San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-26
CHAPTER XVIII.-CoNTNUED.

DOus plStCt ouL OpOuCu hOh
faded eyes very wide. But that is
not natural" she add d in per-
picked tone. "And what is not nat
ural cannot be right"
land is all right that is natural?"
asked Unorna thoughtfully.
1T is not natural" repeated the
other. GLOW do you do it? Do you
use strange words and herbs and in
cantations."
Unorna laughed again, but the nun
seemed shocked by her levity, and
she forced herself to be grave.
mo, indeedr' she answered. II
look into their eyes, and tell them to
sleep-and they do. Poor Sister Paul!
You are behind the age in the dear
old convent here! The thing is done
in half the great hospitals of Europe
every day, and men and women are
cured in that way of diseases that
paralyze them in body as well as in
mind. Men study to learn how it is
done-it is as common to-day as a
means of healing as the medicines you
know by name and taste. 1t is called
hypnotism."
And again the sister crossed her
self.
81 have heard the word, | think"
/ she said, as though she thought there
was something diabolical in it. And
do you heal the sick in this way by
means OF this-thingp"
Sometimes, Unorna answered.
There is an old man, for instance,
whom have kept alive for many
years by making him sleep-a great
deal" Unorna smiled little.
But have you no words with itP
Nothing?"
Nothing. 1t is my will. That is
ALL"
"But if it is of good, and not of the
evil one, there should be prayer
with it. Could you not say a prayer
with it, UnornaP'
Il dare say l could" replied the
other, trying not to laugh. But
that would be doing two things at
once-my will would be weakened"
at cannot be of good" said the
nun. 1T is not natural, and it is
not true that the prayer can detract
the will from the performance of a
good deed" She shook her head
more energetically than usual. And
it is not good, either, that you should
be called witch you who have lived
| here among us.
at is not my fault" exclaimed
Unorna, somewhat annoyed by her
persistence. And, besides, Sister
Paul, even if the devil is in it, it
would be right all the same"
The nun held up her hands in holy
horror and her jaw dropped.
my child! my child! How can you
say such things to me?"
ct is very true, Unorna answered,
| quietly smiling at her amazement.
IF people who are ill are made we'll
is il not a real good, even if the evil
one does it? Is it not good to make
him do good, if one can, even against
| his willP"
mo, nor' cried Sister Paul, in
| great distress. "Do not talk like
that-let us not talk of it at all!
Whatever it is, it is bad, and | do not
understand it, and | am sure that none
of us here could, no matter how well
you explained it. Unorna, my dear
child then say prayer each time,
| against temptation and the devils
| works.
With that the good nun crossed her.
self third time, and, unconsciously,
from force OF habit, began to tell her
beads with one hand, mechanically
smoothing her broad starched collar
with the other Unorna was silent
for a few minutes, plucking at the
sable lining OF the cloak which lay be-
side her upon the sofa where she had
dropped it.
LET us talk of other things" she
said at last. Talk of the other lady
who is here. Who is she? What
brings her into retreat at this time of
year?"
Poor thing-yes, she is very I'M
happy" answered Sister Paul. ut
is sad story, SO far as 1 have heard
1t. Her father is just dead, and she
is alone in the world. The abhess
received letter yesterday from the
cardinal archbishop, requesting that
she would receive her, and this morn
ing she came. His eminence knew
her father, it appears. She is only to
be here for short time, l believe,
until her relations come to take
her home to her own country.
| Her father was taken i'll
4 l. ~