Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-05-14

inward sense of impatience, which
never once showed itself on the smiling
surface of his face.
He had decided not to mention the
papers in his pocket until some circum-
stance occurred which might appear to
remind him naturally that he had such
things about him. II he showed any
anxiety to produce the envelope, he
might expose himself to the suspicion
of having some knowledge Of the con-
tents. When would Winterfield notice
the side-table and open his lettersa
-nv .;.iS- tick of the clock on the man.
telpiece steadily registered the progress
of time, and Winterfeld's fantastic at
tentions were still lavished on his dog.
Even Father Benwells patience was
sorely tried when the good country
gentleman proceeded to mention not
only the spaniel's name, but the occa-
sion which had suggested it.
"We call him Traveller, and I will
tell you why. When he was only a
puppy he strayed into the garden at
Beaupark, so weary and footsore that
we concluded that he had come to us
from q distance. We advertised him,
but he was never claimed-and here he
is II you don't object, we will give
Traveller treat to-day. He shall have
dinner with u.s..
Perfectly understanding these words
the dog jumped off his masters lap,
and actually forwarded the views of
Father Benwell in less than q minute
more. Scampering round and round
the room, as an appropriate expression
of happiness, he came into collision
with the side-table, and directed Win
terfeld's attention to the letters by
scattering them on the floor,
Father Benwell rose politely to assist
in picking up the prostrate CORE
spondence. But Traveller was before
hand with him. Warning the priest,
with low growl, not to interfere with
anotherp persons business, the dog picked
up the letters in his mouth, and carried
them by installments to his masters
feet. Even then the exasperating
Winterfield went no further than pat
ting Traveller. Father Benwell's en-
durance reached its limits.
"Pray don't stand on ceremony with
me-" he said. "I will look at the
newspaper while you read your letters"
Winterfeld carelessly gathered the
letters together. tossed them on the
dining-table at his side, and took the
uppermost one of the little heap.
Fate was certainly against the priest
on that evening. The first letter that
Winterfeld opened led him off to
another subject of conversation before
he had read it to the end. Father Ben
wells hand, already in his coat pocket,
appeared again-empty.
"Here's proposal to me to go into
parliament" said the squire. "What
do you think of representative institu-
tions, Father Benwell? To my mind
representative institutions are on their
last legs They vote away more of our
money every year. They sit helpless,
while half dozen impudent idiots stop
the progress of Legislation from motives
of the meanest kind. And they are not
even sensitive enough to the national
honor to pass social law among them
selves which makes it as disgraceful in
gentleman to buy a seat by bribery as
to cheat at cards. Ideclare I think the
card-sharper the least degraded person
of the two. He doesn't encourage his
interiors to be false to public trust.
In short. my dear sir, everything wears
out in this woodland why should the
house of commons be an exception to
the rule?"
He picked up the next letter from the
heap. AS he looked at the address his
face changed. The smile left his lips,
the gayety died out OF his eyes. Traveller,
entreating for more notice with i'm.
patient forepaws applied to his masters
knees, saw the alteration, and dropped
into respectfully-recumbent position.
Father Benwell glanced sideloLg off the
columns Of the newspaper, and waited
for events with all the discretion and
none of the good faith of the dog.
Forwarded from Beaupark ?" Win
terfeld said to himself. He opened the
letter, read it carefully to the end,
thought over it, and read it again.
Father Benwell!" he said, sud
denly.
The priest put down the newspaper.
For few moments more nothing was
audible but the steady tick-tick of the
clock.
ave have not been very long &C.
quainted," Winterfeld resumed. "But
our association has been pleasant one;
and think owe to you the duty Of a
friend"
Father Benwell bowed in silence.
"You are mentioned" Winterfeld
proceeded, Sin the letter which have