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


There was not a sound in the room.
Romayne stood looking at the priest.
b Ibid you hear what saidP" Father
Benwell asked.
YES"
"Do you understand that really mean
what l saidp"
He made no reply-ke waited, like a
man expecting to hear more.
Father Benwell was alive to the vast
importance, at such a moment. of not
shrinking from the responsibility which
be bad assumed.
see how distress you," he said; !;
''but, for your sake. am bound to speak
out. Rcmayne. the woman whom you
have married is the wife Of another man! !
DunS aEs me how know i'll do know
it. You shall have positive proof as
soon as you have recovered. Come!
rest little in the easy.chair."
BE tool Romayne's arm, and led him
to the chair, and made him drink some
wine. They waited a while. Romayne
lifted his head with heavy sigh.
1.-The woman whom ! have married is
the wife of another man." He slowly
repeated the words to himself and then
looked at Father Benwell. "Who is the
manp" he asked.
II introduced you to him when was
as ignorant of the circumstances as you
are," the priest answered. "The man is
Mr.. Bernard Winterfeld."
Romayne half.raised himself from the
chair. A momentary anger glittered in
his eyes, and faded out again, extin-
guished by the nobler emotions of grief
and shame. He remembered Winter
fields introductiois 70 Stella.
"Her husband" he said, speaking
again to himself "And she let me in
troduce him to her. Ard she received
him like stranger. He paused and
thought of it. THE proofs. if you please,
sir, he resumed, with sudden humility
Il don't want to hear any particulars.
1t will be enough for me if | know be-
yond all doubt that have been deceived
and disgraced."
Father Benwell unlocked his desk and
placed two papers before Romayne. He
did his duty with grave Indifference
to all minor considerations. The time
had not yet come for expressions of
sym pathy and regret.
1.-The first paper" he said, sis certi.
fed copy of the register of the marriage
of Miss Eyrecourt to Mr.. Wintcrfield,
celebrated Cos you will see) by the
English chaplain at Brussels, and wit
messed by three persons. Look at the
Names"
The brides mother was the first wit
ness. The two names that followed
we're the names of Lord and Lady Lor-
ing. They, too. in the conspiracy to
deceive mep" Romayne said, as he laid
the paper back on the table.
Il obtained that piece of written evil
dence," Father Benwell proceeded, "by
the help of a 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 short hand writer's notes suppressed |
in the reports of tie public journals) of |
in an English court of law
obtained at my request by my lawyer in
London"
what have to do with itP'
He put the question in tone Of pas
sive endurance-resigned to the severest
mortal martyrdom that could be inflicted
on him.
IL will answer you in two words"
said Father Benwell. in jus tice to Miss
Eyrecourt. / am bound to produce her
excuse for marrying you"
Romayne looked at him in stern amaze.
ment,
"Excusew he repeated.
"Yes-excuse. The proceedings to
which have alluded declare Miss Eyre
courts marriage TO be null and void
by tie English LAWN con- equence Of
his having been married at the time to
another woman. Try to follow me. l
will put it as briefly as possible. In
Justice to yourself and to your future
career. you must understand this revolt
ing case thoroughly from beginning to
end"
With those PREDATORY words he told the
story of Winterfeld's first marriage, al.
tering nothing. concealing nothing. do
ing the fullest justice to WiLterfield's
innocence of all evil motive from first to
asst When the plain truth served his
purpose. as it most assuredly did in this
Ease, the man has never yet been found
who could match Father Benwell at |
himself Of every vestige Of re- |
,erve and exhibiting his naked heart to {
he moral admiration Of mankind.
"You were mortified and I was sur
,rised.n he went on. when Mr.. Winter
ield dropped his acquaintance with you.
We now know that he acted like an :
man."
He waited to see what effect he had
,roduced. Romsyne was in no state of I