Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-05-07


words that escaped him, when he sank
into a broken slumber as the morning
dawned. Feeling the truest pity for
him, she was still resolute to assert
herself against the coming interference
of Penrose She tried her ground by
dangerous means-the means of an in
direct reply.
81 think you might have told me-"
she said, "that Mr.. Penrose was
priest"
He looked down again at his book.
"How did you know Penrose was a
priest ?"
al had only to look at the direction
on your letters to him"
"Well, and what is there to frighten
you in his being priest? You told me
at the Lorings' ball that you took an
interest in Penrose because L liked
him."
"I didn't know then, Lewis, that he
had concealed his profession from us.
can't help distrusting man who does
that"
He laughed-not very kindly. "You
might as well say you distrust man
who conceals that he is an author, by
writing an anonymous book. What
Penrose did, he did under orders from
his superior-and, moreover, he frankly
owned to me that he was priest. If you
blame anybody, you had better blame
me for respecting his confidence"
She drew back from him hurt by the
tone in which he spoke to her. 81
remember the time, Lewis" she said,
"when you would have been more in
dulgcnt toward my errors, even ii | am
wrong"
That simple appeal touched his better
nature. 81 don't mean to be hard on you,
Stella" he answered. cts q little
irritating to hear you say that you dis
trust the most devoted and most
affectionate friend that man ever had.
Why can't love my wife and love my
friend too? You don't know, when am
trying to get ON with my book, how |
miss the help and sympathy of Penrose.
The very sound of his voice used to
encourage me. Come, Stella, give me
a kiss-and let us, as the children say,
make it up"
He rose from his writing table. Sho
met him more than halfway, and pressed
all her love-and perhaps little of her
fear too-on his lips He returned the
kiss as warmly as it was given, and then,
unhappily for both of them, he returned
to the subject.
i" My own love-" he said, "try to like
my friend, for my sake; and bo tolerant
of other forms of Christianity besides
the form which happens to be yours"
Her smiling lips closed; she turned
from him. With the sensitive selfish
ness of womans love she looked on
Penrose as a robber who had stolen the
sympathies which should have been
wholly hers AS she moved away her
quick observation noticed the open
book on the desk, with notes and lines
in pencil on the margin of the page.
What had Romayne been reading which
had interested him in that way? If he
had remained silent she would have
addressed the inquiry to him openly.
But he was hurt, on his side, by the
sudden manner of her withdrawal from
him. He spoke, and his tone was colder
than ever.
81 won't attempt to combat your pre-
judices," he said "But one thing l
must seriously ask of you. When my
friend Penrose comes here tomorrow
don't treat him as you treated Mr.. VIM
terfield."
There was momentary paleness in
her face which looked like fear, but it
passed away again. She confronted him
firmly, with bright, steady eyes.
"Why do you refer again to that?"
she asked. els" (she hesitated and re-
covered herself)-" is Mr.. Winterfeld
another devoted friend of yours? y
He walked to the door, as if he could
scarcely trust his temper if he answered
her, stopped, and thinking better of it,
turned toward her again.
"We won't quarrel, Stella" he re.
joined; 81 will only say am sorry you
don't appreciate my forbearance. Your
reception of Mr.. Winterfeld has lost me
the friendship of man whom sincerely
liked, and who might have assisted my
literary labors. You were i'll at the time,
and anxious about Mrs. Eyrecourt. |
respected your devotion to your mother.
l remembered you telling me when you
first went away to nurse her, that your
conscience accused you of having some
times thoughtlessly neglected your
mother in her days of health and good
spirits, and I admired the motive cf
atonement which took you to her bed
side. For those reasons / shrank from
saying word that might wound You.
But, because l was silent, it is not the
less true that You surprised and disap
poiutnd mo Don't do II oUnin In