Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-06-18


wish to know, ON what subject you have
addressed him. We respectfully advise
YOU not to write again."
In those terms he expresses himself.
| shall have lived long enough, if only
live to see that man caught in one of
his own traps
11M Februny.-I was disappointed at
rot hearing from Stella yesterday. This
morning has made amends. 1t has
brought me letter from her.
She is not well, and her mothers
conduct sadly perplexes her. At one
time Mrs. Eyrecourt's sense of injury
urges her to indulge in violent measures
She is eager to place her deserted
laughter under the protection of the
law to insist ON a restitution If con
jugal rights, or on judicial separation.
At another time she sinks into state of
abject depression declares that it is
impossible for her, in Stella's deplor-
able situation, to face society, and
recommends immediate retirement to
some place on the continent In which
they can live cheaply. This latter sug.
gestion Stella is not only ready but
eager to adopt. She proves it by asking
my advice in a postscript; no doubt,
remembering the happy days when l
courted her in Paris, and the many
foreign friends of mine who called at
our hotel.
The postscript gave me the excuse
that l wanted. knew perfectly well
that it would be better for me not to see
her, and 1 went to London, for the sole
purpose of seeing her, by the first train.
12M FeJ,uu,y-I found mother and
daughter together in the drawing room.
1t was one OF Mrs. Eyrecourts days OF
depression. Her little twinkling eyes
Tried to cast on me look Of tragic re-
proach; she shook her dyed head and
said: "Oh, Winterfield, didn't think
you would have done this Stella, fetch
me my smelling g-bottle."
But Stella refused to take the hint.
She almost brought the tears to my
eyes, she received me so kindly. If her
mother had not been in the room-but
her mother was in the room; 1 had no
other choice than to enter on my busi-
ness, as If had been the family lawyer.
Mrs. Eyrecourt began by reproving
Stella for asking my advice, and then
assured me that she had no intention of
leaving London. "How am to get rid
of my house 2" she asked, irritably
enough. I knew that "her house" las
she called it) was the furnished upper
part of house belonging to another
person, and that she could leave it at n
short notice. But 1 said nothing. 1
addressed myself to Stella.
81 have been thinking of two or
three places which you might like" l
went on. "The nearest place belongs
to an old French gentleman and his wife.
They have no children and they don't
let lodgings; but I believe they would
be glad to receive friends of mine, if
their spare rooms are not already oceu-
pied. They live at st. German, close
to Paris"
looked at Mrs. Eyrecourt as 1 said
those last words-I was as sly as Father
Benwell himself. Paris justified my
confidence; the temptation was too
much for her. She not only gave way
but actually mentioned the amount OF
rent which she could afford to pay.
Stella whispered her thanks to mo as l
went out.
My name is not mentioned, but my
misfortune is alluded to in the news.
papers," she said. "Well-meaning
friends are calling and condoling with
me already. shall die if YOU don't
help me to get away from among strang-
ersp'
start for Paris by the mail-train to-
night.
Paris, 1871 FeLyuny.-It is even
ing. I have just returned from st. Ger
main. Everything is settled = with
more slyness on my part,
My good friends, Monsieur and Madam
Raymond, will be only too glad to re.
ceive English ladies, known to me for
many years. The spacious and hand
some first floor of their house Gnherit-
ed from once wealthy ancestors by Mad
am Raymond) can be got ready to re-
ceive Mrs. Eyrecourt and her daughter
in weeks time.
Our one difficulty related to the ques-
tion of money. Monsieur Raymond,
living on government pension, was
modestly unwilling to ask terms, and I
was too absolutely ignorant of the sub
ject to be of the slightest assistance to
him. 1t ended in our appealing to a
house-agent at st. German. His esti-
mate. appeared to me to be quite rea-
sonable, but it exceeded the pecuniary
limit mentioned by Mrs. Eyre
court. I had known the Raymonds
long enough to be in no danger of
,fending them by proposing a secret
arrangement which permitted me to pay