The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1881-01-28

This thrilling Novel began in No. IS of thu
REPoRNER. Rack numbers can be obtained at th'
publication office, of newsmen and authorized
agents. Back numbers from the beginning OF the
for 1881.
CHAPTER vM. THE PRIEST on THE
WOMAN?
Lord Loring hurried away to his
dressing-room. 81 won't be more than
ten minutes" he said, and left Romayne
and Stella together.
She was attired with her customary
love Of simplicity. White lace was the
only ornament on her dress Of delicate
silvery gray. Her magnificent hair was
left to plead its own merits, without
ornament of any sort. Even the brooch
which fastened her lace pelerine was of
plain gold only. Conscious that she
was showing her beauty to the greatest
advantage in the eyes of man Of taste,
she betrayed little Of the embarrass-
ment which Romayne had already mo-
ticed at the moment when she gavc
him her hand. They were alone; and
it was the first time she had seen him
in evening dress.
1t may be that women have no posi-
tive appreciation Of what is beautiful
10 form and color, or it may be that
they have no opinions Of their own
when the laws of fashion have spoken.
This at least is certain, that not one
Of them in a thousand sees anything
Objectionable in the gloomy and hideous
evening costume of gentleman in the
nineteenth century. A handsome man
is, to their eyes, more seductive than
aver in the contemplate black coat and
,he stiff white cravat which he wears in
common with the servant who waits on
lin at table. After a stolen glance at
aomayne, Stella lost all confidence in
lerself-she began turning over the
on the table.
The momentary silence which fol-
owed their first greeting became in
olerable to her. Rather than let ID
continue, she impulsively confessed the
lppermost idea in her mind when she
'ntered the room.
&c 1 thought heard my name when I
anne in," she said. "Were you and
Lord Loring speaking Of meT'
Romayne owned without hesitation
hat they had been speaking of her.
She smiled, and turned over another
photograph. But when did sun-pic-
ures ever act as restraint on woman's
The words passed her lips in
pite of her. 81 suppose l mustn't ask
That you were saying?"
1t wa, impossible to answer this
lainly without entering into e1plana-
ions from which Romayne shrank. he
esitated.
She turned over another photograph.
~ understand" she said. "You
'ere talking Of my faults" She paused,
nd stole another look at him. "I will
y to correct my faults if you will tell ,
le what they are" /,
RJmayne felt that he had no alterna-
We but to tell the truth-under certain
serves "Indeed you are wrong" he |
i'd. "We were talking of the infu- 6
nee of tone, or look, on q sensitive l
erson."
"The influence on me ?' she asked. s
ono. The influence which You s
light exercise on another person"
She knew perfectly we'll that he was (
,eaking of himself. But she was de- 8
rmined to feel the pleasure of making
i'm own it.
"1f | have any such influence rs Won n
'scribe," she began, 81 hope it is for C
,od?"
Certainly for good"
You speak positively, Mr. Bomayne. "
most as positively-only that can r
arcely be-as il you we're speaking
om experience" .,
he might still have evaded a direct N
ply, il she had been content with
erely saying this. But she looked at
m while she spoke. He answered the
ok. u
Shall l own that you are right2" he
ia. "I was thinking Of my own ex- :,