Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-05-21
WHOLE NUMBER, 5O4

md 1 have struggled with Mysteries
Just as he did. With your wonderful
insight into human nature, am sure
You will sympathize and forgive me.
Mr. Penrose, as my daughter tells me,
behaved in the most gentlemanlike
manner. l make the same appeal to
your kind forbearance. The bare pros.
pect of our dear friend here becoming
Il Catholic"
Remayne's temper gave way once
more.
If anything can make me Gath.
olic," he said, "your interference will
do it,"
"Out of sheer perversity, dear Ro-
mayne?'
"Not at all, Mrs. Eyrecourt. If /
became Catholic, might escape from
the society of ladies in the refuge of
monastery"
Mrs. Eyrecourt hit him back again,
with the readiest dexterity.
"Remain Protestant, my dear, and
go to your club. There is a refuge for
you from the ladies-a monastery, with
nice little dinners and all the newspa.
pers and periodicals" Having launched
this shaft, she got up, and recovered her
easy courtesy of look'and manner. 81
am so much obliged to you, Father Ben
well. have not offended you, hope
and trust ?"
"You have done me service, dear
Mrs, Eyrecourt. Bnt for your salutary
caution, might have drifted into con-
troyersial subjects. shall be on my
guard now"
"How very good of you We shall
meet again, l hope, under more agree
able circumstances. After that polite
allusion to monastery, 1 understand
that my visit to my son-in-law may as
well come to an end. Please don't for.
get 3 o'clock tea at my house."
As she approached the door it was
opened from the outer side. Her
daughter met her halfway.
"Why are you here, mammal" Stella
asked.
"Why, indeed, my love You had
better leave the room with me. Our
amiablo Romayne's present idea is to
relieve himself of our society by retiring
to monastery. Don't you see Father
Benwell?'
Stella coldly returned the priests bow
and looked at Romayne. She felt o
vague forewarning of what had hap.
pened. Mrs. Eyrecourt proceeded to
enlighten her as an appropriate expires.
sion of gratitude. "We are indeed in.
debted to Father Benwell, my dear.
He has been most considerate and
kind"
Romayne interrupted her without
ceremony. "Favor me-" he said, ad.
dressing his wife, "by inducing Mrs.
Eyrecourt to continue her narrative in
another ROOM"
Stella was scarcely conscious of what
her mother or her husband had said.
She felt that the priests eyes were on
her. Under the spell of those watchful
eyes she trembled inwardly; her GUS
tomary tact deserted her; she made an
indirect apology to the man whom she
hated and feared.
"Whatever my mother may have said
to you, Father Benwell, has been with.
out my knowledge"
Romayne attempted to speak, but
Father Benwell was too quick for him.
Dear Mrs. Romayne, nothing has
been said which needs any disclaimer
on your part"
81 should think not!" Mrs. Eyre.
court added. "Really, Stella, I don't
understand you. Why may I not say
to Father Benwell what you said to Mr..
Penrose? You trusted Mr.. Penrose as
your friend. l can tell you this-I am
quite sure you may trust Father Ben.
we'll"
Once more Romayne attempted to
speak. And once more Father Ben.
well was beforehand with him.
"May hope" said the priest, with
finely ironical smile, "that Mrs.
Romayne agrees with her excellent
mother?"
With all her fear of him, the exas.
perating influence of his tone and his
look was more than Stella could en-.
dure. Before she could restrain them,
the rash words flew out of her lips.
81 am not sufficiently we'll &C.
quainted with you, Father Benwell, to
express an opinion"
With that answer she took her
mothers arm and left the room.
The moment they were alone, Ro-
mayne turned to the priest, trembling
with anger. Father Benwell, smiling
indulgently at the lady's little out.
break took him by the hand, with
peace-making intentions. "Now don't
pray don't excite yourselfp p
Romayne was not to be paciied in
that way. His anger was trebly inten-
sifed by the long continued strain on
his nerves of the effort to control HIM
self.