Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-02-19
WHOLE NUMBER, 491.

Major Hynd and had mentioned his
project for bringing Romayne and
Stella together, after first exacting o
promise of the strictest secrecy from his
wife. She felt herself bound-doubly
bound, after what she had now discov-
ered--to respect the confidence placed
| in her and this at the time when she
had betrayed herself to Stella With a
woman's feline fineness Of perception, In
all cases Of subterfuge and concealment
she picked part of the truth out OF
the whole, and answered harmlessly
without q moments hesitation.
az have certainly seen him." she said,
probably at some party. But I see so
many people, and / go to so many places
that must ask for time to consult my
memory. Ny husband might help me,
if you don't object to my asking him.
she added, slyly.
Stella snatched the drawing away
from her in terror. "You don't mean
that you will tell Lord Loringa" she
said.
"My dear child how can you be 80
foolish ? Can't / show him the drawing
without mentioning who it was done by?
His memory is much better one than
mine. If I say to him, Where did we
meet that man Y-he may tell me at
once-he may even remember the name.
| OF course, If you like to be kept in sus-
pense, you have only to say SO. 1t rests
| with you to decide"
| Poor Stella gave way directly. She
returned the drawing, and affectionately
kissed her artful friend. Having now
secured the means of consulting her
husband without exciting suspicion,
Lady Loring left the room.
At that time in the morning, Lord
Loring was generally to be found either
in the library or the picture gallery.
His wife tried the library first.
| On entering the room, she found but
one person in it-not the person of
whom she was in search. There, but
toned up in his long frock coat, and
surrounded by books of all sorts and
sizes, sat the plump, elderly priest who
had been the especial object of Major
Hynd's aversion.
| "I beg your pardon, Father Benwell,
said Lady Loring; 81 hope don't in
terrupt your studies?"
Father BenweI rose and bowed with
pleasant paternal smile. "I am only
trying to organize an improved arrange
ment Of the library" he said, simply.
"Books are companionable creatures
members, as it were, of his family to
lonely old priest like myself. Can I be
of any service to your ladyship?"
"Thank you, Father. Ii you can
kindly. tell me where Lord Loring
is"
"To be sure His lordship was here
five minutes since-he is now in the pic
ture gallery. Pray permit me "
With remarkable light and easy step
for man of his age and size, he ad-
yanced to the further end of the library,
and opened the door which lead into
the gallery.
"Lord Loring is among the pictures,'
he announced. "And alone" He laid
certain emphasis on the last word,
which might or might not lin the case
of spiritual director of the household)
invite word Of explanation.
Lady Loring merely said, "Just what
I wanted; thank you once more, Father
; Benwell and passed into the picture
gallery.
Left by himself again in the library,
the priest walked slowly to and fro,
thinking. His latent power and resolu-
, ton began to show themselves darkly
, in his face. A skilled observer would
now have seen plainly revealed in him
, the habit of command, and the capacity
for insisting on his right to be obeyed.
From head to foot Father Benwell was
one of those men who acknowledge no
defeat, and who improve every victory.
! After while he returned to the table
at which he had been writing when Lady
Loring entered the room. An unfn-
ished letter lay open on the desk. He
took up his pen and completed it in
} these words 81 have therefore decided
on trusting this serious matter in the
hands of Arthur Penrose. I know he is
young-but we have to set against the
drawback of his youth the counter
merits of his incorruptible honesty and
his true religious zeal. No better man
is just now within my reach--and there
is no time to lose. Romayne has re-
Gently inherited large increase of for
tune. He will be the object of the
basest conspiracies es-conspiracies of men
to win his money, and, worse still, of
women to marry him. Even these con-
temptible efforts may be obstacles in
the way of our righteous purpose, unless
we are first in the field. Penrose left
Oxford last week. L expect him here
this morning by my invitation. When
| have oivan him the necesslry instruc-