Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-05-17

1zEs WV .aNDrirk .9CroR.
n nrse sxxrror.

1Ns WV .a.ND ri .9CrOR.
n xIm sxxIros.
Returning from rehersal one morning.
not many years sgo, The handsome actor
Francisco p, was startled, while n,s>
sing along the crowded streets Of Milan.
BY being suddenly accos,ed by q nun.
The nun was clad in the costume Of lay
sister. and closely veilel. She did no.
speak. but touched the actors arm. &
The instant that she had succeeded in
attracting HE attention, she slipped note
into his hand, and passed on.
il was the transaction Of second re-.
marked BY none save himself. The fig
ure Of The nun was soon los. among The
busy crowds around him. He quickened
his pace; but waited until he had entered
quie,er part Of the town. ere he had read
the billet. These were the contents:
BE at the garden entrance of the Con.
vent Of our Lady Of Grace. 10 night, at the
hour Of niue. Come alone, and fear nota
ing
That night there was no performance at
the theatre THE. doubtless, the writer
knew. The actor was man Of bonnes
fortune: he looked upon This az another
p:oof Of the interes, lie could excite among
the fair sex; but an appointment made By
a nun, and in all probability with one had
something Of unusual interest to recon-
mend i. 10 his prompt attention. least.
30 thought the handsome actor; and he
awaited with some impotence The hour
named in the billet.
The result Of long experience in these
affairs aciua,ed him to destroy the no,e.
AFTER having fixed The contents in his mind.
lie remained in his lodgings ,he rest Of The
day; then; half ali hour before the time
named, wrapped in his cloak. and dressed
with peculiar care, he sailed forth, and
avoiding the public ways. past hastily
through the bye streets. until hs entered
the suburb, at the far extremity Of which
stands The Convent Of our Lady Of Grace.
Just as The great bell tolled nine-eve-
ry clock and s,eeple in the town answer.
ing or taking up the deep. booming sounds,
just az the bell tolled nine and not until
then. although for many minutes previous
had he been at the place Of appointment
did the garden entrance slowly open to
The figure that, in the fading light, was
visible to him on .he threshold Of the en-
,erance, was apparently that OF the nun
that had accos,ed him in the morning: at
least, heigh, and ga.b was the same. The
figure beckoned him TO follow, and moving
quickly, led him across the gloomy gar
den into the building Of the convent.
The nun had brought no lamp; and. as
they came within the shadow of the high.
frowning walls. 10 The door that led into
a narrow, dark passage. The actor hesl'a'
ted.
The door was open: probably left in
that state by his conduc,ress, he perceived
this she grasped his hand and led him
forward. passing bot to fassen the door.
As The sligh. fingers closed upon his own,
he thought he felt them 'remble. From
.L--l-4L ~ sA--A.-- .s--y ~~rs>'c0 eua'I
room. lighted by the brilliant light Of two
waxen ,spers. burning upon rude shrine.
which supported marble cruci6x. DAG
zefef BY the sudden transition from gloom
to light, the actor did not perceive that
his companion had quilted him. She was
gone. and lie was alone in the small room.
He threw of his heavy cloak, and ,rav-
ersing the narrow bounds. examined the
apartment. and its furniture: both were
poor indeed. Nothing could exceed the
simplicity Of the bare whi'ewashed walls
the uncurtained window-the uncarpet
ed floor-,he two rude chairs-the rough
table, on which, however, was placed
flask containing wine-the shrine. whose
course construction contrasted strangely
with the delicate workmanship Of the cost.
ly crucifx il supported. whose rich car.
wing was made manifest by the brilliant
light Of the waxen tspers burning on the
altar.
Besides the door at which he had en-
tered, there was another, which he had
coniectured would lead into the sleeping
chamber. doubtless connected with this
poor apartment. While gazing at the cost
" crucifix, he heard this door open tur-
mig, form glided into his presence whose
unlocked for appearance sent all the hot
blood rushing back upon his heart, leav-
ing his cheek and quivering lips white as
ashes.
She that entered was not less pale; but
there was no surprise upon that beautiful
face only the evidences Of some sup
pressed emotion-just visible in the dark,
tesrladen eyes.
The actor, his FIRST aatonishment being
over, .prang forward TO meet her. Ca
milan he exclaimed; and he would have