Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-04-09

CHAPTER m.-THE END OF THE BALL.
The priests long journey did not up.
pear to have fatigued him. He was as
cheerful and as polite as ever, and SO
paternally attentive to Stella that it was
quite impossible for her to pass him
with formal bow. t-. r.
81 have come oil the way from De-
vonshire," he said. "The train has been
behind time, as usual, and am one OF
the late arrivals in consequence. Imiss
some familiar faces at this delightful
prrty. Mr.. Romayne, for instance.
Perhaps he is not one of the guests p
ooh, yes"
"Has he gone away?"
"Not that know Of"
The tone of her replies warned Father
Benwell to let Romayne be. He tried
another name.
"And Arthur Penrose?" he inquired
next.
81 think Mr.. Penrose has left u.s."
As she answered she looked toward
Lady Loring. The hostess was the CEN
ter of circle of ladies and gentlemen.
Before she was at liberty Father Ben
well might take his departure. Stella
/ resolved to make the attempt for her
self which she had asked Lady Loring
to make for her. It was better to try
and be defeated than not to try at all.
81 asked Mr.. Penrose what part Of
Devonshire you were visiting" she re-
sumed, assuming her more gracious
manper. "I know something myself
of the north coast. especially the neigh
borhood of Clovelly."
Not the faintest change passed over
the priests face; his fatherly smile had
never been in a better state Of preservA-
tion.. :,
"Isn't it a charming place? he said.
with enthusiasm. "Clovelly is the
most remarkable and most beautiful
village in England. l have so enjoyed
my little holiday-excursion by sea
and excursions by land--do you know,
/ feel quite young again?"
He lifted his eyebrows playfully and
rubbed bis plump hands one over the
other with such an intolerablJ innocent
air of enjoyment that Stella positively
hated him. She felt her capacity for
self-restraint failing her. Under the
inhuence of strong emotion her thoughts
lost their customary discipline. In at
tempting to fathom Father Benwell,
she was conscious of having undertaken
task which required more pliable
moral qualities than she possessed. To
her own unutterable annoyance she
was at loss what to say next. At that
critical moment her mother appeared
eager for news of the conquest OF 10
mayne.
"My dear child, how pale you lookl"
said Mrs. Eyrecourt. "Come with me,
directly; you must have q glass OF
wine."
This dexterous device for entrapping
Stella into private conversation
failed.
"Not now, mamma, thank you," she
said.
Father Benwell, on the point of dis
creetly withdrawing, stopped, and
looked at Mrs. Eyrecourt with an ap
pearance of respectful interest. "Your
mother" he said to Stella, II should
feel honored if you will introduce me-
Having mot very willingly performed
the ceremony of presentation, Stella
drew back little. She had no desire
to take any part in the conversation
that might follow-but she had her
own reasons for waiting near enough to
hear it.
In the meanwhile Mrs. Eyrecourt
turned on her inexhaustible flow OF
small talk, with her customary facility.
No distinction Of pc sons troubled her;
no convictions of any sort stood in her
way.
Delighted to make your acquaint.
ance, Father Benwell. Surely, I met
you at that delightful evening at the
dukes? I mean when we welcomed the
cardinal back from Rome. Dear old
man--if one may speak so familiarly OF
the prince of the church-how charm
ingly he bears his new honors. Such
pa riarchal simplicity, as every one re-
marked. Have you seen him lately?"
"Poor priests like me, madam, see
but little of princes of the church in
the houses of dukes" Saying this
with the most becoming humility, he
turned the talk in more productive
direction, before Mrs. Eyrecourt could
proceed with her recolleetions of "the
evening at the dukes"
To be coat.nnsd)