Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-09-19
CHAPTER xxyI-tcontinued.J

= CHAPTER xxvI-Coninued.)
+: Absorbed in thought, l knew not
when the service ended. A hand
touched me, and looking up / saw
Mere Marguerite, who whispered
Follow me. IL you please"
n o and obeyed her mechanically.
Outside the chapel door she said
pray excuse me for hurrying sou,
Duf strangers are not permitted 10 see
che nuns and boarders passing out"
r bowed and walked on beside her.
Eeeiing forced 10 say something, l
asked-
~Have you many boarders at this
Aoliday season.
~Only fourteen" she replied, "and
Nhey are children whose parents live
Car away. Poor little ones and the
uct lines of the nuns stern face soft
oned into tenderness as she spoke.
eve do best TO make them happy,
Gut naturally they feel lonely. We
nave generally fifty or sixty young
Uirfs here, besides the day scholars"
"a great responsibility" I remarked.
Every great indeed and she sighed;
saimost terrible. So much OF a won
4n's ~after-life depends on the early
txslning she receives. We do all we
can. and yet In some cases u utmost
efforts are In vain: evil creeps in, we
know not how,-some unsupported
Fault spoils a character that we judg-
I'D TO be admirable, and W. are often
disappointed in our most promising
pupils. Alas there Is nothing entirely
without blemish in this world"
Thus talking. she showed ne into
small. comfortable room, lined with
Books and softly carpeted.
This Is one OF our libraries" she
explained. '"The Countess will receive
you here. as other visitors might dis
curb you In the rawiDg Doom. Par
don me-" and her steady gaze had
something OF compassion In Ii, "but
5eu do not look well. Can l send you
dome winef"
II declined this offer with many ex-
pscssions OF gratitude. and assured
her I was perfectly well. She hesitat-
nd and at last said a~nxiously-
al trust you were not offended at
my remark concerning Nina Romans
marriage with you? / fear I was too
Asstyg'
Not so. madame" I answered. with
sAii tie earnestness I felt. Nothing IL
more pleasant Il me than a frank
Spsnion frankly spoken. / have been
90 accustomed TO deception" Hero !
Broke of and added hastily, pray do
nod think me capable OF Judging you
wrongly"
She seemed relieved, and smiling
x5rat shodewy fitting smile OF hers,
ahc said
mo doubt you are impatient, Sig
NOR, Nina shall come to you directly"
and with a slight SALVATION she left
me.
e Surely she was a good woman, /
thought, and vaguely wondered about
her cast history--that past which h
had buried forever under a mountain
sSf prayers. What had she been IKE
when young,-before she had shut her
nesf within the convent walls ,-before
mhe lad set the crucifix like a seal on
her heart? Had she ever trapped a
mans soul and strangied 1t with lies?
r fancied Mother look was too pure
and. candid; yet who could tell? Were
not Niaa's eyes trained to appear as
enough they held the very soul or
truth
A few minutes fassed. I heard the
fresh voices Of children singing in the
next room
~D'ou Went lie petit Gesu?
Ce ioli bouton de rose
Qui fort, enfant cheri,
Sur lie occur de notre mere Marie
Then came a soft rustic Of silken
garments, the door opened and my
wife entered