The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-19
TIE PRIOR WAS a LADY
Yet Ruled Over a spanish Monastery
for Many Years.

Ob NhuACA ONB4 a oD6nl5u monastery
for Many Years.
From the Neto York Recorder.
MADRID, Oct. 10.-Madrid society is talk
ing of nothing at present but of the singu-
lar and romantic discovery made at the
monastery Of st. Jose near Biscaya, some
few years ago. The story now in every
body's mouth runs as follows:
Some forty years ago there appeared al
the portals Of the monastery Of st. Jose
youth of remarkable beauty, and clad 10
the fashion of the grandees of Spain. The
stranger had letters of introduction from
some Of the most powerful mobiles in the
Kingdom. On reading one of the letters
handed to him by the young man, the
prior ordered that he should be conducted
70 his private study. There the prior later
on followed, but what passed between him
and the youth, at the time of their meet
ing. was never disclosed to any Of the in
mates Of the monastery.
Two days later the monks we're surprised
at finding Don Pedro that was the name
under which the stranger had been intro
duced to them clad IN the garment of the
order. The newcomer proved q gentle,
decorous and Pious brother. He became
exceedingly popular with every body, and
when. some twenty-five years after Don
Pedro's admission to the monastery the old
prior died, he was made his successor.
Don Pedro had only been raised to the
prlestship few days when a stranger pre-
sented himself to the gate with letters to
the newly made prior. The stranger wore
the dress of the order and appeared to be
about 26 years old. He was admitted to the
Society of st. Jose, and later on was given
the post of contessor to the prior.
The prior seemed to take great interest in
his confessor. The two were almost insep-
arabic, and the other mem bers of the insti-
tuition became intensely Jealous of the in
huence and favor gained by the latest adj
dition to the ranks. The prior and Padre
Manuel THAT was the name of the new
brother appeared, however, not to notice
the enmity they aroused; their friendship
for each other seemed to grow from day TO
day, and when, at the beginning of the year
1892, the prior fell sick, Padre Manuel
never left his bedside and would not allow
any Of the other monks to tend to his
wants.
At the beginning of October last the prior
died and at the funeral Padre Manuel ap-
peared disc0nso!ate. He threw himself
over the coffin of his late benefactor. then
suddenly drew pistol from the folds of his
dress and fired q shot through his heart
When this unusual occurrence was re-
ported TO the authorities, they ordered the
coffin be opened, and then 20 everybody's
surprise, it was discovered that the dead
prior was IA woman.
Since then the case has been thoroughly
investigated. The police discovered that
Padre Manuel, the suicide, was the son of
the woman prior. Further investigations
proved that the late prior had borne the
name OF Donna Elvira before entering the
monastery, ard that when quite Young she
had fallen in love with Spains heroic gem
eral and statesman, Serrano. Manuel was
the fruit of their intimacy.
The child was taken away from her when
only 9 months old, and. In order to con-
oeal her disgrace, Donna Elvira accepted
the offer of Serrano. who promised to OBJ
tain for her an asylum In the monastery of
st. Jose. After the death of Sertano, In
1885, the mother, who had meanwhile be-
come prior, Instigated search for her lost
son, and when she found him, invited him
TO enter her own monastery, in order to
have him always with her,
Such is the story that is interesting
Madrid at the present moment