New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-18
A POTENT PHILTER.
BY Z

NORA PERRY.

There was SOHitthihk Nhii'J ''"NN'
auart from its physical Lack OF warmth FER
hans il was the violent cleanliness Of the uncar-
netd asles or the stern suggestion of the cushion
less benches: possibly il may have been the cold
light that entered through the Sombre-hued VIM
dows and fell upon the frigldity OF the trescohg'
Certainly the richest thing in the little ehapei-lt
was rather a chapel than a church-were two more
than fair paintings hanging on either side the altar
and representing scenes IN the history OF the
Church in Canada
- All cried Virginia as she perceived them from
another corner those look comfortable. Come
and warm your hands, DR.. Fletcher" young man
whom, they had not observed came forward from
the chnDcel where ne had been arranging the
tawdrc paraphernalia Of the altar, ana sdluieu
them With what Rowland called c4sruolc SmI'
Ve answered their questions, put 10 trench, WIN
more than the usual priestly excess OF pollteness
Did he live in the church On no. lie was stu
dent in the brothers seminary Tor young Meh,, on
the other side OF the mountain perhaps ihlie us,
tant Strange that they should nave tneir cnaP13I
here All. not ut all The brothers lONed Tue sui
mes. the freedom and solitude. Besides, II was
greater task to reach the sdncaatle than II It We're
neaIcr: they did higher honor to the good God III
~ ,Jys s,,oIe too more like the holy martyrs he
naIvelt added Could they see the seminary they
asked at the door, "Oh, oul; oul he exclaimed
will "A happy look: the brothers would be most
Glad most hOnOred. But Il would not alntlse them;
r was not much Then he bowed them out with iils
sweet smile As they climbed into their cSleches,
however Airs. Fordlian declared i-eIseh 700 weaA'
after the days journey, 70 attempt tins tnTther e
virginia had wished 10 50, Dat she WOulu
not express the desi now TO her aunt 10 Fletcher
she said II would be very odd before she kh Nv
his dfsign he had asked May take Miss Bailey 10
the Seminary. Mrs FOrdham =
Virginia protested but now that her aunt under
stood that she cared TO go she would not listen
But where shall We meet aunt qiesIoneu VIZ
I've been talking with our man here" broke in
Rowland and as nearly as can understand him
r. nan snake broken English that is to say inn
neTccptiblv adulteTated French" there Is point
mile or more from here where TWO roal meet OIe
a. nuA from q ~ II
other is ours How long shall you want 10 stay al
the seminary, Fletcher
Hc consulted Virginia. Hall an hour' perhaps
no. o. VrV we'll: the man says that orr road the
longer 50 that we shInt have long TO w;ut' cfIed
Rowland as they separated
The nriest who welcomed them at the seminary
was s0ut and Jolly. but he had all the courtesy OF
The ueophvte whom they hal met at the chapel:
n psbered them into little at the front of
the buildlng and left hen-to get the keys ne sill
t,-,+n a II lffnsive smile. The bare. glossy floor of
the apartment, like those of the rooms which the
priest presently returned 10 snow them, was very
clean Throughout the building the walls were
alarmed with neatly printed maNinis and ccrlpturl
ajponirious but except in the tiny chapel. when
0ne Of the brothers who had joined them IN Their
tom informed them was occasionally usea Wheh
G. II was very cold" nothing more cheerful was
dsDlayrd Here there were, as before. some lOief-
able paintings, the bandlw0r& OF one OF the 9ro5-
ers their guide SAID. one, hidden away IA uuAAy
corner seemed 10 be Of greater antiquity. IL was
Cracked and blurred, aud one OF the priests OBJ
served with 4 charming ahectat!On o. mOdesty,
Sfro,'sl, which his honest pride struggled hard not
- line +haf IN WAS one Of the few relics of the
s-;i III fbe first brothers who had come out 10 Can
ada lie interested Virginia in long exposition o.
fhe subject and history of the picture and they
fingered for some moments further before lhe
library Of the Institution.
When the priests and the company Of pupils that
gathered bv degrees had ut length bid them smiling
adieu. Fletcher looked at has watch lie started III
serious surprise, and VeXed eAcIah@sioh escAPeu
: . What is itf7 asked Virginia, as they moved
down the path toward the seminary gateway
We stayed there over an hour. You remember
our % ereement with Rowland T. he said. .
With Rowland questioned the glrL ION! .
cried She with sudden TemOrse. 4" why / am afraid
that We hardly taken him into account during the
last half-hour And aunt! she Will be 50 nervous
They will hardly wait for us" he said as he
beckoned mpatently to their charter who lolled Oh,
the roadside at some distance, watching ms horse
browse on the grasses that grew near Fletcher 5
real concern not for the VAN waiting OF Row
land and Mrs. FOrdlam though TINS might have
hara,sCd Inn at another time q uatiihS lear hHcI
him a, he discovered the length Of Their lingering
that that they might not find the boat at Bae St
Paul. The steamer touched at tins point AT ) 10
wac now after /. lie remembered that 10 had taken
quite two hours to reach the church. He en-
deavored not to believe IN the possibility of such
accident but he could not fail 10 see that all the
chance, favored il. One reflection little cOnSOled
In, Their way on the return would be descend
inc and As this occurred to him he ardently blessed
4be charters malignCd practice OF lashng their ami
mails down these hills. The man came mp az length.
and DC found an instant, while he helped Virginia
into the .ealeche and she stood with her back
tow9rd him TO whisper a fierce injunction IN The
fellows car to drive i8st, and TO press bank-nOie
into hi, hand Then he leaped quickly INTO the
vehicle and in an instant they were bowling
swiftly over the level road that lee from the semi
nary. - A.,
reached Bare St Paul What if Rowland and Ars.
Fordham had gone with il Fletcher tortured NM
self with these questions. The futlllty OF thought
was obvious enough, however, and he presently
Joined with his ordinary spirit ~ the talk That IT.
gnia was trying TO maintain They had been NOV
lug fOr nearly half an hour when suddenly without
warning. the driver brought las horse TO a stand,
lent A farm fence blocked the way
h. had not perceived as hc talked that the road
gradually narrowed until il was little more than a
bride path. Here 10 WAS wholly OyergrOwu With
grass save for foot track of meagre width worn
through the middle. i he place into which they had
come was closely beumed IN on every hand by
trees: even the road over which they had lust
passed was hidden IN the densely wooded curve be-
hind. 10 was kind of clearing, followed ont 10
the midst Of the forest. Fletcher understood the
situation an glance
. Why man" he cried in vexatOn, this is not
the road" The fellow grunted assent, and began
doggedly 10 turn his cart The maneuvre was not
accomplished without difficulty in the narrow
space bat ii was at length successful, and he dashed
lis horse the useless steps just taken Tie iel
low had yehemently sverred complete knowledge
Of the way when questioned at the church but ht
had clearly deceived them.
When they reached the main road, Fletcher again
looked at his watch and set his teeth III rage.
y fear we could hardly expect 10 lind them here,
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