Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-03-19
WHOLE NUMBER, 495

EO 1Or Cll6 urbt tiluot Lulu Living hnu
Father Benwell met in the library.
"Judging by the number Of carriages
already at the door," said Father Ben
we'll, "your lordship's kindness ID
largely appreciated by lovers of art"
"All the tickets were disposed of in
three hours" Lord Loring answered.
Everybody (the librarian told me)
is eager to see the pictures. Have you
looked in yet ?"
"Not yet. thought I would get on
first with my work here"
"I have just come from tho gallery"
Lord Loring continued. "And here I
am driven out Of it again by the remark"
Of some of the visitors. You know my
beautiful copies Of Rapbael's Cupid and
Psyche designs? The general impress
sion, especially among the ladies', is
that they are disgusting Ind indecent.
That was enough for me. If you hap
pen to meet Lady Loring and Stella,
kindly tell them that I have gone to
the club"
"Do the ladies propose paying visit
to the gallery?"
"Of course-to see the peoplel I
have recommended them to wait until
they are ready to go out for their
drive. In their indoor costume, they
might become objects of general obser-
vation as the ladies of the house. T
shall be anxious to hear, Father, if you
can discover the civilizing influences of
art among my guests in the gallery.
Good-morning."
Father Benwell rang the bell when
Lord Loring had left him.
Do the ladies drive out to-day at
their usual hour?" he inquired, when
the servant appeared. The man an-
swered in the affirmative The carriage
was ordered for three o'clock.
At half-past two Father Benwell slip.
ped quietly into the gallery. He posted
himself midway between the library
door and the grand entrance, on the
watch, not for the civilizing influences
of art, but for the appearance of Lady
Loring and Stella. He was still Of
opinion that Stella's /" frivolous mother
might, be turned into source of valu.
able information on the soMce of heI
daughters caller life. The first step
10 ward attaining this object was to dis
cover Mrs. Eyrecourt's present address.
Stella would certainly know it, and
Father Benwell felt just confidence
In his capacity to make the young lady
serviceable, in this respect, to the Pc
cuniary interests of the church.
After an interval of quarter of an
hour, Lady Loring and Stella entered
the gallery by the library-door. Father
Benwen at once advanced to pay his
respects.
For some little time he discreetly re-
trained from making any attempt to
lead the conversation to the topic that
he had in view. He was too well ac-
quainted with the Unsuitable interest OF
women in looking at other women to
force himself into notice. The ladies
made their remarks ON the pretentions
to beauty and to taste in dress among
the throng of visitors, and Father Ben
well waited by them, and listened with
the resignation OF modest young man.
Patience, like virtue, is sometimes its
own reward. Two gentlemen, evidently
interested in the pictures, approached
the priest. He drew back with his
ready politeness, to let them see the
picture before which h happened to be
standing. The movement disturbed
Stella She turned sharply noticed
one of the gentlemen, the taller Of the
two-became deadly pale, aud instantly
quilted the gallery. Lady Loring,
looking where Stella had looked,
frowned angrily, and followed Miss
Eyrecourt into the library. Wise
Father Benweil let them go, and con.
centrated his attention on the person
who had been the object Of this start
ling recognition.
Unquestionably, q gentleman, with
light hair, and complexion; with .
bright, benevolent face and keen intel
ligent blue eyes-apparently still in
the prime of life. Such was Father
Benwells first impression of the
stranger He had evidently seen Miss
Eyrecourt at the moment when she first
noticed him; and he, too, showed signs
Of serious agitation. His face flushed
deeply, and his eyes expressed, not
merely surprise, but distress. He turned
to his friend.
"This place is hot, he said; let Gus
get out Of It'll"
"My dear Winterfeld |" the friend
reconstructed" we haven't.seen h alf the
pictures yet"
"Excuse me if I leave you," the
other replied. 81 am used to the free
air of the country. Let us meet again
this evening. Come and dine with me.
The same address as usual-Derwent's
Hotel"
With those words he hurried out,
making his way, without ceremony,
through the crowd in the picture-gal-
lnrv