Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-08-18
NUMBER 81.
But, father. he was my director. my

priest"
my daughter. 10 you believe with the
Protestant that marriage is mere civil
cont act, or DO you hold with US that il is
one OF the holy sacrainents ?"
Can ou ask me" answered Kate
reproachmlly.
We'll, then, those whom God and The
Sholc church sacrament united, what
right hath II single priest to disuniIe in
heart, and make tho wife false to any
part whatever OF that most holy vow?
hear, and not from you. that leonard set
you against your husbands friends. with
drew you from society, and set lin
abroad alone. In one word, no robbed
your husband OF his companion and
friend. The sin was I.eonard's, but the
hu't was yours. You were five years
older thun Leonard, aud woman OF
sense and experience; he is but boy by
comparison. What right hal you to sur
render your understanding in matter of
this kind. to a poor. silly priest. fresh
from his seminary. and as mnnilestly
without grain oil common sense as he
was lUll of pictY."
This rcmonstrance produced rather q
striking effect on both those who heard
It, Mrs. GuInt seemed much struck with
IL, she leaned back in her chair and put
her hand to her brow with sort OF dcs-
pairing gesture that Griffith could not
very well understand, it seemed so dis.
proportonatc. I, soltened him, how.
ever, and he laltered out: "Ayc. father,
that is how it all began. Nvuld to
heaven il had stopped thcro "
Francis resumed: This false step led
to consequences you never dreamed of
for one OF your romantic notions Is that
priest was IN angel. | have known you
in former times Try to take mo for an
angel; then would throw cold wafer ON
your folly by calling Justify fnr "h'a's Oh
beet mud mugs Of ale. BuI 'nrpose
Leonard thought himself an angel too
and the up shot was he fell in love With
Lis ncighbor's wife,"
"And she with him." groancd Griffith.
Not SO" said Francis; "out perhaps
she was nearer il than she thinks"
Prove that said Mrs. Gaunt, and
I'll fall on my knees to him before you
Francis smiled and proceeded: 10 be
sure, from tho moment you discovered
Leonard was in love with you, you drew
back. and conducted yourself with pru.
dence and propriety. Read these letters,
sir, anil tell me what you think OF them. >"
lie handed them to Griffith. GrfliLh's
hand trembled visibly a. he took them.
STAY" said Father Francis; ''yolr
better way will be TO read the whole cor
rcspondcnce according 10 the dates. Be.
yin with this Of Mrs. Gauat'."
Griffith read the Letter N un audible
whisper.
Mis-. GauuL listened with all her cars.
"DEAR FATHER AND FRIEND: The
woids you spoke to me to day admit but
one meaning: You arc jealous oil my hus'
bnnd. Then You must below can l
write i. ?-almost in love with NE. SO
then my poor husband was wiser than |.
lie saw u rival in you, and lie has one. !
am deeply, deeply shocked. ! ought to
Ju very angry tooi but, thinking OF your
solitary condition, and all the good you
have done my soul, my heart has no
place for aught bnt pity. Only. and am
in my senses and YOU are not, you must
now obey me. as heretofore have obeyed
you. You must seek another sphere Of
duty without delay. These seem harsh
words from me to you. You will live TO
sec they are kind ones. Write me one
line, and no more, TO say you Will be
ruled by me in this. God and The saints
have you in their holy keeping. Soprays
your affeclionato and sorrowlal daughter
and true friend,
CATHERINE GAUNT.
Poor SOUL" said Griffith. "Said
not that women are not wicked, but weak.
Who would think that aller this he could
get the better of her good resolyo-the
villain !"
Now read his reply" said Father
Francis.
LAY, his one word OF reply is il! three
pages closely written-the villain. 0 the
villain !" said Father Francis. calmly.
The letter was very humble and dpathet-
ic-the reply OF good, though erring
man, who owned that in moment Of
weakness he had been betrayed into q
feeling inconsistent with his holy probes.
=ion. He begged his correspondent, how
ever, not TO Judge him quite SO hardly.
lie reminded her Of his solitary life, his
natural melancholy. and assured her that
men in his condition had moments when
they envied those whose bosoms had
partners. Such cry OF anguish" said d.
he, "was once wruug from a maiden
queen. maugre all her pride. Tho Queen
of Scots hath a son. and am but barren
stock lie went on to say that prayer
and vigilence united do much.
ado not despair so soon Of me. Flight
is not our cure; let me rather stay, and
with Gods help and the saints, overcome
this unhappy weakness. If fail. it will