Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-08-12

reassuring tones. sWe sang his
praises, even in the midst Of the
slaughter that ragged through our
convent. If it was his good will
that | should be saved from the fear
ful butchery committed in that holy
place bv the republicans, it was no
doubt 10 reserve me for another
destiny, which must accept without
a murmur. Think of yourselves,
nv sisters-think not Of me-
'lmpossiblep said one Of the wo-
men. What are our lives, the lives
of two nuns, in comparison with
yours; in comparison with the life
of a priestP
Here, father said the old nun
who had Just returned; here are the
consecrated waters of which you
sent me in Search She handed him
the box which she had received from
the pastry-cook.
'Harkr cried the other nun; i
hear footsteps coming up stairs
They all listened inteutly. The
noise Of oot.steps ceased.
'Do not alarm yourselves said the
priest. Whatever happens, | have
already engaged a person on whose
fidelity we can depend, TO escort you
in safety over the frontier--to rescue
YOU from the martyIdom which the
lerocious will OF Robespierre and his
coadjutors Of the Reign of Terror
would decree against every servant
Of the church,
'Hark! the steps on the staircase!
the heavy steps we heard beioreP
cried the women.
This time it was easy TO distin-
guish in the midst OF the silence OF
night the echoing sounds Of ioot>
steps on the stone stairs. The nuns,
as they heard il approach nearer and
nearer, forced the priest into a recess
at one end Of the room, closed the
door, and hurriedly heaped some old
clothes against ii. The moment
after, they were startled by three
distinct knocks al the outer door.
The person who demanded ad-
mittance opened the door himself,
and the affrighted women immediate
ly recognized him as the man whom
they had detected watching the
house the spy who had watched
one OF them through the streets that
night.
The stranger was tall and robust,
but there was nothing in his features
or general appearance 10 denote that
he was a dangerous man. Without
attempting TO break the silence, he
slowly looked round the room.-
Two bundles OF straw strewn UPON
boards served as a bed for the two
nuns. In the centre Of the room
was a table, on which were planced
copper candlestick, some plates,
three knives, and a loaf of bread
There was but a small fire in the
CRATE, and the scanty supply OF wood
piled near it plainly showed the
poverty of the inmates. He was
the first to break the strange silence
that had hitherto prevailed, by ad-
dressing the two poor creatures be-
fore him in such tones OF kindness as
were best adapted 10 the nervous
terror under which they were evil
IDENTIFY suffering.
Citizens he began, Il do not
come to you as an enemy. IL any
misfortune has befallen you, rest
assured that am not the cause Of it.
| NY only object here is TO ask great
favor Of you. If my presence
causes you any anxiety, tell me so at
once, and | will depart; but believe
me, am really devoted TO your in
,erests; and if there is anything in
which can befriend you, you may
confide in me without fear. | am,
perhaps, the only man in Paris whom
the law cannot assail, now that the
kings of France are no more.
There was such tone oi sincerity
| in these words, as he spoke them,
that Sister Agatha (lhe nun TO whom
the reader was introduced al the
outset of this narrative) instinctively
pointed TO one OF the chairs. as if to
request the stranger TO be seated
His expression showed a mixture Of
satisfaction and melancholy, as he
acknowledged this little attention, Of
which he did not take advantage
until the nuns had frs: seated them
selves.
you have given an asylum here
continued he, 'to a venerable priest,
who has miraculously escaped from
massacre at a Carmelile convent
Are you the person. asken Sister
Agatha, eagerly, appointed to pro-
tect our fight from
i am not the person whom you
expected to see,' he replied, calmly.
Il assure you. SIR interrupted the
other nun, anxiously, that we have
no priest here-we have not, indeed
you had better be little more
careful about appearances on future
OCCASION he replied gently, taking
| from the tahla attn hreviarv