Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-04-24

HeI Wdu IdCe. OGn6f uOuUGS, respecting
Pierre, began to haunt me.
October came, and my friend the
vice-consul paid me his monthly visit.
| told him and the Superieure that |
wished to leave the convent on the
twenty-eighth. saw her color change,
and her keen eyes fasten upon me, as
if she would read to the bottom of
my heart. 1t was the day upon which
Sister Catherine would either renew
her VOWS or demand her freedom for
though she should have made her pro-
fession at the Fete of St. Catherine,
early in December, her precarious
health at the time she took the veil
had hurried on the ceremony. Madame
had strong suspicious of both of US,
and during the next fortnight poor
Catherine led an awful life. We Pro-
testants do not know what it is
Esory TIL cat possible, of this life to
come, were hurled against her; but,
to my surprise, she remained firm. |
only knew it, however, by the mute,
sad language of her eyes, whenever
they had chance Of meeting mine q:
they spoke of a constancy worthy Of
Pierre.
The morning came upon which [
must quit the convent; and [ had not
been able 70 see or communicate with
Catherine. Early in the day | was
summoned to the Superieure's pres
ence, and she bade me farewell with
the most chilling frigidity, telling me
| must go at once. | begged to stay
till nearer evening, but she answered
sternly, NO" My box was already
gone down to a hotel on the quay,
so | had no excuse for lingering. |
was turned out at the convent door,
like servant discharged for dishon-
esty, and | heard its strong lock turn
ed between me and Catherine. | felt
perfectly bcwildered.
After a while my common sense,
and my habit of managing for myself
under perplexing circumstances, served
me in good stead. | went to the
vice-consul for the small residue of
my money, but told him nothing, for
| knew he would be afraid of med
ding in such a matter. From his Of
fee | went to the hotel, where | ar.
ranged for leaving luggage for short
time; first making up bundle of
clothes, which Catherine would want
if she came out Of the convent. Then
| hired the sole conveyance | could
procure, a sort Of covered cart, with
no door at the back, but a sear be
hind the driver, to which we had tC
climb over as we'll as we could. Thi;
char-a-banc hired for the day, anC
bidding the driver 90 as far as the
corner OF the convent street, | tOl(
him to wait there; resolving to keel
the convent doors in view until ST
o'clock, after which they never oper
: ed on an account.
1t was one of the most wearisom
, and anxious days | ever passed.
Even the polite French were curious
and showered questions upon the dr.
yer of the char-a-banc, to which hi
general reply was, 1T is an Englisl
woman" with grimace more elc
quent than words. There were tw
entrances to the cOnvent,-one 70
, ordinary use, the other an archeC
thick, black door, opened only 0
great occasions; as they were sitr
, ated on different sides of the builC
ing, | was obliged to pace to and fro
to keep watch upon both. But a
evening, near six o'clock, saw tn
black door of ceremony opened nal
rowly and poor creature thrust ou
into the profane and unsheltere,
streets, as if against her will, for sh
made a faint gesture of seeking re
admission and then covered dow
, against the closed portal, as if sh
was some poor dove flung out Of he
nest. | ran to her, for it was Siste
Catherine
| With great trouble | lifted hel
, more dead than alive, into the bacI
of my cart, and badc the driver tax
; US to a village about seven mile
: distant, which | knew only as beiny
, the residence of one of our boarders
for [ felt that it would be foolish an,
| cruel to keep Sister Catherine in thi
, town, where her story would ooze ou
in some way or another. | posted
letter to Pierre in a letter box nea
| the convent, imploring him to com
( to US Immediately at this village.
| shall never forget trat ride. Th
conveyance either had no springs o
broken ones; and the seat in the bac
was SO high, that only our toes coul
reach the floor. Added to this tb
: roads were rough, and up and dow
: hill, and the horse had an uneas
tread. Catherine, who had had n
carriage exercise for sixteen years
was restored to her senses and dis
| tracted from her terrors by the Ill
usual motion.
t The char-a-b banc conveyed us to th
village auberge, and | took a ROOF
there for the night, which had alread,
closed in. My nun was as helples
and frightened as child, and obeye
, me like one. AS soon as we were fairl
alone in our chamber, she fell upo
l her knees,and began telling her beads
< Or rather would have done so, ha
2 not her rosary been taken away fror
r her, with her other insignia of sister
l hood upon the remembrance of whic
: she fell into profound swoon, an
/ after recovering from it spent the res