The morning times., 1895-09-08


patrol the block next to the hotel, yet near
enough to intercept her before she reached
IT, until that hour came. The time passed
slowly. He loitered before shop windows,
or entered and made purchases with his eye
on the street The figure of 4 pretty girl
and they were maPy-the fluttering
ribbons on a distant hat, or the flashing of a
cambric around the corner, sent a nervous
thrill through him. The reflection of his
grave, abstracted face against shop win.
dow, or the announcement of the workings
Of his own mind on bulletin board, in its
incongruity with his present occupation
gave him q hysterical impulse TO laugh.
The shadows were already gathering when
he saw q slender, graceful figure disappear
in the confectioner's shop on the block be-
low IN his elaborate precautions he had
overlooked that common trysting spot.
He hurried thither and entered. The OBJ
ieCt of his search was not there, and he
was compelled to make a shame faced,
awkward survey of the tables in an inner
refreshment saloon to satisfy himself.
Any one OF the pretty girls seated there
might have been the one who had just
entered, but none was the one he sought.
He hurried tothe gain-he had W asted
q precious moment-and resumed his watch
The sun had sunk, the angelus had rung
out of a chapel belfry, and shadows were
darkening the vista of the Alameda. She
had not come. Perhaps she had thought
better OF it; perhaps she had been prevented;
perhaps the whole appointment had been
only a trick of some day scholars, who Were
laughing at him behind some window. In
hpP1mn
she was not coming, he was conscious
of a keen despair growing in his heart,
and a sickening remorSa that he had ever
thought of preventing her. And when he
at last reluctantly re-entered the hotel,
he was as miserable over tie conviction
that she was not coming as he had been
at her expected arrival.
The porter met him hurriedly in the hall
SISTER Seraphina, OF the Sacred Heart
has been here in a hurry to see you on
matter of importance, ;" he said, eyeing Key
somewhat curiously. 'She would not wait
III the public parlor, as she said her bust
ness was confidential, so / have put her
in private sitting room on your floor"
Key felt the blood leave his checks.
The secret was out for all his preCaution
The lady superior had discovered the girls
flight-or her attempt. One of the govern
ing sistprhood was here to arraign him
for il, or at least prevent an open scandal.
Yet he was resolved, and Selling this
last straw, he hurried ly mounted the
stairs determining TO do battle at any
risk for the girls safety, and TO perjure
himself TO any extent.
She was standing in a room by the win
dow. The light fen upon the coarse serge
dress with its white facings, on the single
girdle that scarcely defined the fornIless
waist, on the huge crucifiX that dangled
ungraccfuny almost to her knees, on the
hideous, white winged Golf that, with the
coarse but dense white veil, was itself
remuneration OF all human vanity. 1t was
a figure he remembered well as boy, and
even in his excitement and half resentment,
touched him now, as when boy, with
sense of its pathetic isolation. His head
bowed with boyi>h Difference as it APP
preached gently, passed him a slight salu
tation, and closed the door that he had
forgotten to shut behind him.
Then, with Il rapid movement, so quick
that he could scarcely follow it, the Golf,
veil, rosary, and cruCifiX We're swept off,
and the young pupil OF the convent stood be-
fore him.
For all the somber suCEestiveness of her
disguise and it's ungraceful contour, there
was no mistaking the adorable little head,
tumhlcd all over with silky tendrils Of
hair from the hasty withdrawal Of her Golf,
or the blue eyes that sparkled with frank
delight beneath them. Key thought her
more beautiful than ever. Yet the very
effect OF her frankness and beauty was to
recall him 10 all the danger and incongruity
of her position.
This is Madness" he said quickly.
"You may be followed here and disCov-
cred in this costume at any mOmcnt!"
Nevertheless he caught the two little hands
that had been extended to him, and held
them tightly, and with a frank familiarity
that he would have wondered at an in
slant before
But 1 won't" she said, simply. "You
see I'm doing a half retreat, and stay with
Sister Seraphina in her room, and she
always sleeps two hours after the angclus;
and / got out without anybody knowing
me in her clothes. l see what it is"
she said suddenly, bending a reproachful
glance upon him, you don't like me in
them. I know they're just horrid; but it
was the only way / could get out"
You don't understand me- he said
eagerly. Il don't like you to run these
dreadful risks and dangers for" He
would have said "for me-" but added with
sudden humility for nothing. Had
dreamed that you cared to see me I would
have arranged it easily without this indis
crction, which might make Others misjudge
you. Every instant that you remain here
worse, every moment that you are away
from the convent in that disguise is fraught
with danger. know you never thought of
it,
"But I did," she said, quietly. al
thought OF it, and thought that if Sister Sc
raphina woke up and they sent for me you
would take me away with you to that dear
little hollow in the hills where l first heard
your voice You remember it, don't you?
You were lost, / think, in the darkness,
and used to say to myself afterward that
I found you. This was the firsttime. Then
the second time heard you was here in the
hall was alone in the other room, for Mrs.
Barker was out. did not know you were
here, but knew your voice. The third time
was before the convent t gate, and thenI knew
you knew lie. And after thatI didn't think
OF anything but coming to you, for l knew
that IL was found out you would take me
back with you and perhaps send word to
my brother where we were, and then"
Shestopped suddenly, with her eyes fixed on
Keys blank face. Her own grew blank,
the Joy faded out of her clear eyes, she gently
withdrew her hand from his, and without a
word began to resume her disguise.
Ito be continued)
AS TO THE SEA SERPENT.
The Norwegian fisherman regard the