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

w
the river was smooth and shining, the
meadows were rich with clover and
daisies, and we were having a glorious
lime Idlers and loungers called us
yirls. but we were all workers in the
world, and all except DOt-tile yOungess
Of us-earnGd ollr 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 house by Caversham
Lock, we pilrd in our hampers
and bags, and started. There
were FIVE Of us. Edith Stacy-our bon
ny. capable, gray-eNed, peach-cheeked
Edie-WaS,t on working days 4 grave
superior official in tile savings bank de-
partment Of tIIcbiS london Office, where
her calculating feats were enough to
turn any ordinary Noman'S brain. Edie,
in her white blouse and blue cap,
looked as sweet and charming as
though figures did not exist. Pompil!a
Paget, b. A, was high school mis-
tress. She Syas superior and dignited
when she s2tamopg her girls, teaching
mathematIessaud reading intermediate
Greek with her London university STU
1
being. She was as pale and AS pure as
BrOWning'S S Pompiia, and we all knew
that Pom had heart OF gold; but Pom
had TOguish glance in her eye. and a
uimpe i'm her left cheek, and a head SO
full of mischief that one wondered some
times how she found room for all the
Latin, Greek and mathematics. There
was Lil-our trUe-heaTted, ,c0mcal Lii
with her caricatures. sketches, mlmicry
and artistic instincts, tor Miss Lillian
Leaver was an artist when she was in
London, though Oh the river she was
Just our mcrry-tOngued, IIght-hearted,
laughing Lii.
Deborah DiggS was b0ard-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-
lhusiasm for the WOman'5 suffrage. and
her educational theories. She was
successful mistress, she glOried in her
school and her work, ard 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
vas our youngest, a Slim maid Of
twenty. with a rosy mouth and dtmure
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 scuIling. and Edie was steering.
rhe boat had 10 name, only number,
and, as we had to live in it three or four
days, Deb suggested it ShOuld be named.
Let US cal il the Red Radical, ," she
said.
Pom laughed softly and Kissed gently;
but Pom was Tory. and did not under
,tand 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.
I'VE will call it the 'Nunnery,'" de-
eIared Lii, with miSchitvouS glance at
Edie. who blushtd yiyidly.
The Gray Nunnery,' ," pronounced
Pom, with an emphasis on The Gray"
and roguish glance at Deb, vino pulled
aarder and said nothing, but deeper
.ook came into her gray eyes.
Yes, yes, tie Gray Nunnery, " de
clared all.
But please explain" murmured Dot.
with wondering blue eyes, for they
we're all laughing; why Gray Nun
nery% -
And we are Gray NUNS went on
POm. never~heriFimg D0te
Gray nuns!' repeated Deb, pulling
"Why?" asked Dot.
We Will cXpiain THIS evening" said
Lii, who sat in the bow, and she took
out her sketchng block and began 10
draw fancy sketch o1 the five Gray
nuns.
1t was nearly o'clock when the five
Gray nuns passed through Guring Lock
and delivered up their boat to the
friendly bUatman.
'HOw sweet" said Deb, smiling, a
they trod the Goring roads to ther cot
tage. "fiOmeySuckle; look -
Yes said Edie. What a treat to
be out Of LondOn.'
What charming cottage" declared
i,when they reached the low matched,
yine-clad cottage. Three whole davs
here, and perhaps four; deIghtfnln
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-raftcred cot
tage room, where Edie was cutting lem
ons for lemon squash, Pom was mixing
salad and I'LL was cutting bread and
butter for the evening meal.
Nobody answered, and Dot went on
cOmpl2lniugly:
There is joke in ii, I'm sure"
Dot" said Deb, suddenly, ''snall 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 solemn VOW"
Edie, Pom and LII stayed their opera
tionS, and Deb went on:
"NY dears, men are not worth much.
not men Of the vulgar herd: we can 10
infinitely better without them We Will
take vow Of cellbacy here on the spot;
but, and her voice grew thrilling, we
have our ideals"
lii interrupted:
"N hich means, we each worship one
man in our hearts, and we have a Yes
ready for one bright. particular STAR
know Edie has, and I'm not ashamed
TO own it so lar as | am concerned" " and
LiPs face Shone, while Edle bluShed
rosy red.
Pom went on grayely:
81 know Deb reverenceS one man
with her whole SOUL and also worship
at the shrine OF one whom | consider
saint of earth.'
Deb's tiue face glowed and her eyes
grew soft.
The man whom | reverence is Wor-
thy Of ali honor" she said: "he is one
of the noble souls Of earth"
And you, nOl?" asked Edie.
81 don't think | know any noble
SOULS" museu Dot: Il wish did. There
IS our vicar, but he is lat and lazy; be-
sides. be is married; ami there is the
curale, but his face is pimply and he
chants out OF tune" and Dot SHOOK her
head SadtV ''He cOuld npvAr mako mo