Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-07-02

don on important business las under
stand) connected with Romayne's af-
fairs"
INSTANTLY thought of the boy.
els Romayne in possession of his
faculties ?" asked.
"In complete possession"
"While justice is in his power has
he done justice to his son?'
Lord Loring looked little confused.
al have not heard" was all he said in
reply.
was far from satisfied. "You are
one OF Romayne's Oldest friends" Iper-
sisted. "Have you not seen him your
self?"
81 have seen him more than once.
But he has never referred to his af.
fairs" Having said this he hastily
changed the subject. els there any
other information I can give your" he
suggested.
1 had still to learn under what cir
cumstances Romayne had left Italy for
France, and how the event of his illness
in Paris had been communicated to his
wife. Lord Loring had only to draw on
his own recollections to enlighten me.
"Iady Loring and I passed the last
winter in Rome" he said. "And there
we saw Romayne. You look surprised.
Perhaps you are aware that we had Of
Tended him by advice which we thought
it our duty to offer to Stella before her
marriage?"
I was certainly thinking of what
Stella had said of the Lorings on the
memorable day when she visited me at
the hotel.
"Romayne would probably have re-
fused to receive u.s." Lord Loring re-
sumed, "but for the gratifying circum-
stance of my having been admitted to an
interview with the Pope. The Holy
Father spoke of him with the most con-
descending kindness; and hearing that
l had not yet seen him, gave instruc-
tions commanding Romayne to present
himself. Under these circume tances it
was impossible for him to refuse to re-
| ceive Lady Loring and myself on later
, occasion. l cannot tell you how dis
tressed we were at the sad change for
the worse in his personal appearance,
The italian physician, whom he occa-
sionally consulted, told me that there
was weakness in the action of his
heart, produced in the first instance by
excessive study and the excitement of
preaching, and aggravated by the fur
ther drain on his strength due to INSULT
cient nourishment. He would eat and
drink just enough to keep him alive,
and no more; and he persistently re-
fused to try the good influence of rest
and change of scene. My wife, at a
later interview with him, when they
were alone, induced him to throw aside
the reserve which he had maintained
with me, and discovered another cause
for the deterioration in his health. I
don't refer to the return of nervous
misery from which he has suffered at
intervals for years past. I speak of the
effect produced on his mind by the an
nouncement-made no doubt with the
best intentions by DIR. Wybrow-of the
birth of his child. This disclosure (he
was entirely ignorant of his wife's sit
uation when he left her) appears to have
affected him far more seriously than the
English doctor supposed. Lady Loring
was so shocked at what he said to her
on the subject that she has only repeat
ed it with certain reserve. IF I could
believe did wrong he said, 'in dedi-
eating myself to the service of the
Church, after the overthrow of my do
mestic happiness, should also believe
that the birth of this child was the re-
tributive punishment of my sin and the
warning of my approaching death.
dare not take this view. And yet I have
it not in me, after the solemn VOWS by
which I am bound, to place any more
consoling Interpretation on an event
which, as a priest, it disturbs and hu-
initiates me even to think Of That
one revelation of his tone of thought
will tell you what is the mental state of
this unhappy man. He gave us little
encouragement to continue our friendly
intercourse with him. 1t was only
wnen we were thinking OF our return TO
England that we heard of his appoint
ment to the vacant place of first attache
to the embassy at Paris. The Pope's
paternal anxiety on the subject of Ro-
maynes health had chosen this wise
and generous method of obliging him
to try salutary change of dir, as we'll
as relaxation from his ineessant en-
ployments in Rome. On the occasion
of his departure we met again. He
| looked like worn-out old man. We
could now only remember his double
claim on us-as a priest of our religion,
and as once dear friend-and we ar
ranged to travel with him. Tho weather
at the time was mild; our progress was
made by easy stages. We left him at
Paris, apparently the better for his