FRENCH PRIEST'S ELOPEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 263, 10 November 1906, Page 13

FRENCH PRIEST'S ELOPEMENT.

MYSTERIOUS DISAWEAKANCB EXPLAINED BX A KOMAJSCE. Wnat was believed to be a French tragedy has proved to be a romance. Some weeks ago the Abbe de la Kuo, cure ot Chatenay, disappeared mysteriously, and It was at length, officially notified that there could Co no longer any doubt that lie had been murdered and his body buried In the neighbouring peat bogs. A mass for the repcse of his soul was celebrated, but immediately afterwards tne village received the startling news that he had been discovered alive In Brussels In the company of a young schoolmistress of Chatenay. According to the Farls correspondent of the "London Mail," ten days before a man, giving his name as Drecourt and representing himself to be a commercial agent, arrived in Brussels and hired furnished lodgings in the Rue de Constantinople. He was accompanied by a young woman, whom he represtnted as his wife. When on Sunday called upon by the police to register himself and give proof of his Identity he said, "My real name is De la Kue. 1 am the missing cure of Chatenay, about whom the newspapers have been talking so much. As, however, 1 do not wish my identity reveal- < ed, i beg that you will enter mc under the name of Drecourt" The official explained that he could not be entered under a false name, as It was contrary to the law. The cure was then asked if anybody accompanied him, wnereupou he registered the uaine of Mile. Marie ■ Fremont, schoolmistress, of Chatenay. Within half an hour the Brussels correspondent of the ""Fetit Farlslen" interviewed the fugitives. The door of the flat was I opened by a comely young woman, who ; turned out to be Mile. Marie Fremont. She seemed much surprised that their Identity was known, but the priest, who was at lunch, recefved the Journalist courteously. " "There Is no tragedy In my story,' he said; "simply a romance—that Is all. I loved this young lady here, whom I have brought up and whom I trained as a pupil teacher in the Chatenay school, l have felt for a i long time past that 1 was living a life of j hypocrisy, trying conscientiously to be a priest and at the same time a lover. 1 found the two things impossible for an hon-est-minded man, thererore 1 decided to put an end to the double Life 1 was leading; 1 determined to disappear, to earn my own living unuer another name, and marry- this aear srlrl. " i arranged my plans, and tooK Mile. Fremont into my confidence. It was all settlPd between Dβ. She was to join mc as soon as the nine days' wonder of my disappearance had subsided. I am deeply sorry that my whereabouts and my Identity have been discovered, for all l want Is to be forgotten. 1 am going to marry Mile. Kremont, who has been with mc a fortnight. At present 1 am very nard up, having ! changed my last IUU-franc note this mornIng. How will I earn my living? Well, 1 expect to be appointed agent for some commercial firm. See here, a Paris Jet manufacturer h£s alreatly sent mc samples. After all, 1 am an honest man." " I ___-___—_—— I