The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-02-15
JOHN j ms @lG1GNlSSo



The nun added, Isabel was an infant.
Her mother had died few weeks be-
fore her father brought her to us. He
would not trust the child, he said, to
other hands. Mr.. Leland left few
hundred dollars with Mother Xavier,
then in charge of this institution, tell
ing her she would hear from him fire.
quently. We got one letter from Den
yer inclosing a money order. Since
then not line has reached us. | cam
not understand it, for his parting from
the child was most affecting"
How long since he wrote last?"
asked Laurence, his newspaper tuition
involuntarily suggesting the query.
about Is years. His letter we have
STILL"
Did he talk of his plans or purpose,
or give any clew that could be follow
ed." ....
mo. take it." said the nun, THAT
he was not man who cared to discuss
his personal affairs with anybody. His
letter was very brief
did he write of Isabel?"
,"No."
Nor of her brothcrp"
mot word" "
"Have you ever tried to locate him?"
"We had no way to, without going
into print. That we disliked A few
years ago, however, when we felt it
was time to make known to Isabel ev-
erything VIC freely gave her permission
to use whatever means she herself
would choose, after counsel with us, TO
get information of her father. Our re-
sources were offered to her. She pro-
poses, or did propose before she and you
became such good friends and the
nun smiled us the two blushed-"t that
she would go out to the convent of our
order in Denver and from that point
make her inquiries, ="
What do you think of the PLAN"
quhried Isabel, addressing Mangan.
Not a bad one. But one used to
the tranquility Of a convent is hardly
qualified to put it into execution"
That's reflection on my SEX" Ie-
piled Isabel impetuously. Have you
forgotten history? F-nm tho days of
Deborah and Judith down to the pres
ent whenever great deeds demand ac-
complishnent, the women of peaceful
hohrs and restful habits hayebeen call
ed upon to bear the brunt of battle, not
the men and women reared i'll n biting
atmosphere and Injured to hardship.
My sex would not be against me, nor
would my training be. !"
. Ask her, Laurence, if she will go to
Denver now" iokingly suggested the
sister, since she has been SO severe
upPn you"
HNot unless go with her" answer
ed iMangan. I'm lucky that she didn't
go there before fell in-in -
in love with her, suggested Mother
St. Gertrude ere he recovered from his
hesitancy.
rWcll that, if you please TO have it
30. But ! was thinking of other words =
THAT would mean the same
'Go ahead, mother; don spare me.
Yon are teasing Isabel as well a5 me. "
Isabel didn't appear as Indifferent as
| Laurence to the raillcry of the mother
superior. Each sally heightened the
carmine of her cheeks and added to her
embarrassment. For want of aught
her lover:
What would you do under the cir
! cunstances!'
II know what I'm glad you didn't
do. ''
And that is?''
That you didn't go to Denver"
WHY" intcrrogated Mother st.
GeTtrnde
Because she might have been disap-
pointed and in despair drift into anoth-
| er mood one that might ultimately
ha9e enyeloped her with the veil Of the
sisterhood. Sometimes, sister, l'm
afraid that you'll yet steal her from
me.
! There are reasons why you should
have no fear, " said Mother st. Gertrude,
BInuing. First, our order is unusual
| ly strict i'll regard To its postulants
Now. the acceptance of Isabel could
turn ont 10 be a great sorrow to us and
n disappointment to her. A few years
hence her father may return from the
! west with one of those immense for
tunts people make there almost in
day, by some accidental stroke. He
would come here and find his daughter
nun Yearning ion affection from his
child, lie would rush into print. and
what story You newspaper men would
weave around these incidents! Yes,
yon would actually say that we had
coercei ISABEL into taking the vows
and veil OF our community, and that
we had conspircd to get control of her
wealth, if it came to pass that such
wonld be hers by inheritance
1T my not bo right Tor me TO say
it, n:other, said Laurence i'll half
humorous way. But | would help
him TO get her out from behind these
walls. if | knew, as | now do, how
lovely she was. "
stop, Laurence. pleaded Isabel.
II don't mind him, child" said
| Mother st. Gertrude. Laurence has
been friond to this institution. lie
has been the one newspaper man who
has pictured the work of our convent,
asylum and schools i'll words that have
inspired public generosity to our aid
and made possible legislation relieving
us of mHhy little burdens, giving US
greater opportunities to make our in
come fruitful of good. ought to put
up with som.ehing from him"
You forget, mother, said Isabel,
ito say how kind you have been to me-
l have staid hero"-turniAs to Lau-
renee because | wanted to pay as
teacher some of the debt | owe for the
education and support | have had.
Then, again, you know my ambition to
find ont something about my parentage,
fearful sometimes that it may not be
all desire. "
An angel so fair need not worry
about that"
| ''l wanted to tell something else,
Mother st. Gertrude, she resumed,
turning to the sister, Il would like not
to enter another state--you know what
| I refer fo--until | was certain that