Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-04-23

her. She is in attendance on her mother,
suppose?"
In constant attendance; am quite
alone. To change the subject, may ]
ask you to look at the reply which ]
have received from Penrose? 1t is my
excuse for troubling you with this
visit"
Father Benwell read the letter with
the closest attention. In spite OF his
habitual self-control his vigilant eyes
frightened as he handed it back.
The priests weu-planned scheme like
Mr.. Bitrake's clever inquiries) had
failed. He had not even entrapped
Mrs. Eyrecourt into revealing the mar
riage engagement. Her unconquerable
small-talk had foiled him at every point.
Even when he had deliberately kept his
seat after the other guests at the tea
table had taken their departure, she rose
with the most imperturable coolness
and left him
:" have dinner and two parties to.
night; and this is just the time when
take my little restorative nap. Forgive
me-and do come again"
When he sent the fatal announcement
of the marriage to Rome, he had been
obliged to confess that he was indebted
for tho discovery TO the newspaper He
had accepted the huniliation; he had
accepted the defeat--bu. he was not
beaten yet.
81 counted on Romayne's weGknoss,
and Miss Eyrecourt counted on Ro-
mayne's weakness; and Miss Eyrecourt
has won. So let it be. My turn will
come"
In that manner he had reconciled
himself to his position. And now-he
knew it when he handed back the letter
to Romayne-his turn had come!
"You can scarcely go to Paris to con-
suit the book" he said, "in the present
state of Mrs. Eyrecourt's health"
Certainly not"
perhaps you will send somebody to
search the catalogue at the British
museumY"
81 should have done that already.
Father Benwell, but for the very kind
illusions in your note to your friend in
the country. Even if the book is in the
museum library, I shall be obliged to
go to the reading-room to get my in
formation. 1t would be far more con-
venient to me to have the volume ut
home to consult, if you think your friend
will trust me with it,"
81 am certain he will trust you with
it. My friend is Mr.. Winterfeld, of
Beaupark house, North Devon. Per-
haps you may have heard of him.
"No; the name is quite new to me-"
"Then come and see the man him
self. He is now in London-and I am
entirely at your service"
In half an hour more Romayne was
presented to q well-bred, amiable gentle
man, in the prime of life, smoking, and
reading the newspaper. The bowl of
his long pipe rested on the floor on one
side of him, and handsome red and
white spaniel reposed ON the other. Be
fore his visitors had been two minutes in
the room, he understood the motive
which had brought them to consult him,
and sent for telegraphic form.
"My steward will find the book and
forward it to your address by passenger
train this afternoon" he said. "I will
tell him to put my printed catalogue of
the library into the parcel, in case have
any other books which may be Of use to
YOU"
With these words he dispatched the
telegram to the Office. Romayne
attempted to make his acknowledge
ments. Mr. Winterfeld would hear no
acknowledgements.
"My dear sir" he said, with smile
that frightened his whole face, "you
are engaged in writing great historical
work, and 1 am an obscure country
gentleman, who is lucky enough to
associate himself with tho production Of
new book. How do you know that ]
am not looking forward to a eompii4au.
tary line in the preface? 1 am the
obliged person, not you. Pray-considei
me as handy little boy who runs on
errands, or the Muse of History. Do you
smoke"
Not even tobacco would soothe
Romayne's wasted and irritable nerves.
Father Benwell cheerfully accepted
cigar from box on the table.
Father Benwell possesses all the
social virtues" Mr.. Winterfeld ran on.
"He shall have his coffee and the largest
sugar-basin that the hotel can produce.
l can quite understand that your literary
labors have tried your nerves." he said
to Romayne, when he had ordered the
coffee. "The mere title of your work
overwhelms an idle man like me. 'The
Origin of Religions'-what an immense
subject How far must we look back to
find out the first worshipers of tho
human family? Where are the hiero-
glyphios, Mr.. Romayne, that will give
you the earliest information In the