The morning times., 1895-09-08
CHAPTER VI

The astonishment OF PTeble Key on
Recognizing the gateway into which the
mysterious lady had vanished was 50 great
that he was at first inclined TO believe
her entry there a mere trick OF his fancy.
That The confederate OF gang Of robbers
should be admitted TO the auStere recesSes
OF the convent, with celerity that spoLe
OF familiarity, was Incredible. lie again
glanced up and down the length OF the
shadowed but stin visible wall There
was no one there. The wall itself con-
tained no break orrecess in which one could
hide, and this was the only gateway. The
opposite side OF the street in the fun
moonlight stared emptily. No! Unless
she were an Illusion herself and his whole
chase a dream, she must have entered
here
But the chase was not hopeless. He had
at last tracked her to a place where she
could bc Identified 1t was not a hotel
which She could leave at any moment un-
observed Though he could not follow
her and penetrate its seclusion now, he
could later-thanks 10 his old associations
with the padres OF the contiguous college
gain an introduction to the Lady Superior
on some pretext. She was safe there that
night He turned away with a feeling OF
relief The incongruity of her retreat as
sumcd a more favorable aspect 10 his
hopes He looked at tie hallOwcd walls
and the slumbcring peaceluness of the
Cnarlud old trees that hid the convent, and
a gentle rcminiscenCe Of his youth stole
over him 1t was Tot the first time that
he had gazcd wistfully upon that chaste
refuge where, perhaps, the bright eyes
that ne had followed in the quaint school
proccssion under The lcafy Alameda in
the afternoon were at last closed in gentle
slumbcr There was the very grille
THROUGH which the wicked Conchita-ur
was ii Dolores?-had shot her Parthian
glance al the lingering student And The
man OF thirty-fivc, premaurely gray and
sgttled I'm fortune, smiled as he turned
away. and forgot the adventures OF thirty
who had brought him there.
The next m0rring he was UP betimes and
at the college OF san Jose. Father Cipriano,
atrire more suurTy and aged, remembered
with delight his old pupil. All! it was true,
and that was why his hair was gray; but he
trusted lhat Don Preble mad not forgot that
this was not an Of life. and that fortune
brought great responsibilities and cares.
But what was tlis, then? He had thought
OF bringing out some OF his relations from the
States and placing niece in the convent
This was good and wise. All, yes; for ed
uCati0u in this new country one must turn
tofhe church 4 nd he would see the lady SUI
perior? AT! that was but the twist Of ones
finger and the lifting Of a latch 10 a grave
superintendent and a gray head like that
OF course he had not forgotten the convent
and the Young scnoritas, nor the discipline
and tie suspended holidays. All 1t was a
special grace Of our lady that he Father
Cipriano. had not been worried into his
grave by these foolish muchachos. Yet
when he had extinguished snuffy chuckle
in his red b3ndanna handkerchief Key
knew that he would accompany him 10 the
convent that noon.
1t was with a slight stirring OF shame
over his elaborate preteNt that he passed
the gate OF the Sacred Heart with the good
father. But it is to be feared that he speed
fv forgot that in the unexpected informa-
ti0n that il elected. The lady superior
was gracious and even enthusiastic. All,
yes: it was a grown custom OF the AHHerl-
can cabalIar0s-whO had no homes, nor yet
time to create any-to bring their sisters,
wards and niaccs here, and-with a dove
like side glance toward Key-even the
vcung sanoritas they wished to fit for
their Christian brides. Unlike the cabal'
Zero, there were many Business men 50
b4v
not find time for a personal examination Of
the convent-which was 10 be regretted
but who. trusting to the reputation Of the
Sacred Heart and its good FRIENDS, simply
sent the Young lady there by some trusted
female companion. Notably this W as
the case of Senor Rivcrs-did Don Preble
ever know him?-a great capitalist in the
Sinrras, whose sweet young sister, naive
ingenious creature, vas the pride Of Tie
convent. or course, it was better That il
was So Discipline and seclusion had t.
be maintained. The young girl should
look upon il as her home. The rules ior
visitors were necessarily severe 1t was
rare, indeed, except in a case Of urgencyi
such as happened last night, thatevera lady,
unless the parent Of a scholar, was admitted
TO the hospitality Of the convent.
And this lady was the only friend Of that
same sister Of the American capitalist, al.
though she was the one who had brought
her there No, she was not relation. Per
haps Don Probe had heard OF q Mrs Bar.
kcr-a friend OF Rivers Of the Sicrras. il
was queer combination Of names But
what will you2 The names OF AmeriCanoS
mean nothing. And Don Preble knows
Shem not Ahi PossibIy?-Eood! The lady
would bc remembered, being tall, dark and
Of fine presence, though sad. A few hours
earlier and Don Preble could have judged for
himself, for, as it were, she might have
passed through this visitors room. 1T was
because OF a telegram-thOse heather con-
trivances that blurt out things 10 You, with
never an excuse, nor a smile, nor a kiss OF the
hand For herpart she never let her scholars
receive them, but opened them herself, and
translated them in a Christian spirit, after
due preparation, at her leisure. And it was
this telegram that made the Sonora Barker
go, or without doubt she would have OF her
self told 10 the Don Preble, her compatriot
OF the Sierras, how good the convent was
for his neice.
Stung by the thought that this woman had
again eyaded him, and disconnected and
confused by the scarcely ineligible in
formation he had acquired, Key could with
difficulty maintain his composure. "Tht
caballero is tired of his long pascar," said
the Lady Superior gently. I'VE viii have
q glass Of wine in the lodge waiting room"
She led the way from the reception room
TO the outer door, but stopped at the sound
Of approaching footsteps and rustling mus
lin along the gravel walk. "The second
class are going out" she said, as a gentle
procession of white frocks, led by two
nuns, filed before the gateway. 1--WE viii