Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-08

at least prevent an open scandal Yet he
was resolved, and seizing this last straw, he
hurriedly mounted the stairA determining tc
do battle at any risk for the girls safety
and to perjure himself to any extent.
She was standing in room by the window
The light fell upon the coarse serge dress
with its white facings, on the single girdle
that scarcely defined the formless waist or
the huge crucfx that danged ungracefuly
almost to her knees, on the hideous white
winged Golf that, with the coarse but dense
white veil was itself renuncation of all
human vanity. 1t was figure he remem-
bered well as a boy, and even in his excite
ment and half resentment, touched him now
as when boy, with a sense of its pathetic
isolation. His head bowed with boysh
Difference as 1t approached gently, passed
him slight salutation, and closed the door
that he had forgotten to shut behind him.
Then. with rapid movement, so quick
that he could scarcely follow it, the Golf,
veil, rosary and crucifx were swept off and
the young pupil of the convent stood before
him.
For all the somber suggestiveness Of her
disguise and its ungraceful contour, there
was no mistaking the adorable little head,
tumbled all over with silky tendrils OF hair
from the hasty withdrawal of her Golf, or
the blue eyes that sparkled with frank de-
light beneath them. Key thought her more
beautiful than ever. Yet the very effect of
her frankness and beauty was to recall to
him all the danger and incongruity Of her
position
This is Madness" he said, quickly. "You
may be followed here and discovered in this
costume at any momentv' Nevertheless he
caught the two little hands that had been
extended to him and held them, tightly, and
with frank familiarity that he would have
wondered at an instant before.
But l won't" she said, simply. you
see I'm doing half retreat, and l stay
with Sister Seraphina in her room, and she
always sleeps two hours after the angefus,
and l got out without anybody knowing me
in her clothes. see what it is,' she said,
suddenly bending a reproachful glance upon
him, you don't like me in them. | know
they're just horrid, but it was the only way
l could get OUT
you don't understand me-" he said
eagerly II 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 / would have arranged
1t easily without this indiscreton, which
might make others mlsjudge you. Every
instant that you remain here-worse, every
vent In that disguise, is fraught with dan,
ger. l know you never thought OF it."
But l did," she said quietly; II thought
OF 1t, and thought that If Sister Seraphina
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 /
found you. That was the first time. Then
the second time l heard you was here in
the hall was alone in the other room,
for Mrs. Barker had gone out. l did not
know you were here, but l knew your voice
And the third time was before the convent
gate, and then l knew you knew me. And
after that l didn't think Of anything but
coming to you, for / knew that IL I was
found out you would take me back with
you, and perhaps send word to my brother
where we were, and then" She stopped
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 withoun
word began to resume her disguise.
(To Be Continued)