The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1881-05-13

"And mind this,r Father Benwell pc
sisted, "poor human nature has its rigf
to all that can be Justly conceded in th
way of excuse and allowance. Mis-
Eyrecourt would naturally be advised b
her friends, would naturally be eager O
her own part, TO keep hidden from 70
what happened Mt B-ussels. A sensitiv
woman. placed in position so horribl
false and degrading. must not be too sc
verely Judged, even when she doe
wrong am bound to say this-ant
more. Speaking from my own knowl
edge of all the parties, have no doub
that Miss Eyrecourt and Mr.. Winterfeld
did really part at the church door,"
Romayne answered BY q look, so dis
dainfully expressive of the most i'm.
movable unbelief, that it absolutely i1sti.
fed the fatal advice by which Stella's
worldly-wise frisnds had encouraged her
TO conceal the tEaehe Father Benwell
Il pridently cld1sa 48syies., He had pu;
the case with perfect fairness; his hitter
est enemy could not have denied that.
Romayne tooiy up the second paper,
looked at it, and threw it back again on
the table with an expression of disgust.
"You told me Just now," he said, "that
| was married to the wife of another
man, and there is the judges decision re.
leasing Miss Eyreeourt from her mar
riage to Mr.. Winterfeld, May ask you
to explain yourselfpp
"Certainly. Let ne first remind you
that You owe religious allegiance 10 the
principles which the Church has asserted
for centuries past, with all the authority
of its divine institution. You admit
thatp"
II admit it,"
"Now, listen. In our Church, Ro.
mayne, marriage is even more than d
religious institution 1t is a sacrament.
We acknowledge no human laws which
profane that sacrament. Take two ex-
amples of what say. When the great
Napoleon was at the heigth of his power,
Plus the Seventh refused to acknowledge
the validity of the Emperor's second
marriage to Maria Louisa while jose
phine was living, divorced bv the French
Senate. Again. in the face of the Royal
Marriage Act, the Church sanctioned the
marriage of Mrs. Fl'zherbert to George
the Fourth, and still declares. In Justice
to her memory, that she was the Kings
lawful wife. In one word marriage, to
be marriage OF all, must be the object Of
a purely religious celebration-and, this
condition complied with, marriage is
only to be dissolved by death You re.
member y hat l told you of Mr.. Winter.
feldp"
"Yes. His first marriage took place
before the registrar"
"In plain English, Romayne, Mr.. Win.
terfeld and the woman rider in the cir
Gus pronounced formula of words be-
fore layman in an office. This is not
only no marriage; it is blasphemous
profanation of boly rite. Acts of Par
Lament which sanction such proceedings
are acts of infidelity. The Church de-
clares it in defense Of religion"
81 understand you," said Romayne.
Mr.. Winterfeld's marriage at Brussels,
(Which the English law Father Ben.
well interposed, declares to be annulled
by the marriage before the registrar
stands good, nevertheless, by the higher
law of the Church. Mr Winterfield is <
MiS EyrecoH t's hysl pd 4s long as they
bothflive. An ordain d priest performed
the ceremony in cohsecrated building, y
and Protestant marriages, SO celebra-
ted, are acknowledged by the Catholic
Church. Under those circumstances,
the ceremony which afterwards united
you to Miss Eyrecour:-though neither
you nor the clergyman were to blame
was mere mockery. Need / say
moreP Shall leave you for while by
yourself"
"No! Idont know what l may think,
] don't know what l may do, if you
leave me by myself"
Father Benwell took a chair by Ro-
mayne's side. ut has been my hard
duty to grieve and humliate you," he
said, "Do you Dear me no i'll wil?"
He held out his hand.
Romayne took it as an act of Justice.
if not as an act of gratitude.
''Can be of any use in advising you?"
Father Benwell asked.
"Who can advise man in my posi-
tionP" Romayne bitterly rejoined.
II can at least suggest that you should
take time to think over your position"
"Time-take timeP You talk as if my
was endurable."
Everything is endnrable, Romayne. !
at may be so to you, Father Benwell !,
Did you part with yo,r humanity when !
you put on the black robe of the priest ? !
parted, my son. with those weak.
nesses of our humanity on which women
practice. You talk of your position. l !
will put it before you at its worst" !
"For what pnrposepn
"To show you exactly what your po.
sition is. Judged by the law of Eng
land Mrs. Romayne is your wife. Judged '
by the principles held sacred among the I
religious community to which you be-
long, she is not Mrs. Romayne-s she is
Mr.. Winterield- living with you in d
If you regret your conver- e
;ion-n
Il don't regret it, Father Benwell."
IF you renounce the holy aspirations v
which you haye yourself acknowledged l
20 me, return to your domestic life, But n
ion't ask US, while you are liv ng with e
hat lady, to acknowledge you as men, o
Der Of our communion" II
Romavne was silent. The more vic "
ent emotions aroused in him had, with 81
lime, subsidized into calm. Tenderness, a
mercy, past affection found their oppor- 9.
unity. and ylssaa}, with him. ~-rAs u
priests bold language had missed the 1
object at which it aimed. 1t had revived ta
n Romayne's memory the image of e,
Stella in the DAYS when he had first seen
Ter. How gently her influence had l
on him for good; how tender d
y, how truly she had loved him.
''Give me some more wine" he cried. N
Il feel faint and giddy. Don't despise CT
ne, Father Benwell; | was once so fond o.
# her!" p
The priest poured out the wine. CT
81 feel for you," he said. "lndeed, o'
indeed | feel for you."
1t was not all lie. there were grains u
# truth in that outburst OF sympathy. ol
father Benwell was not wholly merci- y
ess. His iar-seeing intellect, his daring 70
Implicitly, carried him straight on to his OF
nd in view. But, that end once gained IN
and, let il be remembered, not gained ci
Wholly for himself-there were compass
ionate impulses left in him which some
lines forced their way to the surface. he
man of high intelligence-however 70
e may misuse it, however unworthy he i'm
lsy be Of it-has agift from heaven. ST
When you want TO see unredeemed nc
7ickedness. look for it in fool. 81
LET me mention one circumstance th
ather Benwell proceeded. (which may
elp to relieve you for the moment. In In
our present state Of mind, you cannot de
sturp to the Retreat" wi
"Impossiblel' Al
Il have had room prepared for you ye
this house. Here, free from any dis on
lrbing influence. you can shape the fu- LC
ire course of your lie. II you wish to CO