Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-19
A story by Dom Piatt.

MANY wears ago an eminently success
full actor, a tragedian and therefore a
fraud, took it into his dramatic skull to
build castle on the Hudson. He turned
the project over to an accomplished ar
chitect, and as he furnished abundance
of money and no interference, in due
time his castle was completed, and looked
to the eye as if it had been there Q thou
sand years, more or less. The architect,
a poetical fellow, let loose his fancy, and
no one looking at the interior or exte-
rior could complain that it was not a
castle in and out, and all around To
complete the illusion, there was no end
of hidden doorways and mysterious pas
sages leading from one part to the other,
and to this work of art, after its compile
tionythe architect in the absence of the
owner, brought friends and patrons to
show to them what work he had accom-
plished. fs
OF this sort, one summer day, was a
party of visitors, and among them an ex-
ceedingly beautiful woman, at that time
holding high position in society. She
was single, accomplished, and rich, and
although surrounded with suitors, aston
ished her little world by remaining
single. She had been for many years
abroad, and about part of her life there
was said to be mystery, and one or
two people claimed to know all about it.
But whether they did or not they kept
all to themselves, and no one could tell
how, at last certain stories came to be
current. So strong were they after q
time that society gave the poor girl the
cold shoulder, and she was excluded
from the circles where she had once
reigned. Gtn0 L-Lo -
Such thing could not happen now.
Since the great war we have changed all
that We don't bother ourselves about
little indiscretions, and we glorify great
frauds, and fairly worship magnificent
rascahty.
The poor girl disappeared from society,
and some said that she had gone abroad
again, and others that she had entered a
convent er
Be that as it may, in the course of time
the big actor, having tremendous row
with his wife, grew tired of his castel-
lated plaything, and ended by selling it
to the Catholics at one-half its cost.
The Catholics turned it into school for
girls, and put the school under the care
of some pious Sisters They have since
built huge brick struetuye in the rear
of the actors castle that makes the last
named resemble a huge mustard pot, SO
dwarfed is it by the house behind.
Among these Sisters was one Of great
beauty called Sister Agatha, who was a
dragon Of virtue and pious humility.
She had nothing to do with the school,
but was herself preparing for a higher
walk in religions life, proposing in time
to take the veil and pass from ordinary
existence into one Of prayer and medi-
tation.
One day little girl, some eight years
of age, was entered as a pupil By
motherly-looking old woman, who paid
the year board and tuition in advance.
and giving the proper references and
address, disappeared. The child was
exceedingly delicate, and ere the half
year was out had TO be removed to the
Infrmary aud put under medical treat
ment All that tender nursing and the
best skill could do for the little sufferer
was done, but done in vain. She seemed
gradually to fade away until the doctor
said there was no hope-the child was
dying Of the consumption.