The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-10-01

was indeed pretty sight an she stood
there, with one dainty foot upon the step.
Even John was moved. he refectively
spat on the nigh side, and made room
for her to sit by him Miss Bella sprang
Into the seat. John was better than moth
ing. And, as they spun along the road,
she laughed at his well-worn stories. ad-
mired his skill rs driver, and when he
turned to look at her would drop her
eyes. And Johnr Will. he chewed to-
bacco. 'Tis wonderfully soothing, in
any form, Ia the maligned weed.
AT last the little town was reached, and
John dashed up to the college gates in
style The ladies descended, crossed the
wide and dreary-looking campus, and
applied for permission to see the old mis-
sion church and the college buildings. It
was granted them, and an olive-skinned
italian priest was detailed to show them
over the placs. He was gentle aud cour-
teous in manner, handsome in face, and
there was certain dignity about him
which impressed even the giddy Bella at
Arst But not for long.
They passed into the old mission
church, with its quaint statues and curl
GUS paintings. The peculiar realism
which seemed to impress the Latin mind
only revoltad them, md the image of the
Savior 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 I;
they laughed at the four-and-twepty ell
ders seated around the Great White
Throne, with "Sancto, Sancto, Sancto, I"
coming from their mouths, while the
monkish artists attempt to represent the
Deity shocked them. Then they went
into the college, and saw the laboratory,
and philosophical apparatus, with its
strange electrical machines, globes and
what not. From there to the library.
where Father Augustine showed them tie
quaint old books from which dead and
gone monks had chanted vesper and ma
tin 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 flor
they were Georgian( climbed over Curl
GUS staff-lines. The girls tried to make
out the words, but the lettering was
strange to them, and had IL net been so,
the language would have been. So Faith
er Augustine read out some of the lines,
the Latin sounding less harsh in the mel
low Italian way than they had thought
And then they looked at the shelves,
where imposing tones held between their
covers. the writings ofthe early fathers of
the church those early fathers who were
80 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 thoss dreadful
languages, fsther?' asked Miss Bella.
"No, not all, " he replied, "but many;
and brother Anselm, who is the librarian
can read them all.
''Can he read that, father?" said Carrie
Bunner. with wide open eyes, turning
over curious looking volume.
Eyes, my daughter" said the monk,
smiling. "tbat is only Hebrew. Even l
can read that"
The library exhausted. Father Aug
ustine asked them if they would like to
ascend to the observatory, where there
was fne view of the surrounding valley.
Miss Bella was the FIRST to speak.
'"oh, girls" ssid she, I'm tired. l
don't think 1 care to go. But since the
father has been so kind, some of you
CO."
But the other girls were tired, too.
Aud 10 Miss Bella, with an appearance
of great seli-nbnegation. declared that
she would go, although Father Angus
tue politely protested that the climb
was fatiguing, andif tired, she should
not attempt it. But opposition only
made her more determined, SO they went
together.
"Oh, what lovely view" cried Miss
Bella, as they gazed over the fertile val
ley. "oh, father, TIN ever SO much
Obliged 10 you for inducing me to
come"
1T is indeed well worth the trouble, y
replied the priest.
-''Father," said Miss Bella. fixing her
brown eyes npon him, "what is the rea-
son You say my daughter to Miss Bun
ner and not to the rest of us2"
Because, replied the priest, gravely,
"she is a catholic and the rest are here.
tics"
"How do you know she is ostholic?'
because she bowed to the Host when
in the church, which none of the others
did"
80 ! am heretic, too, ] suppose?"
said Miss Bella, with pretty pout.
YES, said the priest calmly.
''Am l 80 dreadful, then?" said the
girl archly.
NO." he replied, flushing slightly.
"but-- that is"
All, winked Bellal you have pierced
the priestly armor.
'COme, father" said she eoaxingly,
"call me daughter too. feel as il !
were a leper or something. Ughr
And she shivered, and then laughed
merrily.
VERY we'll, my daughter" said the
priest.
Miss Bella was as pleased ns a victo-
rious General. But she was not con-
tent She leaned out of the window,
and, as she did so. she dropped glove
upon the floor When she turned the
glove was gone.
Miss Bella could have hugged herself
Rnt all thfnoa bov. m and and ao Ia a