Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-16
Continued.

m6nt with young girls and women OF
the world. l am accustomed to it
though l feel its cruelty more than
ought to do. Ladies like the Countess
Romani think that we've, the sepul-
cheers of womanhood- sepulchers that
we have emptied and cIeansed to the
best Of our ability so that they may
more fittingly hold the body of the
crucifed Christ; these grandes danes
| say, fancy that we are ignorant of
all they knOw-that We cannot under
stand love, tenderness, or passion.
They never refect-how should they?
that we also have had our histories
histories, perhaps, that would make
angels weep for pity! l, even T.
and she struck her breast fiercely,
then suddenly recollecting herself,
she continued coldIy: The rule of
our convent, signor, permits no visitor
to remain longer than one hour-that
hour has expired. | will summon a
sister to show you the way out"
wait one instant, madame" |
said, feeling that to enact my part
thoroughly l ought to attempt to make
some defense of Nina's conduct; "per-
init ne to say a word! My fiancee is
very young and thoughtless. | really
cannot think that her very innocent
parting caress to me had anything in
it that was meant to purposely annoy
you"
The nun glanced at me-her eyes
flashed diSdainfuIly.
You think it was all affection for
you, no doubt, signOr? A very natural
suppositiOn, and should be sorry to
undeceive you"
She paused a moment and then re-
sumed:
You seem an earnest man-may be
you are destined to be the means Of
saving Nina, | could say much-yet it
is wise to be silent. If you love her
do not Halter hcr; her oyerWeening
vanity is her ruin. A firm, wise, rul-
ing master-hand may perhaps-who
kroWs?" She hesitated and sighed,
then added, gently, Farewell, Signor!
Benedicte!" and making the sign of
the cross as / respectfully bent my
head to receive her blessing, she passed
noiselessly from the room.
One moment later, and a lame and
aged lay-sister came to escort me to
the gate. AS | passed down the stone
corridor a side door opened very
little way, and two young faces peeped
out at me. For an instant [ saw four
laughing bright eyes; | heard a
smothered voice say, oh! c'est I'm
vieux papa!" and then my guide, who
though lame was not blind, perceived
the opened door and shut it with an
angry bang, which, however, did not
drown the ringing merriment that
echoed from within. On reaching the
outer gates | turned to my venerable
companion, and laying four twenty
franc pieces in her shivering palm,
said:
Take these to the reverend mother
for me, and ask that mass may be said
in the chapel tomorrow for the repose
of the soul of him whose name is
written here"
And l gave her Guido Ferrari's
visiting card, adding in lower AMI
more solemn tones:
He met with a sudden and UMPIRE
pared death. Of your charity, pray
also for the man who killed himi"
The old woman looked startled, and
crossed herself devoutly; but she
promised that my wishes should be
fulfilled, and | Lade her farewell and
passed out, the convent gates closing
with dull clang behind me. | walked
on a few yards. and then paused,
looking back. What a peaceful home
it seemed; how calm and sure re-
treat, with the white Noisette roses
GROWING it's ancient walls! Yet
what embodied curses were pent-up in
there in the shape of girls growing tC
be women; women for whom all the
care, stern training, and anxious
solicitude of the nuns would be I'M
awaiting; women who would come
forth from even that abode of sanctity
with vile natures and animal i'm
pulses, and VINO would hereafter, while
leading a life of vice and hypocrisy
hold up this very strictness of their
early education as proof Of their I'M
impeachable innocence and virtue!
To such, what lesson is learned by the
daily example of the nuns who mort1ty
their flesh, fast, pray, and weep? NJ
lesson at all-nothing, save mockery
To n orirl in thn how
day of youth and beauty the life of a
religieuse seems ridiculous. THE poor
nuns!' she says, with q laugh: "they
are SO ignorant. Their time is over
mine has not yet begun" Few, very
few, among the thousands of young
women who leave the scene of their
quiet schOoldays for the social whirli-
gig of the world, ever learn to take
life in earnest, love in earnest, sorrow
in earnest. To most of them life is a
large dress making and millinery es-
tablishment; love question of money
and diamonds; sorrow a solemn cal
culation as to how much or how little
mourning is considered becoming on
fashionable. And for creatures such
as these we men work-work till ou1
hairs are gray and our backs bent with
toil-work till all the joy and zest o
living has gone from us, and our re
ward is-what? Happiness ?-seldom
Infidellty?-often. Ridicule Truly w,
ought to be glad if we are only ridi
culed and thrust back to occupy tn,
second place in our own houses; ou