The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-07-29

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She now appeared to consider me the
stupidest person in the circle of her ac-
quaintance.
care You little deaf, winterlield g'
she asked.
"Not that know of"
"Do you understand me ?"
ooh, yes"
"Then why can't You say something
I want mans opinion of our prospects.
Good gracious, how you fidget Put
yourself in Romayne's place and tell
me this. If you had left Stella"
81 should never have left her, Mrs.
Eyrccourt."
"Bo quiet. You don't know what
you would have done. 1 insist on your
supposing yourself to be weak, super
stitious, conceited, fanatical fool. You
understand? Now, tell me, then
could you keep away from your wife
when you were called back to her in
the name of your first-born child /?
Could you resist that y
Most assuredly notr
contrived to reply with an appear.
ance of tranquility. 1t was not very
easy to speak with composure. En-
vious, selfish, contemptible- no Ian
guage is too strong to describe the turn
my thoughts now took. 1 never hated
/
any human being as hated Romayne at
that moment. Hang him, he will
come backP' There was my inmosi
feeling expressed in words.
lii the meantime Mrs. Eyrecourt was
gatisficd. She dashed at the next sub
'ect rs fluent and as confident as ever.
Now, Winteriield, it is surely plain
to your mind that you must not see
Stella again, except when am present
to tic the tongue of scandal. My
daughters conduct must not allow her
husband-if you only knew how de.
tcot that man = rnnst not, I gay, allow
her husband the slightest excuse for
keeping away from her. If we give that
odious old Benwell the chance he will
make a priest Of Eomlyne before we
know where We are. Did Stella tell
you that he actually shook Romayne's
belief in his own marriage? All, I'M
dcrstand; she kept that to herself, poor
dear, and with good reason, too"
1 Thought of the turncd-down page in
the letter. Mrs. Eyrecourt readily re.
vcaled what her daughters delicacy had
forbidden me to read, including the
monstrous assumption which connected
my marriage before the registrar with
her son-in-law's scruples.
"Now, tell me, Wintcrfeld," she con
tinued, "don't you think taking the
circumstances into consideration that
you will act like q thoroughly sensible
man, if you go back to Devonshirc
while we are i'll our present situation .?
What with foot-waimers in the carriage.
and newspapers and magazines to amuse
you, it isn't such very long journey.
And then Beaupark- dear Beaupark-is
such o remarkably comfortable house
in the winter; and You, you enviable
creature, are such popular man in the
neighborlIood. Oh, go back go back!"
I got up and took my hat. She patted
me on the shoulder. I could have
throttled her at that moment. And yet
she was right.
"You will make my excuses to Stella?" |
l said.
"You dear, good fellow, will do |
moro than make your excuses; 1 will
sing your praises, as the poet says"
In her ungovernable exultation at hav-
ing got rid of me, shc burst into ex-
travagant language. 81 feel like q |
mother to you." she went on. as we |
shook hands at parting. 81 declare
could almost let you kiss me-"
There was not single kissable place |
about Mrs. Eyrecourt unpainted, un-
dyed or unpow,lered. resisted temp
tation and opened the door. There was
still one last request that copld not
help making.
"Will you let me know" ! said,
" when you hear from RomeY
"With the greatest pleasure" Mrs.
Eyrecourt answered, briskly. "Good.
bye, you best of friends-good-byc."
write these lines while the servant
is packing my portmanteau. Traveller
knows what that means. My dog is
glad, at any rate, to get away from
London. think l shall hire a yacht
and try what a voyage around the world
will do for me. wish to God had
never seen Stella,
10M FebruOy.-N News at last from
Mrs. Eyrecourt.
Romayne has not even read the letter
that she addressed to him it has ac
tually been returned to her by Father
Benwell. Mrs. Eyrecourt writes,
naturally enough, in a state of fury.
Her one consolation, under this insult
ing treatment, is that her daughter
knows nothing of the circumstances
She warns me (quite noedlessly) to keep
the secret, and sends mo copy of
Father Benwelrs letter.
"DEAR MADAM Mr.. Romayne can
read nothing that diverts his attention
from his preparation for the priesthood,
or that recalls past associations with
errors which he has renounced forever.
When letter reaches him it is his wise
custom 10 look at the signature first.
He has handed your letter to me un-
read, with request that 1 will return
it TO you. In his presence / instantly