Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-04-02

citation with him! Madam Marillac,
turning away from her daughter, no.
ticed Stella's agitation.
"Surely, my poor boy doesn't alarm
you?" she said. Before Stella could
answer some one outside knocked at the
door. Lady Loring's servant appeared,
charged with q carefully-worded mes
sage.
eff you please, miss, friend is wait
ing for yon below" Any excuse for
departure was Welcome to Stella at that
moment. She promised to call at the
house again in few days. Madam
Marillsc kissed her on the forehead as
she took her leave. Her nerves were
still shaken by that momentary contact
with the boy. Descending the stairs,
she trembled so that she was obliged to
hold by the servants arm. She was not
naturally timid. What did it mean?
Lady Lorings carriage was waiting 1t
the entrance of the street, with all the
children in the neighborhood assembled
to admire it. She impulsively forestall
ed the servant in opening the carriage
door.
"Come in" she cried. "Oh, Stella,
you don't know how you have frightened
mel Good heavens, you look fright
ened yourself! From what wretches
have I rescued you? Take my SMELL
ing bottle and tell me all about it,"
The fresh air and the reassuring pres.
ence of her old friend revived Stella.
She was able to describe her interview
with the Generals family. and to an
swer the inevitable inquiries which the
narrative called forth. Lady Loring's
last question was the most important of
the series:
"What are you going to do about Ro-
mayneY'
"I am going to write to him the mo-
ment we get home"
The answer seemed to alarm Lady
Loring.
"You won't bstrayT she said.
"What do you mean ?"
"You won't let RomAyns discover
that have told you about the duel p
Certainly not. You shall see my
letter before I send il 10 be forwarded" !"
Tranquillized 20 far. Lady Loring be-
thought herself next Of Major Hynd.
"Can We tell him what you have
done% her ladyship asked.
"Of course We can tell him." Stella
replied. "I shall conceal nothing from
Lord Loring; and I shall beg your good
husband to write to the major. He need
only say that I have made the necessary
inquiries, after being informed Of the
circumstances by you, and that have
communicated the ssfavorable result to
Mr.. RomAyne."
"It's easy enough to write the letter,
my dear. But it's not so easy to say
what Major Hynd may think of you"
"Does it matter to me what Maj or
Hynd thinls?"
Lady Loring looked ct Stella with =
malicious smile. care you equally in
different" she said, "to what
Romayne's opinion Of your conduct may
beP"
Stella's color rose.
"Try to be serious, Adelaide, when you
speak to me of Romayne. she answered,
gravely. ellis good opinion of me is
the breath Of my life."
An hour later the all. important letter
to Romsyne was written. Stella scru
pulously informed him of all that had
happened-with two necessary omis-
sions. In the first place nothing was
said of the widows reference to her
sons death, and Of the effect produced
by it on his younger brother. The boy
was simply described as being of weak
intellect, and as requiring to be kept
under competent control. In tho second
place Romayns was left to infer that
ordinary motives OF bensvolence were
the only motives, on his part, known to
Miss Eyrecourt.
The letter ended in these lines
eff l have taken an undue liberty in
venturing, unssked. to appear IS your
representative. can only plead that I
meant well. 1t seemed to me to be hard
on these poor people, and not Just to
you in your absence to interpose any
needless delays in carrying out those
kind intentions of yours, which had, no
doubt, been properly considered before
hand. In forming your opinion Of my
conduct, pray remember that I have
been careful not to compromise you in
any way. You are known only to
Madam Marillac as . compassionate
person who offers to help her, and who
wishes to give that help anonymously.
If, notwithstanding this, you disapprove
of what / have done, must not conceal
that it will grieve and humiliate mel
have been so eager to be of use to you,
when others appeared to hesitate. 1
must find my consolation in remember
ing that I have become acquainted with
one OF the sweetest and noblest of
women, and that I have helped to pre-