The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-05-20
but to give him reason for leaving tn,

:" Mr. W1nter1clu might llko TO see IL.
If you will ring the bell, Lewis, will
send my maid for it."
Romayne had mover allowed the ser.
wants to touch his works of art since
the day when jealous housemaid had
tried to wash one of his plaster casts.
He made the reply which his wife had
anticipated.
"No, mol" he said, aI will fetch the
drawing myself" He turned gayly te
Winterfield. prepare yourself for an
other work that you would like to kiss
He smiled and left the room.
The instant the door was closed Stells
approached Winterfeld. Her beautiful
lace became distorted by mingled ex
preston of rage and contempt. She
spoke to him in fierce, peremptory
whisper.
"Have you any consideration for mt
left ?"
His look ut her, as she put that ques
tion, revealed tho most complete con
trast between his face and hers. Com
passionate sorrow was in his eyes, tender
forbearance and respect spoke in his
tones, as he answered her.
"I have more than consideration fol
You, Stella"
She angrily interrupted him.
How dare you call me by my Chris
tian name?"
He demonstrated with q gentleness
that might have touched the heart ol
any woman.
"Do you still refuse to believe that
never deceived you ?" Has time moi
softened your heart to me yet"
She was moro contemptuous toward
him than ever.
"Spare me your protestations," she
said al heard enough of them two
years since. VIII you ID khat ask oI
you ?"
You know that 1 will"
"Put an end to your acquaintance with
my husband. Put an end to it." she re.
peated, vehemently, from this day, al
once and forevorl Can trust you to do
it %
Do You think I would have entered
this house if had known he was yout
husband?" He made that reply with q
sudden change in him--with a rising
color and in firm tones of Indignation.
In moment more his voice softoned
again, and his kind blue eyes rested on
her sadly and devotedly. "You can
trust me to do more than you ask" he
resumed. "You have made mistake
: 4" What mistaken
"When Mr.. Romayne introduced us
you met mo like stranger-and you
left me no choice but to do as you did,
81 wish you to be stranger"
Her sharpest replies made no change
in his manner. He spoke as kindly and
as patiently rs ever.
"You forget that you and your mothe,
were my guests at Beaupark two years
ago"
Stella understood what he meant, and
more. In an instant she remembered
that Father Bcnwell had been at Beau.
park house. Had he heard of the visit
She clasped her hands in speechless
terror.
Winteriield gently treasured her.
"You must not be frightened" he
said. "It is in the last degree unlikely
that Mr.. Romayne will ever find out
that You were at my house. If he does,
and if you deny it, / will do for you
what / would do for no other human
creature-I will deny it, too. You are
safe from discovery. Be happy-and
forget me-"
For the first time she showed signs OF
relenting turned her head away
and sighed. Although her mind was
full of the serious necessity of warning
him against Father Benwell, she had
not even command enough over her own
voice to ask how he had become ac-
quainted with the priest. His manly
devotion, the perfect and pathetic sin
cerity of his respect, pleaded with her,
in spite of herself. For moment she
paused to recover her composure. In
that moment Romayne returned to them
with the drawing in his hand.
"Therel" he said. "It's nothing this
time but some children gathering flowers
ON the outskirts of wood. What do
you think of it?"
"What / thought of the larger work,
Nintertield answered. II could look at
1t by the hour together" He consulted
his watch. "But time is a hard master,
and tells me that my visit must come to
an end. Thank you, most sincerely"
He bowed to Stella. Romayne thought
his guest might have taken the English
freedom of shaking hands.
"When will You como aud look at the
pictures again?' he asked. "Will you
dine with MS, and see how they bear the
lamplight?"
81 am sorry to say 1 must beg you to
excuse me. My plans are altered since
We met yesterday. am obliged to leave
London"
Romayne was unwilling to part with
him ON these terms.
"You will let me know when you are
next in town." he said.
Certainly !"
With that short answer he hurried
away.
Romayne waited q little in the hall
before he went back to his wife. Stella's
reception of Winterfield. though not