The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-07-15

"The church, Mr.. Romayne, hesitates
to receive, as benevolent contributions,
money derived from property of its own
arbitrarily taken from it and placed ina
layman's hands. Nop he cried, inter
rupting Romayne, who instantly under
stood the allusion to vange Abbey.
ono! 1 must beg you to hear me out.
T state thn oasa plainly at your own re-
quest. At the same time am bound to
admit that the lapse of centuries has, in
the eye of the law, sanctioned the delib-
crate act of robbery perpetrated by
Henry the Eighth. You have lawfully
inherited Vange Abbey from Your ances-
tors. The church is not unreasonable
enough to assert merely moral right
against the law of the country. 1t may
feel the act of spoliation-but it sub
mits." He unlocked the flat mahogany
box and gently dropped his dignity;
the man took the place of the priest.
GAS the master of vange," he said, "you
may be interested in looking at little
historical curiosity which We have pre-
served. The title-deeds, dear Romayne,
by which the monks held your present
property in their time. Take another
glass of wine"
Romayne looked at the title-deeds
and laid them aside unread.
Father Benwell had roused his pride,
his sense of justice, his wild and lavish
instincts of generosity. He who had
always despiscd money-except when it
assumed its only estimable character as
means for the attainment of mersiful
and noble ends--he was in possession of
property to which he had no moral right,
without even the poor excuse of associa-
tions which attached him to the place.
81 hope have not offended you ~
said Father Benwell. 1a las .t.ln
"You have made me ashamed of my
self" Romayne answered, warmly. "On
the day when became a Catholic /
ought to have remembered Vange. Bet
ter late than never. / refuse to take
shelter under the law-I respect the
moral right of the church. will at
once restore the property which I have
usurped." sa+ ,l..l.
Father Benwell took both Romayne's
hands in his and pressed them fer
vently.
at am proud of you'll" he said. "We
shall all be proud of you when 1 write
word to Rome of what has passed be-
tween us. But-no, Romayne, this
must not be 1 admire you, feel with
you; and refuse. On behalf of the
church, say It'll refuse the gift
"Wait little, Father Benwelli You
don't know the state of my affairs. /
don deserve the admiration which you
feel for me. The loss of the yange
property will be no pecuniary loss in
my case. 1 have inherited fortune
from my aunt. Ny income from that
source is far larger than my income
from the Yorkshire property"
"Romayne, it must not be-"
Pardon me, It must be. have
more money than can spend without
vango. And I have painful associations
with the house which Asineline me
ever to enter it again"
I Even this confession failed to move
Father Bepwell. He obstinately crossed
his arms, obstinately tapped his foot on
the floor. aa FRO sr'E sascT
"No." he said. "Plead as generously
as You may, my answer is, No"
ii Romayne only became more resoluts
T on his side. .-
"The property is absolutely my own.'
he persisted. 81 am without neal
! relation in the world. I have no chill
. dren. My wife. il die before her, viii
be amply provided for. II is downright
y Continued on page fourth.