Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-09-18

sion service, aud when It is over. will my.
self cond nct this gentleman all over the con-
vent provided that my sisters remain In
their places in the gallery until once more
their privacy IL insured ~
"Believe mo madame" said Montanelli,
at would bo wise 10 accustom them little
10 their liberty, before the doors OF tho cage
are thrown open permanently"
81 am accustomed to rule my community,
~ monsieur is accustomed to rule his COM
pany," said the mother.
The project an d Montanelli spoke apart a
moment with the mayor they were all anN-
ious 10 cause as little scandal as possIble-the
Villagers adored the sisters. Col. Montanelli
came forward.
'Everything shall be done exactly as II
| suits you best, madame" he said. 81 and
my lieutenant will be present at the bene'
dition, and when 1t Is over, we Will place
| ourselves at your disposal"
The mother superior withdrew, and not till
| she was safe once more within the convent
| walls did she give way to the agony oil her
| soul. Soldiers Soldiers TO take possession
| OF their sacred home, to riot In their conse-
| Grated cells, to drink In their refectory, to
| clatter along the still cloister She looked
round her with kind of passion of mingled
fear and despair. 1t required great courage
to break the news to the sisterhood, and to
bear their sorrow and despair. What was to
become of them Where should they go
Some OF them had homes; some were old and
case would have to be considered.
With atrembiing hand the mother superior
chose the hymns for the benediction. A vague
idea was in her mind that she would like the
hearts OF the soldiers touched, as they must
be IL they are human. She told the sisters so,
and with a kind of absolute trust in her, they
determined to sing their very best The
mother superior gave the book into Assunta' )
hand, and looked at her her face was the
same as usual, the story had converted no
a fp bar mi nd va hiatt A N.
derstand it
The hour came. The little church was
crowded, as 1t always was for benediction,
| and in the foremost places of honor, beside
the project and the mayor, sat Col Montan
| elii and his young lieutenant, conspicuous by
| their uniforms aud glancing epaulets
The service began, presently the hymn be
| gan from the gallery behind. The thret
| strangers started. 1t was the "Pange, lingua
gloriosi," that Assunts sang, and her voice
beginning softly, rolled on in a glorious vol
| ume of sound, the last part OF each vers'
| sung in chorus by all the sisters. 1t dice
| away aud there was pause, while everyone
| knelt; then the same voice. began TO sins
| again-a very st. Cecilia--and this time sh'
began the evening hymn very softly. "r
lucis ante terminum." And hardly had sh'
finished than all together they sung th'
"Nune dimittis."
Every one rose from their knees thinkin
that all was over, when suddenly once NOR
Assunta's voice burst upon them; she san.
powerfully, the grand notes ringing on tn
ear.
"Gloria Pat1i, eloria Fnio, gloria spritui saucto
| Slcut erat I'm principle ct unnc ct semper."
Her voice gained strength, and the las
words rolled on tide of sound none ther
had ever heard equalled-
| 'Et in saecula saeCuIorum."
| The whole congregation with a strange eS
element and strong emotion joined in tn
| last amen.
| Tho ,,o,bar sunarior rosa from, har lnae.
| wiped away the hot tears that had rush e.
| into her eyes and went down from the ga
| lery into the convent, shutting the door
the private staircase into the hall IS she di
| so.
She found the officers waiting for her in a
enthusiasm OF admiration for what they ha
| heard.
"what is she like, mad anne, this sister wit
, the wonderful voice ?' asked Montanelli. /"
never heard its like, not on the finest stage !
Europe !"
"She would not interest you," said III
| mother alarmed at the notice her poor inn'
cent child had excited. She led the way RESI-
luteiy, but her heart ..ached and hled-st
could hardly bear to take the men into tn al
little cells, and to think OF what was comin
But they were very quiet, very respectful
her, and when they had seen all, they than
ed her very civilly, they returned to the pa
sage into which the private staircase cam'
| and both men were looking up II so earnes
: | ly that a sudden resolution came into Il
head of the mother superior. She begge
, | them To wait, she went up with her quic
| but digniiied step, and summoned the sste
| hood to come down.
They came down, walking two and tw
| passed ths spectators and went their way. !
, | they passed, the mother touched Montanelll
| arm. "Behold our songstress," T" she said, at
| with little movement of her head she ind
r | Gated Sister Caterina--a very stout and hom
r iy woman who had long been afflicted wi
! the gout
f "Per Bacco ~ eIacustsd the two officer
3 | and they took their leave with many boy
5 and thanks.
a The mother superior sighed and shook h
a head. "For this little lie heaven will forgi
me, " she said.
1 1t WAS terrible evening that passed in q
, | convent, the sisters took their misfortune
: so many ways. Sisters Caterina moansd al
beat her breast Sister Monica looked fer
, | and said harsh and bitter words Sister Gil
! | wanna knelt and sobbed and thought tn
| God had Withdrawn all help and protectiC
| from them. But Sister EliZabetta ask.
/ | strange childish questions about the worl
3 and her eyes lighted with iurtive plessur
and the mother superior felt that perhaps 81
r most of all needed her prayers,
, And the days that followed were full
} | strange and heartbreaking novelties Pc
| haps the donning of secular clothing was d
| worst to bear-what they wore seemed su
/ ueHly 10 hssuDle sucu Nast, out OF prOpOrtlf
| importance to them all ; and as each sist
| crept out of her cell, they dreaded to me
each others eyes, they felt so strange, so u
natural. The elders were in passionate tear
| some OF the younger ones unable TO absta
| from tearful giggling.
The mother belonged to a rich family; tn,
| had willingly sent the necessary clothes, ar
some money to help each sister to get bac
, But, alas how odd, how forlorn, how te
ribly wide looked the outer world on the la
, morning they were to spend together.
J They were all assembled Tor the last tin
} to hear mass together, and as they came o.
OF the church the people crowded rour
! them, kissing their hands, sobbing, wee
Ing crying that the blessing OF God was lea
, ing San Martino.
The mother superior was tax ing Assun
with her. She could not send her out alon
Assunta knew nothing, save that when the
took oil her white habit she moaned an
looked scared and frightened, and she woul
} not part with it-she clung to it, and carrie
1t with her in little parcel. She and ii
mother entered the diligence together, the
looked back to give one parting look to Il
weeping crowd, to the sorrowful face OF Ii
old priore, and they saw the convent gat,
, wide, wide open, even the cloister do,
open to any VINO chose to enter, and Il
mother threw herself back in her seat an
bear.
sMother," said Assunta presently
"Mother, what are sold iers ?n
| The mother superior looked at Assunta
could not be only fancy-had the shock ,
| the last few days increased vet more Ii
mist which surrounded her Oh, il st
could but defend and save her from and
| the world
"Soldiers are men whom you must a
etVf. ,..I