The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-14
A SAD ROMANCE.
A Story of Marriage Said to Have
Been SOlemnized Here.

Able Richer and His Bride-rhe Infiu-
ence of the Church Leads the Husband
to Give up His Young Wife.
A wedding of romantic and pathetic in
terest is said to have been solemnized in
this city about two weeks ago. The. par
ticulars of it are given in despatch from
Ottawa, Ontario, as follows:
Probably one of the. most romantic and
pathetic tales in the annals of social and
religious life in Canada today. is that of a
Catholic.priest ..Abbe Richer, and his girl
bride, Miss Cote, of the township of Mas.
son, Que The affair has deeply stirred
the hearts of the people.
Enough is known to give color to one
| of the most pitiful of love stories in real
life since the days of Abelard and He.
loise
Able Richer Is splendid specimen of
physical manhood, his handsome, intel.
lectual face distinguishing him above his
fellows. Not much above 80 years of age,
he Is revered and beloved by his parish
toner's in Mason, which lies two miles
from this city, across the Ottawa river,
in the country of Labelle.
He owns an estate at Notre Dame de la
Sale, and is a man of considerable
means. Earnest almost to asceticism in
his devotion to the church. he labored
with zeal that spread it's influence be-
yond the limited sphere in which he min
istered. Some years ago he took upon
himself a charge. Into his life came an
orphan girl of tender years. who had
been confided to his care by her dying
parents.
Assuming the responsibility of bring
ing her up, the young priest faithfully
performed his self-imposed duty, educat-
ing his ward and surrounding her with
every care and Christian influence. The
child gave promise of great beauty as the
years rolled by, and this summer when
she attained her 18th year lovelier
maiden could scarcely be found in the
province.
Her beauty and winsome disposition
gradually enslaved the heart of the youth.
full cleric, although it is said he stroye
earnestly to stifle the affection for he1
which, latterly, began to be plainly evil
dent even to the eyes Of his people.
To make the struggle. against the great
temptation more unavailing, his ward
on her part, took no pains to conceal hel
deep attachment to her benefactor and
priest. During the early part of the sum
mer the struggle against fate seemed te
end.
A great change was noted in the able,
and his pale, wan face as he moved
| among the members of his flock betok
| ened the silent conflict within and excited
| sympathetic comment on all sides, be-
coming the subject of much secret specu-
lation with parishioners and friends.
Abont six weeks ago FIR Richer petit
| toned the archbishop of Ottawa for leave
of absence, alleging i'll health, and leave
was Immediately granted, the head of
| the diocese fully recognizing the abbe's
talents and usefulness. Fir Richer then
retired to the seclusion of his estate at
Notre Dame de la Sale, separating him.
self from Miss Cote for the purpose, it
was supposed, of endeavoring to overcome
his consuming passion for her.
Not long after his retirement however.
the public was startled by the announce
ment that the able had sent to his supe-
riors a declaration of his firm intention
to renouncing his priestly vows and to at
once wed his young ward. Following
this declaration, it Is stated on good au-
thority, the young couple quietly proceed
ed to Portland, Maine, about a fortnight
ago and were secretly married in or near
that city by Presbyterian minister.
There was tremendous excitement
aroused in this diocese over the denounce-
ment, but in the meantime the priest and
his girl bride had returned, and were
living short lived happiness at Able
Richer's home, but like the Abelard of
old, his offense against the church was
grievous and not to be tolerated.
An effort was Immediately made to
break the abbe's determination to forsake
his church and TO turn him from his
course. Up to Saturday of last week he
persisted in his unalterable intention of
renouncing the priesthood and living with
Miss Cote.
FIR Mangin of Mason, priest having
him in the evening of that day, remain
ing with him the greater part of the
night, the outcome of which was start
ling. The following Monday, in the
presence of few friends, separation was
finally consented to by the able.
AThen ensued scene which appears to
have been most heartrending. When the
separated from her lover, her grief was
terrible to witness, and her piteous an.
peals for death rather than to give up her
lover and bury her lost hopes and cher
ished illusions between convent walls.
where she must renounce forever the Joys
of life and live in retirement and expia.
ton, swere moreithan the able could bear.
and he was removed from her presence in
a fainting and exhausted state.
The plans for the separation were i'm
mediately carried out, the girl going to a
convent, the name of which is known
only to those directly concerned, where
she will spend the rest of her life.
The submission of the able to the will
of the church has been unconditional and
complete and to purge him of his offense
he will be sent to the Trappist monastery
at Okla, there to preserve absolute silence
for period of three years, the sentence
imposed upon him by the archbishop of
Ottawa upon his return to this city.