Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-08-15

| ilIIio ClustcT VI yOuLului uBuIco III uiuCh,
whose dropped heads were entirely hid
den In wells OF flowing white muslin. Ee-
bind these again, one woman's slight
form arrayed In heavy mourning
garments; her veil was black,
yet not so thick but that / could
perceive the sheeny glitter OF
golden hair-that was my wife, knew.
Pious angel! how devout she looked! l
smiled In dreary scorn as ! watched her;
cursed her afresh in the name OF the
MAJ had killed. And above all, sur
rounded with the lustre OF golden rays
and encrusted jewels, the uncovered
Host shone serenely like the CLEAN Of
the morning star. The stately service
went on,-the organ music swept
through and through the church rs
though 1t were strong wind striving TO
set itself free,-but amid 1t oil ! sat as
one In dark dream, scarcely seeing,
scarcely hearing-inflexible and cold aS
marble. The rich plaintiff voice OF one
OF the nuns In the choir singing the Ag-
nus Del, moved me to o chill sort OF
wonder. "Qui TOLLS peccata mundi,"-
''Who takest away the sins Of the
world" No, no! there are some sins
that cannot be taken away-the sins Of
faithless women, the ''little" sins as they
are called now-a-days;-for we have
grown very lenient in some things, and
very severe in others We will
imprison the miserable wretch who
steals five francs from our pockets, but
the cunning feminine thief who robs Us
of our prestige, our name and our hon.
orable standing among our fellow-men,
escapes almost scot free; she cannot be
put In prison or sentenced to hard labor
not she! A pity it is that Christ did not
leave us some injunction as to what was
to be done with such women-not the
penitent Magdalene, but the creatures
whose mouths are full OF lies even when
they pretend to pray-they who would
be capable Of trying to tempt the priest
who comes to receive their last confessions
they who would even act out a sham
repentance on their death beds In order
to look well. What con be done with
devils such as these? Much has been
said latterly Of the wrongs perpe-
trated on women by men; will no
one take UP the other side OF the
question? We, the stronger sex,
are weak in this-we are too chivalrous.
When woman filings herself on our
mercy, we spare her and are silent. Tor
lures will not wiring her secrets out OF
us; something holds US back from betray-
ing her. know not what 1t can be
perhaps 1t Is the memory OF our mothers.
Whatever 1t is, IL is certain that many
man allows himself to be disgraced rather
than he will disgrace woman. But
time Is at hand when this foolish chivalry
Of ours will die out. On changera tout
celia! When once our heavy masculine
brains shall have grasped the novel idea
that woman has by her own wish and
choice resigned all claim on our respect
or forbearance, we shall have our re-
venge. We are slow to change the tradi-
tions of our forefathers, but no doubt we
shall soon manage to quench the last
spark OF knightly reverence left In US for
the female sex, as this is evidently the
point the women desire to bring us to. We
shall meet them on that low platform OF
the equality they seek for, and we
shall treat them with the unhesitating
and regardless familiarity they so earn
estly invite!
Absorbed in thought, knew not when
the service ended. A hand touched me,
and looking up l saw Mere Marguerite,
who whispered
"Follow me, II you please"
rose and obeyed her mechanically.
Outside the chapel door she said
''Pray excuse me for hurrying you,
but strangers are not permitted to see
tho nuns and boarders passing out"
bowed, and walked on beside her.
Feeling forced to say something, /
asked
"Have you many boarders at this hol-
iday season."
'iOnly fourteen" she replied, 'and
they are children whose parents live far
away. Poor little Ones!" and the sci
lines of the nuns stern face softened
into tenderness as she spoke. I'VE dc
our best to make them happy but
naturally they feel lonely. Whe have
generally fifty or sixty young girls here,
besides the day scholars"
"a great responsibility" remarked.
Every great indeed!" and she sighed;
"almost terrible. So much OF o wo-
mans after-life depends on the early
training she receives. We do all we can,
and yet in some cases our utmost efforts
are in vain; evil creeps In, we know not
how,-some unsupported fault spoils
character that we judged 70 be admira-
BILE, and we are often disappointed In our
most promising pupils. Alasl there Is
nothing entirely without blemish In this
world"
Thus talking, she showed me into
small, comfortable looking room, lined
with books and softly carpeted.
"This is one Of our libraries" she ex-
planned. 1.-THE Countess will receive you
here, as other visitors might dis
turb you In the drawing-room. Pardon
me-" and her steady gaze had something
of compassion in II, ''but you do not
look well. Can / send you some wineP'
l declined this offer with many ex'
pressIons Of gratitude, and assured hel
/ was perfectly we'll. She hesltated, anG
at last said anxiously-