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

moved, their dark branches Quivered,
and the grasses lifted up their green
lilliputian sw0rd-blades. Bells!-and such
bellsl tongues OF melody that stormed
the air with sweetest eloQuence,
rainbow bubbles OF music that burst
upon the wind, and dispersed In delicate
broken echoes.
peace on earth, goodwill to men.
Peace-on-e earth good - will - to
men!" they seemed to say over and over
again, till my ears ached with the repiti-
ton. Peacel What had to do with
peace or goodwill? The Christ Mass
could teach mo nothing. was as one
apart from human life-an alien from
It's customs and affections-ior me no
love, no brotherhood remained. The
swinging song Of the chimes Jared my
nerves. Why, thought, should the wild
erring world, with all its wicked men
and women, presume to rejoice at the
birth of the Saviour?-they, who were
not worthy to be saved. Ilturned swiftly
away; strobe fiercely past the kingly
pines that, now thoroughly awakened,
seemed to note me with stern disdain
as though they said among themselves:
What manner OF small creature is this
that torments himself with passions un.
known to us, In our calm converse with
the stars?"
was glad when stood again on the
high road, and infinitely relieved when
heard the rapid trot OF horses and rum
bling OF wheels, and saw nv closed
brouRham, drawn by its prancing black
Arabians, approaching. walked to
meet IL; the coachman seeing me drew
up instantly. babe him take me to the
Convento dell Annunziata, and entering
the carriage, was driven rapidly away.
The convent was situated, knew,
somewhere between Naples and Sorren-
to. guessed 1t to be near Castellamare,
but It was fully three miles beyond that,
and was somewhat long drive Of more
than two hours. 1t lay good distance
out Of the direct route, and was only at
tained by by-road, which from its
rough and broken condition was evi.
IDENTIFY not much frequented. The build
ing stood apart from all other habita-
tions In large open piece OF ground,
fenced in by high stone wall spiked AT
the top. Roses climbed thickly among
the spikes, and almost hid their sharp
points from view, and from perfect
nest of green foliage, the slender spire
OF the convent chapel rose into the sky
like white finger pointing to heaven.
NV coachman drew up before the heavily
barred gates. alighted, and oade him
take the carriage to the principal
hostelry at Castellamare, and wait for
me there. AS soon as he had driven of.
rang the convent bell. A little wicket
fixed in the gate opened Immediately.
and the wrinkled visagc OF very old
and ugly nun looked out. She demanded
in low tones what sought. ! handed
her my card, and stated my desire to see
The Countess Romani, II agreeable to the
Superioress. While / spoke she looked
It me curiously, my spectacles, l sup
pose, excited her wonder, - for
had replaced these Disgusting glasses
Immediately on leaving the scene o.
the duel,-I needed them yet a lttl,
while longer. After peerlng at me i
minute or two with her bleared and aeeI
yes, she shut the wicket In my face
With q smart click and disappeared
While awaited her return, heard til,
sound of children's laughter and ligh;
footsteps running trippingly OH the ston,
passage within.
'Fi done, Rosie!" said girls voice II
French; "la bonnie Mere Marguerite sera
tres tres fachee avec toi."
"Tais-toi, petite sainte!" cried another
voice more piercing and silvery In tone
''Je veux voir, qui est la! C'est III
homme, je sails bien-parce que Ia viellt
Mere Laura rough" and both young
voices broke into chorus Of renewed
laughter. Then came the shufiling noise
Of the old nuns footsteps returning; she
evidently caught the two truants, who,
ever they were, for heard her expostu.
lating, scolding and apostrophizing the
saints all in q breath, as she
babe them 60 inside the house and ask
the good little Jesus to forgive their
naughtiness A silence ensued. thsn
the bolts and bars OF the huge gate were
undone slowly-it opened, and / was ad.
mitted. raised my hat US ! entered,
and walked bareheaded through long,
cold corridor, guided by the venerable
nun, who looked at me no more, but tolo
her beads as she walked, and never spoke
till she had led me into the building
through lofty hall glorious with sacre6
paintings and statues, and from theme,
into large, elegantly furnished room.
whose windows commanded o fine view
OF the grounds. Here she motioned me
TO take seat, and without lifting her
eyelids, said: