New Britain herald., 1921-11-02

who might prefer sleep to even |
 grathed curiosity" -,
 Lorison entered the room and took
 the ehaIr offered him, The priests
 eyes looked courteous intsrroga-
 ton,
 "I must apologize again" said the
 young man. flor 50 seeA in.rudinS
 upon you with my martial infelicltIss,
 but. as my wife has neglected to fur.
 prIved of the legitimate rseourN of
 family row."
 T am quite plain man." said
 Father Rosan. pleasantly; but l do
 not sec how l aN to ask you aues.
 tons"
 Pardon my !ndreotness." sald
 Lori.on; "I will ask one. In this
 room tonight you pronounced me to
 be a husband, You afterward sroko
 of additional rites or performances
 that either should or could be sf.
 fected paid little attention to your
 words then, but l am hungry to hear
 them repeated now. AS matters stand. am I married past all hslp'"
 You are as legally and as firmly
 bound" said the priest "ss though 1t had been done in a cathedral. ID the presence of thousands, The ad' dltional observances l referred to arc not necessary to the strictest leEality of the act. put were advsed as precaution for the future-for con- venience of proof in such continsence es wills. inheritances and the hke.'
 Lorison laughed harshly.
 Many thanks" he said Then there is no mistake. and l am tho happy benedict. I suppose q should go stand upon the bridal corner, and i when my wife gets through walking the streets she will look me up Father Rogan regarded him calmly, My son" he said, when a man and woman come to me to be mar ried l always marry them. I do this for the sake Of other people whom they mghtso away and marry If they did not marry each other. As you see, I do not seek your confidence; but your case seems to me to be one not altogether devoid of interest. Very few marriages that have come to my notice have brought such Jyell- expressed regret within 50 short a time. I will hazard one question: were you not under jthe impression that you loved the lady you married, at the time you d!d so?" Loved her" cried Lorison wildly. | Never so well as now, though she told me she deceived and sinned and stole. Never more than now, when, perhaps, she is laughing at the fool she caioled and left, with scarcely a word, to return to God only knows what particular line of her former folly.'
 Father Rogan answered nothing. During the silence that succeeded, be sat with quiet expectation beaning In hi. full, lambert eye.
 If you would listen" began LOT. ison. The priest held up his hand.
 "As I hoped" he said. "I though, you would trust me. Wait but fl moment He brought a long clay f'PS' HIlru ana IRhted 1t.
 Now. my son. he said
 Lorlson poured, twelvenonth', i accumulated confidence into Father Rogans ear He told all; not snsr. 'ns himself or emitting the facts o, ms past. the events of the nieb, o, { ms o'sturblng conjectures and fears.
 me main point" said the pri.s, when he had concluded seems to m. |" De this-are you reasonably ,urs mat you love this woman whom roy have marriedo" 'o'
 Why" exclaimed Lorjson rix,,r Impu'sively to his feet-"vhy shou,S
 oeny lt' But look al ne-a,, non' 'lesh or fowl' That is the main po'nt to me, l assure you"
 l understand you" said the nries, "lSo , Hslns and laying down his pine
 ne situation is one that has ,tsx.d Vhe endurance of much older r,.ni 'nan you-in fact. especially much oiucr men than you. will trv f., lehcFe you from 1t this niebt lou shall see for yourself into ex. eeu' what predicament you have Ia'len and how you shall, possibly. De eNtricated. There is no eviscn,. "o creditablo as that of the eye,irht
 fa'ner RoEan moved about .,- ooih ana donned a soft black hs, l5uttonng his coat to his throat h. I la'o ms hand on the doorknob. '1et us walk" he said. ,
 The two went out upon th. ,,r.., , The priest turned his face down 1T , anu Lor,s'n walked with him throust, , a squalid district. where the hou.es , ioomed, awry and desolate-lookinr n'sh above them. Presently tbcy ! turned into q less dismal side str.ef. ' where the houses were smaller and q though hinting of the most mcagre l comSrt, lacked the concentr.tes ! wretchedness of the more popuIous byways.
 At segregated two-story hous. rather Rosan halted and mounted Inc steps with the confidence of Eamlliar visitor. He ushered Lorison hto narrow hallway. faintly lighted oy cobWehbed hanging lamp. Al. :, most immediately door ,n tn. rirh. 'pened and dingy Irishwoman pro- .ruded her head. Good evening to ye. Mistress T icehan,' said the priest, unCou. 'ctously 1t seemecd, falling Into oe,f- ! 'ately favored brogue. And i, il " can tell me If Norah has n gone out again the night, maybe7" "Oh, It's yer blissd riverence. p Sure and I can tell ye the same, I'll. II 'urty darln' wint out. as usual buf
 bit later. And she says: Mother W iechan,' says she. its me last nolght h ut, praise the saints, this noight is g Ind, oh, yer riverence. the swntcc, drame of dress she had his toime. White satin and silk and lbbons and lace about the neck ani q rrums--'twas sin, yer rivererce, h he rold was spint upon it." s The priest heard Lorison catch his d ,rcath painfully ard a faint smile T lickorcd acrt.ss his own clean-cur n nc uth. n,