The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1881-01-28

ing Komayne. perhaps, in your
thoughts" said Lady Loring. "And
more than that, for the sake Of YOU
own happiness, you ought to judge fo1
yourself, if this devoted love of your
may ever hope to win its reward. It il
time, and more than time, that yor
should decide whether it is good fo'
you 10 see Romayne again. Are yoI
strong enough to do that?"
eyes, if I am convinced that 1t ough'
to be done"
"Nothing would make me 30 happy
Lady Loring resumed, cas- to know tina
you were, one day, my dear, to be his
wife. But I am not prudent person
can never look a. you can, to conse
quences. You won't betray me, 8 ellas
II I an doing wrong in telling q secret
which has been trusted TO me, it 10 my
fondness for you that misleads me.
Sit down again. You shall know wha'
the misery Of Romayne's life really is
With those words she told the ter
rible story OF the duel, and Of all III
had followed it.
1T is for you to say" she conclt
l1twhether Rpmay ynsr Is right Can \
woman hope to release him 4rem the
torment that he suffers, with nothing to
help her but lovef Determine fo1
Yourself" RI
Stella answered instantly:
"I determine to be his wife !"
With the same pure enthusiasm Pen
rose declared that he, too, devoted him
self to the deliverance OF Romayne.
The loving woman was not more r.
solved to give her whole life to MIN
than the fanatical man was resolved to
convert him. On the same common
battle-ground the two we're now to meet
in unconscious antagonism. Would the
priest or the woman win the day!
CHAPTER H.--THE PUBMo AND THH
PICTURES.
On the memorable Monday when thel
gallery was opened to the pub
lie for the first time, Lord Loring and
Father Benwell met in the library.
"Judging by the number of carriages
already at the door" said Father Ben
well, "your lordship's kindness il
largely appreciated by lovers of art"
Gail the tickets we're disposed of in
three hours" Lord Loring answered.
Everybody (the librarian tolIme)
is eager to see the pictures. Fave you
looked in yet?"
"Not yet. thought I would get on
first with my work here"
81 have just come from the gallery"
Lord Loring continued. "And here I
I'm driven out of it again by the remarks
If some of the visitors. You know my
copies of Raphael's Cupid and
Psyche designs? The general impress
lion, especially among the ladies, is
hat they are disgusting and indecent.
That was enough for me. If you hap
zen to meet Lady Loring and Stella,
lindly tell them that I have gone to
he club"
"Do the ladies' propose paying visit
o the gallery n"
"Of course-to see the peoplel I
ave recommended them to wait until |
hey are ready to go out for their
rive. In their indoor costume, they
hight become objects Of general obser-
alton as the ladies of the house. I
hall be anxious to hear, Father, if you
an d scover the civilizing influences Of
TT among my guests in the gallery.
+ood morning"
Father Benwell rang the bell when
ord Loring had left him.
Do the ladies drive out to-day at
leir usual hour?' he inquired, when
lie servant appeared. The man an
vered in the affirmative. The carriage
as ordered for three o'clock.
At half.past two Father Benwell slip Y
I'd quietly into the gallery. He posted /,
mself midway between the library i
,or and the grand entrance, on the b
itch, not for the civilizing influences o
art, but for the appearance of Lady !,
,ring and Stella. He was still of =
inion that Stolla's " frivolous mother I
ght be turned into source of valu- e
le information on the source of her Ia
1ghter's earlier life. The first step :.
Yard attaining this object was to dis F
-er Mrs. Eyrecourt's present address. in
LA would certainly know it, and b.
her Benwell felt a just confidence M
his capacity to make the young lady y, y,
in this respect, to the Pc W
Iiary interests of the church. W
lfter an in erval of quarter of an ~ ~
Ir, Lady Loring and Stella entered fo
gallery by the library-door. Father ar
lwell at once advanced to pay his he
Dects. ol
or some little time he discreetly re- Ga
ned from making any attempt to fe
| the conversation to the topic that fe
had in view. He was too well ac- ou
inted with the Unsuitable interest of Sc
nen in looking at other women to o,'
o himself into notice. The Indies On
lie their remarks on the pretentions
beauty and to taste in dress among
throng of visitors, and Father Ben N,
waited by them, and listened with a
resignation of modest young man. of
ence, like virtue, is sometimes its te,
reward. Two gentlemen, evidently ex
rested in the pictures, approached brt
priest He drew back with his nj.
y politeness, to lot them see the ho
ure before which h happened to be at
ding. The movement disturbed are
Ia She turned sharply noticed thf