Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-01-26
CHAPTER III.


The convent bell of - at Chaillat
was calling the nuns to early mass, and
like a procession of phantoms they
glided silently through the long CORR
dor which led to the chapel. At the
game moment the sharp tinkling of the
altar bell was heard, and the sorurc
touriers, letting fall her rosary at her
side, drew the string to give entrance to
the newcomers, and going to the graf
ing of the pdrloir, she beheld the fine,
handsome, but naughty face of the
Duke of =, with lady leaning on
his arm.
"I wish to see the Abbess immedi
ately," said he in an authoritative tone
to the bewildered nun, who was not ac-
customed to such noble visitors at so
early an hour.
"Your mans, monseigneur 7"
"Never mind my name; it is not
meant for yoar ears" -
The nun disappeared, and. in few
minutes a tall, portly woman of about
fifty years of age entered. Herfeatures
were handsome, but so much harshness
was depicted on her face, and her cold,
stern blue eyes looked so cruel, that
Alix shuddered in thinking Of the doom
that awaited her.
The duke craved q few minutes OF
private conversation with the abbess,
Alix being under the surveillance of the
touriere.
Poor Aix how her heart was break
ing within her! But q few hours be-
fore, and all the joys that can be felt
only by those who have loved passion
ately had been hers, and for those few
hours (which had appeared to her az
seconds) of intense BLISS and supreme
happiness, she was perhaps to be con-
fined to years of utter misery, and yet
if it were to begin again, would she fly
from temptationf
"No," she inwardly said, again and
again, "I could not, would not. On
nv loved Louis, my own adored king,
no one shall be able to prevent me
thinking of you; shall love you more
and more every day, until that love
kills me by inches, and il one remem
bers on the other side of the tomb
thou shalt ever be with me ~ ~r-
The unmusical voice of the abbess
drew her from her dreamy thoughts
she was alone, and telling Alix to fol
low her, both entered q dark, low pas
sage, ut the end of which was q door
the abbess unlocked it, and made Ali,
enter. 1t was n cell whose darkness
was prevented by the Pickering lamI
carried by the nun; pallet for a bed
chair, and q crucihx on the wall con
stituted the furniture-
On the chair lay the complete dres
of novice, and In corner pitcher o
water with q piece of bread.
"This cell, my daughter, is for tn
present yours. Yon shall expiate her
your bad conduct; if you are rebel
lions your chastisement will be almos
uncomfortable, but if you cU6de in m
and confess your misdeeds, you will b
free in . few months to take the vows
l leave you until II; you viii hav
time to reflect over your wickedness
and i shall be ready to receive tn
ayowal of the dark deeds you hav,
off the livery of Satan in order to cove
your sinful body with the holy habi
| you are 50 unworthy to wear.
The abbess left, the door was locked
and the beautiful and disconsolste Ali
threw herself before the crucifix to i'm
plore forgiveness from the All Power
full One who could alone wash out he
SINS Like the Magdalen of old sh
entreated for pardon but, alas, hr
man love was still strong in her heart
the image of Louis was engraved in il
delible characters upon it, and it wa
but in vain she struggled for few mt
ments of prayer; the name of LOU
was ever On her lips, and wearied sh
, threw herself on the pallet, pressin
! tightly to her heart the picture of hs
beloved
, Once more the door creaks on il
hinges, and the abbess entsrz-
II have come to hear the confessio
Of your guilt, " she says bringing Il
[ chair near to the bedside; "let N
! hear it at once"
> Madame" said Alix, whose prou
blood began to boil in her veins, IN
r guilt, whatever it has been, shall
t buried with me, You can indict al