The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-09
WASHINGTON. d. C.
[Copy7Igh secured According 10 lGio.l
Fer the National Era,
HERMAN;
Oh,
YOUNG KNIGHTH GOD.
BY E. FoxToN,
author q" Premices."
CHAPTER XIV
The Loo1ys &rif,-Coael,.6led.
CHAPTER XIV.

.fces which call loudest for remedy john Ssuart
:. These views every day driving Distinguished,
aud gifted and enthusiastic women into the pale of that
bu,eb which stretches its arms, aud says Come
Saio M We who troubled, ye who idle AID will
ge you and work: and, with these, sympathy and
reverence the religious sanction direction and control
Can we ind nothing OF all this for women! Why
should they thus 90 out from among asE-MTs JasnsSo"
Constance was awakened the next morning
ly that delicious sensation, which probably
comes to most of us twice or thrice in life
time, of heart full of happiness, waiting only
for the drowsy memory to rouse itself, walk in,
review its treasures, and take possession. The
furniture of the luxurious chamber around her
told her at once of her escape from hardship
and toll; and then instantly rushed in the
thought Of Herman. Clasping her hands with
an exclamation of thankfulness, she sprang
from her bed, impatient to begin the day. She
looked for her clothes. On chair beside her
hung the dreary black robe and the cross and
rosary. She turned from them with shudder.
Then, with averted eyes, she put out her hand
for the cross pressed it to her lips with reyerent
and remorseful tenderness, and hung it about
her neck.
From this, at least, the anchor of my hope"
murmured she, I" | will never be parted It
shall lie on my heart till / lie in my coffin.
God grant that that may not be for many,
many years 1t is so beautiful to live And
if | wear ii henceforth, not without, but within,
| must also endeavor to bear it on my soul as
well as on my body. But, that robe, that black
uniform of celibacy and Orphanage, the pail of
all his happiness and mine when last we met,
and met only to part-how can ever put it
on again! 1t seems illomenedl All! / could
not have been worthy to wear it, or it would
not look SO grim to mel"
Her sohloquy. was interrupted by tap at the
door, Annette, Mrs. Ronaldson's pretty jaunty
qsadroOn maid came in, smiling and spark
ling with delight, Characteristic of her race,
half at Constance's return, and half at the
fnery with which her handsome arms were
filled to overfowing-embroidered white skirts,
the freshest and finest sleeves and neckerchiefs
Of wrought muslin, little dainty caps and COTS,
and three of the most youthful and tasteful
morning gowns, from Mrs. Ronaldson's ward
to mass. Mistis she say, Annette, you go now,
IN good season, cause, if don't fit, you got to
alter fore breakfast ready, mind
One of the dresses did fit Mrs. Ronaldson
was tall and well formed, and it had been made
when, having just recovered from an illness,
she was slenderer than usual 1t happened
to be of the very prettiest shade of lavender,
the very hue to set off to the best advantage
Constances clear bright tints, her black eurls,
pink checks, and white, though not fair, pol
ished neck and forehead "Kyl look more
betterer on young mistis, dan does on 1Nistis
sheSef now declared Annette; and so If did.
Constance always became her dress, as much
as her dress did her. Pretty things looked
prettier on her, and plain things pretty; and if
she wore pair of gloves single evening, and
threw them by, one might know them afterwards
10y the trick of gracefulness which her dainty
hands had left in them.
Annette would have dressed her hair :>but
she had not, Just now, much to dress A Dor
der of jetty curls scarcely longer than Her
mans own, a setting to her fine brow and
bue-veined temples, were all that was to be
had and she saw Annette, in the glass, over
her shoulder, comparing with them her own
irlzzly tresses, with an expression of sly tri-
umph. She sent Annette away. How pro-
voklng!" said she to herself what will
Herman think? 1t looks so masculine, and
strong-minded, and horrid / could find ii in
my heart to pull it, to make it grow quicker
And, otherwise, don't look so badly, for an
eX-nun at the venerable age of two-andiwenty, >
said Constance, as she gave herself gradual
twirl before the Psyche. How perfectly love
lyl my dress, i mean. How sweet and consid-
crate of Aunt Cora How | did despise such
trapPings once, when l had them; but being
discontinued with them, and contented without
l find are two different things. / should not
care for them now, however, if it were not
for Herman. Oh, this head how shall hide
1t? | could almost run it into the sand, like
an ostrich. I've a great mind to put on my
cOrHichOR again. No, it would look too absurd
with all these eHbrOideries, and make me and
everybody remember what want to forget, and
have forgotten. This little muslin Mary Queen
Of Scots, now, with the rose-colored ribbons Z
The very thihg!".
SO Herman thought, when he saw her an
hour after. She had been captivating enough
Tor HIM IN the sOmbre costume, which height
ened by contrast the charms of her youth and
beauty; but 1t seemed to him, as well as to her
Ike a ghostly barrier between them, and he
was delightfully."- surprised to have it banished
and told her so, as they seated themselves again
IN the little parlor, to chat away the morning
at their leisure.
Borrowed plumes," answered she. "This
dress is Aunt COras but she has gone out to
Shop for me now. She makes everything easy
and pleasant to me. When / entered upon my
nolciate, gave her my jewels and she now
insists upon giving back to me, not them, for
DO not want them, and it would not suit my
present circumstances, nor feelings either, ex
aetly, TO wear them-but large equivalent in
ready money. gave everything else to the
Church, Herman. have nothing left for you
but myself
= Nothing but an infinite treasure Thai
VIII satisfy me tolerably for the present. have
between two and three thousand dollars year
very much at your service and iflyou need
more, Halter myself that shall be able tc
earn IT. 1t does not cost me much to keep my
SELF
have learned, top, not little to my sur
Prise, how little can live upon. A good les
son, Is 1t not? mot the only enc, hope, which
! nave learned an my new grave school but
nave not explained to you yet how | came tc
enter INTO It, | told you that l saw the two
sisters IT. Tg g, by?"
=, l dld not know them then. Afterwards !
ulu' One was Sister Mary Peter, your nurse
= - 9taiiu her pretty thoroughly, fancy
q Tg ooo, useful woman, though quaint and odd.
enc 1ne other was the very beau ideal of a saint,
W TlsteT Corona Bartholomew of Consolation.
nonderful as the beauty of her form and face
were at her age, they were nothing to that Of
nsr character and life. She always reminded
C He Of those lines of Scott, which you read to
lara and me once-don't you remember? we
were sitting in the library
Mhere, darling of each heart and eye,
from all IEe youth If Sicily
81 Rossie retired 10 God
ons was young, wealthy, beautiful, and beloved
cue 1er nrst sorrow, she told me, was parting
from her family but, from the earliest times that