The morning times., 1895-08-04
TN THE CL0ISTER'S QUIET
Touching Romances Hid Behind
the Walls of Converts.
Beautiful Sister Mary Carroll and the
Story of Her Love-Happy and
Sad Insta noes.

Some queer romances might be written
of hospital scenes during the late war,
touching upon the lives of those considered
beyond the pale of tender yearnings, and
loving sighs, and totally invulaeIable TO the
mystic shafts OF Cupid. / Iefer to the
Sisters OF Charity, the noble, self sacrificing
nurses
1t is mistake to suppose that VOWS are
broken ,or that any religious obligation is
Ienounced by the withdrawal OF a devotee
from a religious order. The vows are re-
newed annually, and, while it is the inten-
ton OF the applicant embracing religious
life 10 Iemain in the order as long as life
shall last, yet, if circumstances combine to
render the life unendurable, the religious
has only 10 make the matter kno WI, and he
OF she, as the case may be, is at liberty
10 withdraw at any moment. This refers
particularly To- the Sisters of Charity, wear
ing the big white coInette, and to those of
the States OF New York and Ohio who are
governed by the same religious rules, but are
under different superiors, and who wear
the small black taIpaulin cap.
Although the obligation to IemaiD is un-
deIstood as not binding, yet, any one for
saking the life is regarded as iTevocably
disgIaced by their former associates. This
does not apply to the priesthood, where
vows are always life ones.
To go back TO the Iomances of the Sisters
OF Charity, who, after all. are very human;
let me cay here, that many of them leave
home at an age when perfectly ignorant OF
love and loye-making, and not, as is popu-
latly supposed, after they have found love
folly and experienced the reaction Of piety
An exception, though, may be given in the
case os one whose soldier lover stained with
hislife blood the consecIated field Of Gettys-
burg.
she was wealthy, refined, and one OF
the most accomplished uf women, tall
stately looking creature, fashioned TO be
w0rsbiped. The record of her beuothed
is framed III honor, and the stranger visit
ing the beautiful City of the Dead stands
thoughtful and subdued before the ma
tons tribute TO Gen. Reynolds one of the
most beautiful monuments erected there.
There were many who loved him, and
many tears were shed for him, but the
girl he loved, and to whom he had pHghted
hlS trOth grieved as only woman can
grieve for the mdn she loves.
The story goes that she had promised,
alti ough he objected To such a pledge,
that in the event of his death no one should
ever take his place in her affections, but
that she wouId devote herself To his mem
ory and etnbrace a religious life After
Il time she entered the order OF the Sisters
OF Charity, but the garb could not conceal
the air OF the true woman of the world
and seemed unsuited to her. During her
po>JulaEcy ana the period of her no
vitiate the members Of Gen. Reynolds
family frequently visited her among them
Il younger brother.
Time sped on, she took the first vows
which are folio wed by five years or further
probation before the full insignia OF q
religicuse is assumed. Time and the younger
brother healed the wound to her girlish
heart, and before the years OF probation
had expired she evidently concluded that
it were better to devote her life IL a living
love than 70 the memory of dead hero
She Withdrew from the order, and in due
course the Encll OF the dead love was
drowned by the tnerry peal OF the wed
ding bells and She was after all Mrs
Reynolds.
Which OF the brothers loved her best?
Which of the brothers did She love best?
The hero Of another Of these romauCeS
is well-kuowu physician of Washington,
promiGent also in army circles. He was
dashinS young officer, brave, ana tender,
aud true, and while in Washington, be
fore going TO the front, became a great
social 1avCritc. He won the confidence
of his supeT!Ors, and was often the bearer
of important dispatches His regiment re-
Ceivcd marching orders, where with the
4 rmy of the T Potomac, theysa " ha ri service
for many mouths, but the young ma ior
Seemed to bear charmed life, until one
day in the heat of battle he volunteered to
be the bearer OF dispatches, and during
the ride a fragment of shell tore The left
section OF his chest and shoulder to pieces
delugiRg the dispatches with his blood
His comrades were able 10 reach him,
and carried him from the field for dead.
He rallied, however, aud was sent first to
Washington, then to Philadelphia for treat
meut. At the hospital lie was assigned to
the care OF young and pretty sister
who first took an interest in the case
afterwards ia the man. For weeks he lay
helpless, with his left lung exposed, and
was tenderly cared for by the devoted
young nurse He had learned 10 love her,
and, one day, like revelation, he 81 W
she ans werIng love in her eyes. Soon the
old, Old story was told in whispers, as
She ad iustcd the banda gcs.
After several months, he was discharged,
as cured OF one wound, but the other needed
different treatment. y mutual friend, en- joy
ing the implicit confidence OF the sister sll-
pcrior, became the bearer of dispatches be-
tween the lovers, and taking the sister riding
on various occasions, allowed them to meet.
When their plans were perfected, she took
y
clothing had been provided, and n The
carriage she DOTTED the religious garb
They then took the train for New York
where the soldier lover was in waiting,
and were driven to the steamer bound for
Cuba. His thoughtful love had provided
her wardrobe, and a minister in waiting
quietly married them. Seven happy years
followed, then her death eHsued, after
which be married her only sister.
owomanwasmorefam famousin washington
than Sister Mary Carroll, who during the
late war fOu nded Providence Hospital The
daughter of "rale ould Irish gintleman"
and nobleman, and inheriting through her
mother the blue blood OF the old barons,
she combined the rarcst gifts of mind and
person She was beautiful woman, tall
and commanding, with high bred air and
manner that fascinated everyone with
whom she came in contact Her large,
Irish, blue gray eyes were shaded by the