St. Paul daily globe., 1892-11-20
THF FIVE GRAY NUNS.

the river was smooth and shining, the
meadows were rich with clover and
daisies, and we we're having a glorious
time Idlers and loungers called us
girls. but we we're all workers in the
world, and all except DOt-the youngess
Of us-earned our own lying; therefore
we called ourselves women. We started
from Reading one Friday evening after
5chool-for some of us were teachers -
we met our three London friends
at the boat house by Caversham
Lock, we pited-in our hampers
and bags. and started. There
were FIVE ofus. Edith Stacy-our bon
ny. capable gray-eYed. peacll-checked
Edie-was,t ,tonz working days, grave
uperior,otficialsiR tie savings bank de-
partment OF the big london Office, where
her calculating sfeats were enough to
turn any ordinary Rmnan's brain. Edie,
in her white. blouse and blue cap,
looked as sweet and charming as
though figures did not exist. Pomplla
Paget,-B. A., was a high school mis-
tress. she syas superior and dignitied
when she s2tsamopg her girls, teaching
mathema tiessaud. reading intermediate
Greek Ditlhher 1s0IiAOn university STU
dents; but Pom in the boat was another
being. She was as pale and AS pure as
Browning'S Pempilii, and we all knew
that Pom bad heart OF gold; but Pom
had roguish glance in her eye, and
ample in her left cheek, and head so
full of fmIsehiefthatone wondered some
times how she found room for all the
Latin, Greek and mathematics. There
was Lil-our true-hearted, ,cOmcal Lii
with her carieatures. sketches, mlmicry
Inn tnr I
Leaver was an artist when she was in
London, though OIL the river she was
just our merry-tongued, light-hearted,
laughing Lii.
Deborah DiggS was bOard-school
mistress; she was an enthusiast and
dreamer of dreams..WaS dear old Deb,
with her cranks and her crotchets, her
socialism, her politics, her ardent en-
thusiaSm for the woman'S suffrage, and
her educational theories. She was a
successful mistress, she gl0ried in her
school and her work, and she went on
working and yisiOning her visions Of an
ideal future, and WOrshipping her
heroes. And last came Dot Darling,
whose real name was Dorothy. She
was our youngest, a slim maid of
twenty. with rosy mouth and demure
blue eyes. Dot was a household fairy
when she was at home, and she hoped
one day TO be a nurse.
This was the party. Deb and Pom
were sculling. and Edfe was steering.
The boat had no name, only number,
and, as we had to live in it three or four
days, Deb suggested it should be named.
Let US call it the Red Radical" she
said.
Pom laughed softly and Kissed gently;
but Pom was Tory, and did not under
stand the big dreams which glowed in
Deb's bosom.
Let it be the 'Doge's Bride.'" mur-
INJURED Edie, who had just returned from
holiday in Venice.
I'VE will call it the 'Nunnery,'" de-
clared Lii, with mischievous glance at
Edie, who blushed yiyidly.
The Gray Nunnery,'" pronounced
Pom, with an emphasis Oh the Gray"
and arogutsb glance at Deb, vino pulled
harder and said nothing, but deeper
look came into her gray eyes.
Yes, yes, the Gray n Nunnery, de-
clared all.
But please explain" murmured Dot.
with wondering blne1eeyes, for they
we're all laughing; why Gray Nun
nery% :"
"And We are Gray nuns" went on
POm. neVer-lfeettiftg Dot.o FT-s
Gray nuns!' repeated Deb, pulling
"Why?" asked Dot,
I'VE will eXptuiiI Discovering, said
Lii, who sat iiStlle bow. and she took
out her sketching block and began 10
draw a fancy sketch OF the five Gray
nuns.
1t was nearly 9 o'clock when the five
Gray nuns passed through Guring Lock
and delivered up their boat to the
friendly boatman.
"How sweetw said Deb, smiling,
they trod the Goring roads to ther cot
tage. ''Honeysnckle; look!'
Yes said Edie. What a treat to
be out of Londonw
"What charming cottage" declared
Lil,when they reached the low. thatched,
vine-clad cottage. Three whole davs
here, and perhaps four; deIightfnIr
And the river in the sunShine."
murmured Deb. Life is worth living,
isn't it. girls?"
"Why are we Gray nunS?'. demanded
Dot, as they sat in the lOw-raftered cot
tage room, where Edie was cutting lem
ons for lemon squash, Pom was mixing
salad and Ill was cutting bread and
butter for the evening meal.
Nobody answered, and Dot went on
complalningly: & las
There is jo}e'init, I'm sure"
dot" said Deb, suddenly, shall you
ever marry?"
81 don't Know" said Dot, seriously.
But you ought TO know" declared
Deb, as she arose. "Sisters,n she began.
Sisters of the Order of the Gray Nuns,
let us take a solemn VOW"
Edie, Pom and LII stayed their opera
tions, and Deb went on:
"MY dearS, men are not worth much.
not men of the vulgar herd: we can DO
infinitely better without them. We will
take VOW Of celibacy here on the spot;
but" and her voice grew thrilling, I'VE
have our Ideals"
Lii interrupted:
(Which means, we each worship one
man in our hearts, and we have Yes
ready for one bright, particular STAR
know Edle has, and I'm not ashamed
TO own it so far as | amconcerned," and
LIPS face shone, while Edie blushed
rosy red.
Pom went on grayeIy:
81 know Deb reyerences one man
with her whole soul, and | also worship
at the shrine OF one whom | consider
saint of earth.l'
Deb's fiue face glowed and her eyes
grew soft. sl,. iia 20 taE
1llV man NuOil reverence is W0r-
thy of all honor" she said; ''he is one
of the noble souls of EARTH
And you, Dot?" asked Edie.
81 don't think L know any noble
SOULS" mused Dot: Il wish did. There
is our vicar, but he is lat and lazy; be-
sides. he is married; ami there is the
curate, but his face is pimply and he
chants out OF tune" and Dot shook her
head sadly. He could never make me-
look like Deb when thought of him,'
she added.
Isn't there anybody else?" queried
Lii.
Dot sighed.
mo one," she said.
"She is novice" said Deb.
She must be Initiated" declared
Edie. s.
When the evening meal was over Lii
arose.
Gray Nuns" she began. 81 propose
that we each in turn describe our ideal
man and say why we worship him."
al Cnanpd tbof :