Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-24
THE FIVE GRAY NUNS.


the river was smooth and shining, the
meadows were rich with clover and
daisies, and we were having glorious
time. ldlers and loungers called us girls,
but we were all workers in the world,
and all except Dot-the youngest of us
earned our own living; therefore we
called ourselves women. We started
from Reading one Friday evening after
,school-for some of us were teachers
we met our three London friends at the
boat-hous by Caversham Lock, we
piled in our hampers and bags, and
started. There were five of us. Edith
Z stacy-our bonny, capable, gray-eyed,
peach-cheeked Edie-was, on working
days, grave superior in the savings
pank department OF the big London
office, where her calculating feats
were enough to turn any ordinary
woman's brain. Edie, in her white
blouse and blue cap, looked as sweet
and charming as though figures did not
exist. Pompilia Pagct, B. A., was
high school mistress. She was superior
and dignitied enough when she sat
among her girls, teaching mathematics
and reading intermediate Greek with
her London university students; but
Pom in the boat was another being
She was as pale and as pure as Brown
ing's Pompilia, and we all knew that
Pom had heart Of gold; but Pom had
a roguish glance in her eye, and
dimple in her left cheek, and head so
full of mischief that one wondered,
sometimes, how she found room for all
the Latin, Greek and mathematics. Then
there was Lil-our true-hearted, comcal
Lil-with her caricatures, sketches,
mimicry and artistic instincts, for Miss
Lillian Leaver was an artist when She
was in London, though on 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 crotcheis, her
Socialism, her politics, her ardent en-
thusiasm for the woman's suffrage, and
her educational theories. She was
successful mistress, she gloried in her
school and her work, and she went ON
working and visioning her visions of an
ideal future, and worshipping her heroes.
And lastly came Dot Darling, whose
real name was Dorothy She was our
youngest, slim maid Of 20, with Il rosy
mouth and demure blue eyes. Dot was
a household fairy when she was ut home,
and she hoped one day to be nurse.
This was the party. Deb and Pom
were sculling, and Edie 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 II 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.'" muir
INJURED Edie, who had Just returned from
holiday in Venice.
"We will call it the 'Nunnery,'" de-
clared Lii, with mischievous glance at
Edie, who blushed wildly.
"The Gray Nunnery,'" pronounced
Pom, with an emphasis on the Gray"
and aroguish glance at Deb, who pulled
harder and said nothing, but deeper
look came into her gray eyes.
Yes, yes, the Gray Nunnery,'" de-
But please explain" murmured Dot,
with wondering blue eyes, for they were
all laughing; why Gray Nunnery y"
"And we are Gray Nuns" went on
Pom, never needing Dot
"Gray Nuns" repeated Deb, pulling
harder.
WhyE" asked Dot.
We will explain this evening" said
LII, who sat in the bow, and she took out
her sketching block and began ID draw
fancy sketch of the five Gray Nuns.
1t was nearly 8 o'clock when the five
Gray Nuns passed through Gorng Lock
and delivered up their boat to the
friendly boatman.
"llow sweetw said Deb, shifting. As
thew tr0l tho Ifnrinfr a..
tage. "HoneysuckIe; loolS:"
"Yes," said Edie "What treat ia
be out of London p
"What charming cottage" declared
Lii when they reached the low, matched,
vine-clad cottage. "rhree whole davs
here, and perhaps four; dclighttulr
And the river in the sunshine, muir
INJURED Deb. Life is worth living, isn't
it, giTls:"
"Why arc we Gray Nuns?n demanded
Dot, as they sat IN the lpw-raftcrel cot
tage room, whore Ede was cutting
lemons for lemon squash, Pom was
mixing a salad, and Lii was cutting
bread and butter for the evening meal,
Nobody answered, and Dot went on
complainingly;
There is joke in it, I'm sure"
dot" said Deb, suddenly, "shall you
ever marry.
Il don't know" said Dot, seriously.
"But you ought to know" declared
Deb, as she arose SISTERS" she began,
Sisters Of the Order Of the Gray Nuns,
let us take a solemn VOW"
Eide, Pom and Lii stayed their opera-
tons, and Deb went on:
MY dcars, men are not worth much
not men of the vulgar herd; we can do
infinitely better without them. We will
take vow of Ccioauy here on the spot
but" and her voice grew thrilling, we
have our ideals
Lii interrupted:
which means, We each worshin ono
man III our hearts, aud we have n 'yes'
ready for one bright, particular siar,
know Edie has, and I'm not ashamed
to own to it so far as am concerned. ;,
and Lii face shone, while Elie blushed
rosy red.
Pom went on gravely.
II know Deb reverences one man with
her whole soul, and | also worship At
the shrine Of one whom | consiIrr n
saint of earth"
Deb's fine face glowed and her eyes
grew soft"
1.-THE man whom reverence is worthy
OF all honor" she said, "he is one Of Tie
noble souls Of earth"
And you Dot?" asked Edie.
"ldontthink know any noblesouIs y
unused Dot; 81 wish did. There i oI,r
vicar, but he is tat and lazy; besides he
is married: and there is tbp c,,r,t. M,