Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-06-19

Are you going to a pretty part OF tn
country?" asked young Gourlay, in hi
most matter-of-fact tones.
Hugh secuted emotion and avoided it a
Blanche avoided poodles, and his tone
once froze her confidence.
.'It is pretty enough" she said. dryly
"but that will make little difference to me
The place am going to is''-she stopped
would not interest you," she said
Zone can never tell,'' said Hugh, "wha
will interest another person, any more thar
one can tell what may about to happen t.
ones self"
Il know very well what is before me, :
said NIademoiselle de Latouche, and Hugh
vaguely smiled and surmised
Il could tell you every day of all my life
to come as long as live, i'll chose, con-
tnued the girl, with a sad qniver in her
slow voice "whcn YOU 90 back to your
moors, to your dogs, to your free life, Shall
be in my convent, at peace and safe from the
world and its temptations She raised
her wiStful, magnetic eyes as she spoke,
with some wild yet mystical look in them
that Hugh never forgot again.
''What do you mean?'' he asked, in a
different tone.
Il am going to enter the Convent of the
Sisters of the Holy Pilgrims said little
Blanche, in a low voice Then she said no
more, hut sat smoothing the fluff upon her
tippet, mechanically stroking it down with
her little fingers.
The bcwildered Englshman remained on
the bench beside watching her in sur
prise aud painful interest. lie began
presently to question. Contrary to her
wont, she answered all his questions with
the greatest readiness and simplicity. Yes.
it was of her own free will She was going in.
Her aunt wished it, and 50 did NJ. le Cure.
and her father wished it, - they said and
what else could she do? Once she had
thought Of marrying young man her father
had approved. but he died she had only
seen him twice, but she always wore his
portrait, and She pointed to the locket on
her arm. He was something like-she
stopped again, and went on to speak Of the
convent. She loved the sisters: they were
kinder than anybody else except poor
Nlathilde
"And it Is a beautiful life, >" said the little
thing, seriously, Ito pray, to sing in the
chapel, to he good and loved by all the
saints, and to spend ones life for the good
of others, praying for them. Perhaps, she
said, clasping her hands thoughtfully,
''~ome other girl will profit by my prayers
and find happiness-my happines~.'
Hugh was too much shocked and frightcn-
ed to know what to say at the moment. and
before lac could make ur his mind Mathilde
came flying out upon the terrace. Made
moiselle desired to see him, She said would
he please come at once she did not like
waiting The Cure de st. Rambcrt was
expected. and She was already yexed by his
delay
NJ lc Cure lie St Ramhcrt took special
interest in the fate of little Blanche. The
little thing would probably inherit her
aunt's fortune a- well as her fathers posses
sion,: let them beware OF >cheming fortune
hunters. ready to devour the poor innocent
let them accept with good heart the safe
protection that the church extends to those
holy women who are filed with noble
aspirations. and turn 10 her for safety and !
refuge. Blanche had been sent to the con-
vent. ly his advice. for her education. She |
seemed to have 4 vocation let them beware |
how they discouraged it This wa,l St |
lambert advice.
The Cure de St JoyeuN had nearly been |
denied the house in disgrace Tor having
shown 50 little sympathy when his advice
was asked concerning Blanche's future.
Marry her. Madame, he had been churl-
ish enough to say, find some good young
fellow to make a home for her. Hers'does
not seem 10 mea character maturcd for
cloi>ter life She has movements, sublime
of picty and ieryor. but that
i mere passing phase in her young soul.
Some people are thus constituted. and do
not say that they are bv any means the
worst Now. there is " lc Niclire. if vou
isk me ; he seems cminently cut out for re
i-iouS life lie Is now arranging the de
ail- Of another procession next Thursday
: viii be most striking
Madcmoisellc De latouchc must have
lecn in a capriciou- mood that day Ma
hide led Hugh into sort of ante-room.
Where She begged him 10 wait while She
vent in and announced him. The time
seemed q little long. and the young man
walked to the window and looked out. Il
yas window which opened on one of the
visited balconies and from whence he
ould see the garden, and the terrace. and
he orstnsc-tree- all mapped ont before him
nd rs he looked he saw that VI. lc Cure de
Il. lambert had come up and sat down ON
he bench where he had been sitting. Little
}lanehe was still there. listening with avert
d face to the Cure. who was speaking with
motion and much action Of the hands.
hen She suddenly started away, and set off
uuning along the orauge-trccS, and the
'ure crossed towards the house. Mathilde
$50 came out ol an adjoining room. looking
pmcwhat confused.
We'll p" -ail Hugh.
Mathildc shook her head. Madcmoi-ellc
AL changed her mind she could not re-
GIVE him that morning.
1t afterwards occurred To- Hugh that tins
al been a little ruSc of the housekeeperS
b get him out of the way before the priest
rri,al. Mathilde hurried him down by a ,
itieren: staircase TO that by which she had !
rought him. q
To lc concluded next week. 4