Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-08
A BOGUS ANCHORESS.
THE STORY OF SISTER VERONICA.

"A DOGOS ANCHOhESS.
THE STORY OF SISTER VERONICA.
The doctors wife scanned her visitor in
silence. With the audacity of an out-and-out
Protestant she was revolving in her mind GER
tain impious questions. This was the third
mendicant in pious gsrb who had come to her
door within month, soliciting aims for the
support OF some far-away religious institution.
Who was to assure her that the contributions
she had already made would be faithfully dedi-
Gated to the purpose for which they had been
given? Would the Catholics take pity upon
the needy or suffering Of other denominations?
In her growing distrust she leaped to reckless
surmises. What if these black-robed women
were not sisters" after all. but merely bold
impostOrs, who assumed the dress of the order
for the time for their own selfish aims and
purposes2
She recalled herself from her reverie with a
little shudder, and her voice was hard and cold
as she spoke.
''Sister Veronica. really do not feel justified
in helping your hospitals and asylums any
more. l think ii is time we were looking up
the poor about us. There NAV be fellow-beings
suffering IN our midst without murmur; peo-
pie whose pride forbids them to appeal to pub
lie charity. | think We should be doing more
nobly if we devoted our time to looking up
such cases. instead Of contributing to the sup
post OF distant institutions, of which we know
nothing"
.'Oh, madam! If others were only of your
thinking! interrupted the visitor, impetu-
ouslv.
What then? l fear you would not succeed
go well in your missions"
Mrs. Belden leaned forward as she spoke.
and gazed curiously upward into the counte-
han h tlA -. u
momentary 1utter and crimson wave which
had transformed her callers calm face passed
away. leaving it cold and still in its purity.
zone must rejoice at any lessening Of the
great sum Of human misery" was the quiet re.
Spouse.
The anchoress turned to go. She had no,
only failed in her errand, but had met with q
decided rebuff. Yet at the door she paused a
moment and held out shapely white hand
which met the others in a sympathetic grasp
The doctors wife stood at the window. with
mingled curiosity and interest and watched her
visitor depart. To her surprise the latter did
not continue up the street, but retraced her
steps along the lonely path leading in the di.
rection Of the station house. Was she then only
stopping of between trains. and had she sauan.
dered the few minutes she had in which to do
the little New Mexican town. or had she grown
hopeless Of success after her first fruitless eff.
fort? The picture of the strange woman ling.
cred obstinately in Mrs. Belden's memory
There was something oddly familiar about her
face. The very dimples in her cheeks-that a
sister of charity should have dimples.-the
gentle curves of chin and mouth. and the bright
flash Of her eyes, unsubdued by the long and
weary penance to which her pale face and
wasted figure bore testimony were all parts O,
haunting and elusive memory. She wondered
to what order the woman belonged. The Skin,
of her robe was certainly very scant and shabby
and faint line about the bottom reminded hel
Of the mark left on her own black silk where
she had lately ripped off plating. A little
starch and sklful manipulation might easily
convert a pillow-case into one of those large,
square bonnets. But, after a short time. Mrs
Belden dismissed these wandering speculatiOns
from her mind and. resuming her crazy pate b.
work. was soon deeply absorbed in studying the
arrangement of some ''samples"-aas! that
woman should be capable of such duplicity-
lately procured from an enterprising New York
dry-goods firm.
Several months sped by. and the good lady
in spite of her creditable resolutions had taken
no active step toward ascertaning the circum.
stances Of her neighbors. One day had beer
too chilly, another too windy, a third to warm
to sally forth on her charitable errand. Sc
she had contented herself with making a few
inquiries of chance visitors. She had beer
laughed at for her pains. 1t was an axiom in
the New Mexican town that no worthy and in.
dustrious person could ever suffer for lack OF
food or raiment.
There came a day when the doctor was late
to his O'Clock supper. The table was spread
in the cozy dining-roo and the tea simmered
on the hearth. The young housewife vibrated
between table, stove and window. The little
cathedral clock on the parlor mantel sounded
the half hour. The young wife busted herself
picking on the dead leaves from twining
smilax which stood in the window-so mauy
withered leaves do the plants show in
that exasperating climate! The clock solemnly
knelled the hour of seven. The little woman
had grown too accustomed to the exactions OF
physicians life to feel more than impatient.
She sat down to the table alone and tried ia
eat, but only succeeded in swallowing a cup OF
tea and a bit Of fruit. Then she resumed her
post at the window. A light rain was falling
which increased until it came in gusts and
squalls, then settled into steady downpour.
1t was after 8 o'clock when she deserted a
dark figure hqrrying up the street, The gate
opened and shut with a click. and the doctor
bounded up the steps of the portico, to be me,
with fearful greeting on the part of his wife
"Oh, Robert! You don't know what have
suffered. l was so afraid that some Of those
dreadful men who are always shooting on the
Nonsense child! But his voice was shakv
and as he reached out his hand and laid long
morocco case on the table. she noticed that his
face was pale and drawn.
IAN operation dear? What was it?''
He did not answer at once. Indeed he sal
| oO"A w thC edulc anu uTdHk Ills cup OF TEA auC
ate slice or two of bread and butter, chatting
meanwhile in an absent way on Indifferent
topics. 1t was only when they had gone into
the little parlOr and he had thrown himself
into great easy chair before the glowing fire
that he recognized her question
"A seven-year-old boy. dear. Leg crushed
beneath the cars. Stood it like herol''
How did it happen-the injury, mean?'
Slipped and fell under backing engine
They seem to have been pretty badly off~the
mother and child-and the fireman Of yard en-
CINE No. rs had been in the habit of throwing
off Jumps of coal for the little fellow to pick up
To-day the lad tried to climb up before the,
| had slowed down, and missed his footing anG
| fell"
How he must have suffered,''
HE never seemed to think of himself at all
Was possessed with a fear that the fireman
| might be blamed. Beautiful little fellow, il
spite OF his shabby clothes. Broad white fore
| head. curling brown hair. and thoughtful gray
eyes, Do you know can't get rid Of certain
| fancy that I've seen the child before"
Probably on the street," suggested Mrs
Belden.
mo, no. Years ago; when I was boy, or in
.'Whe re do they ive?'
Il declare, Bessie, never suspected there
was such restitution in this place. You remem
| Der these wretched dug-outs on the other side
| Of the railroad? Nothing to screen the en-
trance but piece Of WORKOUT tent-cloth. We
had to perform the operation by light of
| coal-oil lamp. She held it,
ssrrho notbor2r