Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-07-09

he asked, eagerly.
"Yesp
Father Benwell sprang forward with
outstretched hands. 1 stopped him.
He struggled with me. forgot the
privilege of the black robe. I took him
by the throat.
The boy threw the will into the fire
"Oh |" he shouted, in high delight, and
clapped his chubby hands Us the bright
little blaze few up the chimney. 1
released the priest.
In frenzy of rage and despair he
looked round at the persons in the
room. ~ take you all to Witness" he
cried, "this is an act of madness |"
You yourself declared just now,"
said the lawyer, "that Mr.. Romayne
was in perfect possession Of his facui.
ties"
The priest turned furiously ON the
dying man. They looked at each other.
Tor one awful moment Romayne's
eyes frightened, Romayne's voice raj
lied its power, as if life was returning
to him. Frowning darkly, the priest
put his question:
"What did you do it for?"
Quietly and firmly the answer came:
"Wife and child"
The last long-drawn sigh rose and
fell. With those sacred words on his
lips Romayne died.
4
London, 9Th May.--At Stella's request
have returned to Penrose, with buI
one fellow traveller. My dear old com
panion, the dog, is coiled up fast asleer
at my feet while 1 write these lines.
Penrose has gained strength enough tc
keep me company in the sitting-room,
In few days more he will see Stella
again.
What instructions reached the EN-.
ba'sy from Rome whether Romayne re.
:eived the last sacrament at the earlier
period of illness-we never heard. No
objection was made when Lord Loring
proposed to remove the body to Eng.
land to be buried in the family vault at
Yange Abbey.
had undertaken to give the neces
sary directions for the funeral on my
arrival in London. Returning to the
hotel met Father Benwell in the street
tried to pass on. He deliberately
stopped me.
"How is Mrs. Romayne?" he asked,
with that suavity which he see ms al.
says to have at command. "Fairly
>NelI hope? And the boy? All, he
iittle thought how he was changing his
prospects for the better when he made
thtt blaze in the fire Pardon me, Nj.
Wintertield, you don't seem to be quite
% cordial as usual. Perhaps you are
linking of your inconsiderate assault
N my throat? Let us forgive and
forget. Or, perhaps, you object to
my having converted poor Romayle,
and to my being ready to accept from
him the restoration of the property OF
the church. In both cases 1 only did
my duty as priest. You are liberal
ninded man. Surely I deserve favor.
lble construction of my conduct?"
really could not endure this.
81 have my own opinion Of what you
deserve" answered. "Don't provoke
me to mention it."
He eyed me with smile.
81 am not so old as 1 look" he said i;
II may live another twenty years p
"Well ?" l asked.
"Well," he answered, "muoh may
happen in twenty years"
With that he left mo. II he means
my further mischief, can tell him this
-he will find me in his way.
To turn to more pleasant subject.
Refecting on all that had passed at my
memorable interview with Romayne, /
felt some surprise that one of the per-
sons present had made no effort to pre-
vent the burning of the will. 1t was
not to be expected of Stella-or of tho
doctors, who had no interest in the
matter but was unable to understand
the passive position maintained by the
lawyer. He enlightened my ignorance
in two words.
"The Vange property and the Ber-
rick property were both absolutely at
;he disposal of MIR. Romayne," he said.
eff he died without making will,
he knew enough of the law to forsee
that houses, lands and money would go
30 his nearest of kim In palmer words
his widow and son."
When Penrose can travel, he accom-
plnies me to Beaupark. Stella and
lor little son and Mrs. Eyrecourt will
be the only other guests in my house.
fime must pass, and the boy will be
,lder, before | may remind Stella OF
Romayne's last wishes on thai sad
morning when we two knelt on either
side of him. In the meanwhile it is
almost happiness enough for me to look
forward to the day.
NoTE.-'rhe next leaf of the diary
is missing. BY some accident manu-