The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-03-01
trange gaze upon the young creature before

one shade of resemblance to the woman who
was looking so intently upon her; yet the
contour was the same-the same dark hair
cured about her shoulders, and her ewes
were large and black.
All unconscious of the gaze that was rivet-
ed upon her. Christine sat bending over her
book, while the memory of that wretched wo-
man was fitting back, through years of sin
and misery, 10 the time when she was as fair
and innocent, to the time when she pilowed
that soft cheek on her bosom, with all a mo-
thcrs pride and tenderness and. forgetting
everyihnc-forgetting her guilt, her shame,
her ahjcct poverty-she begged on her knees
that she might speak to her-that she might
only tell her that she was her child-misht
once more answer to the call of mother. A
strange thing is the hu nan Eeart, and stran-
ger than all, that the hoiest and purest Of
human affections should be the last to desert
the breast of even the most impure and aban-
doncd
As she knelt, her eyes fell on her own i'm
age in small mirror on the opposite wall
Quick as thought vanished the vision of her
younger, happier self, which the sight Of her
child had called up: ard there, most faithful
y reflected by that bit of polished metal
showed the reality. The de>Iiscd and wretch
ed mistress OF man as despised and miscra
bic as hersclt--wha' had she to 10 with limo.
ccnce and love No. no-shc would scorn
me, hate me. Better that she should believe
herself mothrress," she muttcrpd th~onch
her half-closed lips. while she kept slowly
shaking her head. and wringins her hands
nervou>lv
1t was long since tie conscience of Alber-
tine had telt a pang of rcmorse, or her sun
burnt cheek had reddenvd with the blush of
shame; vet now. the .honght of what she
WAS. Of what she might have been, and what
she had made herself was once more unscal
iii1 ne iO"ntain CI ttaTS-SUch tears GS had
~en strangers to her ewes for wears. She
bowed her head and wept like a child
When she raised her head again, the cur
tain was closed. and she was alone. She
rose to her feet,a,l put back the moist. stray
Cling hair that had fallen over her fare. A.
lone, did ! say? No: there hung the mirror
still. and there that hateful picture of sin
and shame. which seemed to haunt her like A
new conscience hut there was no LONGER :.
>sufary power in its rrproachcS Dark
thoughts took their wonted possession of her
mind. chasing away the softer emotions that
had been awakened for a time. making her
heart more completely the den Of evil naS-
>Ion> than before
Presently the door opened and the Supe
rior stood within it, She si,nitie,l, bv mo-
ton of the hand, that she had come to con-
lac; her back Wi.nout a word, Albe,tnc
followed her through the timIv- -I,yh.cd pas
sage but at the door, the nun broke the ST..
lence.
Thou must come here no more. We can
not admit thee. And now 90, and NAV the
blessed Virgin keep thee"
What" SAID Aibertnr. bitterly and sharp
ly, May not a mother come to look even
upon her own child :"
" Nay, woman. hast thou not forfeited al! a
mothers rights and privileges Small cause
hast thou for complaint, truly Twice have
we yielded to thy entreaties but this mus.
cease. The Father ConfesSor has forbidden
another visit" Albertine would have re-
piled, but the nun waved her hand, the heavy
door swung on its hinges, and she was once
more shut out from the only softcninc, hui
maniznS Influences that had found their way
to her heart for long. long years.
She stood still for some moments, when she
found herself outside the gates, gain. at the
stone walls with look of defiance and bit.
terness. She was angry with the Superior
with herself, and even with the gentle child
who had unconsciou>ly awakened the memo
ry of other days, and shown her present life
in such dark contrast. When she turned a.
way, at length, it was with an unwilling lin
gering stop; and though she directed he1
course towards Paris, she walked very slow
", as if her mind was absorbed in trouble
some thought
When she reached the fountain where she
had rested in the morning, she sat down or
the ground, and leaned her head on bel
knees. The wind played about the old eln
tree, now swayins the long, pendant branch
es with a graceful, soothing motion, now toss
ing them in the air, and dasbing shower Of
spray from the fountain full on the bare heaG
and neck of Albertine, for she had thrown off
her bonnet, in perfect abandonment of
wretchedness and passion. For berthe wind
the tree, the fountain, had neither music no,
grace. She had given herself up tc thought.
OF revenge, and dark plans were haunting
her Imagination.
"Why should these priests bear rule p
she exclaimed aloud, raising her head and
clenching ber bony hands; " all other ruler.
yield to the power Of the people, and why
not they? They shall do it, know wha,
sp.ings to touch. / know whose voice
could rouse the people to such pitch Of fu-
ry. that those convent walls would be like pa.
per before them
IL vii, 60 now" she cried, springing to
her feet, land he shall DrOmise-he dare ROT