The Washington times., 1894-10-07


hour the passionate cry OF her heart. the
maddening longing for an old ioye2 The LETT
ter fel! from her fingers as she clasped them
over her face. Present sounds faded awas.
The solemn tones Of the final beDediction
which hoated in from the churehyard changed
to the passionate pleading OF a man. The ST.
lence seemed TO intensity his anguish-his
eternal farewell. The scent Of roses that
climbed round the ruined easements turned
TO the Odor OF frankincense and myrrh.
The dying rays of sunlight were as myriads
OF lighted tapers. the chapel a massive eathe-
dral Through the silence rang out in the
clear notes OF young mans voice the solemn
vows OF obedience, chastity and poverty. even
unto death. She rose and paced in anguish
the silent aisle. Can anything be more re-
morseless than memory. which awakens in
every moment OF our solitude As she grew
eaimer she approached the purple outlined
cross and gathered flower from its stalk.
Dissertation, madam
quick breath escaped Mrs. st. Croix's
parted lips as the tones of the priest who IN
perceived had observed the action, :ell upon
her ear.
"Ieraye pardon. father. 7 did not mean it
for such. merely wished to carry away with
me a remembrance OF st. Bosalie."
The storm was past. Once more she was a
conventional woman OF the world. calm and
impassiye. As she spoke she glanced up at
the priest. He was mOtionless, as though
carved in stone. Slowly the color died out of
her face as she whispered ineredulOusly;
Benedict
For a supreme moment each looked into the
others face. The woman was trembling
violently and her features were lit with yearn-
ing tenderness The priests lips moved. as
though to speak. but no sound came. To hin
the mention of her name was sin Had ne
not spent the best part Of his manhood in
penance and PRAYER. in trying 10 forget that
IepJ
she not yet satisfied with his sacridce-with
the TACT that. rather than be an impediment
to her brilliant marriage, he had ceased 70
exist?
Why had she again broken in upon his
heart solitude? When he spoke it was with
an effort and in stern tones:
why are you here alone? Where is st.
Croix?''
..Dead.' was the almost inaudible reply.
''DeadI' he repeated in a husky tone. add
ing inyolgH,arily. Then you are free"
He could not look away from her His
eyes fell on her fashionable attire, her Jew
eled fingers, her matured beauty. What an
Insuperable gulf lay between themi
To her the bitterness OF allthings had come
as his cold. Unsympathetic tones fell o. her
ear. While she had suffered he mad forgotten
1 came here. she answered in her calm.
conventional tones, ''lor rest and peace. out
side the world, not dreaming YOU were here
She paused
4 momentary CLEAN touched the man.
Moved by impulse, he closed his fingers over
the small cold hand that srasped the edge
OF the quantity carved seat and whispered:
If YOU had known. what then2"
In an instant she Motel the change in the
priests voice. After all. he was not quite
deac to the world, and a glmmer of hope
aWOke in her heart.
Then l must still have come" she replied
passi0nately, raising her eyes to his face,
Ill
now and have never known happiness since
We parted. Wealth. position, ali 1 possess IS
worthless without you 10 share them. Come
back 10 the old world again, Benedict. You
are all / care 10 live for. As she finished
speaking. carried away by her feelings, she
sank at his feet
The priests lace was scarcely less agitated
Il cannot l dare not Do not sin daily
in remembering yOuy Have I not lOnged for
the sound OF your voice, the touch OF your
soft handy Do / not i've a double Hfe-out-
wartly priest. inwardlv a mans Can vows
penances and prayers change mans nature2
Does it not rather kill the sOUl2 Nav, you
have much 10 answer Tor. As the last words
died upon his lips he stopped for an instant
as though in pity and touched her forehead
with his lips Placing her arms around his
neck. she whispered his name and lowered
his head till their lips met. A moment seemed
an eternity. Then. thrustiag her aside with
a cry of anguish. he sprang away and she
heard his swift footsteps pass across the
graveyard path.
A few days later SIR Alec Vavas0ur received
a note at his club which bore the Paris post
mark and he was missing from the social
whirlpool for a week. announcing on his re-
turn his engagement to Mrs. s.. CrOix He
declared he had met her IN Paris, looking
positively Wretched alter ner travels. and
had strongly advised her 10 remain there for
a few weess 70 dissiDate the ennui she had
endured among the RheElsh mountains and
10 regain her good looks before their wedding
day.-Boy Compton in Sketch