The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-20


even the giddy Bella at first But not
for long.
They passed into the old mission
church, with its quaint statues and GU
rious paintings. The peculiar realism
which seemed to impress the Latin
mind only revolted them, and the im-
age of the Saviour upon the cross, the
blood trickling from the crown OF
thorns and from the wound in his side,
only made them turn away in disgust.
The strange frescoing over the altar.
too, did not impress them; they laughed
ct the four-and-twenty elders seated
around the Great White Throne, with
s.Sancto, Sancto, Sanc:o'' coming from
their mouths, while the monkish art
lists attempt to represent the Deity
shocked them. Then they went into
the college, and saw the laboratory.
and the philosophical apparatus, with
Its strange electrical machines, globes,
and what not. From there to the IL
brary, where Father Augustine showed
them the quaint old books from which
dead and gone monks had chanted ves-
per and matin song. Huge volumes
were they, of parchment leaf and
leathern cover, with giant clasp and
hinge; odd-looking notes in red and
black, squatty and square, (for they
were Gregorian,) climbed over curious
staff-lines. The girls tried to make out
the words, but the lettering was strange
to them, and had it not been so, the
language would have been. So Father
Augustine read out some of the lines,
the Latin sounding less harsh in the
mellow Italian way than they had
thought. And then they looked at the
shelves, where imposing tonnes held be-
tween their covers the writings of the
early fathers of the church-those ear
ly fathers who were so early that they
have had to father all later creeds. -
Many were the strange characters,
many the tongues in which these books
were written.
''And can you read all those dread
full languages, fatherv asked Miss
Bella.
''No, not ALL" he replied, "but manyi
and Brother Anselm, who is the ibrar-
ian, can read them all"
s'Can he read that, Fatherp" said Car
RE Bunner, with wide-open eyes, turn
ing over curious looking volume.
Eyes, my daughter" said the monk,
smiling, .sthat is only Hebrew. Even I
can read that
The library exhausted, Father Au-
CUISINE asked them if they would like
to ascend to the observatory, where
there was fine view of the surround
ing valley. Miss Bella was the first to
speak:
'sOh, girls,h said she, m tired. |
don't think care TO go. But since the
Father has been so kind, some of you
60"
But the other girls were tired, too.
And so Miss Bella, with an appearance
of great self-abnegation, declared that
she would 90, although Father Angus
tine politely protested that the climb
was fatiguing, and, if tired, she should
not attempt it. But opposition only
made her more determined, SO they
went together.
''Oh, what a lovely viewr' cried Miss
Bella, as they gazed over the fertile
valley, ooh, Father, Pm ever so much
obliged to you for inducing me to
come"
cit is indeed we'll worth the trouble"
replied the priest.
Father" said Miss Bella, fixing her
brown eyes upon him, what is the
reason you say my daughter to Miss
Bunner, and not to the rest of us?"
Because replied the priest, grave
ly, ''she is Catholic, and the Others
are heretics."
How do you know she is q Cath.
olicp''
Because she bowed to the Host when
in the church, which none of the others
did"
so 1 am hereto, too, 1 suppose?''
said Miss Bella, with pretty pout.
Yes" said the priest, calmly.
cam so dreadful, then?' said the
girl, archly.
NO. he replied, flushing slightly,
''but-that is
All, wicked Bella! you have pierced
the priestly armor.
''call me daughter too. L feel as if
were q leper or something. Ugh!''
And she shivered, and then laughed
merrily.
VERY weIl-my daughter" said the
priest.
Miss Bella was as pleased as is VIC
torious general. But she was not con
tent. She leaned out from the window,
and as she did SO she dropped glove
upon the floor. When she turned The
glove was gone.
Miss Bella could have Rugged herself
But all things have an end, and sc
had the tete-a-tete In the tower. Bella
at last descended, and as usual found
her companions cross through waiting,
and as usual subdued them. And sc
they babe farewell to Father Augustine
thanking him for his courtesy, anc
crossed the campus to the carriage.
And when they reached it, wicked Bel
la could no longer conceal her story,
but told with great glee how she hat
made an impression upon the heart O
Father Augustine. I am afraid she
used slangy word in speaking of it
Carrie Bunner was horror-stricken
bella Chester" said she, 81 don't
believe word of it. Do you mean to
tell me that he, a priest, would KEEP
one of your gloves?"
PRIESTS are only men," said Bella
defiantly.
'WelI, L don't care,'' said Carrie,
81 don't believe it, so there"
And the girls climbed into the rock
away, which stood near the old church
the view of the college was thus inter.
cepted.
John had listened meanwhile will
much interest. He believed Bella. He
privately believed that she could capt.
vate any man, If she set her mind or
it. And as he took fresh chew of to-
baceo, and prepared to start. he in
dulged in much quiet mirth at tho
priests expense.
Suddenly a black-robed figure ap.
peared around the corner of the church.