Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-06-04

by which the monks held your present
in their time. Take another
glass of wine"
Romayne looked at the title-deeds
and laid them aside unread.
Father Benwell had reused his pride,
his sense of justice, his wild and lavish
instincts of generosity. He who had
always despised money-except when it
assumed its only estimable character as
a means for the attainment of merciful
and noble ends-he was in possession of
property to which he had no moral right,
without even the poor excuse of associa-
tions which attached him to the place.
81 hope have not offended you ?"
said Father Benwell.
"You have made me ashamed of my
self" Romayne answered, warmly. "On
the day when | became Catholic l
ought to have remembered Vange. Bet
ter late than never. l refuse to take
shelter under the law-I respect the
moral right of the church. will at
once restore the property which have
usurped."
Father Benwell took both Romayne's
hands in his aud pressed them fer
vently.
"I am proud of you'll" he said. "We
shall all be proud of you when I write
word to Rome of what has passed be-
tween us. But-no. Romayne, this
must not bel l admire you, feel with
you; and 1 refuse. On behalf of the
church, 1 say it-I refuse the gift.
"Wait little. Father Benwell You
don't know the state of my affairs. ]
don deserve the admiration which you
feel for me. The loss of the Vange
will be no pecuniary loss in
my case. | have inherited fortune
from my aunt. Ny income from that
source is far larger than my income
from the Yorkshire property"
"Romayno, it must not be"
"Pardon me, it must be. l have
more money than I can spend without
yange. And l have painful associations
with The house which disincline me
ever to enter it again."
Even this confession failed TO move
Father Benwell. He ohstinateiy crossed
his arms, obstinately tapped his foot or
the floor.
"No," he said. "Plead as generously
as you may, my answer is, No."
Romayne only became more resolute
on his side.
"The property is absolutely my own,"
he persisted. "I am without near
relation in the world. / have no chill
dren. My wife, if die before her, will
be amply provided for. 1t is downright
obstinacy-forgive me for saying soto
persist in your refusal"
cit is downright duty, Romayne. If
I gave way to you, I should be the means
of exposing the priesthood to the vilest
misinterpretation. I should be deserv-
edly reprimanded, and your proposed
deed of gift would, without moments
hesitation, be torn up. If you have any
regard for me, drop the subject"
Romayne refused to yield, even to
this unanswerable appeal.
"Vely well, he said, "there is one
document you can't tear up. You can't
interfere with my making another will.
I shall leave the Vange property to the
church, and shall appoint you one of
the trustees. You can't object to that" I"
Even rigorous Father BenwelI was
now at loss for any further expression
of honorable protest. He could only
plead sadly and submissively for an i'm
mediate change of subject. "No more,
dear Romayne, you distress me? What
were We talking of before this unfor-
tunate topic turned up?
Ho f.led the glasses, he offered more
biscuits; he was really and even percept-
IDLY agitated.
Noticing this unusual expression OF
feeling, Romayne began to regret that
he had not more gently expressed his
intentions to his sensitive and excellent
friend.
In Offering the hospitality OF his
lodgings the Vange property had been
the object which Father Bcnwell kept
in view. lie had gained the victory for
the church without TO do him iustice)
thinking Of himself; like Romayne he
cared uothing for money FOR his own
sake. The necessity HAT now remained
was to make the victory aecure. He
had resisted the temptation TO accept
the deed of gift in Romayne's lifetime.
The restoration in that form, willie there
remained a possibility of an heir being
born to the estate, would, under those
circumstances, have led to public
scandal. On the other hand, tesla
mentary legacy Especially in the alb.
sence of an hoir) would be an unassail-
able proof of the testator's attachm mt
to tho church of which he had become o
member. Still, even with these pros
pective advantages, adverse chances