New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-02
A BOGUS ANCHORESS.
THE STORY OF SISTER VERONICA

THE STORY OF SISTER VERONICA.
The doctors wife scanned her visitor in 81
lence. With the audacity of out-andout
Protestant she was revolving in her mind certain
impious que,tons. This was the third mendlcant
in pious garb who had come to her door within
month"; soliciting aims for the support Of some
far-away religious institution. Who was to as
her that the contr but! IONS she had already
made would be faithfully dedicated to the pur-
pose for which they had been given? Would
the Catholics take pity upon the needy or suffer
ing of other denomnatlonsp In her growing
distrUst she leaDed to reckless surmlses What
If these black-robcd women were not :" sisters
after all, but merely bold impostors. who as
sumed the dres of the order for the time for
their own selfish aims and purposes 4,.
little shuddcr. and her voice was hard and cold
she spoke
Sister Veronica. really do not feel justified
In helping your hospitals and aSylums any more.
] think it is time looking up the poor
about us. There may be felloN-beings suffering
In our midst without murmur' people whose
pride forbidS them 10 appeal to public charity.
l think we should be dong more noby II We
devoted our time 10 looking up such cases. in
stead Of contributing to the support OF distant
institutions OF which we know nothing"
Oh. madam. If others only Of your
thinking" interrupted the visitor, mp tuously
What then? | fear you would not succeed
so well in your missions"
Mrs Beldcn leaned forward as she spoke, and
gazod curiouSly upward into the countenance be-
meath the peaked white bonnet. he nom 'ntaTy
hUttcr and crimson wave which had transform d
her callers calm face passed away, leaving 1t
One must rejoice at any lcssening Of the great
sum Of human scry,' the quiet response.
The anchoreSs turned TO 60 She had not only
facd in her GRAND. but had met with decid d
rebuff yet at the door she paused moment and
held out shapcy white hand. which met the
others in sympathetic grasp.
The doctors wife stood AZ tho window. with
mingled curiosity and interest. and watched her
visitor deIart To Der surprise the ! latter dld
along the lonely path leading in the direction
Of the station house. Was she then only stopping
off between trains. and had she squandered the
few minutes she had in which to " do the little
New-Mexican town? had she grown hopeless
of success after her frs. fruitlesS cnortP The
picture OF the strange woman fingered obstlnately
In Mis-. Bclders memory. There WAS something
oddly familiar about her face. The very dimples
in her chcckS-that sister OF charity should have
dmplcs the gentle curves of chin and mouth.
and the bright fash of her eyes, unsubdued by
the long and weary pcnance to which her pale
parts OF a haunting and elusive memory. She
wondered to what order the woman belonged
The skirt Of her robe was certainly very scant
and shabby and faint line about the bottom
reminded her OF the mark left on her own black
silk where She had lately ,ripped of plating
easily convert n pillow-casc into one of those
large square honnets. But after short time
Mrs. b den dismissed these wandering specula-
tons from her mind, and rcsuning her crazy
patchwork. soon deeply absorbed in study
ing the arranqemcn of some samples alas!
that woman should be capable Of such dupicity
lately procured from an enterprising New-YOrk
dry-goods firm.
Several months sped by, and the good lady, in
spite Of her crnditablc resolutions, had taken no
active step toward aScertainine the circumstances
of her neighbors Ore day had been too chilly,
another too windy, third too warm. 10 sally forth
on her charitable errInd So she had contented
herself with making a few inquiries of chance
visitors. She had been laughed at for her pains.
II was an axiom in the New-McXican town that
no worthy and industrious person could ever suf-
fer for lacl; Of food or rament.
There can't a day when the doctor late 10
his O'Clock supper. The table was spread in the
hearth. The young housewife vibratcd between
table, stove and window. The little cathedral
clock on the parOr mantel sounded the half
hour The young wife busted herself picking of
the dead leaves from a twining smilax which stood
in the wndow-so many withered leaves do the
house-plants show in that exaspcratlng climate
The clock sotmny Inelled the hour Of {. The
little woman had grown too accustomed to the
exactions OF a physicians life to feel more than
impatient She sat down to the table alone and
tried to eat. but only succeeded in swallowing
cup of tea and bit of fruit, Then She resumed
her post at The window. 4 light ram falling,
which increased until il came in gusts and squalls,
then settled into a steady lownpour.
1t was after o'clock when she deserted dark
figure hurTying up the street The gate opened
and shut with click, and the doctor bounded
up the steps of the portico, to be met with tear
full greeting on the part of his wife
suffered. ! so afraid that of those
dreadful men who always shooting on the
streets downtown
Nonsense, ohild!' But his voice was shaky,
and as he reached out his hand and laid a long
morocco case the table, she noticed that his
face was pale and drawn -
An operation dear? What was it?'
He did not answer at once. Indeed, he sat
down TO the table and drank his cup OF tea and ate
a slice or two Of bread and butter, chatting mean
while in an absent way on Indifferent topics. 1t
was only when they had gone into the little par
Tor and he had thrown himself into great easy
chair before the glowing fire. that he recognized
her question
e scven-year-old-boy, dear. Leg crushed
beneath the cars Stood il like a hero"
How did it happen-the injury, mcan?'
Slipped and fell under a backing engine. They
seem TO have been pretty badly On-the mother
and chid-and the fireman of yard-engne No &c
had been in the habit Of throwing off Jumps of
coai for the little fellow to pick up To-day the
lad tried 10 climb up before they had slowed
down. and missed his footing and fell"
How he must have suffered"
He never seemed 10 think of himself at all
be blamed beautiful little fellow, in spite of
his shabby clothes. Broad white forehead, curling
brown hair. and thoughtful gray eyes. Do you
know can't get rid of a certain fancy that I've
seen the child before"
Probably on the street." suggested Mrs. Bel
NO. no. Years ago; when was boy. or in
some other existence
Where do they live?'
81 declare, Bessie never suspected there
Der those wrctchcd dug-outs on the other side Of
the railroad? Nothing 10 screen the entrance
but a piece Of worn-out tent-cloth We had TO
perform the operation by light of a coal-oi lamp.
She held it,
Yes: and never Hinched Shielded il with
her hand TO keep the rain from putting out the
light. In all my professional experience l never
saw such selfcommand"
Indifference should call it, suggested the