San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-03

| bowed in the affirmative. She
looked at me keenly; she had dark, bril-
liant eyes, in which the smouldering
fires of many a conquered passion still
cleaned.
You would see the Countess Romani,
who is in retreat here?"
"If not inconvenient or out of rule"
l began.
The shadow of a smile fitted across
the nuns pale, intellectual face; il was
gone almost as soon as it appeared.
mot at ALL" she replied in the same
even monotone. THE Countess Nina is,
by her W desire, following a strict
regime, but today being a universal
feast day all rules are. somewhat re-
Taxed. The Reverend Mother desires
me to inform you that it is now the hour
for Mass-she ha herself already en-
tered the chapel. If you will share in
our %devotions, the Countess shall after
wards be informed of your presence
here"
| could do no less than aCcede to this
proposition, though in truth it was IN
welcome to me. | was in no mood for
either prayer or praise; l thought MOOD
| lily how startled even this impassive Il
iii III HdNO uOOh Oui ShO hN'o
known what manner of man it was that
she thus invited to kneel in the
sanctuary. However, | said no word of
objection, and she babe me follow her.
As we left the room, | Q asked:
as the Countess well?'
''She seems So" returned Mere Mar
g~uerite; ''she follows her religious duties
with exactitud3, and makes no complaint
of fatigue"
We were now crossing the great hall.
| ventured on another inquiry.
''She was a favOurite pupil of yours, l
believer"
The nun turned her ~passiOnless face
towards me with an air OF mild surprise
and reproof.
81 have no favourites," she answered
coldly. "AIl the children educated here
share my attention and regard equally"
murmured an apology, and added
with a forced smile:
You must pardon my apparent in
quisitiveness, but as the future husband
of the lady who was brought up under
your care, l am naturally interested in
all that concerns her"
Agai nthe searching eyes Of the relig'
ieuse surveyed me; she sighed slightly.
81 am aware of the connection between
YOU" she said in rather 3 panied tone
Nina Romani belongs to the world, anC
follows the ways of the world. or course
marriage is the natural fulflment o
most young girls destinies; there ar,
comparatively few who are called out o
the ranks to serve Christ. Therefor
when Nina married the estimable COun
ROmani, of whom report spoke eve
fayOrably, we %rejOiCed greatly, feeling
that her future was safe in the hands o
a gentle and wise protector. May hi
soul rest in peace! But a second mar
riage for her is what l did not expect
and what cannot in my conscience az
prove. You see l speak frankly"
Il am honored that you do so
madame.' l said earnestly, feeling a Gel
= tain respect for this sternly compose
yet patient featured woman; eye
= though in general you may find man
= reasonable objections to it, a secon
: marriage is, l think, in the Countess Re
mani's case almost necessary. Sh
. utterly without a protectOr-she is yer
: young, and how beautiful
The nuns eyes grew solemn and a
most mOurnful.
'Such beauty is a curse" she al
q swered with emphasis; "a fatal-a fearfI
O curse! AS a child ittmade her waywart
a As a woman it keeps her hayward still
a Enough of this, SignOr!" and she bowe
d her head; ''eXcuse my plain speaking
d Rest assured that l wish you both happ
ness"
d We had by this time reached the doC
ID of the chapel, through which the souI
of the pealing organ poured forth
le triumphal surges of melody. Mere Ma
guerite dipped her fingers in the no
so water, and signing herself with Il
cross, pointed out a bench at the back
ne the church as the one that strangers we
allowed to occupy. / seated myself, al
looked with a certain soothed admiratiC
lg at the picturesque scene before N
er There was the sparkle Of twinklir
ar lightS-the bloom and fragrance Of flo
ers. There were silent rows Of nu
IL blue-robed and white-veiled, kneeliI