Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-06-11

the paper back on the table.
"I obtained that piece of written evi.
dence," Father Benwell proceeded, "by
the help of reverend colleague of mine
residing at Brussels. 1 will give you
his name and address if you wish to
make further inquiries"
"Quite needless. What is this Other
paper?"
"This other paper is an extract from
the shorthand writer's notes suppressed
in the reports of the public iournals) Of
proceedings in an English court of law
obtained at my request by my lawyer in
London"
"What have to do with it?"
He put the question in tone OF
passive endurance-resigned to the
seyerest mortal martyrdom that could
be inflicted on him.
81 will answer you in two words, u
aid Father Benwell. "In Justice to
Miss Eyrecourt, 1 am bound to produce
her excuse for marrying YOU"
Romayne looked at him in stern
amazement.
"Excuse he repeated.
Yes--excuse. The proceedings to
which / have alluded declare Miss Eyre.
courts marriage to Mr.. Winterlield tc
be null and void-by the English law
in consequence of his baving been mar
ried at the time to another woman. Try
to follow me. will put it as briefly as
possible. In justice to yourself and to
your future career you must understand
this revolving case thoroughly from be-
ginning to end"
With those predatory words he told
the story of Winterfeld's first marriage,
altering nothing, concealing nothing,
doing the fullest justice to Winterfeld's S
innocence of all evil motive from first
to last.
"You were mortified and I was sur
prised," he went on, "when Mr.. Win
terfeld dropped his acquaintance with
you. We now know that he acted like
an honorable man."
He waited to see what effect he had
produced. Romayne was in no state OF
mind to do justice to Winterfeld or to
any one. His pride was mortally wound.
ed; his high sense of honor and delicacy
writhed under the outrage inflicted on it..
"And mind this" Father Benwcll
persisted, "poor human nature has its
right to all that can be justly conceded
in the way of excuse and allowance.
Miss Eyrecourt would naturally be ad-
vised by her friends, would naturally be
eager on her own part, to keep hidden
from you what happened at Brussels. A
sensitive woman, placed in position so
horribly false and degrading, must not
be too severely judged, even when she
does wrong I am bound to say this
and more. Speaking from my own
knowledge of all the parties have no
doubt 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 immov-
able unbelief that it absolutely justified
the fatal advice by which Stella's
worldly-wise friends had encouraged
her to conc al the truth. Father Ben
well prudently closed his lips. He had
put the case with perfect fairness; his
bitterest enemy could not have denied
that.
Romayne took 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," said he,
"that was married to the wife of an
other man, and there is the judges de-
cision releasing Miss Eyrecourt from
her marriage to Mr.. Winterfield. May
1 ask you to explain yourself?"
"Certainlv. Let me first remind you
that you owe religious allegiance to the
principles which the church has as
serted for centuries past, with all the
authority of its divine institution, You
admit that 2
"I admit it.
"Now, listen. In our church, Ro.
mayne, marriage is even more than q
religious institution-it is sacrament.
We acknowledge no human laws which
rrofane that sacrament. Take two ex
amplcs OF what 1 say. When the great
Napoleon was at the height Of his power
Plus the Seventh refused to acknowl
edge the validity of the empcror'i
second marriage to Maria Louisa Will,
Josephine was living, divorced by tho
French senate. Again, in the face o
the royal marriage act, the church sane
toned the marriage of Mrs. Fitzherber
to George the Fourth, and still declares
in justice to her memory, that she wa
the kings lawful wife. In one word
marriage, to be marriage at all, must b'
the object of a purely religious cele
bration-and, this condition compiled
with, marriage is only to be dissolved
by death. You remember what l tolt
you of Mr.. Winterfeld ?"
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