The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-03-11

Hny---anu am AFRAID that is against me-
wish ] possessed some of your social
advantages, Father
Leave it to me, son. Arc they still
talking about the pictureg'
"Yes."
Il have something more to say TO
you. Have you noticed the young
lady?'
II thought her besutiful-but she
looks little cold"
Father Benwell smiled.
When you arc as old as / am" h..
said, "you will not believe in appear.
anccs where women are concerned Do
YOU know what think of her? Beeuti-
full il you like-and dangerous az we'll"
" Dangerous? In what way?'
This is for your private ear, Arthur.
She is in love with Romayne. Wait
minute. And Lady Loring g-unless
ON entirely mistaken in what l OBJ
served-knows it and favors it. The
beautiful Stella may be the destruction
OF all our hopes, unless we keep
Romayne out of her way"
These words were whispered with an
oarnestness and agitation which sur
prised Penroso. His superior's elua-
nimity was not easily overthrown.
care yen sure, Father, OF what you
say?" he asked.
" L am quite sure, or would not have
spoken"
"Do You think Mr.. Romayne returns
the feeling?"
Not yet, luckily. You must use
your first friendly influence over him
what is her name? Her surname, I
mean
"Eylecourt. Miss Stella EyIecourt."
"Nery we'll. You must use your in
fuence when you are quite sure that it
is an innuence) TO keep Mr.. Romayne
away from Miss Eyrecourt."
Pemose looked embarrassed.
az am afraid should scarcely know
how to do that" he said. "But should
naturally, as his assistant, encourage
him to keep to his Studies"
Whatever Arthurs superior might
privately think of Arthur's reply, he re-
ceivod it with outward indulgence.
"That will como to the same thing" no
said. Besides, when | get the infor.
nation | want--this is strictly between
ourselvcs-i may be of some use in
| placing obstacles in the ladys way"
Peniose started. Informationl" lie
repeated. "What information?'
"Tell me something before ! answer
you," said Father Benwell. "How old
do you take Miss Eyrccourt to he?"
81 am not a good judge in snch mat
ters. Between twenty and twenty-five,
perhaps?"
7--" We will take her age ut that esti.
mate, Arthur. In former years :. ka,'o
had opportunities of studying women's
characters in the confessional Can you
guess what my exoerience tells Iue OF
Miss Eyrecourt?"
"No, indecd!"
"a lady is not in love for the first
time, when she is between twenty and
twenty-five years old-that IL my ex-
perience," said Father Benweu. "If I
can find n person capable of informing
me, [ may make some valuable dis
coveries in the earlier history of Miss
Eyrecourt's life. No more, now. Wo
had better return to our friends"
CHAPTER y.-FArHEH BENwELL MISSES.
The group before tho picture which
had been the subject of dispute was
broken up. In one part of the gallery
Lady Loring and Stella were whisper
ing together on sofa. In mother part
Lord Loring was speaking privately to
Romayne.
"Do YOU think you will like Mr..
Penrose ?" his lordship asked.
"Yes-so far as / can tell at present.
He seems to be modest and intelli.
gent"
"You are looking ill., my dear
Romayne. Have you again heard the
voice that hauuts youy'
Romayne answered with evident re-
luctance. 81 don't know why" he
said, "but the dread of hearing it again
has oppressed me all this morning. To
tell you the truth came here in the
hope that the change might relieve
me-"
" Has it done 30 %
"Yes."
doesn't that suggest, my friend,
that a greater change might be of use
to youY-
"Don't ask me about it, Loring
car go through my orleal-but hat,
speaking of it,
Let rs speak of something else
then," said Lord Loring. "What dC
you think OF Miss Eyrecourt ?"
"a very striking face; full OF eI
l preston and character. Leonardo
D would have painted noble portrait o
3 her. Bnt there is something in he
Ai"hhoi iio Siplpou, uhNhi'"S "
3 unable to finish the sentence.
? Something you don't like q iior'
3 Loring suggested
= "No; something don't quite under
d stand. One doesn't expect to find an.
i embarrassment in the manner of a well
:, bred woman. And yet she seemed to b
: embarrassed when she spoke TO me
!. Perhaps produced an unfortunate i'm
preston on her"
i Lord Loring laughed.
,. In any man but you, Komayne.
o should call that affectation,"
o Why Romayne asked, sharply.
b Lord Lorlng looked unfeiGnedly sui
!, prised,
!, "My dasr fellow, do you really thin
you are the sort OF man who impresse