The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-09-04

aShe seems son returned Mere Mar.
guerite; "she follows her religious duties
With exactitude, and makes no complaint
of fatigue"
We were now crossing the great hall.
I ventured on another inquiry.
..She was q fayourite pupil of Yonrs, I
believer
The nun turned her passionless face
towards me with an air of mild surprise
and reproof.
81 have no favourites," she answered
coldlY. "All the children educated here
share my attention and regard equally"
murmured an apology, and added
with forced smile:
s'You must pardon my apparent In
auisitiveness, but as the future husband
OF the lady who was brought up under
your care, 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 a panied tone.
Nina Romani belongs to the world, and
follows the ways of the world. OF course
marriage is the natural fulflmeDt of
most young girls destinies; there are
comparatively few who are called out of
tie ranks to serve Christ Therefore
when Nina married the estimable Count
Romani, Of WHOM report spoke ever
fayorably, we fejoiced greatly, feeling
that her future was safe in the hands of
a gentle and wise protector. May his
soul rest In peace! But second mar
rage for her is what / did not expect,
and what cannot in my conscience ap-
prove. You see speak frankly"
II am honored that you do so,
madame!" said earnestly, feeling Ger.
tain respect for this sternly composed
yet patient featured woman; "yet
though in general you may find many
reasonable objections to it, second
marriage is, think, in the Countess Ro-
mani's case almost necessary. She is
utterly without protector-she is very
young, and how beautiful"
The nuns eyes grew solemn and al
most mournfuL.
"Such beauty is curse" she an
swered with emphasis; "a fatal--a fearful
curse! As child itimade her Maynard.
AS a woman II keeps her maynard still.
Enough of this, Signor!" and she bowed
her head; "excuse my plain speaking.
Rest assured that wish you both happi-
ness"
We had by this time reached the door
Of the chapel, through which the sound
of the pealing organ poured forth in
triumphal surges of melody. Mere Mar
guerlte dipped her fingers in the holy
water, ana signing herself with the
cross, pointed out . bancb at the back Of
the church as the one that strangers were
allowed to occupy. l seated myself, and
looked with certain soOthed admiration
at the picturesque scene before me.
There was the sparkle OF twinkling
bloom and fragrance of flow
ers. There were silent rows OF nuns
blue-robed and white-veiled, kneeling
and absorbed in prayer. Behind these a
little cluster of youthful figures in black,
whose dropped heads were entirely hid
den in wells Of flowing white muslin. De-
bind these again, one woman's slight
form arrayed in heavy mourning
garments; her veil was black,
yet not so thick but that 1 could
perceive the sheeny glitter Of
golden hair-that was my wife, I knew.
Pious angel! how devout she looked /
smiled in dreary scorn as l watched her;
Sul Stu HtI dlECSu III tHc udIiO VI luc
MAJ had killed. And above all, sur
rounded with the lustre of golden rays
and encrusted Jewels, the uncovered
Host shone serenely like the CLEAN of
the morning star. The stately service
went on,-the organ music swept
through and through the church as
though it were o strong wind striving to
set itself free,-but amid IL all l sat as
one in dark dream, scarcely seeing,
scarcely hearing-intlexible and cold as
marble. The rich plaintiff voice of one
of the nuns in the choir singing the Ag-
nus Del, moved me to chill sort of
wonder. "Qui TOLLS peccata mndi,"-
''Who takest away the sins of the
world" No, no! there are some sins
that cannot be taken away-the sins OF
faithless women, the little" sins as they
are called now-a-days;-fof we have
grown very lenient ia some things, and
very severe in others. We will
impriSon the miserable wretch who
steals five francs from our pockets, but
the cunning feminine thief who robs US
of our prestige, our name and our hon.
Orable standing among our fellow-men,
escapes almost scot free; she cannot be
put in prison or sentenced to hard labor