The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-06-02


the lagoon was stripped of its sails and
hurled about like cockle-shell.
"Too later' said the gondolier. Il
won't risk my life by going now. 1t may
be over in half an hour"
"Vane compressed his lips in anger.
A pretty situation, if they should be
kept there all night! He glanced at
Miss Nevil. Her face was pale, her eyes
hard and resolute. She understood:
But she was not girl to sink down and
cry. She sat down again and mechanic
ally turned over the leaves OF the auto
graph-book. :.
"Come back again when you think it
will be safe to start said Vane to the
gondolier.
They sat there listening to the pelting
hail; Vane with heart divided between
pleasure and anger. Miss Nevil striving
resolutely to repress the apprehensions
that crowded upon her. Pere Gabriel
looked up now and then from his work
with a twinkle in his black eyes. He
was not bad hearted fellow, and he en-
loved bit of romance in quite an I'M
monk like fashion.
Chow do you happen to know all
these people so well?" said Miss Nevil,
at length.
81 lived here once, more than five
years ago-when l was more romantic
than l am now-all one vacation. 1t was
quite delightful. I believe I corrupted
some of the younger monks. We used
to smoke together out in the cow-houses,
and I fancy the old prior was not sorry
to see me depart; but I've always kept
up an interest in the place,
"Mr. Vane, is there no way of getting
back before dark? I will take any risk.
Think how 1 shall be talked about II l
stay here over night"
Mr.. Vane went to Pere Gabriel's desk
and talked with him.
81 will pay anything you ask if they
will only CO."
Also" said Pere Gabriel. "No one need
know it. You can trust to me, think. }"
In flash the future came before
Dortha Nevil There would be 12hours
more of life and happiness; then. from
the moment she set foot in Venice, dis
grace. Her aunt's reproaches would be
hard to bear; she would take her away
from Venice and tell her that no man
would ever marry the heroine OF such
scandal as would be concocted at Vene-
tian tea-tables. Life would be dreary
blank. with no outlook or future. In
the meantime, for few honrs, life would
be everything worth the having. Vane
would be by her side for, perhaps, six
hours-she counted them. She would
dream Of him so many more; then there
would be the homeward journey in the
sunshine; and when he should leave her,
there would at least be q memory in her
heart to brighten the dreary future be-
fore her.
At dusk the great bell of the convent
rang for the evening meal. The travel
ers descended to the long refectory, with
its dusky walls, upon which the pictures
were mellow in the lamp'light. The
monks and the young Armenians, who
were being educated under their care,
were seated at the long tables, and one of
them, perched high at reading-desk,
was reading from an Armenian theologi-
cal work.
Dark ewes looked out from swarthy
faces upon the pretty girl in her close
gray dress and hat who entered the room
with Mr.. Vane by her side. 1t was not
particularly cheerful meal. Converse
ton was forbidden. The travellers went
again to the library, and there remained,
turning over old parchments and listen
ing to the raging of the storm, until the
bell rang for retiring, when they were
conducted to their cells-cheerful little
places overlooking the quadrangle
adorned with Greek in ages, and soon the
convent was silent, with only the wind
sweeping through the Expresses, and the
waves lashing the wall.
The storm died away before midnight,
and the moon came ont and looked down
into the cloister quadrangle. Dotha had
thrown herself down without undressing,
and had fallen into broken slumber,
full of dreams and strange fancies. She
was awakened by the moonlight in her
room.
There was certain lightness in the
sky which made her think it must be
near morning. The went TO the window
to draw in through every breath the hap
piness of this last night OF her youth.
The bruised flowers below sent up sweet
odors-the Expresses stood like bronze
sentinels. Under them q mans figure
was moving He glanced upwards, and
saw against the background OF the dim
oil flame Of Florentine lamp girls
figure, leaning with folded hands
against the window frame among the wet
tendrils Of q vine. The vine ran down
till il tapercd to thick trunk, curved
about the Dillar below The figure ap-