Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-08-26
THE RED PEITICOAT;
OR, THE LIEUTENANTs CONFESSION.
BY MARY v. JlNvEIS, AUTHOR OF PEACE"
Continued


Continued
drew nearer the spot where she knelt-
Somebody has said, that fixed gaze will mag
netically attract another's and resolved to try
it. By and by l was pleased to note gentle
hutter OF the dOwncast lids; and unconscious of
my gaze, she raised her own eyes to mine In
an instant they fell, but not till | had satisfied
myself OF their depth and dusky beauty-and
fancied also, that / had read therein hopeless
ness and sorrOw.
at is true what Antonio hinted, mentally
exclaimed, ''her youth and fortune will lead her
into the snare of these covetous priests"
l pitied hcT-yOu smile Rutgers-I know it
is SAID that "Pity is akin to love" Well must
confess myself no wiser than the rest Of poor
human nature-and who wouldn't have become
ensnared by Clemence's eyes
l fell to musing how might become her de-
liyereri hundred plans presented themselves
IN as many consecutive seconds, all very To-
mantle, but none very feasible.
But at least / might inform her that 4 friend
was nigh carefully thar was very parlonaLle
as well philanthropie, and hastily tearing a slip
from letter envelope in my pocket, Pencilled
in Spanish
"Would you be free am a friend, and will
save you ;" then dropped it with apparent care
lessness By her side
saw her glance furtively, then noted her
white hand laid upon it till she transferred the
slip to the leaves of her breviaTy; aud presently.
while the mingled voices Of the nuns read their
responses, l felt sure she was perusing my mes
sage.
Again, first looking cautiously around, the
upturned glance sought mine, and was pleased
to meet a flushed, grateful look, while the folds
Of the grew mantle over her bosom, rose and fell
rapidly with her respiratiOns
All she had understood and appreciated me.
Again her eyes threw brief, rapid, searching
glance over my cOuntenanee, as if to question
my faith. l think the scrutiny must have pleas
cd her, for she slightly smiled, and l could
have sworn l saw diamond tear drop on her
breviary.
The anthem closed, the organ ceased, chant
ing and prayers were over; the cOquettish and
graceful Spanish ladies who had carried on va
nous fiirtations behind their fans fiuttered away,
and like a vision seen in dreams, the train of
grey nuns vanished down the ais.e, and ! was
left leaning against the pillar.
Hey, dreaming at noon day senor!' said
voice, and some one tapped NE on the shoulder.
turned; it was Antonio.
" Run--Overtake her-tell her" but smile
eurving about the boys chiselled lips brought
~ cNAA1Nsf AAAANAAAut MASA1 - hlAG OOA-
vent San Marie 7" / asked abruptly.
"It is on the south side Of the city, Just
without the suburbs. There are thick groves
OF olives close by, from whence the sesOr can
watch It's walls all day. Would the senor be
conducted thitherl But the nuns come hither
every Sunday" added tne boy with a smile, as
II he had read my secret.
"Pshaw, nonsense, lad Take this and meet
me here next Sunday" | said thrusting gold
coin into his hand.
The boy replied with an intelligent glance,
a shrewd mixture of cunning and good
nature, eagerly clutched the gold, DOTTED his
ragged hat with profound bow, and disaP-
Peared
"When the opportunity comes, Antonio will
be of service" l said
During the following week l hOvered ike 4
spirit in the vicinity of the Convent San Marie.
/ Every tower and turret Of plain grey stone Was
familiar; l knew at what hour every day the
chapel bell rang for mathis and vesPers, and
/ fancied my beautiful prisoner kneeling among
those calm, hooded, pale-faeed women l
knew when, daily, + ther Martinez visited the
convent, and imagined his arguments and con-
versatiOns with her whose gold he coveted to
/ enrich the greedy Mother Church. / spent
hours in counting windows and gatss, and
/ knew exactly the area Of the convent grounds,
and / saw where a mass Of green foliage trailed
along over the southern wall, between which
and the olive grove, whence l took observa-
tions, interviewed a low, fat, grassy plain,
which l crossed once or twice to test the
strength of that wall OF solid masonry, some
twelve feet in height.
But never during this week of watching, did
l catch glimpse Of the train Of nuns leaving
the convent; hence the Sunday when Antonio
promised she would again visit Church, was
eagerly awaited.
It came; and again in my old station behind
the pillar, while the iuttering Of fans, the rus.
things Of silks, and daintiest perfumes filled the
/ air-I awaited the Of nuns San Marie
They filed past me at last-and she was there
and again knelt on the stone floor, and again
uttered prayers and Are Marias.
Once 1 caught her eye, and a rush Of rch
blood broke up the pallOr Of cheek l faRcied
had grown thinner since l saw her last when
she knew was there beside her. But again
she dropped her gaze. This time expected
some message-how, ] scarcely knew-bui
/ trusted to woman's inventive powers to
ascertain and point out the method IN which
I might put into execution my offers OF ser
vice
But the long service passed-and never had
PRAYER or response seemed so tedious as then
and the Lady Superior gave the. signal for her
train to depart still no message .-Involunta-
rily drew closer 10 my beautiful nun and
when she passed me, making a feint Of adjust
ing her mantle, | saw her glance rapidly down
at my feet, and then beheld whataseemed bit
of eolored silk lying there. This you may be
sure ! readily secured and when the church
was deserted, withdrew into q nieh beneath
the elevated statute Of a saint, and unfolding
the silk drew from thence folded slip of paper.
In the most delicate and flowing chirOgraPhy
read,
You are an American foreigner-but l
in have studied your face, aud read your honesty
your eyes. The Virgin will bless you for your
kindness to the oppressed. am watched but
come to the outside convent wall under the
vines, and will try to meet you, at seven to-
morrow eve Remember"
There was no signature You smile, Rut-
gers, but pressed my lips where the name Of
'Clemence should have been
DO the Americans eat ladies' letters !" ask
ed sauey voice beside me.
" What-Antonio You here oh, l had
forgotten that l bade you meet me-" | STAN.
mered. q" But you are faithful fellow, and
must retard you" and this time l slipped a
golden OuzG into his hand Antonio, did you
ever hear of nuns escaping from converts :"
asked.
" The walls of San Marie are strong and higt
and Father Martinez and the Abbess are stric
and stern-but gold is powerful, and an QUIZ
will buy stout ropes" be said, glaneing rounE
: as if to make sure we were alone. The Don
na Arosemena il TO take the veil next Sunday,