Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-28

tanned her grief With convulsive sobs she
brew herself on the hard pallet, and poured
forth in the anguished of her heart an
earnest prayer to the God of Mercy. By
the time the bell tolled for yespers, she had
"a some degree recovered her composure.
8ut the flush of her cheek told of an inward
struggle, whilst the unearthly lustre of her
eye betokened that some great design held
possession of her Utmost soul. Quitting her
lonely cell, the prosecuted maiden joined
the throng that was hurrying towards the
capel. On reaching the open court in which
it was situated, the ground appeared covered
with snow, which was fast falling, whirled
hither and thither by the wind that howled
through the trees. The night was dark
and stormy. Thus far it favored Christines
purpose of instant fight. She had fingered
behind the rest, and now paused on the
Threshold of the house of prayer. The
solemn tones of the anthem affected her
she hesitated, for the moment abandoned her
purpose, and was entering the chapel; but
before she had yet shown herself, the form
of the kneeling abbess reminded her of her
fate, and she rushed once more into the
storm.
Hurrying across the court, she reached
the outer gate of the convent; it was easily
opened from the within; escape, from the
insulated situation of the place being deem
ed impossible as the attempt was improba-
ble She found the bolts and bars drawn,
and the portal unmatched. This exceeded
her utmost hopes. She lifted the latch,
but the gate was locked, and the key no.
where to be found.
In an agony of despair, Christine shook
and pulled the massive gate, but her weak
efforts only served to exhaust her still more
She now desired nothing better than to die
in her rash attempt, and that the moon, in
stead Of seeing her arrayed in vestal gar
ments, should look at her, at rest, in the
ehroud and winding-sheet. Overcome by
fatigue she sunk senseless upon the snow.
The sound of key turning in the lock
struck hope into her heart. She started to
her fee. and the gate opening, disclosed to
her the porter of the convent, who entered,
bearing lantern. He had been carousing
II the village with some boon companion,
and had returned, bearing with him testi-
mony of the strength of his liquor. Chris
tine was at once detected, and the porter
was running forward to give the alarm, when
his haste over-e1ercising his drunkrn pow
ers; he fell PROSTATE on the snow, where
he was soon unconscious.
Selling the fortunate opportunity, Chris
tine lost no time in leaving the nunnery.
The vespers would soon be over when the
abbess would discover her flight. With a
maniac's eagerness she fled to the waters |
edge. Huge blocks of ice were borne along
the current. The river was impossible
And now poor Christine's last hopes were
al fed. She concealed herself as we'll as
she was able, her white dress assisting her
purpose, and remained, determined rather
to perish where she lay than to be carried
back as a criminal to the convent.
Meantime the weather had Frightened,
the snow had ceased to fall, the clouds had
into one black veil that covered
only one half of the armament, whilst the
rest was illumined by the soft light of
the waning moon, whereby the scene around
was rendered visible-the stream, foaming
and swollen, was bearing fresh blocks of