Daily national Republican., 1862-11-11
TIE NOVICE.
in probation OF a, sisterhood "--sHAEspEA'


The events am about TO relate took place at
Paris, in the reign Of Louis the Fifteenth; ALL
excepting the names, or rather titles of the par
tles-for their first names are those which actu-
ally belonged TO the actors of the drsms-being
literally true.
The Count de villeroi, noble of high descent
and great fcudal possessions, had an only daugh-
ter, Henriette, who, almost in her childhood,
evinced so decided vocation for conventual
life that before attaining the age Of SIXTEEN she
entered upon her novitiatc in the convent in
which she had been educated. Returning home,
in consequence of severe illness, few months
after, she met at her fathers, Adrien, Viscount
de Mornay, young man, her equal In birth,
fortune and endowments. A mutual attach
ment ensued, and they were on the point of
marriage, when NJ. de Villeroi died, leaving his
daughter under the guardianship of his only
sister, the Marquise de Chamillart.
This lady, still young enough for coquetry,
had unfortunately, imbibed an attachment for
De Mornay, and In revenge for his neglect of
her charms, resolved to separate the lovers; an
opportunity for which purpose unluckily offered
ITSELF in his being appointed secretary TO an
embassy AT the Court Of 81. Petersburg.
The marquise Immediately placed her niece
at the royal abbey of Panthemont, Rue de Gren-
ville in Paris, the abbess of which convent was
nearly connected with her family, and Joined
her heartily in endeavoring to induce the fair
novice to increase the already large number of
illustrious ladies of the house of Villeroi who
had attained the highest honors of the church.
The marquise adopted the further precaution
of sending to the Abbey of Panthemont, partly
as companion, partly as attendant upon her
niece, a tenants daughter, Eugenie Latour,
whose vocation for religious life she well knew,
promising that II she succeeded in inducing
Henriette to take the veil, she would herself fur
nsh the money Required for her entering the
same convent. In addition to tnis, anonymous
apartment of the fair maiden, announcing that
Adrien was on the point of marriage TO Rus
sian princess; and the mArquise showed COM
munications addressed 70 herself to the same
effect so that poor Henriette, hearing nothing
from her false lover, and assailed on every side
by persuasions and arguments in favor Of re-
ligious life, was at last driven to assume the
dress and duties OF a novice, and to announce
her intention of becoming nun as soon as the
requisite forms could be undergone.
Although, however, the marquise had. 10 a
certain point, succeeded in her end, one Of the
means which she employed had completely
failed her. Eugenie Latour, an aitectionate,
honest hearted girl, had with the quick sym
pathy of youth toward youth, become unfeign-
edly attached TO her young lady, and seeing
at once, and the more strongly from her own
deeply seated religious feelings, that poor Hen
riette's vocation was the result rather of disap-
pointed love than of devotion, and distressing,
most justly, the good faith of the marquisc, who
seemed, 10 her sense of simplicity, taking too
much pains 10 establish that which, IL true,
needed not such reiterated proofs, suddenly de-
manded her dismission and her wages, and set
forth from the ruined Greneile, determined, If
possible, TO get 10 the speech Of the Viscount de
Mornay.
Whether her pilgrimage might not have con-
ducted her to st. Petersburg, there is no saying,
had she not, luckily, bethought herself Of re-
pairing TO the hotel Of the noblcman In whose
mite Adrien had revisited the court of the Gear,
where she Immediately ascertained that the Sec
retary of the embassy had been unable to en-
counter the severity of the climate, and had
been sent, under medical advice, 10 his chatedH
near Lyons.
Hither the faithful girl repsired, outstanding,
as best she could, her own small means, and
performing-partly on foot, and partly by the
aid of good-natured travelers-a journey whose
duration and difficulty can hardly be adequate.
ly estimated in these days of steamboats, and
railways. She found the Viscount de Mornay,
as she expected, sick rather of grief than of
disease. A similar system Of deceit had been
prscticed with respect to him and he, when
Eugenia made her appearance in his apartment,
fully believed that Mademoiselle de Villeroi, 10
whom he had written repeatedly, without re-
ceving any answer, 0etters which the marquise
had taken good care should never reach the
convent had already taken the veil.
The tidings which his unexpected visitor had
10 tell him gave him fresh life. He immediate
ly dispatched her TO the Princess Potocka, the
Russian wife of Polish nobleman, and the
friend In Paris upon whose aid he most conf
IDENTIFY relied, and proposed following himself
as speedily as bis health would permit,
Eugenle arrived at the Hotel Potocka on the
very eve of the profession. The 18th of March
was the fatal time, and this was late In the
evening-eyening, do say l-before the neces-
sary explanations had taken place, II was deep
in the night OF the 18th; and the princess, as
her only chance, resolved to set forth at once
on her search for the archbishop.
The Archbishop was, however, nowhere 10
be found. All that she could learn from the
drowsy Swiss porters of the palace was, that
he was either in retirement at the seminary of
Saint Magloise, or ho was gone TO pass the fste
Of St. Eruno with the holy fathers of the Char
tre,tz in the rue d'EntsT, or he was resting him
self at his country house at Co'sfdirs sur Seine!
Baffied and disappointed, the Princess drove
back 10 her hotel. She retired to rest, after
giving Eugenia TO the care of her attendant.
But, as her love of justice, her hatred Of perhdy
and her aliectionate pity for its amiable and in
nocent victims made II impossible for her TO
sleep, while any means TO prevent the medi-
lated In jury was yet untried, at seven O'Clock
Eugenia was summoned TO the carriage, and
they drove to the abbey.
Let me see the Abbess Us soon as possible"
was the message sent
The answer, as might be expected, was II
positive refusal The abbess was Obliged TO be
IN office at that hour in the church She then
asked If she might not be permitted 10 enter
the convent, TO reveal something 10 her Of The
greatest importance. The reply was
BY no means, except by permission Of the
Archbishop of Paris"
And now, almost In despair, the princess re-
entered the carriage, and established herRelr al
the door of the church, there 10 rait the arrival
of the prelate.
The clock struck eleven, when one Of the ser
wants of the princess forced his way 10 the car
riage.
MADAME" said he, hastily, the "Archbish-
op entered by the cloister door he is already at
the altar, and the ceremony is going TO begin.
The Princess and Eugenie shuddered when
they heard this intelligence; but, recovering
her presence of mind, the princess wrote few
lines on her tablets, and then ordered her valet
70 make way for them through the crowd, and
conduct her 10 the sacristy without losing q
moment giving Eugenle, meanwhile, to the
care of another servant, desiring him 10 see her
safely seated in the church.
Never had a more brilliant assembly of roy
atty, nobility, and persons Of varied claims Of
distinction, been gathered together on such an
occasion. The pride Of the aunt led her 10