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


put down by silence and smoke. 'Ol
perhaps persisted, 'you will honor
me by meeting him at simple little
dinner at my lodgingsY Being gen.
tleman, he was of course obliged to an
swer this He said: you are very
kind; 1 would rather not. Shall we talk
of something else, Father Benwelly y
"We talked of something else. He
was Just as amiable as ever, but lie was
not in good spirits.
"'I think I shall run over to Paris
before the end of the month, he said.
"'To make long stay 2 l asked
"'Oh, no. Call in week or ten
days, and you will find me here again
"When / got up to go he returned
with his own accord to the forbidden
subject. He said: Il must beg you to
do me two favors. The first is, not to
let Mr.. Romayne know that 1 am still in
London. The second is, not to ask me
for any explanations
"The result of our interview may be
stated in very few words. 1t has adj
vanced me one step nearer to discovery.
Winterfeld's voice, look and manner
satisfied me of this-the true motive of
his sudden change of feeling toward
Romayne is jealousy of the man who
has married Miss Eyrecourt. Those
compromising circumstances which
baffled the inquiries of my agent are
associated, in plain English, with love
affair. Remember all that | have told
You of Romaynes peculiar disposition,
and imagine if you can what the con.
sequences of such disclosure will be
when we are in a position to enlighten
the master of Vange Abbey!
GAS to the present relations between
the husband and wife, have only to
tell you next what passed when I visited
Romayne day or two later. l did well
to keep Penrose at our disposal. We
shall want him again.
"On arriving at Ten Acres Lodge
found Romayne in his study. His manu-
script lay before him-but he was not at
work. He looked worn and shaggard.
To this day I don't know from what pre-
else nervous malady he suffers | could
only guess that it had been troubling him
again since he and last met.
My first conventional civilities were
dedicated, of course, to his wife. She
Is still in attendance on her mother.
Mrs. Eyrecourt is now considered to be
out of danger. But the good lady (who
is ready enough to recommend doctors
to other people, persists in thinking that
she is too robust person to require
medical help herself The physician
in attendance trusts entirely to her
daughter to persuade her to persevere
with the necessary course of medicine.
Don't suppose that 1 trouble you by
mentioning these trumpery circumstan-
ces without reason. We shall have oc-
casion to return to Mrs. Eyrecourt and
her daughter.
"Before | had been ten minutes in
his company Romayne asked me if I had
seen Winterfield since his visit to Ten
Acres Lodge.
81 said had seen him, and waited,
anticipating the next question. Ro-
mayne fulfilled my expectations. He
inquired if Winterfield had left London.
"There are certain cases las 1 am told
by medical authorities) in which the
dangerous system of bleeding patient
still has its advantages. There are
other cases in which the dangerous sys-
tenn of telling the truth becomes equal
ly judicious. L said to Romayne: IF l
answer you honestly will you consider
it as strictly confidential Mr.. Winter
field, 1 regret to say, has no intention of
improving his acquaintance with you.
He asked me to conceal from you that
he is still in London
Romayne's face plainly betrayed
that he was annoyed and irritated.
Nothing that you say to me, Father
Benwell, shall pass the walls of this
room, he replied. did Winterfeld
give any reason for not continuing his
acquaintance with me?
81 told the truth once more with
courteous expressions of regret. Mr..
Winterfeld spoke of an ungracious re-
ception on the part of Mrs. Roma yne.
He started to his feet, and walked
irritably up and down the room. 1T is
beyond endurance 7 he said to himself,
"The truth had served its purpose by
this time. l affected not to have heard
him. Did you speak to meY asked.
He used o milder form of express
sion.
"' 1t is most unfortunate he said
l must Immediately send back the val
liable book which Mr.. Winterfield has
lent to me. And that is not the worst
of it. There are other volumes in his
library which l have the greatest inter-
est in consulting-and it is impossible
for me to borrow them now. At this
time, too, when 1 have lost Penrose,
had hoped to find in Winterfeld an
other friend, who sympathized with my
pursuits. There is something so cheer
inn and attrantivn in his rnannor anl ho