Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-08-22


paiIId cheeks, and 10 my astonIshment
tears glittered on her dark lashes.
Madame" began earnestly, 1T ~
sure you"
"Sny nothing, slgnor," she interrupted
me with q slight deprecatory gesture;
at Is quito unnecessary. To mock o
religieuse Is common amusement with
young girls and women OF the world. /
am accustomed to 1t, though feel Its
cruelty more than l ought TO do. La
dies like the Countess Romani think that
we've, the sepulchres OF womanhood,
-sepulchres that we have cmptied and
cleansed TO the best OF our ability,
so that they may more
fttingly hold ithe body OF the crucihed
Christ; these grandes danes, l say, fancy
that we are ignorant Of all they know,
that we cannot understand love, tender
ness or passion. They never reflect,
how should they? that we also have had
our Observation-Disclosures, perhaps, that
would mako angels weep for pity! I,
even l." and she. struck her breast
iiercely, then suddenly recollecting her
self, she continued coldly-"The rule OF
our convent, signor; permits no visitor
10 remain longer than one hour-that
hour has expired. will summon sister
TO show you the way out"
"Wait one instant, madame" / said,
feeling that to enact my part thoroughly
/ ought to attempt to make some de-
fence Of Nina's conduct; ''permit me to
say word! My fancie is very young
and thoughtless, really cannot think
that her very innocent parting caress to
me had anything in II that was meant TO
purposely annoy YOU"
The nun glanced at me;-her eyes
flashed disdainfully.
"You think II was oil affection for you,
no doubt, signor? A very natural sup
position, and-I should be sorry to un-
deceive you"
She paused 0 moment and then re-
sumed:
"You seem an earnest man-maybe
you are destined to be the means Of saw
ing Nina; could say much, yet II is
wise to be silent. II you love her do
not fatter her; her overweening vanity
is her ruin. A firm, wise, ruling master
hand may perhaps-who knows?" She
hesitated and sighed, then added gently,
Farewell. signor! Benedicite!" and
making the sign Of the cross IS re-
spcctfully bent my head to receive her
blessing, she passed noiselessly from the
room.
One moment later. and o lame and
aged lay sister came to escort me to the
gate. As / passed down the stone cor
ridor side door opened o very little
way, and two fair young faces peeked
out ut me. For an instance saw four
laughing black eyes; / heard q smoth-
cred voice say, "Oh! c'est un vieux
papa!" and then my guide, who
though lame was not blind, perceived
the opened door ana shut 1t with an
angry bang, which, however, did not
drown the ringing merrlment that
echoed from within. On reaching the
outer gates turned to my vener-
able companion, and laying four twenty
franc pieces In her shiverlng palm, i
said:
Take these to the Reverend Mother
for me. and ask that mass DO said In the
chapel tomorrow for the repose Of the
soul OF him whose name Is written mere.
And / gave her Guido Ferrarrs visit
ing card, adding In lower and more SOL
emu tones:
"He met with a sudden and unpre-
pared death. OF your charity, pray also
for the man who killed him.!
The old woman looked startled, and
crossed herself devoutly: but she prom
ised that my wishes should be fulnlleo,
and l babe her farewill and passed out,
the convent gates closing with dull
clang behind me- i walked on few
yards and then paused, looking back.
What q peaceful home 1t seemed; how
calm and sure retreat, with the white
Noisette roses browning its ancient gray
walls! Yet what embodied curses were
pent I'D in there In the shape
of girls growing to be women;
women for whom all the
care, stern training and anxious solici-
tude of the nuns would be unavailinR;
women who would come forth from even
that abode OF sanctity with vile natures
and animal impulses, and who would
hereafter, while leading life OF vice
aud hypocrisy, hold up this very strict
ness OF their early education as proof
OF their unimpeachable innocense ana
virtue! To such, what lesson Is learnt
BY the daily example OF the nuns VINO
mortify their flesh, fast, pray and weep9
No lesson at all-nothing, save mockery
and contempt To o girl In the hayday
of youth and beauty, the lite OF reli-
Cieuse seems ridiculous. "The poor
nuns!" she says with q laugh;
''they are so ignorant Their
time is over-mine has not yet be-
gun" Few, very few, among the thous-
ands Of young women who leave the
scene Of their quiet school days for the
social whirligig Of the world, ever learn
to take life in C1nee1, love In earnesS
sorrow in earnest. To most OF them
life is large dressmaking aud millinery
establishment; love q question OF money
and diamonds; sorrow solemn caicuis-
ton as to how much or how little
mourning Is considered becoming or
fashionable. And for creatures such IS
these we men work-work till our hairs
are Qrey and our back bent with toll