The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1881-02-18
CHAPTER xI.-lCoNTINuEDl.

| CHAPTER Kill CONTINUED.
Lady Lorings carriage was waiting at
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
me! Good heavens, you look fright
ened yourself! From what wretches
have l rescued you2 Take my smell
ingbottIe 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:
n,,ns swn.' =. ''1y'n s9"s to do 4'oe' 10
"I am going to write to him the mo-
ment we get home"
The answer seemed to alarm Lady
Loring.
"You won't betray?" she said.
"What do you mean ?"
"You won't let Romayne discover
that have told you about the duel ?"
"Certainly not. You shall see my
letter before I send it to be forwarded"
Tranquillized SO 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 l shall beg yourgood
husband to write to the major He need
only say that | have made the necessary
inquiries, after being informed of the
circumstances by you, and that l have
communicated the favorable 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 Major
Hynd thinks?"
Lady Loring looked at Stella with
malicious smile. "Are you equally in
she said, "to what |
opinion of your conduct may
be?"
Stella's color rose.
"Try to be serious, Adelaide, when you
speak to me of Romayne, she answered,
gravely. "His good opinion of me is
,he breath of my life."
An hour later the all important letter
o Romayne was written. Stella scru.
,ulously informed him of all that had
two necessary omis-
ions. In the first place nothing was
aid of the widows reference to her
on's death, and of the effect produced
~ it on his younger brother. The boy
vas simply described as being of weak
and as requiring to be kept
lnder competent control. In the second
,lace Romayne was left to infer that
ordinary motives of benevolence were
he only motives, on his part, known to
Hiss Eyrecourt.
The letter ended in these lines:
eff / have taken an undue liberty in
unasked, to appear as your
representative, can only plead that l
meant we'll. 1t seemed to me to be hard
N these poor people, and not just to
on in your absence to interpose any
eedless delays in carrying out those
ind intentions of yours, which had, no
oubt, been properly considered before
and. In forming your opinion of my
onduct, pray remember that / have
cen careful not to compromise you in
ny way. You are known only to
ladam Marillac as a compassionate
erson who offers to help her, and who
fishes to give that help anonymously.
{, Notwithstanding this, you disapprove
what / have done, l must not conceal
nat it viii grieve and humiliate mel
ave been so eager to be of use to you, !
hen others appeared to hesitate. l
lust find my consolation in remember
ig that have become acquainted with
ne of the sweetest and noblest of
omen, and that have helped to pre-
srve her afflicted son from dangers in
he future which cannot presume to
stimate. You will complete what !
ave only begun. Be forbearing and {
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