Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-05-21
URG ALIEGANY COUNTY, MARYLAND SATURDAY, MAY 2l, 1891

murdered priests. 1t is not concealed
from them that they may be martyred
too. They are soldiers of the cross; and
they go-willingly go-to save the
souls of the Indians at the peril OF
their lives"
Romayne rose and advanced to the
door. There he turned and spoke to
Stella.
"Where is Arthur" he said.
Stella gently detained him.
"Ihere was one word more he ell.
treated me to say-pray wait and hear
i, she pleaded. "His one grief is at
leaving you. Apart from that he de-
votes himself gladly to the dreadful
service which claims him. He has long
looked forward to it, and has long pre-.
pared himself for it. Those, Lewis, are
his own words"
There was knock at the door. The
servant appeared to announce that the
clrfliSe was waiting
Penrose entered the room as the man
left it.
"Have you spoken for me?" he said
to Stella.
She could only answer him by a ges.
ture. He turned to Romayne with a
smile.
"The saddest OF all words must be
spoken" he said. Farewell"
Pale and trembling, Romayne took his
hand.
els this Father Benwell's doing ?" he
asked.
"Now Penrose answered, firmly.
"In Father Benwells position it might
have been his doing, but for his good.
ness to me. For tho first time since ]
have known him. he has shrunk from a
responsibility. For my sake he has left
it to Rome, And Rome has spoken.
"Oh, my more than friend, my brother
in love-
HIS voice failed him. With n resolu.
tion that was nothing less than heroic
in man of his alfectionate nature he
recovered his composure.
"Let us make il as little miserable as
it can be-" he said. sat every oppor.
tunity we will write to each other. And,
who knows Z? 1 may yet come back to
you. God has preserved his servants in
dangers as great as any that 1 shall en-
counter. May that merciful God bless
and protect you. Oh, Romayne, what
happy days we have had together p
His last powers of resistance We're worn
out. Tears of noble sorrow dimmed
the friendly eyes which had never looked
uqkindly on the brother of his love-
He kissed Romayno. Help me out p
he said, turning blindly toward the hall
in which the servant was waiting. That
last act of mercy was not left to ser.
want. With sisterly tenderness Stella
took his hand and led him away. 81
shall remember you gratefully as long
as I live," she said to him when the
carriage door was closed. He waved
his hand at the window, and she saw
him no more.
She returned to the study.
The relief of tears had come to Ro.
mayne. He had dropped into a chair
when Penrose left him. In stony
silence he sat there, his head down, his
eyes dry and staring. The miserable
days of their estrangement were forgot,
ten by his wife in the moment when she
looked at him. She knelt by his side,
and lifted his head little and laid il
on her bosom. Her heart was full II she
let the caress plead for her silently. He
felt it; his cold fingers pressed her hand
thankfully; but lie said nothing. After
long interval the first outward ex
preston of sorrow that fell from his
lips showed that he was still thinking
of Penrose.
Every blessing falls away from
me-" he said, 81 have lost my best
friend"
Years afterward Stella remembered
those words, and the tone in which he
had spoken them.