Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-19

whole was nearest to the truth. told that
she was the daughter of noble of Eastern
Bohemia. who had died soon after her birth.
| the last OF his family. having converted his
| ancestral possessions into money for.
| Inorna's benefit. in order To destroy all
| trace OF her relationship to him. The
| secret must. OF course, have been contided
| 10 some one, put II had been kept faithfully.
| ana Cnorna herself was no wiser than
| those who amused themselves with fruit
less SpcculatlonS regarding her origin IF
from the hrst. from the moment when, as
young girl, she left the convent to enter
| INTO possession of her fortune, she had
CHOSEN TO assert some right TO a footing in
lhe most exclusive ariStocracy in the world
1t is not impossible that the protection'of the
aOoess might have helped her to obtain il.
Inc secret of her birth would however
nave rendered a marriage with a man of
thaC class all BIZ. impossible, and would
nave entirely excluded her from the
only other poSitlonsconsidered dignitied for
Well-born woman of fortune
unmarried and wholly without living rela-
licns or connections-that of j lady-cano-
ness on the crown foundation Moreover,
her wild bringing up, ahd the singular nat
ura! gifts she possessed and which she
couId not resist the impulse to exercise had
IN lew months placed her in u position
from which no escape was possible SO long
as she lived in Prague, and against those
1eW-chletty men-who for her beauty's
sake, or out of curiosity would gladly have
made her acquaintance she raised an i'm
passaDie barrier of pride and reserve. Nor
was her reputation altogether an evil one.
She llEed in strange fashion il is true
but the very fact of her extreme seclusion
MAD Kept her name free from stain If peo-
pie spoke of her as the witch, il was more
from habit and half in Jest, than in earnest.
IN strong contradiction TO the cruelty which
she could exercise ruthlessly when reused
10 anger, was her well known kindness 10
the poor, ana her charities to institutions
founded for their benefit were in reality
considerable and We're said to be boundless.
1HeSe explanations seemed necessary in or
Ger TO account for the readiness with which |
she turned to the convent when !
she was IN danger, and for the |
laclllties which We're then at once |
offered her for stay long or short |
as she would please to make it, Some OF The |
more suspicious nuns looked grave when
they heard she was under their roof |
others, who had not Yet seen her We're
1l!ed with curiosity, others. again, had
been attached to her during the time she
hau formerly spent among them, and there
were not lacking those who disappearing of
her presence, held their peace in the autfci-
patton that the rich and eccentric lady
would on departing present gift OF value
10 their order
The rooms which were kept at the dis
Dosa! OF ladies desiring 10 make q religious
5etreat for short time were situated on
he first floor OF one wing of the convent
overlooking garden which was not within
he ClOlStered precincts, but which was cui- |
waited for the convenience of the nuns
'ho themselves never entered it, The |
windows on this side were not latticed. and |
he ladies VINO occupied the apartments |
we're at liberty to look out upon the small |
quaIe of land, their view Of the street |
'eyond being cut Off, however by avail |
n which there was one iron gate for the |
Convenience of the gardeners, who ]
we're thus not obliged 10 pass through
he main entrance of the convent in
rider 10 reach their work Within the
ooms all opened out upon broad Vau!ted
oriidor, lighted in the daytime BY a huge I
rched window looking upon an inner court, :
ma. Ut night, by single lamp suspended ! 6
! the middle of the passage by a strong I
on cham. The pavement OF this passage '
as OF broad stones, once smooth and even | /
ut now worn and made irregular by long | 5
Sc. The rooms for the guests were car il
eted with somber colorS and warmed by +
.gh stoves built up of glazed white tiles.
ne furniture, Us has been said, was simple. | t
ut afforded all that was strictly necessary q
IT ordinary comfort, each apartment con /!
sung OF Il bedroom and Sitting-room, small c
lateral dimensions, but relatively very Is
gh- The walls We're thick and not easily o
,netrated by any sounds from without. W
III, as IN many religious houses. the en- Il
ances IRON the corridor We're all closed by | o