The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-09-13

plexion and cherry lips, was about
to .eave the world that she had
only begun to see, and to become,
il God gave her strength 10 perse-
we're, one OF the hol " sisters of Lu-
retto. Beautiful CarmeliIa Villa
flores, just entering OH her 18Th
year, was to begin her novitiate on
this same day of ST. Genevieva.
Her devoted little heart did not
feel single pang for The world
that she was leaving. Wilhered
old Madre Josefa was pleased be-
yond expression at her daughters
resolution, and even Manuel, her
big, swarlhy brother, grnnted his
approval from The table Of the vi
nata. So every one who had any
right to say was satisfied that la
Nina CarmeliIa should take The
veil. To be sure there was IA little
grumbling. Los LagarliioS, the
lizards--thOse idle young Men who
had no need for work, and whose
habit of basking in The sun at the
street corners had gained for them
their cant ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
por Dios that 1t was a shame that
they should no more feast their
eyes on her graceful little form
while she passed between her home
and the store.
"rhat night The sister superior
was startle by The priests asking
about The novice. To be sure he
only inquired of the good sister If
she thought that the girl knew her
own mind well enough to decide
rightly on her future HE, but then
the sister could not remember his
ever asking such Il question: before.
During her n0vitiale Carmelila's
conduct was exemplary. She We'd
with Padre Teodoro in religious
lervor. The evening before the
day that she was TO make her final
severance of all that bound her To
the world at length arrived. Her
friends had visited her and the sis
ters had questioned her, and to all
she made answer that on The NOR
row she was content to take the
veil. AT length she was left alone
in her room IN The second story of
the convent. 1t was late al night
and The whole convent seemed To
slumber. Suddenly the vigilanl
sister superior started from her
sleep. She listened and again heard
The sound chat had aroused her-a
football IN the garden.
"Some prowler, | suppose
thought the sister; but | wonder
why OhattO doesn't drive him out
"Cha'to was The great dog that
guarded The Academy of the Visi-
lalion at night Presently the Sis
ter heard a window open. In a mo-
ment she wa, dressed, and in an
other moment she was at the CON
vent gate. BY the bright moon
light she saw The young priest in
The garden catch i'll his arms The
novice as she sprang from the win
dow. She saw him, with his bur
den in his arms, hurry 10 the gate
and place the girl on a saddled
horse, jump up behind her, and
then she saw the horse gallop
swiftly up the road Then The sis
ter superior rushed back into the
convent, and toon the great bell
was tolling. This sound at such an
hour soon brought all Las CaSas 10
the convent door. Manuel was
among The first there. He had not
been 10 bed, and staggered un-
steadily from The aguadiente he
had taken at the tavern. To him
The startled nun shrieked her 81 Ory,
and he cursed his sister and the
renegade priest. Soon The others
understood the reason OF the tar
moil, and a rush was made for
horses. Ir short order they were
in pursuit of the couple, headed by,
the drunken Manuel. But The
priest had secured a fair start, AMI
the Dursuers never caught sight of
him until they reached tue Rio
Grande. The river, swollen by The
floods, seemed well nigh impas-
sable, but The case was desperate,
and in he plunged his doubly bur
dened horse. The tired animal
passed in safety, and was founder
ing up the steep bank on the Amer
lean side when the pursuers reach
ed the river. Manuel pullel his
Winchester and fired at the flOnn-
dering horse. Then it was that the
halt moon was cut in the top oil
the ear of Padre Teodoro
Seeing that they had not STOP
ped Them, Manuel and his party
also plunged their horses into The
flood They passed in safety and
continued the pursuit. Ashley ap-
uroached some houses the horse
that Manuel beSlrode reared back.
A lonndered horse lay in the road.
The Mexican uttered a shout of irl-
umph. lie knew that the fugiiives
could not be Tar away. The pur-
suers rushed on until they came to
the buildings. A solitary cowboy
stood in the road.
Have you seen dog OF a
French priest with a girl 2" shouted
Manuel.
"'SeemS 10 me some people like
that got on The SolOmonville sthge
hvar a little while back, stranger,
answered the calm cowboy. 'Ei
You hurry you'd orier catch it,
L..