Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-06-04

sense OF the per1ls tnat threatened hlm
in safely setting the obstacle up. I'm
der astute encouragement Romayne had
become Catholic, and had pledged
himself to restore the Vange property.
Under astute encouragement there re-
mained one more act of submission
serious and even formidable in the con.
sequences that it involved-into which
it was now necessary to lead the new
convert. Eventhe priests steady nerves
were shaken by the prospect before
him.
y n
Romayne sat looking thoughtfully
into the fire. Father Benwell, walking
up and down the room, was the first to
break the silence.
"What was it had to say to youP"
he resumed. "Surely, I was speaking
on the subject of your future life, and
the right employment of your energiesP"
"You are very kind, Father Benwell.
The subject has little interest for me.
My future life is shaped out-domestic
retirement, ennobled by religious
duties"
Still pacing the room, Father Benwell
stopped at that reply, and put his hand
kindly on Romayne's shoulder.
"We don't allow a good Catholic to
drift into domestic retirement who is
worthy of better things" he said. "The
church, Romayne, wishes to make use
of you. / never fattered any one in my
life; but / may say before your face
/ what / have said behind your back. A
man of your strict sense of honor, of
your intellect, of your high aspirations,
of your personal charm and influence, is
not man whom we car allow to run to
waste. Open your mind, my friend,
fairly to me, and l will open my mind
fairly to you. Let me set the example.
L say it, with authority, an enviable
future is before you"
Romayne's pale cheeks flushed with
excitement.
"What future?" he asked, eagerly.
"Am free to choose? Must l remind
Won that man witha wife cannot think
only OF himself?'
"Suppose you were not a man with
wife?"
"What do You mean%
"Romayne, am trying to break my
way through that inveterate reserve
which is one of the failings in your
character. Unless you can prevail upon
Yourself to tell me those secret thoughts,
those unexpressed regrets which you can
confide to no other man, this conver-
sation must come to an end. You have
found a refuge in the bosom of the
Catholic church. Is there no yearnlng
in your inmost soul for anything beyond
the position which you now occupy?"
There was pause. The flush on Ro-
mayne's face faded away. He was
silent.
"You are not in the confessional"
Father Benwell reminded him, with
melancholy submission to circum-
stances. "You are under no obligation
to answer me"
Romayne reused himself. He spoke
in low, reluctant tones. 81 am afraid
to answer you," he said.
That apparently discouraging reply
armed Father Benwell with the absolute
confidence of success which he had thus
far failed to feel. He wound his way
deeper and deeper into Romayne's mind
with the delicate ingenuity of penetra-
ton of which the practice Of years had
made him master.
"Perhaps / have failed to make my
self clearly understood" he said. 81
will try to put it more plainly. You
ere no half-hearted man, Romayne.
What you believe, you believe fervently.
Impressions are not dimly and slowly
produced on your mind. AS the neces-
sary result, your conversion being once
accomplished, your whole soul is given
to the faith that is in you. DO read
your character rightly"
$50 far rs 1 know it--yes."
Father Benwell went on.
"Bear in mind what | have just said,
he resumed, "and you will understand
why feel it my duty to press the ques>
lion which you have not answered yet.
You have found in the Catholic faith
the peace ii mind which you have failed
to obtain by other means. If had been
dealing with an ordinary man I should
have expected from the change no hap
oicr results than this. But ask ycu
has that blessed influence taken no
deeper and nobler hold on your heart?
Can you say to me- L am content with
what 1 have gained; l wish for no
more?"
81 cannot truly say it" Romayne an
swered
The time had now come again for
speaking plainly. Father Benwell no
longer advanced to his end under cover
of q cloud of words.
"a little while since," he said, "you