i RHODA'S !j ►: tj | SECRET jj $ 5 K By SYLVJA CHESTER R L msmsmmMSMSMJk CHAPTER VI. "Well, Molly?" "Well, Jack?" "Are things any better now?" Molly shook her pretty head. "Rather worse. Mother and Rho da never speak to each other, Aunt Millicent is very, very ill, and Rhoda, is looking more unhappy than ever. Jack, if I were engaged to you, and nil the aunts In the world were 111, I should not look like that!" "If you were engaged? You are engaged to me, you faithless young person!" "I mean properly, legally en gaged," suid Molly. "I don't call it a proper engagement when one's mother doesn't countenance it. I wonder how loug it will bfe before we shall convince her, Jack?" "Oh, It will be all right!" said the young man cheerfully. "She smiled at me last, night. Molly actually smiled. Isn't that a triumph?" "Poor Aunt Millicent!" said Mol ly. "I am afraid she is going to die. Do you know that she wants Rhoda and Adrian to bo married by special license in her room, Jack?" "Does she? Do they agree to that?" "I don't know. Mother said some thing to father about it this morn ing; and I overheard her. There— mother Is calling me!" Molly ran away along the terrace, turning with a bright smile to her lover at the corner. "I was talking to Jack, mother,' she said, with a half pleading, half audacious look at Mrs. Dering. "Jack here again!" exclaimed Mrs. Dering. "Yes; but he is not coming to luncheon," said Molly hurriedly. "Did you want me, mother?" "I want you to take this telegram down to tho post office. It is from your aunt to Adrian; 1 do not wish the servants to see it!' Molly took the telegram. It ran— From Millicent Dering to Adrian Dering: Bring dowu tho Ucease with you. Molly read it and looked at her mother. "Is Rhoda really going to be mar ried by special license?" "Yes —at once!" replied Mrs. Der ing briefly. "Go with the telegram and loso no time, Molly!" Molly hastened away on her er rand. She was coming out of the post office and turned up the village road when she caught sight of a girl standing at the corner of the foot path, evidently nt a loss as to which road to take. She was a stranger, and Molly crossed the road to speak to her. "Have you lost your way?" she said, pleasantly. Tho girl's heavy face brightened. "I want togo to Dering," she said. "It's a house near this village." "Those are the woods of Dering!" said Molly, with a smile. "I am go ing there If you will walk with me!" The girl" looked at her doubtfully. "Do you live at Dering, miss?" "Yes; I am Miss Dering!" Molly returned. "Can I do anything for you?" "Miss Rhoda Dering lives with you, then?" said the girl in a hesi tating tone. "Would you take her a letter from me, miss?" "Certainly! Give me the letter. Do you know Miss Rhoda?" "I lived with her in Paris," the girl answered, taking a somewhat soiled and crumpled note from her pocket. "Please give her this, miss. And tell Miss Rhoda I have gone l, )ack to London!" "Won't you come to Dering and see Miss Rhoda?" ' No; give her tho note. It doesn't wa nt any answer!" Molly took tho note. She was a little puzzled, but concluded that the girl had been a servant in the con vent. "Do you know your way to the on?" she asked, as the girl ■d away. V, yes, miss, it's straight on! you for taking the note." ? took the note back with her. "ite at luncheon when she re turned. "Here is a mysterious missive for you, Rhoda!" she said, producing tho crumpled envelope. "It does not re quire any answer." Rhoda took the note. She glanced at the writing and put It down by her plate. "Open It, open It!" cried Mrs. Der ing briskly. "Let us share the mys ter-, Rhoda. Where did you get it from, Molly?" "A stranger In the village --a rather lugubrlouß stupid damsel, with a heavy face. She lived with you in Paris, she said, Rhoda!" "Yes; It was a servant I knew there!" said Rhoda calmly. She opened the note with steady finger?. It was short. Dere Miss Dering,—The French gentlemau is In London, and he la going to see you. He does not mean you any good,and I rite to wain you. Your Respectful servant, SARAH MOUNT. Rhoda crumpeld the note and put it into her pocket. "It Is only about a Paris friend," »he suid carelessly. But her hand trem bledas stie raised ner gums 10 her lips, and she could not meet Mrs. Dering's scrutinizing glance. When Adrian arrived that even ing, Miss Dering was much worse. Late in the evening she called Rho da to her. "I shall not live through another day, Rhoda," she said feebly. "Now you must do what you promised. Let me see you and Adrian married; let It be In this room to-morrow morn ing." And Rhoda promised. No time was allowed her for thought that night. She spent It in constant attendance on her aunt. When morning came, Miss Dering was somewhat bettor. She Insisted on being dressed and wheeled Into her sitting room, which Molly had adorned with flowers for the mar riage ceremony. Then Miss Dering sent Rhoda away. "Go and change your dress and go out into the fresh air," she said, "there is plenty of time yet. You shall be fetched when the hour comes.". Rhoda obeyed. She went down the terrace and across the lawn Into the lime walk. It was a lovely, fresh, Spring morning; the limes wore budding, and the sun shone brightly upon the opening leaves. Rhoda sauntered slowly up and down the quiet walk. The house was hidden by a great group of beeches, and the place was very still and solitary. The further end of tho walk joined tho great avenue of elms leading from the village to the house. Rhoda hud reached this end just as a man came up the avenue. It was M. Lefroy. He saw her in stantly and alvanced, taking off his hat with a very low bow. "This is unexpected good fortune, mademoiselle," he suid. "I was go lug to see you, and behold, here you are!" Kliodu bowed. M. Lefroy left the avenue and turned by her side into the lime walk. They walked a few yards in silence; then llhodastopped. "You say you were coming to see me, Monsieur Lefroy. May I know why you wish to see me?" "Ah, Mademoiselle Dering," he said, bowing again, "you know why I long to see you always—because I love you!" Rhoda's cheeks flushed. "I beg of you to be silent!" she Bald coldly. "I have no desire to quarrel with you, Monsieur Lefroy, but I will not hear such words from you!" "Ah, you prefer to hear them from Monsieur Dering, the heir of the family estates?" returned tho Frenchman, flashing a look of hate at Rhoda. "But I have come to tell you this cannot be; I have come from Monte Carlo to tell jou BO!" "Indeed!" said Rhoda, with her old bitter scornful smile. "And by what right do you interfere with my life. Monsieur Lefroy?" "The right of knowledge!" he hissed out, seizing her arm. "I have seen a letter you wrote to your father, mademoiselle, he has an un fortunate habit of leaving his let ters about. They do not know, these English relatives of yours, of those happy lays you spent with your hon orable father; I will tell them!" "Do as you please," said Rhoda, releasing her arm and stepp'ag back. "I have many things to tell them!" he went on, raising his voice in his anger at her coolness. Your servant Sarah is in my pay. You had better listen to me, mademoiselle! Those —" lie was Interrupted by a strong He was Interrupted by a string hand being placed upon liis shoulder, and he turned round to confront the tall figure of Adrian Dering. "Who are you, sir?" said Adrian, In a low harsh tone. The Frenchman recovered his calmness In a moment; he took off his hat. "Mademoiselle will kindly intro duce me," he suid blandly; "I am an old friend of hers." "Any friend of my future wife's is welcomeat Dering," returned Adrian. "Rhoda, is this a friend of yours?" "Then I have the honor of ad dressing Monsieur Adrian Dering, mademoiselle?" The Frenchman turned to Rhoda, who stood apart, an icy calmness on her face. "Direct me what to say." "Do not speak, Rhoda," Adrian broke In. "Sir, I heard you address ing this lady In language I cannot allow. I wish to heur nothing from you!" He crossed to Rhola and took her hand. "Go back to the house, Rhoda," he said quickly, "and leave us alone." "You had better hear me," said the Frenchman slowly. "If Made moiselle Rhoda Is ycur fiancee, you should know in what manner she spent the last two years. You think she spent them In the convent. It is untrue; she spent them with her father in his gambling saloon." Adrian did not release Rhoda's band. Not a muscle of his face moved; he turned pale, but that was the only sign that the Frenchman's words were a surprise to him. "I am In Miss Derlng's confidence," he said calmly; "she has told me all I wish to know about her life. Si lence, sir!" he went on as the Frenchman was about to speak. "Not a word more!" M. Lefrpy took ofT his hat with a smile. "If you are satisfied, monsieur," he said, "who need say a word?" Adrian let go Rhoda's hand and made a step toward him. M. Lefroy turned airily away. "I have the honor to bid you both 'Oood morning.' " he said, and dis appeared in the avenue. Adrian walked back to where Rhoda stood. "Tell me what meant," he said sternly. "He told you plainly. I did not spend the last two years of my life In the convent; I spent them with my father; I shared my father's life." She raised her eyes slowly to the stern face of the man before her. He looked down at her silently. All the hope and the happiness had died out of his face; he looked ten years older. "I deceived you of set purpose," Rhoda went on slowly. "My father knew that they would never receive me here If they were told tho truth." "Tell me all the truth," Adrian said hoarsely. "What was that man to you?" "To me, nothing. He was my father's confederate; ho paid my servant to support him In false ac cusations against me. The servant Is faithful to me, though he does not know It; but that will not prevent people from believing him." "The falsehoods of a man like that are nothing," returned Adrian. "But what has he to say that is true? Toll me exactly!" "I left the convent two years ago," Rhoda answered; "I went to my father. He was kind to me, and I was very happy. Then I learned what his life was, and I did not leave him. That is all I have to toll you." Adrian did not answer; he stood looking at her silently. Rhoda could uot meet that look. As they stood there beside each other, each waiting for calmness to speak, Molly came tripping into the lime walk. "Come, dear people!" she cried. "The rector has come, and we are all ready." Adrian advanced a step towards her. "Go back to the house, dear child," he said; "we will be there in a moment." Molly ran away, and Adrian turned back to Rhoda. "Come!" he said Bternly. Rhoda looked at him. "1 cannot!" she said. "You must!" he returned firmly. "Nothing shall be altered now. You have deceved us; but It is now too late togo back. Come, they are waiting!" "I cannot!" cried Rhoda, shrink ing back from him. "lie angry—be harsh to me! Do uot look at me like that—do not speak to me like that!" "You must bear the consequences of your own actions," he answered, with no softening in his glance. "You have had the courage to play a part for months; you must have courage togo through with the mat ter. Your aunt's dying moments shall not be tortured by the knowl edge of our curse yet. I will not al low you to draw back now." "I cannot be your wife!" she said with a shudder. "You must go through the mar riage ceremony with me," he re turned sternly. "What we do after wards we need not think of now. But my wife in the eyes of the law you must be." He took her hand in his strong clasp. "Come!" he said. But Rhoda still drew back. "Have pity on me? If you ever loved me, have pity on me now!" "I have no thought for you," was Adrian's stern answer. "I think only of the poor woman lying yonder, whose lust moments you wish to darken. I think only of your good name, which you leave at the mercy of that man. Come!" At that moment Jack appeared at the end of tho walk. "Come, come!" he called. "We are getting impatient." Adrian went forward, still holding Rhoda's hand, nnd she went on in hopeless submission to his will. The little sitting room looked very gay with flowers. The curtains were all drawn back, and Miss Dering lay on a sofa by the window, her rich draperies arranged around her. She was looking at the door eagerly when Adrian entered leading Rhoda. Tho rector stepped forward; but Miss Derlng's faint voice stopped him. "One moment," she said. "Rhoda come and kiss me flrßt." Rhoda with a deathly pale face, knelt down by the sofa. Miss Dering put one arm gently round her. "I want to tell you all what this dear girl has been to mo," she said, laying hor other hand upon Rhoda's bent head. "I was a vain, selfish, careless woman when Heaven sent her to me. She has taught me to live a better life; she has taught me how to die." She paused. A low sob from Rhoda broke the stillness. "Adrian, come here," said Miss Dering. Adrian came close, ills eyes bent on he kneeling figure with the bowed head. "Take her, Adrian —the sweetest, noblest woman man ever had for a wife! Rhoda, darling, the rector la waiting." Rhoda did not move. Adrian placed his hand upon her shoulder. "Come," he said. Rhoda got up, and her aunt half rose to embrace her onco more; but she fell back, and an ashy pallor came over her face. "My heart!" she cried. Rhoda turned to Adrian. "Call Stanton —quick!" But even us she spoke, as she put her arms round Miss Dering, the end came. Her aunt's head fell back upon her shoulder, and she drew a deep breath —her last breath. The rector gently drew Rhoda away. "She Is at peace," he said. Rhoda looked down at the white face, and her own grew pale and deathlike. But she did not faint. She allowed Mrs. Dering to lead her gently away, and Molly to come to her room to comfort ner. "I am glad! I am glad!" she was saying to herself with passionate iteration. "She never knew! And Adrian is still free!" CHAPTER VII. M. Lefroy turned back from Der ing in some discomfiture. No suspi cion had occurred to him that Adrian learned the truth for the first time that morning. His mind was full of dark schemes against Rhoda's peace as he strode down the avenue. He stopped at the gate to speak to the rosy cheeked woman who had ad mitted him. He walked on through the gate and along the high road. He had nearly reached the village and was within sight of the houses, when a man, who had been watching him for some distance unseen by him, came forward from the side of the road. M. Lefroy stepped back. "Dering, you here?" "Yes, I am here!" the other said fiercely. His face was pale and worn with hard traveling, his clothes were travel stained. "I have followed on your track. At last I have found you. What are doing here?" "What are you doing here?" the Frenchman asked blandly. '"Have you come to pay a visit to your dear relations, mon ami? Ido not envy you your welcome." "You have come to spy on my daughter!" Arthur Dering returned, his chest heaving with passion. "You have come—" "Be calm —be calm, mon ami!" the Frenchman said softly. "I came to give your friends a little Infor mation about the life of niude moleslle. Yes, certainly 1 came to do that. "Ah," he went on, altering his tone and with all the hatred he felt in his face, "you thought to hide your little plot from ine! But 1 found you out! I will tell you the story of your daughter's life in my own fashion unless —" But the words were checked by a strong hand on his throat. There was a short, sharp struggle, and the Frenchman, agile as he was and though by far the younger man, was thrown to the ground. But he was up in a moment, with something shining in his hand. As some vil lagers who had seen tho struggle came running up, Mr. Bering fell back upon tho road, stabbed in the breast. (Tn Be Continued.) j CALEB j CONOVER, | RAILROADER. | I A NEW SERIAL TO I BEGIN SHORTLY I IN THIS PAPER I • • A Vivid and Truthful Story of American Life and Politics, Sen sational, Exciting, Romantic, Natural and Perfectly Alive with Force and Action, by AL BERT PAYSON TERHUNE. BEGIN WITH THE OPENING NUMBERS iw HOME DRESSMAKING By Mme. Jeane. LADIES' SHIRTWAIST. Pattern No. 3237. —For sheer ma terials this model Is to be strongly ad vised. The back is plain save for the Blight fullness at the waistline, which is adjusted by gathers and a stay, and the fronts are tucked in such manner as to give gracefulness to the figure. The regulation shirt sleeves are com pleted by mannish cufTs to be closed by sleeve links, and a band and turn down collar complete the neck. The pattern is In 5 Bizes— 34 to 42 inches bust measure. For 30 bust the shirtwaist requires 2 1-2 yards of ma terial 36 Inches wide. HOW TO ORDER PATTERNB. For each pattern desired, send 10c (iu stamps only) to this paper. Olva No. of pattern and size wanted. Best Goods^m^- Righ lor Dry Goods, Groceries, l-bots and Shoes, Hats and Caps, (jloves and Mittens, Notions, Fancy Goods etc. call and examine my stock You will find my goods and prices attractive. James McFarlane. LciPorte Tannery fAHTEPfiRSOER AGENTSS ample Latest Model Ilfineroi* bicycle furnisher! by tn. Our agents everywhere arc nakinff money fast. Write for full particulars and special offer at once. NO MONEY KK<JI IKM J> until you receive and approve (if your bicycle. Weship to anyone, anywhere in the U. S. without a cent deposit in advance, prepay freight, and allow TKN DAY'S' Till A I. during which time you may ride the bicycle and Dut it to any test you wish. If you are then not rrrfectly satisfied or do not wish to keep the bicycle ship it hack to us at our expense and you will not be out one cent. FAHTnttY e furnish the highest grade bicycles it is possible to make ■ NVlvltl I niybw at one small profit above actual factory cost. You save #lO to $25 middlemen s profits by buying direct of us and have the manufacturer's guar antee behind your bicycle. A>o NOT IU Y a bicycle or a pair ot tires from anyone at any price until you receive our catalogues and learn our unheard ot Jactory Prices and remarkable special offers to ri«i«>r ug«MitH. YOU WILL BE wh H n you receive °ur beautiful catalogue and IVU fwlvillOntll study our superb models at the "wonderfully iow 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. HK.'YCIJ] ])K.\I.I'IKS, you can sell our bicycles under your own name plate at ar prices. Orders filled the r'.ny received. I> HAND JIICYCLKS. We do not retnilarly handle second hand bicycles, but a number on hand taken in trade by our Chicago retail stores. These we clear out rices ranging from to £8 or tflO* Descriptive bargain lists mailed free. ftfIACTFD RDAKFC Wheels, Import* .1 roller elmiiirt and pedala, parts, repairs and vl/MO I Ln~D 11 HVVLwf equipment of all kinds at half the usual retail prices. *f>y HEDGETHORN PUNCTURE-PROOF S M 80 2| SELF-HEALING TIRES fofiirMouccfoNLr The regular retail price of these tires is jP SO Per pair, but to introduce we will ■ . u - c 5 sell you a sample pa ir furs4.Bo{cash with order $4.55). fZr-- Z * NO MORE TROUBLE FROM PUNCTURES If' 1 p / TTr? H T l '^k NAILS, Tack* or filuaa will not lot tho I HI air out. Sixty tkousnmi pairs sold Inst year. . i L • 7 jJKVj Over two hundred thousand pairs now in use. jr^l DESCRIPTIONS Made in nll sizes. I * 1; v 1 < J and easy riding,very durableand lined inside with / a special ouulity of rubber, which never becomes porous ana which closes up smnll punctures without allow- If »■ ... . . u . Ing the air to escape. 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We want you to send us a trial order at once, hence this remarkable tire offer. mgm Injrfii TlorC don't buy any kind at any price until you send for a pair of Mr W €/(/ fvCbl/ I fIICO Hcdgethorn Puncture-I'roof tires on approval and trial at the special introductory price quoted al»ove; or write for our big Tire and Sundry Catalogue which describes and quotes all makes and kinds of tires at about halt the usual prices, ja#| XML]tkMTT but write us a postal today, I>o NOT Til INK oi*'HITYINO a bicycle fwt## ww/I#m or a pair of tires from anyone until you know the new uud wonderful offers we are making. It only costs a postal to learu 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. 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