The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-12-03
The Convent Cell.

On bleak and gloomy morning in the
month of march, 1927, two travellers walk
ed up the aisle of the church OF st. -, in
one of the chief towns of the Netherlands.
They we're evidently strangers, not only
to the place which they gazed at with Curl
osity, but to the manners and feelings of
the congregation, for they were observed
TO walk carelessly past the Benitier, with
out dipping their fingers in the blessed wa
ter; nor did they bend their knees as they
crossed before the altar.
Still there was nothing of indifference in
their manner; nothing, in short, which any
liberal-minded devotee might not have ex-
cused in the bearing of two heretics, unac-
customed to Roman Catholic rites, and act.
ing from impulses of inexperience and
youth. For they were both young, under
five-and-twenty; and they had that reck-
less and independent air which marks the
citizens of a free country. They were, in
fact, Americans, who, with full fund Of
health, money, and ardor for variety, had
just arrived 10 Europe, and were starting
on their journey in quest Of kno wledge and
adventures. f-'s-t-l-
They had landed a day or two before at
OSlOuuS HUN LOHuOLs uuu tiliS was lu0lI
first visit to a Roman Catholic country
One of the strangers, who was quaker,
viewed the religious ceremonies without
any other emotion thln that of painter or
novelist. as if scanning the groups for the
effect which they would produce portray
ed on the canvass, or in description; while
the other, of more sanguine tompera.
mont, felt deeper moral interest in the
scene. s.e
He was, however, after a short time,
reused to more minute and personal train
OF thought, by observing, that one of the
nuns. who had most .pretentions TO beauty,
fixed her looks upon him with an uncom-
mon intenseness, and in manner 50 re-
markable, as to cause him at length consid-
cradle embarrassment. There was some
thing in the expression of her countenance
and in the determined scrutiny of her gaze,
that made him almost shudder. She was
handsome, certainly. Her features were
regular and marked; but she was pale to
sallowness, and her dark eyes had rest
lessness of motion, that seemed caused by
an unquiet mind.
He then felt his cheeks glow, and he gave
TO his cheeks the tenderest expression of
which they were capable. He saw an IN
swering flush rise on the pallid brow of the
nun; and a smile, that thrilled through him,
but not with unmoved delight, played for
an instant on her colourless lips. Her eyes
then sank down, and her face resumed its
calm and sculptured look.
The service was at length concluded;the
priests had retired from the deserted altar,
and one by one the congregation left the
church. Aroused by his less excitabe
friend, the enomored young gentleman also
arose TO retire.
They were on the point of quitting their
places and retiring from the almost DESERT
ed church; the friend of the young lover,
for so we must call him, had turned round
and made few steps in the direction of the
door, and the lover himself was about to
follow, when his parting look at the nun
was answered by IN imPloring glance from
her quick raised eyes, and a momentary,
but Ineligible motion with her finger, that
he should remain.
Determined, of course, to comply with
this invitation, he found means to rid him.
self of his friend, and following the fair
nun down back stair, entered with her a
narrow recess, lighted by single lamp,
before shrine contained in which, she
again resumed her kneeling position. The
lover took position at few yards distant
from the object of bis gaze, and leaning