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

led to consequences which the persons
present had not forseen. A shrill, wall
ing voice suddenly pierced through the
Aimsy partition which divided the front
room and the back room.
"Breadp cried the voice; "Pm
hungry. Bread bread"
The daughter started to her feet.
"Think of his betrsying US at this
moment |" she exclaimed, Indignantly.
The mother rose in silence, and opened
cupboard. Its position was opposite
to the place in which Stella was sitting.
She saw twoTo three knives and forks,
some cups and saucers and plates, and
a folded tablecloth. Nothing else sp-
peared ON the shelves; not even the
stray crust of bread for which the poor
woman had been looking. "Go, my
dear, and quiet your brother" she said,
and closed the cupboard again as
patiently as ever.
Blanche left them. Stella opened
her pocketbook as the door closed.
"For Gods sake, take somethingP'
she cried. "I offer it with the sincerest
respect-I offer it as loan!"
Madame Marillac gently signed to
Stella to close the pocketbook again.
"That kind heart of yours must not
be distressed about triAes," she said.
"The baker will trust us until we get
tho money for our work, and my daugh-
ter knows it. eff you can tell me
nothing else, my dear, will you tell me
your Christian name? 1t is painful to
me to speak to you quite as stran-
ger"
Stella at once complied with the
request. Madame Marillac smiled as
she repeated the name.
"There is almost another tie between
US" she said. "We have your name in
France-it speaks with familiar sound
TO me in this strange place. Dear Miss
Stella, when my poor boy startled you
by that cry for foCd, he rec. lied to me
;he saddest of all my anxieties. When
think of him, should be tempted, if
my better sense did not restrain me -
mol no! put back tho pocketbook. I
am incapable of the shameless audacity
OF borrowing sum of money which 1
could never repay. Let me tell you
what my trouble is and you will under
stand that l am in earnest. I had two
sons, Miss Stella. The elder-the most
lovable, the most affectionate of my
children-was killed in duel"
The sudden disclosure drew cry of
sympathy from Stella, which she was
not mistress enough of herself to sup
press. Now, for the first time, she un-
derstood the remorse that tortured
Romayne, as she had not understood it
when Lady Loring had told her the
terrible story of the duel. Attributing
the effect produced on her to the sensi-
tive nature of young woman, Madame
Marillac innoccntly added to Stella's
distress by making excuses.
"Iam sorry to have frightened you,
my dear" she said. GIN your happy
country such dreadful death as my
sons is unknown. I am obliged to
mention it, or you mightnot understand
what I have still to say. Perhaps had
better not go on?"
Stella reused herself. " Yes, Yes p
she answered, eagerly. "Pray go on"
"My son in the next room," the
widow resumed, sis only fourteen
years old. 1t has pleased God sorely to
aiIlict harmless creature. He has not
been in his right mind since-since that
miserable day when he followed the
duelists and saw his brothers death.
Oh, you are turning pale How
thoughtless, how cruel of me! 1 ought
to have remembered that such horrors
as these have never overshadowed your
happy life"
Struggling to recover her self-con-
troll, Stella tried to reassure Madame
Marillac by a gesture. She had heard
the voice which haunted Romayne-the
conviction Of it shook her with super
stitious terr3r from head to foot. Not
the words that had pleaded hunger
and called for bread, but those other
words Assassin, assassin, where are
you ?" rang in her ears. She entreated
Madame Marillac to break the unen-
durable interval of silence The widows
calm voice had soothing influence
which she was eager to feel. $50 on"
she repeated, "pray go on"
81 ought not to lay all the blame of
my boys aflliction on the duel" said
Madame Marillac. "In childhood, his
mind never grew with his bodily growth.
His brothers death may have only
hurried the result which was sooner or
later but too sure to come. You need
fe | no fear of him. He is never vio-
lent-and he is the most beautiful of
all my children. Would you like to see
him?"
"No; would rather hear you speak
of him. Is he not conscious of his own
misfortune?"
"For weeks together, Stella-I am
sure I may call you Stella p he is quite