Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-04-30

for Romayne's disappointment.


zled l repeated what 1 had said to
Winterfield; Did you mention to Mrs.
Romayne that / was the means of intro
iucing you"
g He was too inpatient to lot me fin.
ish the sentence.
Il did mention it to Mrs. Romayne,
he said. And what of it {?
Pardon me for reminding you that
Mrs. Romayne has preiudices,' I re.
joined. Mr.. Winterfield would, 1 fear,
not be very welcome to her as the friend
of priest
He was almost angry with me for
suggesting the very explanation which
had proved SO acceptable to Winter.
field.
"Nonsense he cried. My wife is
far too well-bred a woman to let her
prejudices express themselves in that
way. Winterfield's personal appearance
must have inspired her with some un.
reasonable antipathy, Or
"He stopped and turned away
thoughtfully to the window. Some
vague suspicion had probably entered
his mind, which he had only became
aware of at that moment, and which he
was not quite able to realize as yet. |
did my best to encourage the new train
of thought
"What other reason can there be?'
asked.
"He turned on me sharply.
"' L don't know. Do you2'
81 ventured ON q courteous remon.
STRANGE. My dear sirl if you can't find
another reason, how can I? 1t must
have been sudden antipathy, as you
say. Such things do happen between
strangers. I suppose I am right in
assuming that Mrs. Romayne and Mr..
Winterfeld are strangers
"His eyes flashed with sudden sinis.
ter brightness; the new idea had caught
light in his mind.
"They met as strangers, he said.
"There he stopped again and returned
to the window. L felt that 1 might lose
the place l had gained in his confidence
if pressed the subject any further. Be-
sides, l had my reasons for saying a
word about Penrose next. AS it happen
ed, had received letter from him re-
lating to his present employment, and
sending kindest regards to his dear
friend and master in postscript
81 gave the message. Romayne looked
round with an instant change in his face.
The mere sound of Penrose's name
seemed to act as relief to the gloom
and suspicion that had oppressed him
the moment before.
"'You don't know how l miss the
dear, gentle little fellow he said sadly.
"Why not write to him 2 suggest
ed. He would be so glad to hear SO
from you again
"'I don't know where to write
"Did l not send you his address
when l forwarded your letter to himy'
wNo.'
"'Then let me atone for my forget.
fulness at once
81 wrote down the address and took
my leave.
GAS l approached the door 1 noticed
on side-table the volumes which Pen
rose left with Romayne. One of them
was open, with pencil lying beside it.
thought that good sign, but said
nothing.
"Romayne pressed my hand at part
ing.
"'You have been very kind and
friendly, Father Benwell,' he said
Il shall be glad to see you again
"Don't mention it in quarters where
it might do me harm. Do you know, 1
really pitied him. He has sacrificed
everything to his marriage-and his
marriage has disappointed him. He
was even reduced to be friendly with
me.j
"Of course, when the time comes, I
shall give Penrose leave of absence. Do
you foresee, as I do, the speedy return
of the dear, gentle little fellow to his
old employment; the resumed work of
conversion advancing more rapidly than
ever; and the jealousy of the wife aggra-
waiting the false position in which she is
already placed by her equivocal recep-
tion of Winterfeld? Patience, my rev.
erend colleague!
"The next day I called to inquire
how Mrs. Eyrecourt was getting on. The
report was favorable. Three days later
1 called again. The report was still
more encouraging. was also informed
that Mrs. Romayne had returned to Ten
Acres Lodge.
"Much of my success in life has been
achieved by never being in a hurry. !
was not in hurry now. Time some.
times brings opportunities-and oppor-
tunities are worth waiting for.
Let me make this clear.
"Thus far the chance had only been
in my favor in the one case of the meet
ing between Winterfeld and Miss Eyre
court in the picture gallery. The time