The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-06-10

u
how innocent of any evil intention
might be-" Romayne had understoo,
INN. 1t was Stella's misfortune ignor
antly to misinterpret everything tina
Penrose said or did, for the all-sufficien
reason that he was a priest. She hat
drawn the conclusion that her husband
ION the point of conversion himself
had deliberately left her alone will
Penrose, to be persuaded or deludet
into giving her sanction to aid tn,
influence of the priest. "They shal
find they are mistaken" she thought tc
herself.
Have 1 interrupted an interesting
conversation?" she inquired, abruptly
When l asked you to come out were
you talking to my husband about his
historical work ?"
"No, Mrs. Romayne; we we're moi
speaking at that time of the book"
May I ask an odd question, Mr..
Penrose ?"
Certainly"
=" Are you very jealous Catholic ?'
"Pardon me. I am priest Surely,
my profession speaks for me?"
81 hope you have not been trying to
convert my husband p
Penrose stopped and looked at her
attentively.
Are you strongly opposed to your
husbands conversion ?" he asked.
"As strongly" she answered, Gas a
woman can be-"
"By religious conviction, Mrs. Ro-
mayne?"
"No. By experience"
Penrose started
"Is it indiscreet," he said. gently
"to inquire what your experience may
have been?"
81 will tell yon what my experience
has been," Stella replied. "I am igno.
rant OF theological subtleties, and oues.
tions OF doctrine are quite beyond me.
But this I do know well-meaning and
Jealous Catholic shortened my fathers
life, and separated me from an only
sister whom I dearly loved. I see
shock you-and I dare say you think /
am exaggerating?"
81 hear what you say, Mrs. Romayne,
with very great pain-I don't presume
to form any opinion thus far"
"My sad story can be told in few
words" Stella proceeded. "When nv
elder sister was still young girl, an
aunt of ours (my mothers sister) came
to stay with us. She had married
abroad, and she was, as have said,
Jealous Catholic. Unknown to the
rest of us she held conversations on re-
ligion with my sister-w worked on the
enthusiasm which was a part of the
girls nature-and accomplished her
conversion. Other influences, of which
l know nothing, were afterward brought
to bear on my sister. She declared her
intention of entering convent. As
she was under age, my father had only
to interpose his authority to prevent
this. She was his favorite child, He
had no heart to retain her by force-he
could only try all that the kihdest and
best of fathers could do to persuade hei
to remain at home. Even after the
years that have passed, 1 cannot trust
myself to speak of it composedly. She
persisted she was as hard as stone. My
aunt, when she was entrcated to interfere,
called her heartlcss obstinacy a voca
ton My poor fathers loving resist
,nce was worn out; he slowly drew near
,r and nearer to death from the da,
when she left US. Let me do her jus.
tce if I can. She has not only never re-
gretted entering the convent-she is so
happily absorbed in her religious duties
that she has not the slightest wish to see
her mother or me. My mothers patience
was soon worn out. The last time ]
went to the convent l went by myself.
l shall never go there again. She could
not conceal her sense of relief when !
took my leave of her. I need say no
more. Arguments are thrown away on
me, Mr.. Penrose, after what I have seen
and felt. 1 have no right to expect
that the consideration of my happiness
will influence you-but I may perhaps
ask you, as a gentleman, to tell me the
truth. Do you come here with the pur-
pose of converting my husband%
Penrose owned the truth without an
instant's hesitation.
81 cannot take your view of your
sisters pious devotion OF herself to a
religious life," he said. "But 1 can
and will answer You truly. From the
time when first knew him. my dearest
object has been to convert your hus-
band"
Stella drew back from him as il he
had stung her, and clasped her hands
in silent despair.
"But am bound as q Christian" he
went on, "to do unto others as I would
they should do TO me-"
She turned ON him suddenly. her
beautiful face radiant with hope, heI
hand trembling as it caught him by the
arm.
"Speak plainly" she cried.
He obeyed her to the letter.
"The happiness Of my friends wife
Mrs. Romayne, is sacred to me for his
sake. Be the good angel Of your hus
bands life. abandon the purpose o.
converting him."
He lifted her hand from his arm and
raised ii respectfully to his lips. Then