Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-03-05


ing together on sofa. In another part
Lord Loring was speaking privately to
Romayne.
"Do you think you will like MIR.
Penrose?" his lordship asked.
"Yes-so far as l can tell at present.
He seems to be modest and intelli-
gent"
"You are looking ill, my dear
Romayne. Have you again heard the
voice that haunts you?"
Romayne answered with evident re-
luctance. 81 don't know why" he
said, "but the dread of hearing it again
has oppressed me all this morning. To
tell you the truth came here in the
hope that the change might relieve
me-"
Has it done sop
k"Yes."
"Doesn't that suggest, my friend,
that greater change might be of use
to you?"
"Don't ask me about it, Loringl L
car go through my ordeal-but hate
speaking of it,"
"Let us speak of something else,
then," said Lord Loring. "What do
you think Of Miss Eyrecomt 2"
GA very striking face; full of ex-
preston and character. Leonardo
would have painted noble portrait of
her. But there is something in her
manner" He stopped, unwilling or
unable to finish the sentence.
Something you don't like" Lord
Lorins suggested.
"No; somethingI L don't quite UNDER
stand. One doesn't expect to find any
embarrassment in the manner of we'll
bred woman. And yet she seemed to be
embarrassed when she spoke to me.
Perhaps produced an unfortunate i'm
preston on her."
Lord Loring laughed.
"In any man but you, Romayne, 1
should call that affectation."
"Why?" Romayne asked, sharply.
Lord Loring looked unfeignedly sur
prised.
"My dear follow, do you really think
you are the sort of man who impresses
women unfavorably at first sight ?
For once in your life indulge in the
amiable weakness of doing yourself
justice, and find better reason for
Miss Eyrecourts embarrassment"
For the first time since he and his
friend had been talking together
Romayne turned toward Stella. He
innocently caught her in the act of
looking at him. A younger woman, or
woman of weaker character, would
have looked away again. Stella's noble
head dropped her eyes sank slowly
until they rested ON her long white
hands crossed upon her lap. For a
moment more Romayne looked at her
with steady attention. He reused him
self, and spoke to Lord Loring in low
cred tones.
"Have you known Miss Eyrecourt for
q long timer"
"She is my wife's oldest and dearest
friend. l think, Romayne, you would
feel interested in Stella, if you saw
more of her."
Romayne bowed in silent submission
to Lord Lorings prophetic remark.
Let us look at the pictures," he
said, quietly.
AS he moved down the gallery the
two priests met him. Father Benwen
saw his opportunity of helping Penrose
to produce favorable impression.
d" Forgive the curiosity of an old stu
dent, Mr.. Romayne," he said, in his
pleasant, cheerful way. "Lord Loring
tells me you have sent to the country
for your books. Do you find London
hotel favorable to study?"
"It is very quiet hotel" Romayne
answered; "and the people know my
ways" He turned to Arthur. "I have
my own set of rooms, Mr. Penrose," he
continued, with room at your disposal.
The solitude of my house in the country
is distasteful to me. There are times
when L want to see the life in the streets
as a relief. Though we are in hotel,
1 can promise that you will not be
troubled by interruptions, when you
kindly lend me the use of your pen."
Father Benwell answered before Pen
rose could speak:
you may perhaps find my young
friends memory of somo use to you,
Mr.. Romayne, as well as his pen. PEN
rose has studied in the Vatican library.
If your reading leads you that way he
knows more than most men of the rare
old manuscripts which treat of the
early history of Christianity"
This delicatcly managed reference to
Romaynes projected work on "The Ori-
gin OF Religions" produced its effect.
He became instantly interested in Pen
rose and his studies.
81 should like very much to speak to
you about those manuscripts" he said.
"Copies of some of them may, perhaps,
be in the British museum. Is it asking