The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-03
NUMBER TWO
IN THE CLOISTERS.
- NacMman,s Magazine.

solitary COufL7 III llput VI MN LbSc an
,o,ient gabled house, a wing Of which
spauned dark archway leading to the
cloisters: the sun smote hot on the I'M
oven Aagstones; a blossomlng lime tree
stood lust over the wall, filling the air
with perfume; the blue sky leaned over
t5o roofs, and far above tangled the
cathedral bells. Braunton paused in his
work to relight his pipe, and when he
looked up again he saw a girl, dressed all
in white, framed in the black shadow of
the archway; she stayed a momont, look
ing quickly at him, and their eyes met
and glanced of each other like the light
on a steel blade turning.
She passed him slowly, gazing straight
before her; and Braunton, looking COW
ertly at her saw straight, tall figure,
walking easily with a swing, crowned
with a rolled mass of dark hair over a
low brow, and pale strong face with
great black eyes under straight swart
eyebrows. He scraped out blank in his
drawing, and drew her standing there,
then packed up his paints and went back
10 the minor canons' to lunch, and to de-
mand an introduction TO the inhabitants
of Number Two in the Cloisters. Il could
get a grand effect from their garden" he
said: you must get me leave"
The minor canon was man guileless
and kind hearted, and accust toned to give
his nephew his way. oh" he said,
the Beliughams-ye s-why not? They
would be deligh ted, l have no doubt. L
knew the father very well. He and L
took our degrees at the same time; he
was senior wrangler, and a wonderful
clever fellow-always had his own way
in everything, but somehow never made
much mark in the world before he died
too much money, l suppose"
Next day BrauntOn, after making grave
pretense to sketch in the garden of Num-
Der Two in the Cloisters, found himself
at tea with girl whose face and eyes
still haunted his fancy, and her mother, a
lady still young and not uncomely,
somewhat broken by ill-health and trou-
bic, but very courteous and kind.
Presently a visitor entered unan-
nounced, with an easy and familiar air,
and was introduced TO Braunton as Mr..
Henry MahOney.
Now, the observation of men and man
ners was part of Braunton's profession,
and he presently noted two things; that
the mother was much under the daugh-
ter's sway, and that the latter was very
friendly to Mahoney, who had a pert way
with him, and would still lead the con-
versation to topics of faith and religion,
which he treated with something of a
jeering manner. "St. Paul" he would
say, "Oh, ay, St. PAUL They say he had
the epilepsy by times, and as a shtudent
of med Gin, think it thrue for him"
After tea they wandered round the cool
garden with the great cathedral tower
overhanging it, white against the sunset
sky; Mahoney walked ahead with Mrs.
Bellingham, and Braunton strolled with
MaOd ttNVbO NAV / a cold Et,a 11Y, roy,
sis Mr., Henry Mahoneyl"
An old friend of ours she replied.
He is supposed to be studying medicine /;
but he is very clever you know, and reads
so widely, that sometimes he doesn't hap
pen to have read the particular work the
examiner requires, so that he is some
time becoming qualified"
OBJ said BrauntOn, "quite so. That
is, believe, one of the signs of genius in
a man"
Il like him, she said, ignoring this re-
mark, because he has such sensible
views about women. He agrees with me
that many of the social conventions are
obsolete; that there is no reason why wo-
men should not mix on equal terms with
men, while there is every reason that
they should Now, 1 have always known
lots OF men who were my friends, and
why should | notl l often have letters
from them, and there are several L write
to constantly. DO you think it rash or
wrong, Mr. BrauntOn2" and she looked at
him and dropped her eyes.
BrauntOn reflected that there was an
air of insincerity about this sudden conf
dence, wondered if it would be worth
while to take this attractive girl at her
own valuation for time, and decided that
1t would. No" he said, "why should 1
l would like you to write to me if | had
the honor to be your friend; an honor
cOyet, believe me-"
We'll, why shouldn't you be2'' she said
with charming frankness. II should be
very glad"
You take me very much on trust. 1
will try to deserve it, - said Braunton
So they paced round the darkening gar
den, and Maud talked continuously of
many things; how Tom or Dick had pre-
Sumed on her favor to fall in love, darkly
limiting their fate how she was Jealous
OF good works, and held a team of turbu-
lent young artisans in leash, teaching
them eternal truths on the Sunday after
noon, and of their 1ealOusies on her be-
half; how she rode to hounds and danced
at every ball, and how she scorned the
cathedral clergy and their wives, and how
they branded her as fast" and hated
her in turn.
For several weeks afterward Braunton
L
ngham attracted him strongly-her mas
tertul nature and love of powe T., her tire
less euergy and impulsivc good nature,
hcr hearty love for every form of enjoy
ment, and withal a strain of mysticism
ana an aVowed piety, blazing into a sud
Den heat of temper for the merest triv-
laIlty, yet capable of considerable self
denial on Oct aston. Braunton thought
ne read her like a book, and decided that
inns was the kind of wife he would have
or none at all He would tame this self
Wllled girl and she should make him the
oesJ OF partners-a woman with brains
ana vlgor; above all, one who escaped the
commonplace.
IheJ were much together down the
HQal river, with Mrs. Bellingham estab-
Asned in the stern sheets, when Maud
would discourse of the influence of women
Ior good as factor in the history of the
world, and Braunton would listen gravely
ana suggest Queen Cleopatra of Egypt
as Jhe only example he could think of; in
lne cathedral, where Braunton would
AMY speculate as to what were the
hidden qualities which endeared one
preacher to Miss Bellingham, and caused
.ef To despise another with a deep con-
..GmpJ They seem to me all cast from
s1e same mold" he would think, land
pia'IJude is meat and drink to them all
aLAe' But the feminine mind has such
subtle perceptions" They would spend
Ing evenings discussing all things in
bnedFen and earth. Maud arguing holly,
olauhton wrapping himself in a mist of
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