Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-06-11
for the priesthood. travel to London
by to-day's train.

again ON the journey. The tone of the
closing sentences is still studiously cold.
After informing me that she is staying
with her mother in London, she con-
cludes her letter in these terms:
"Be under no fear that the burden Of
my troubles will be laid on your
shoulders. Since the fatal day when
we met at Ten Acres you have shown
forbearance and compassion toward me.
I don't stop to inquire il you are sin.
cere-it rests with you to prove that.
But have some questions to ask which
no person but you can answer. For the
rest, my friendless position will per-
haps plead with you not to misunder-
stand me-"
Inveterate distrust in every sentence !
If any other woman had treated me in
this way l should have put her letter
into the fire, and should not have
stirred from my comfortable house.
'29M Jaauny.-A day missed out OF
my diary. The events of yesterday un-
nerved me for time.
Arriving at Derwent's hotel, on the
evening of the 9th, I sent line
to Stella by messenger to ask when
she could receive me.
1t is strange how the merest trifes
seem to touch womenl Her note in re-
ply contains the first expression OF
friendly feeling toward me which has
escaped her since we parted at Brussels.
And this expression proceeds from her
ungovernable surprise and gratitude at
my taking the trouble to travel from
Devonshire to London on her account.
For the rest, she proposed to call on me
at the hotel the next morning. She and
her mother, it appeared, differed in opin-
ion on the subject of Mr.. Romayne's be-
havior to her, and she wished to see me,
in the first instance, unrestrained by
Mrs. Eyrecourts interference.
There was little sleep for me that
night. I passed most of the time in
smoking and walking up and down the
room. My one relief was afforded by
Traveller; he begged so hard to go with
me 1 could not resist him. The dog
always sleeps in my room. His surprise
at my extraordinary restlessness lend
ing III downright anxiety and alarm)
was expressed in his eyes, and in his
little winnings and cries, quite as intel
ligibly as if he had put his meaning into
words. Who first called dog dumb
creature? 1t must have been a man I
think, and thoroughly unlovable man,
too, from dogs point of view.
Soon after ten on the morning of the
2Sth she entered my sitting room.
In her personal appearance I saw a
change for the worse, produced I sup
pose by the troubles that have tried her
sorely, poor thing. There was a sad
loss of delicacy in her features and of
purity in her complexion. Even her
dress-I should certainly not have no.
ticed it in any other woman-seemed to
be loose and slovenly. In the agita-
tion of the moment I forgot the long
enlargement between us; half.lifted
my hand to take hers, and checked my
self. Was 1 mistaken in supposing that
she yielded to the same impulse and re-
sisted it as I did? She concealed her
embarrassment, ifshe felt any, by patting
the dog.
"I AM ashamed that you should have
taken the journey to London in this
wintry weather to-" she began.
1t was impossible, in her situation, to
let her assume this commonplace tone
with me. 81 sincerely feel for you," I
said, "and sincerely wish to help you if
l can."
She looked at me for the first time.
Did she believe me, or did she still
doubt? Before I could decide she
took a letter from her pocket, opened it
and handed it to me.
"Women often exaggerate their trou.
bles," she said. at is perhaps an
unfair trial of your patience, but i
should like you to satisfy yourself that
I have not made the worst of my situa-
ton. That letter will place it before
you in Mr.. Romayne's own words. Read
it, except where the page is turned
down."
1t was her husbands letter Of fare
well.
The language was scrupulously deli
cate and considerate. But to my mind
it entirely failed to disguise the fanat.
ical cruelty Of the mans resolution ad.
dressed to his wife. In substance il
came to this:
"He had discovered the marriage at
Brussels, which she had deliberately
concealed from him when he took her
for his wife. She had afterward per-
sisted in that concealment, under cir
cumstances which made it impossible
that he could ever trust her again. 4"
This no doubt referred to her ill-ad.
advised reception of me as total stran
ger at Ten Acres Lodge). "In the mis-
erable breakup of his domestic life the
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