Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-05-14


terfeld had written and was expected to
arrive at the hotel by s o'clock.
1t was then half-past four. Father
Benwell decided to wait the return of
his friend.
He was anxious to deliver the packet
intrusted to him. The re-sealed packet
was safe in the pocket of his long black
frock- coat. His own future proceed
ings depended, in some degree, on the
course which Winterield might take,
when he had read the confession of the
unhappy woman who had once been his
wife.
Would he show the letter to Stella, at
a private interview as an unanswerable
proof that she had cruelty wronged
him? And would it in this case be de-
sirable-if the thing could be done-so
to handle circumstances, as that Ro-
mayne might be present, unseen, and
might discover the truth for himself
In the other event-that is to say, if
Winterfield abstained from communi-
eating the confession to Stella-the re-
sponsibility of making the necessary
disclosure must remain with the priest.
In his present uncertainty he could
only decide to pay another visit to Ten
Acres Lodge, and discover how Penrose
was prospering in the all-important mat.
ter of Romayne's conversion.
Father Benwell walked softly up and
down the room, looking about him with
quietly-observant eyes. A side-table in
corner was covered with letters, wait
ing Winterfeld's return. Always ready
for information of any sort, he even
looked at the addresses on the letters.
The handwritings presented the Gus
tomary variety of character. All but
three of the envelopes showed the Lon
don district postmarks. Two of the
other letters addressed to Winterfeld
at his club) bore foreign postmarks; and
one, as the altered direction showed,
had been forwarded from Beaupark
house to the hotel
This last letter especially attracted
the priests attention.
The address was apparently in a
woman's handwriting. And it was worthy
of remark that she appeared to be the
only person among Winterheld's CORE
spondents who was not acquainted with
the address of his hotel or of his club.
Who could the person be? The subtly-
inquiring intellect of Father Benwell
amused itself by speculation even on
such tritling problem as this. He little
thought that he had n personal interest
in the letter. The envelope contained
Stella's warming to Winterfeld to dis
trust no less person than Father Ben
we'll himself
1t was nearly half-past five before
quick footsteps were audible outside.
Winterfeld entered the room.
"This is friendly indeedW he said.
II expected to return to the worst of
all solitudes-solitude in a hotel. You
will stay and dine with me? That's
right. You must have thought 1 was
going to settle in Paris. Do you know
what has kept me so long? The most
delightful theater in the world-the
Opera Comique. am so fond of the
bygone school of music, Father Benwell
the flowing, graceful, delicious melo-
dies of the composer who followed Mo-
zart. One can only enjoy that music in
Paris. Would you believe that waited
week to hear Nicolo's delightful 'Jo-
conde' for the second time. I was al
most the only young man in the stalls.
All round me were the old men who re-
membered the first performances of the
opera, beating time with their wrinkled
hands to the tunes which were asso-
ciated with the happiest days of their
lives. What's that 1 hear? My dog
I was obliged to leave him here, and he
/ knows I have come backw
He flew to the door and called down
the stairs to have the dog set free. The
spaniel rushed into the room and leaped
into his masters outstretched arms.
Winterfield returned his caresses, and
kissed him as tenderly as woman might
have kissed her pet.
"Dear old fellow It's shame to have
left you; 1 won't do it again. Father
Benwell, have you as many friends who
would be as glad to see you as this
friend? I hav'n't one. And there are
fools who talk of dog as an inferior
being to ourselvesl This creatures
faithful love is mine, do what I may. 1
might be disgraced in the estimation
of every human creature know, and he
would be as true to me as ever. And
look at his physical qualities What an
ugly thing, for instance won't say
your earl will say, my ear is, crumpled
and wrinkled and naked. Look at the
beautiful silky covering of his ear
What are our senses of smelling and
hearing compared to his? We are proud
of our reason. Could we find our way
back, il they shut us up in basket and