Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-09-20

for time. Time passed and ! played p
Camille in Wallack's theatre for 100 II
nights, achieving great success. In I
that triumphant hour / did not forget i
the Moor musician. After a successful 4
trim all over the Union, l sought John g
Hopper, who told me my case was all
right and that | was free woman. An
inexperienced girl, how could | then
know the world and its laws? l was
away from my only friend, my brother,
John Hopper urged my marriage, assured
me that l was free to marry, and engag-
ed his brother-in, law, the Rev. Mr.. Gal
laudet, to marry Mr.. Stoepel and myself
in st. AIMS church, where, in presence
of large number of friends, Mr.. Hop
per and his wife, Rosalie, placed Robert
Stoepel's hand and mine together before
the altar.
Years passed, honor accompanied, and
prosperity attended our mutual industry.
Certain obligations called me to San
Francisco. | 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 inform
ed me that through an old friend he
came ON behalf of his client, Mr.. Byrne,
relative to divorce which Mr.. Byrne
claimed. was naturally annoyed, and
requested to see Mr.. Byrne in person,
which the judge positively and impera-
lively refused Worn by a long voyage,
away from friends and home, in strange
land, ! said it was not fair to bring me
in such light before the public, to
which Mr.. Fenelon replied that the mat
ter could be settled up the country by
parties there, who could be operated up
on to keep the secret. l answered that
did not koow that that was the way JUS
tce was dispensed in California. and ask
ed on what grounds could Mr.. Byrne
make so outrageous request. Where
upon Mr.. Fenelon read to me a certain
paper which / could not comprehend I'M
til he came to the word adultery"
when | told him to proceed no further.
He then inserted the odious word, deser-
ton. Again l entreated an interview
with Mr.. Byrne, and again was denied,
the judge adding, Have you no pride 2
tell you If Harry was weak enough to
see you, /, as his counsel, would forbid
it. The man despises you" Next day
| met Harry, on my way to rehearsal.
He turned ashy pale and exclaimed,
"Why, Tillyp l asked him what he
meant by sending Tom Fenelon every
day to annoy me in the midst of my Sc.
we're labors. He denied all knowledge
of the affair and an interview between
us was decided upon. Thereafter we
had a long, serious, and affecting inter-
view, explanation, and reconciliation.
After that he came constantly to see me
during my stay in San Francisco. Dur
ing our long conversations Mr.. Byrne's
constant theme was my being his wife
again. He forbade Fenelon ever to
mention divorce to me, but the in6ustri.
Gus judge was not disheartened, for he
reminded me that after was two months
married to Harry, the latter had sent
me $1,000, and that it would be a grace.
full thing to repay it. SWELL" / said
you are so Jealous in your friends be-
half will 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 and interest on the same" The
lot was sold for $2300 The purchaser
refused to pay Down the money until
signed it by my real name, in presence
of DIR. Harris, Judge Fenelon, and some
others. / took the pen and wrote, /" Ma.
tilda Heron" Then, hestating, / said
"What else ?" and both Harry and Fen
elon answered aloud. "Byrne," which
to the best of my knowledge then sign
ed.
In our next interview l asked Harry
what on earth that signature meant, and
he answered You are not Stoepers
wife, but mine; your property is mine
that beautiful home of yours is mine
you are mine; your very child is mine
you are my wife your divorce from m,
was either Illegally obtained or fraudu
lent" This intelligence panied me ex
ceedingly. just then | received dis
patch announcing my brothers death
l was obliged, even in my double afflic
ton, to perform three nights. At last
broke down i'll, and all tender respect
and love could do, Harry Byrne did fol
me. l had two physicians, but he SEN
his own. He sent Mr.. Fenelon to assur,
me that if anything serious should arts,
from my illness, he would send faith
full messenger to accompany me home
/ got well and travelled up the country
Not city performed in, scarcely da,
passed but brought letter from Mr.
Byrne.