returned at OUlt expense if for any reason they are not satisfactory on examination. We are perfectly reliable and money sent to us'is as safe as in a bank. If you order a pair of these tires, you will find that they will ride easier, run faster, wear better, last longer and look finer than any tire you have ever used or seen at any price. We know that you will be so well pleased that when you want a bicycle you will give us your order. We want you to send us a trial order at once, hence this remarkable tire ofTer. *wg\mm mi cm T/nrC don't buy any kind at any price until you send for a pair of ##• lUI/ fwfcfcl/ IllfU Hedgethorn Juncture-Proof tires on approval and trial at the special introductory price quoted above; or write for our big Tire and Sundry Catalogue which describes and quotes all makes and kinds of tires at about half the usual prices. mm** ■!#!« lA/JV ITT but wr ' te us a postal today. 1)0 NOT TillNli. Of BUYING a bicycle m3%3 fwC/# ttS\i § or a pair of tires from anyone until you know the new and woudciful offers we are making. It ouly costs a postal to lcaru everything. Write it NOW. J. L MEAD CYCLE COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILL Don't Buy a Doped Horse and don't let yourself be swindled by a crooked horse dealer on any of the score of tricks he has up his sleeve. The "gyp" is abroad in the land. Every day buyers of horses are shamefully fleeced. DON'T BE ONE OF THE VICTIMS. Learn how to protect yourself in buying, selling or trading. Get the sensational new book "Horse Secrets" by Dr. A. S. Alexander, and make yourself horse-wise and crook-proof. Learn how " bishoping " is done —ho.w a " heaver " is "shut" —a roarer "plugged " —how lameness, spavins, and sweeny are temporarily hidden —the "burglar" dodge —the horsehair trick —cocaine and gasoline doping —the ginger trick —the loose shoe trick —in short how to beat ALL the games of crooked auctioneers and dealers. It is all in the " Horse Secrets " book, and if you ever buy or sell a horse you need just this knowledge to protect yourself from being swindled. Read Our Remarkable Offer Below A WORD ABOUT THE FARM JOURNAL : This it the foremost farm and home monthly in the world ; 33 years old ; 650,000 subscribers from Maine to California. Cheerful, quaint, clever, intensely practical, well printed and illustrated. Is for everybody, town, village, suburbs, or country; men, women, boys, girls, the whole family; absolutely clean and pure; 24 to 60 pages monthly. We recommend it absolutely to every reader of this paper; you will find it unlike any other in the world. OUR OFFER: {All 3 for $ 1-25 (We cannot sell " Horse Secret* " by Itsrlf-only in this Combination.) 1 * • . « "1 '3 SUBSCEIBE .A-T OHOB. Poison In Colfee. Three members of the household of Jacob Miller, a farmer living neat Broad berk's postofftce, near York. Pa., were poisoned by drinking paris green in their coffee served at breakfast, and they are in a critical condition. Those who drank of the poisoned beverage are Mrs. Miller, forty years old; one of her children, about six years old, and Melvin Young, a hire 'ins, aged about sixteen. Suspicions have been aroused of an attempt to murder and the police are conducting an investigation. Middies Get Diplomas. The members of the graduating class, to the number of 125, received their diplomas from the hands ot George von L. Meyer, secretary of the navy, at the naval academy at An napolis, Md. The board of visitors appointed bv the president and con gress has completed its work and has framed its recommendations, and June week ended in a blaze of brilliancy with the farewell ball given by the class of 1911 to the graduates, one of the notable social events of the year. Price of Sealskins Soars. Juneau, Alaska, June S.—One hun dred and seven sealskins were sold in Sitka for s3l each, bast year's price was sl7. The increase is due to a big decrease In the catch. The Sun's Thirst. From the whole of the world's sur face the sun sucks up about 0,000 cu bic tons of water per annum.
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