Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-09-25

away from my only friend, my brother
John Hopper urged my marriage, assured
me that | was free to, marry and engaged
his brother-in-law, the Rev. Mr. Gallau
det, to marry Mr.. Stoepel and myself IL
st. AIMS church, where, in presence Of ;
number of friends, Mr.. Hopper and hi
wife, Rosalie, placed Robert Stoepel,
hand and mine together before the altar
Years passed, honor accompanied, anc
prosperity attended our mutual industry
Certain obligations called me to San
Francisco. l left our happy home, where
| left my only child and her father and
arrived here. The day after my arrival
Judge Fenelon called on me and informed
me that through an old friend he came on
behalf of his client, Mr.. Byrne, relative to
a divorce which Mr.. Byrne claimed ]
was naturally annoyed, and requested to
see Mr.. Byrne in person, which the Judge
positively refused. Worn by long voyage
away from friends and home, in a strange
land | said it was not fair to bring me in
such light before the public, to which
Mr.. Fenelon replied that the matter could
be settled up the country by parties there
who could be operated upon to keep the
secret | answered that | did not know
that that was the way justice was dispensed
IN California, and asked on what grounds
could Mr.. Byrne make so outrageous a
request. Whereupon Mr. Fenelon read
to me a certain paper which | could
not comprehend until he came to the word
" adultery" when | told him to proceed no
further. He then inserted the odious word
desertion. Again l entreated an interview
with Mr. Byrne and again was denied, the
judge adding, q" have you no pride
tell you if Harry was weak enough to see
you, /, as his counsel would forbid it.
The man despises yon Next day / met
Harry on my way to rehearsal. He turned
ashy pale and exclaimed Why, Tilly
| asked him what be meant By sending
Tom Fenelon every day to annoy me in
the midst of my severe labors. He denied
all knowledge Of the affair and an
interview between US was decided
upon. Thereafter we had a long, serious.
and affecting interview, explanation, and
reconciliation. After that be often came
to see me during my stay in San Francisco.
During our long conversation Mr. Byrne's
constant theme was | being ais wife again
He forbade Fenelon ever TO mention
divorce to me but the industrious iud,e
was not disheartened for he reminded me
that after | was two months married 10
Harry, the latter had sent me 1000. and
that 1t would be a graceful thing to pay il
" Well, ] said, you are so Jealous In your
friends behalf that | viii pay it, Sell that
water lot on which you insist he has been
paying taxes, while can prove my brother
in-law has really been paying them, Sell
the lot, pay your client, principal, and
taxes aud interest on the same The
lot was sold for S23Uu. The purchaser
refused to pay down the money until
signed my real name, in presence OF Dr..
Harris, Judge Fenel0n, and some others
l took the pen and wrote, Matilda
Heron Then he,tating | said.
3. What else and both Harry ana
Fenelon answered aloud, . Byrne. which
to the best OF my knowledge 1 then signed. /
In our next interview | asked Harry
what on earth that signature meant, aud he
You are not Stoepeis wife. /
hut mine your property Is mine. that
beautiful home Of yours is mlne-you are
mine, your very child Is mino-you are
my wife, your divorce from me vas either /
illegally obtained or fraudulent This /
intelligence panied me exceedingly. just /
then | received a dispatch announcing my /
brother death | was obliged. even in /
my double attiiction, to perform three /
nights. At last | broke down Ill., and a /
tender respect and love could DO. Harry /
Byrne did for me | had two physicians /
but he sent his own. tie sent Mr. Feue- .
lon to assure me that if anythin5 serious .
should arise from my illness, me would I
send faithful messenger TO accompany +
me home got well and travelled up the
country. Not a city | performed In. /
day passed but brought letter /
from Mr.. Byrne
When it became necessary for me to 20 I
east he became evidently melancholy, even
to weakness. | could only arouse him by /
expressing the hope that | would return to /
him. He planned that we should 20 /
abroad for some years. ] told him that /
would 20 home and state the case frankly /
to Mr.. StoepeI Upon parting with me
he exhibited great sensibihty and deep
feeling On my return to New Y Iork /
and frankly told Mr. Stoepcl /
ILL NlluOuL q IdLllLlC VI IG>IL Nt- Atl l
arose a question Of property between Us.
Mr.. Stoepel saying, " Then if you should |
die, Byrne can claim all | answered, I
80 Those were Mr.. Byrne's exact words "
From that hour strife and confusion sur I
rounded me. Between two husbands,-my /
brother dead, my daughters honor and |
my own involved-I knew not whittier to /
turn. | made a retreat in the convent to I
compose myself, leaving which / was
thrust into the supreme court by Robert I
Stoepel, to compel me to consent to a |
division of property as partners in the /
business. | did not wish to divide our /
property, but to keep it together for the
child, so l engaged james T. Brady to
defend the case Unfortunately, that |
gentleman in a short time died. On re- |
questing his partner to resume the case,
that gentleman said, Matilda, you will |
have trouble with StoepeI, for | have had
a communication with Mr. Byrne, ho |
says you are his wife, that your divorce .
from him was not legal"
Weary Of publicity, disheartened, des-
perate. left that office, and made over to
Robert Stoepel every piece of property
and every dollar | possessed on earth
From that time, too depres ed to act, l
was supporting myself and child by my
education, when, two years ago, / was
Frustrated by a severe fever, and kept my
room and bed for fifteen months. | was
and was sent in mid winter
to the sea shore, where news of Mr.
Byrne's death reached me. Also telegram
and letters telling me to come To San
Francisco. l have come to defend my
honor and my rights. From the invest-
cations made by my lawyer in New York