The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1881-03-11

offer my humble congratulations an'
good wishssp" ...
Romayne thought 1t needless to -,
hat Mrs. Eyrecourt had not beel
trusted with the secret until the wed
ding day was close at hand.
"My wife and I agreed in wishing tt
be married as quietly as possible" h,
answered, after making the customary
Acknowledgements.
"And Mrs. RomayneT pursued
Father Benwell. "This is sad trial tt
her. She is in attendance on her mother
Isupposeq"
In constant attendance; I am quite
alone. To change the subject, may
ask you to look at the reply which
have received from Penrose? 1t is my
excuse for troubling you with this
visit" a
Father Benwell read the letter with
the closest attention. In spite Of his
habitual self-control his vigilant eyes
frightened as he handed it back.
The priests well-planned scheme (like
Mr.. Bitrake's clever inquiries) had
failed. He had not even entrapped
Mrs. Eyrecourt into revealing the mar
riage engagement. Her unconquerable
small-talk had foiled him at every point
Even when he had deliberately kept his
seat after the other guests at the tea
table had taken their departure, she rose
with the most imperturable GOODNESS
and left him.
81 have dinner and two parties to-
night; and this is just the time when ]
take my little restorative nap. Forgive
me-and do come again!"
When he sent the fatal announ ement
Of the marriage to Rome, he had been
obliged to confess that he was indebted
for the discovery to the newspaper He
had accepted the humiliation; he had
accepted the defeat-but he was not
beaten yet.
"I counted on Romayne's weakness,
and Miss Eyreoourt counted on Ro-
mayne's weakness; and Miss Eyrecourt
has won. So let it be. My turn will
come"
In that manner he had reconciled
himself to his position. And now-he
knew it when he handed back the letter
to Romayne-his turn had comel
"You can scarcely go to Paris to con-
suit the book" he said, Sin the present
state of Mrs. Eyrecourt's health"
"Certainly not"
perhaps you will send somebody to
search the catalogue at the British
museumY"
"I should have done that already,
Father Benwell, but for the very kind
illusions in your note to your friend in
the country. Even if the book is in the
museum library, shall be OBLIGED to
go to the reading-room to get my in
formation. 1t would be far more con-
venient to me to have the volume at
home to consult, if you think your friend
will trust me with it." Z
"I am certain he will trust you with
it. My friend is Mr.. Winterfeld, of
Beaupark house, North Devon. Per-
haps you may have heard of himY'
"No; the name is quite new to me-"
"Then come and see the man him
self. He is now in London-and am
entirely at your service"
In half an hour more Romayne was
presented to well-bred, amiable gentle
man, in the prime Of life, smoking, and
reading the newspaper. The bowl of
his long pipe rested on the floor on one
side of him, and handsome red and
white spaniel reposed on the other. Be-
fore his visitors had been two minutes in
the room, he understood the motive
which had brought them to consult him,
and sent for telegraphic form.
"My steward will find the book and
forward it to your address by passenger
rain this afternoon" he said. "I will
ell him to put my printed catalogue OF
he library into the parcel, in case 1 have
my other books which may be of use to
'ou."
With these words he dispatched the
elegram to the Office. Romaynt
tempted to make his acknowledge
nents. Mr.. Winterfield would hear nc
acknowledgements.
"My dear sir" he said, with smile
hat frightened his whole face, "you
re engaged in writing great historical
'ork, and I am an obscure country
entleman, who is lucky enough te
ssociate himself with the production Of
new book. How do you know that
m not looking forward to compliment
Try line in the preface? I am the
bliged person, not you. Pray consider
lie as handy little boy who runs on
rrsnds, or the Muse of History. Do you
noke?"
Not even tobacco would soothe
wasted and irritable nerves
ather Benwell cheerfully accepted
gar from box on the table.
Father Benwell possesses all the
'cial virtues" Mr.. Winterfield ran on.
He shall have his coffee and the largest
lgar-basin that the hotel can produce,
can quite understand that your literary .
bors have tried your nerves." he said
Romayne, when he had ordered the
flee. "The mere title of your work ,
'erwhelms an idle man like me. The
rigin of Religions'-what an immense
bject How far must we look back to
Id out the first worshipers of the
imam family? Where are the hero b
yphics, Mr.. Romayne, that will give d
~ the earliest information +? In the b
known center of Africa, or among the
ined cities Of Yucatan9 My own idea, !.
an ignorant man, is, that the first of
forms of worship must have been the 8
,rship Of the sun. Don't be shocked,
.ther Benwell-I confess / have a GER u
in sympathy with sun-worship. In the =
~ n Al :. \