The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-24
Written for the STAR
A OR Y.
BY DARD BEST.

A convent wall-a wall of stone, solid
and substantial, with delicate lichens
showing their green and grey tracery in
the garish light of day; but, at this par
ticular hour OF which l write, the wall
looms up high and black against the
dusky evening light. The sun has made
his final bow some many minutes since;
and, though the myriad voices OF the
night call gentle encore to the greatest
actor OF the day, he heeds them not, and
the widespread curtain-folds of twilight
softly descend. At last the orange light
has faded, and, behold! a baby moon, but
two days old, hanging like faint can
delabrum outside the curtain that by
some magic is now lii with a million sill,
yer lights-stars upon stars.
And when Dame Nature had sum-
moned the little one to its pearly bed in
the far horizon, and when no light, save
show how dark the earth is, then--
lstenf
"About hero b. 'shP
A strange, scratching noise upon the
other SIDE OF the wall-a noise of climb.
ing that tells of cafefulness and haste.
Suddenly few dozen OF little stars are
swallowed up, for an instant, as "a head
comes looming up over the high, narrow
wall, and shuts their radiance from view.
"Pm up, Nellie; now your hand
quickW
But not quickly enough. A lantern
light throws its lurid CLEAN upon the
wall, the convent, and two giriish figures.
Hastily across the convent wall strides
black-rObed run, with menace speak
ing from ugly brows, aud savage gleam
OF cruel pleasure darting from ugly eyes
beneath. But when the lantern stops its
swayins, and the nun stops her stridiag,
there is but one figure crouched, white
and tremhlinA before her. For, down
upon the hard pavement outside, the
other refugee has dropped, and taken
noiseless fight.
II is but few minutes walk to the de-
pot, Miss Vandervent remembered, con-
sequently the race that she is running
race as OF life and death-makes the
houses fly by, each with a precious Sec
ond of time, and lol an iron monster
glides slowly, yet lingeringly, as if be
waited for her coming, out from the mis-
cradle little depot into the great land OF
darkness. She catches at the last rail-
ing, but it jerks her so suddenly as TO
make her lose her grasp-catches at it
again and swings herself on III a rash,
dangerous fashion.
TOO stunned with the excitement
passed through to move, ard heart high
beating until the breath comes hoarsely
through the poor, parched throat, she
sits upon the platform aud clings 10 the
1 iep Star hill hn Ffas SO
oyer trestle and bridge, through forest
and tunnel, past the lights in solitary
farmhouse Windews-pluhging, roaring,
painting!
A whistle OF "down brakes" causes
the door behind her TO open and a dash.
ling young fellow to bounce out and give
a lusty twist to the round wheel SO neal
-her head.
"Msrcyl" Miss Yandervent finds voice
to excla.m,
"Great heayenw the dashing young
fellows voice calculated by way of re
| ply. "How came you here, woman?
A little sternly this; tor you see Linzit
Bruee--or s'Lin,n as all the other folks
save his mamma and papa 5dll him-ii
a regular strain hand" and bristles VI
at sight OF a tree ride as quickly asa
veteran tire-dog smells fire.
~ am scarcely woman yet, sir; ant
] am here because ]. am running away
from the Convent OF the Sacred Heart
The train was leaving and was just il
time to catch at this last railing"
"Wait o moment, Miss --?"
"Vanderyent"
"Aiss Yanderyent, mustcall the sta
tion, take the fresh tickets, and then
,will return;" and bang Went the inhos
Ipitabls door. az npiv eond uctors do ban,