1 1 $ RHODA'S j ►| SECRET 1 £ By SYLVJA CHESTER )j CHAPTER 111. At Mr. Derlng's request. Mere Amelie had sent two lay sisters with Rhoda as far as Calais. At Calais she was met by her uncle. As the train drew up at the platform she was looking out, expecting to see some tall dark man like her father. It was a great surprise when a some what short, burly, cheery little gen tleman bustled up to her and held out his hands. "I should have known you any where, my dear," he said warmly. "You are a thorough Dering. We have ever so many good likenesses of you at home in our picture gal lery. They had only just time to catch the boat, and Mr. Dering hurried his niece away, only giving her a few moments for a hasty farewell to her two companions. "Very kind, good women they looked too," he said, referring to them when he and Rhoda were safe on the boat. "And they must be so fond of you, Rhoda. I'll bound you shed a good many tears last night. How many years have you been there." "Ever since my mother died," Rhoda answered steadily. "I wish you had come to us be fore, but there were circumstances which I do not care to mention—" He looked at the girl uneasily. "Your father and I are not friends, Rhoda. You must not talk about him at Dering." "I understand," she replied, and turned to hide the quiver of her lips. Her uncle patted her shoulder gently. "I wouldn't say it to you If you knew him better, my dear. But he has not been a good man. Now you are coming home, my dear, and you will have a father and mother and a dear little sister, Heaven bless her!" Rhoda's heart was swelling with wounded feelings, but she kept her voice steady as she asked: "How old is your daughter?' "Just eighteen. Three years younger than you are! But you look older than you are, Rhoda. That is because you are dark!" "And she is fair?" "Blue eyes and light brown hair —a regular English beauty. You will see her this evening. She Is prepared to love you dearly, and I want you to love her very much, Rhoda—to love us all. You are go ing home, remember. It will be as much your home as it is Molly's. You are my daughter now. You un derstand that, don't you, my dear?" "Thank you," the girl said faintly. The warm tones the kindly looks only served to increase the feeling of misery at her heart. As she stood there watching the coast of France disappear in the cloudy distance, it was with difficulty that she pre vented herself from telling her uncle all the truth. But her father's words were In her ears—"lf they knew the truth, the doors of Dering will be shut to you for ever." And these words kept her silent. It was quite dark when they reached Dering. The carriage was waiting for them at the station, and they drove quickly through long ave nues of stately elms and limes that led to the house. Rhoda's uncle half lifted her out and led her up the steps. "Welcome home, my dear!" he said, kissing her, as they reached the door. Then he led her in. Rhoda had one glance at the great hall, with its glorious arched roof and panelled walls, and then two loving arms were clasped close round her, and Molly's sweet voice repeated her father's "Welcome home!" Mrs. Dering waited at the draw ingl room to greet Rhoda. "We are very glad to see you, Rhoda," she said in her kind firm tones. The calmness of this greeting re stored Rhoda's self - possession, which had nearly given away. She answered questions about the jour ney with perfect calmness, con scious that Mrs. Derlng's eyes were surveying her with critical surprise. Mrs. Dering turned to her hus band when Molly had taken Rhoda away to her room. "I had no idea that Rhoda would be like this," she said. "I expected a girl, a shy young girl." "She is a perfect Dering!" re turned Mr. Dering heartily. "She Is exactly like that beautiful portrait of Prudence Dering in the hall." "I do not see much likeness. Rhoda's eyes are gray." "How quick you are to see that, Agnes!" said Mr. Dering admiring ly. "I thought they were dark at first. She is beautiful and exactly like my poor brother Arthur." "Do not mention his name!" Mrs. Dering returned sharply. "I hope wo may never regret having Rhoda here." 'My dear Agnes, don't say such things! She is such a sweet girl. It is easy to see that she has never been out of a convent in her life." "She has only been there since her mother's death." "Well, most of her life —It's the same thing. And she will be such a companion to Molly! You should have heard her chatterng French to those nuns."" Mrs. Derlng's brow relaxed, and she smiled. "Well, George, I am going to be good to the girl. And it will be just what Molly wants, a companion to amuse her. if she and Rhoda can get on, I shall be quite content." Rhoda's rooms were next to Mol ly's, in the east corridor. There was a door leading from one into the other. They were furnished very simply and prettily, and in both rooms fires were blazing brightly. Before the sitting room fire a little table was drawn up, with an easy chair close by. Tea was on the ta ble, in the middle of which stood a large bowl of roses. "This is my Idea," said Molly, as the two girls entered. "I mean you to have tea up here, and not go down again till dinner time." "What lovely roses!" said Rhoda, bending to look at them. "Adrian brought me those for you. I asked him to bring them down from London yesterday. They have so many flowers in France, haven't they?" "Not many as beautiful as these at this time of the year. You are going to spoil me, Molly." "So Adrian said. He read me a little lecture about It. He seemed to think that, if we made a great deal of you to begin with, we should ne glect you afterwards. But you don't think I am like that, do you, Rhoda? We are to be like sisters, father said." And Molly put her arms round Rhoda, and looked up at her with such sweet, loving blue eyes that Rhoda loved her from that moment. "Molly, you dear little Molly!" she said returning her embrace. Then she suddenly loosed her arms. "I will have some tea," she said, sit ting down in the pretty low chair by the fire and taking off her hat. "Pour it out for me, Molly; and tell me who Adrian is." "Adrian is—do you take sugar? -—Adrian is the heir of Dering. He is the handsomest, wisest, best per son in the world! And Jack and I do not like him at all." "Jack? May I know who Jack is?" Molly looked intently at the pat tern of the cup she was holding, and a tender little smile played round her lips. "Jack and I grew up together," she said. "His father is the rector of the parish and father's oldest friend. Walt a moment, Rhoda. I want to show you my Bill." Molly jumped up and ran out of the room. A moment later she was back with her black puppy in her arms. "Look at the darling! Pat his dear head, Rhoda! Had you any dogs at the convent?" "No, dear." "Father shall give you one to morrow. Jack gave me Bill." She hugged the puppy in a close embrace and sat down upon the hearth rug at Rhoda's feet. "Jack and 1 are going to marry each other some day," she said gravely. Rhoda softly smoothed the girl's brown hair, but did not speak. "Not for a long, long time. He has to get his degree; he was pluck ed, dear boy, last term. But I never never, never could marry anybody but Jack!" "You are too young to marry any one, little Molly," said her cousin, with a very gentle look in her gray eyes. Molly hugged the puppy still closer. "Jack isn't coming back for three months, and we are not to write to each other. We have always written to each other every week, but mother won't let me write to him now. Mother is very fond of Jack, you know, but she wants me to marry Adrian." The girl's frankness touched Rhoda; but there was bitterness in her thoughts as she listened. How different Molly's life had been from her own—Molly so guarded, so shel tered by love! Her own only protec tion had been a father who had been unable to shield her from insult and humiliation. Molly went on with her confi dences. "I had a little talk with Adrian about it yesterday," she said. "He was very kind; I never liked him so much before. He thinks it our duty to marry, but he said it was natural that I should prefer Jack." "And does your mother know?" "Adrian thinks I ought not to decide yet; I am too young to know my own mind, so he says. But Ido know it, don't I, my Bill?" She kissed the puppy and put it dov/n upon the rug. "Come, Rhoda, and let me help you to change your dress! I feel ashamed of talking about myself so much; but I wanted you to know all about me. Now you must tell me about yourself." "There is nothing to tell," said Rhoda, with a fain.t smile. "Sup pose you run away now, Molly, aad leave me to myself. Come back when It is time for me togo down." Molly jumped up. "You must be so tired! Would you rather not come down to dinner? Let me tell mother you are tired." "No, dear; I will come down.' "Polly—that's my maid, you know —will help you to unpack. Let me stay too." "I think you had better not, dear. Shall 1 see Aunt Miilicent at din ner?" A roguish smile broke over Mol ly's face. "Oh, dear no! You are to be ta ken this evening to see Aunt Miili cent in her own room. Now, Rhoda, J will tell you what to say. Start back with Intense surprise and cry out. 'This cannot be my aunt; this Is a young lady of twenty-five!' Say something like that, and you will be Aunt Mllllcent's forever. "Does she look so young?" "She Is a haggard old lady," re turned Molly, with some asperity. "I have no patience with her! But she was a beauty In her youth, and Bhe thinks she Is a beauty still. But I want her to like you, Rhoda; I want her to leave you all her money. She Is immensely rich—her god father left her a great fortune —and she is constantly making new wills. She left It all to me once, but I of fended her beyond recall when I teased her about her complexion; it was too bad of me! Try to look as it were all real, Rhoda—hair and teeth and complexion and all! It will be difficult, but I should like you to be Aunt Mllllcent's heiress." "Molly, you must please go away," Rhoda said, ignoring all the last speech; "1 shall never dress while you are here." "Put on a pretty dress," was Mol ly'B answer, as she took up her puppy, "and don't forget what I told you about Aunt Milllcent. There — you will say I am incorrigible! But Jack and I planned it all; we intend you to marry Adrian and have Aunt Mllllcent's money!" "How very kind of you and Jack to plan my future!" said Rhoda, with a strange laugh. Molly did not understand the look of bitterness on her cousin'sfacg. She turned back and ueld up her face to be kissed. "You are not vexed with me, Rhoda?" she said. "I am such a chatter-box, but I would not vex you for the world!" "My dear, you did not vex me; you are a dear little girl!" "You look so sad," said Molly, with a tender look In her blue eyes. "Were you very sorry to leave the convent, Rhoda?" "Very sorry." "You had been there so many years, It must have been like home to you. But this is to be your home now, dear Rhoda!" Rhoda's eyes were full of hot tears as she bent and kissed Molly gently. "My dear little cousin, you are very good to me!" she said. Molly's a/iswer was an energetic hug and a long warm kiss. Then she caught up her puppy and ran away. Khoda had changed her dress for a black silk and was sitting by the lire, when there was a tap at the door and Mrs. Dering entered. "Are you ready, Rhoda? Are you sure you would rather come down to dinner?" "I am quite rested, thank you!" said Rhoda briefly. Mrs. Derlng went and stood op posite to her on the hearth rug, playing absently with her fan, while she looked steadily at Rhoda. It was not exactly an unkindly glance, but It was cool and critical. Rhoda's cheeks (lushed. She roso aud pushed forward a chair. "Will you not sit down, aunt?" she said. "No, thank you, my dear. You are tall, Rhoda —as tall as 1 am!" "Yes," said Rhoda, briefly. "You remember your mother, of course?" A strange passionate look came over the girl's face, her eyes drooped and her lips quivered. "I was a child when she died," she said; "but I remember her well." "I hoped you would have been like her." "I ain like my father," said Rhoda. Mrs. Derlng frowned. "We must understand each other, Rhoda. You must forget, within these walls, that you are your fa ther's child; that is the condition on which I have consented to have you here. Never mention his name again!" Rhoda was silent. Mrs. Derlng went on. "I do not wish to speak of him to you; I wish to forgot that he is your father. I shall remember only that you are my husband's niece. I wish to be very kind to you, Rhoda." "Thank you!" said the girl with pale set lips. "If you had lived with your father even for a few months after your mother died, we could not have had you here. I want you for a companion to my Molly." The mother's voice grew tender as she uttered the name. She went on without looking at Rho da. "I hope that Molly has .a great future before her. Her Aunt Milli cent Intends to make her her heiress, and we expect her to marry our heir. He has a career before him in Parliament; he is even now a rising statesman and will be a peer some day, and one of the great men of the land. We are proud of him." "You mean Molly's cousin, Adrian?" said Rhoda very quietly. "He is your cousin, too, my dear," said Mrs. Derlng, with kind intent; but the condescending words brought the color to Rhoda's cheeks. "Thank you!" she said. The tone made Mrs. Derlng turn quickly to her; but Rhoda's glance was fixed upon the fire, and her face was coldly lmpasslvw. "I shall want your help in many ways," Mrs. Derlng went on, after a pause. "Molly is a child; she doeß not value things aright. I tell you what we have planned for her fu ture, so that you may help us." "My cousin Adrian —does he know of these plans for the future?" asked Rhoda. "My dear, of course he does. I wonder at your question. It is his dearest hope to marry Molly. But let ua come down stalra; you must tell us about your convent life to pighU. HbjMtft. tad. I x&nt to bear you play duets with Molly." Mrs. Derlng went to the door and , Rhoda accompanied her. There was a cold determined look on her face asvshe followed her stately aunt down the wide stairs; it was a strange sad look for that beautiful face. CHAPTER IV. Rhoda did not see her Aunt Milll cent until the next morning. Her aunt sent down to say that her head was aching, and that she could not see Rhoda that evening. "I gave her a fancy picture of you, Rhoda, yesterday," said Molly, when the message came. "You were to be short and pale and very fright ened looking. Aunt Milllcent is pre pared to find you very dull and tire some." "Rhoda will not see much of her aunt," said Mrs. Derlng, who was sitting knitting by the fire. "She will have plenty of occupation with your French and music, and I shall want her help In many ways." "Don't be sorry, Rhoda," laughed Molly; "I am a nicer companion than Aunt Milllcent.' When Rhoda accompanied Stan ton, who had been sent to fetch her, to Aunt Mllllcent's room, Miss Der lng was dressed and sitting by the fire. "Sit down here, Rhoda, and let me look at you!" she said, after kissing her. Rhoda sat down opposite to her aunt and submitted herself to the close scrutiny of Miss Dering's keen dark eyes. "Do you know that you are very beautiful?" said Miss Derlng after a moment or two. "I have never thought about it at all," answered Rhoda indlHerently. "I was like you once," said Miss Derlng. "You are like the ghost of my dead youth, Rhoda. Look at me now!" Her aunt's words were so utterly different from what Molly's descr'p had led her to expect that Rhoda could not speak. "A painted, hideous, haggard old woman!" Miss Derlng went on. "Look at me!" She got up and pushed back the curtain, letting the cold clear light fall upon her hag gard face. "You do not speak, Rhoda. You have heard that I am vain—a foolish old woman. I know how they talk of me downstairs!" Rhoda rose and drew forward the curtain again with a Arm hand. "Aunt Milllcent, I am not going to answer you while you talk like this. Sit down again by the Are." Miss Derlng looked ut her niece with those haggard dark eyes that were so like her father's. "You are as I was," she said. "Come here, Rhoda." • She drew the girl quickly to the other side of the room. A curtain hung there, and she drew it back, showing a full length portrait of a girl in a riding habit. Rhoda could not but see that this radiant beauti ful girl bore an extraordinary like ness to herself. "I was like that once," said her aunt, with a miserable laugh. "I was loved and courted. I was Miss Dering of Derlng, with a father aud brothers who worshipped me and a lover who would have died for me. But they are all gone—all gone ex cept George, and he thinks only of his wife." (To Be Continued.) LADIES' SEVEN-GORED SKIRT. Pattern No. 3247. —Very suggestive of the polonaise is the handsome de sign here presented. Pitted closely nil around at the upper part, the gores flare slightly toward the foot, the in verted box plait at the center front and back contributing to this effect. The closing is made at the back. The pattern is in 6 sizes, 22 to 32 Inches waist measure. 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