Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-03-02

voice, smile,
Gone yes, gone from the world for
in one week after MIR Thornton's de-
cease, CIari was no longer an inmate of
her fathers mansion, she was-need !
say where !!
Theodore Thornton, as disspated and
depraved as he was, still loved his sister
very dearly, and was greatly incensed il.
gains, his father for banlshing her for
ever from her chlIdhood's home. lie
swore he would release her from her
prison-house, ere year passed over her
head but whether he succeeded III his
purpose remains 20 be seen.
St Clare accidentIy became acquslnt-
with this young man, after Clarl's depAr-
ture, and although SO opposite in their
characters and dispositions, their COM
mon cause Of sorrow and their mutual!
designs in regard tc the loved one, bound
them together in the strongest ties oil
friendship. Indeed. l may say, en- pas
sant. that the uprIghtness and purity OF
ST Clare's character had great influence
over young Thornton; the more intimate
he became with Henri, the less he yield
ed to his habits Of dissipation and to his
friends satisfaction, Theodore bid lure
10 become a respected citizen.
Let us now change the scene to the
Ursullne Convent. A year had elapsed
since CLAIR had entered Its gloomy walls
and the morning had dawned which
as to behold her profession, that is her
assumtion of the black rcii the symbol
Of perpetual seclusion. At the break Of
day she was OH her knees at the conles-
sional, and received absolullon from
Father John. She then retired to her
do!mi,ory to pray, until summoned to the
chapel abou, eigh, III the morning, She
was led forward to the alter by two
bridesmaids, herself being attired as a
BRIDE as the act Of taking the vows Is
considered in the light OF a marriage to
I, he Lord Jesus.
The whole chapel, and especially the
alter, was decorated with wrea,hs ofever-
green and natural flowers, while numer-
ous wax.,apers lent a brllliancy to the
scene. There were several priests IN
attendance, and the whole siS,erhood
of nuns were present. As the pale girl
knet at the foot Of the altar, the organ
pealed forth in grand anthem, now
swelling into volumns of sound aud a.
gain dying away in soft slvery cadence
'lkc the voice Of a dying saint The
duty OF performing the ceremony devolv'
ed upon Father Johr, who was tie prln'
cipa confesser of the convent and he
began by celebrating the gorgeous cere
nony OF High Mass after winch he de.
livered short sermon on the future bis:
of the victim, both OH earth and in Heav,
en-.
Sister Angeline-the name given Clar
Oh her entrance into the sisterhood- stu
knelling on the altar, was obliged to re-
peat a vow Of poverty, chastity. and
obedience-the vow that separated hel
irrevocably from the world and all its en-
dearing ties. Her bridal attire was thel
changed for the black wooden robe, an,
the long black veil, and laying hersel
down at the foot of the altar, a pail wa.
thrown over her, tapers were placed al
her head and feet. and her bridesmaids
strewed white roses upon her-all to sig
nfy that she was dead to the world,
funeral hymn being sung by the nuns
accompanied by the deep notes Of the or
gsn. At length, the ceremonies being
ended. the victim, who throughou, ,h
ordeal was calm and resigned was raised
to her feet and led away by the superio
while the organ again rang out glad tone
ofjoy and triumph.
The convent clock had chimmed th
hour of eleven, The night was dark AM
still. Sister Angeline was IN her lionel,
cell, brooding over her lonely fate ant
yearning for the home aud the dear one:
from whom she was now iyrevocably sep
arated. The light of her taper was din
but the gloominess of her cell was a Fl
accompaniment to the mood she cher
ished.
The hour was still-as the whole con
vent seemed to be 1t rest-yet Sister An
geline thought she heard football alon,
the corridor, and she was no, deceived