The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-06-24

They will leave Leghorn In the next
vessellwhich sets sail for o port in Cen
trail America. And the dangerous duty
intrusted to them Is to re-establish one
of the Jesuit missions destroyed by the
savagcs years since. They will find
their church ruin and not vestige
left of the houses once inhabited by the
murdered priests. It is not concealed
from them that they may be martyred
too. They are soldiers of the cross
and they 20 willingly go--to save the
souls of the Indians at the peril of their
lives"
ROmayne rose aud advanced 10 the
door. There he turned and spoke to
Stella.
"Where is Arthur" he said.
Stella gently detained him.
"There was one word more he en-
treated me to say-pray wait and hear
it," she plead. ellis one grief is at
leaving you. Apart from that he de-
votes himself gladly to the dreadful
service that claims HIM. He has long
looked forward to it, and has long pre-
pared himself for 1t. Those, Lewis, are
his own words"
There was knock at the door. The
servant appeared to announce that the
carriage was waiting.
Penrose entered the room as the man
left 1t.
"Havc you spoken for me2" he said to
Stella.
She could only answer him by a
gesture. He turned to Romayne with
smile.
"The saddest of of all words must be
spoken" he said. farewell"
Pale and trembling, Romayne took
his hand.
"Is this Father Benwelrs doing~ he
asked.
"Now Penrose answered, firmly.
"In Father Benwell's position it might
have been his doing, but for his good
ness to me. For the first time since l
have known him he has shrunk from
responsibility. For my sake he has
left 1t to Rome. And Rome has.spoken.
"Oh, my more than friend, my brother
in love-W
His voice failed him. With resolu-
ton that was nothing less than heroic
in man of his afiectionate nature he
recovered his composure.
"Let us make 1t as little miserable as
possible" he said. cat every oppor-
tunity we will write to each other.
And who knows, 1 may come back to
you. God has prospered his servants
in dangers as great as any that shall
encounter. May that merciful God
bless and protect you. u, Romayne,
what happy days we have had to-
gctherl" His last powers ofresistance
were worn out. Tears of noble sorrow
dimmed the friendly eyes which have
never looked unkindly on tho brother
of his love. Hc kissed Romayne.
"Help me outr he said, turning blind
ly toward the hall in which tho servant
was waiting. That last act of mercy
tenderness Stella took his hand and led
him away. 81 shall remember you
gratefully as long as live," she said to
him when the carriage door was closed.
lie waved his hand at the window, and
she saw him no more.
She returned to tho study.
The relief of tears had como to Ro-
mayne. He had dropped into q chair
when Penrose left him. In stony
silence he sat there, his head down, his
eyes dry and staring. The miserable
days of their arrangement were forgot
ten by his wife in the moment when
she looked at him. She knelt by his
side, and lifted his head little and laid
it on her bosom. Her heart was full
she let the caress plead for her silently.
He felt 1t; his cold fingers pressed her
hand thankfully; but he said nothing.
After long interval the first outward
expression of orrOw that fell from his
lips showed that he was still thinking
of Penrose.
"Every blessing falls away from mo-"
he said. 81 have lost my best friend"
Years afterward Stella remembered
those words, and the tone IN which he
had spoken them.
(To be COnttnued)