Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-02
Continued.

Peace on earth, goodwin to men!
Peace on-earth good Will to
menu they seemed to say over and
over again, till my ears ached with
the repetition Peacei What had | to
do with peace or goodwill? The Christ
Mass could teach me nothing. l was
as one apart from human llfe-an alien
from it's customs and anections-for
me no love, no brotherhood remained.
The swinging song of the chimes
Jared my nerves. Why, | thought,
should the wild, erring world with all
it's wicked men and women, presume
to rejoice at the birth of the Saviour?
they, who were not worthy to be
saved | turned swiftly away;
strobe fiercely past the kingly pines
that, now thoroughly awakened,
seemed to note me with q stern dis
dain as though they said among
themselves; What manner of small
creature is this that torments him
self with passions unknown to us in
our calm converse with the stars p
| was glad when ! stood again on
the hlgn-rOad, and infinitely relieved
when | heard the rapid trot of horses
and rumbling of wheels, and saw my
closed brougham, drawn by its pranc-
ing black Arabians, approaching. |
walked to meet it; the coachman, see
ing me, draw up instantly. | babe
him take me to the Contento DELI
Annunziata and entering the carriage,
| was driven rapidly away.
The convent was situated, | knew,
somewhere between Naples and Sor
rento. | guessed it to be near Castel-
lamare but it was fully three miles
beyond that, and was a somewhat
long drive OF more than two hours 1t
lay a good distance out of the direct
route, and was only attained
by by-road, which from it's
rough and broken condition was evil
IDENTIFY not much frequented. The
building stood apart from all other
habitations in a large open piece of
ground, fenced in by a high stone
wall spikes at the top, roses climbed
thickly among the spikes, and almost
hid their sharp points from view, and
from a perfect nest of green foliage,
the slender spire of the convent
chapel rose into the sky like a white
finger pointing to finger pointing to
finger pointing to heaven. My coach
man drew up to the heavily barred
gates. | alighted, and babe him take
the carr. ge to the principal hostelry
at Castellamare, and wait for me
there. AS soon as he had driven off,
| rang the convent bell. A little ticket
fixed in the gate opened Immediately,
and the wrlnkled visage of a very old
and ugly nun loked out. She de-
manded in low tones what | sought. |
handed her my card, and stated my de-
sire to see the Countess Romani, if
agreeable to the superioress. While
| spoke she looked at me curiously-
my spectacles, | suppose, excited her
Wonder-fOr | had replaced these dis
guising glasses Immediately on leav-
ing the scene of the duel-I needed
them yet little while longer. After
peering at me a minute or two with
her bleared and aged eyes she shut
the wicket in my face with smart
click and disappeared. While | awaited
her return | heard the sound of child
ren's laughter and light footsteps run
ming trippingly on the stone passage
within.
III donce, Rosie!" said the girls
voice in French; Ia bonnie Mere Mar
guerite sera tres tres fachee avec toll"
'Tais-toi, petite sainte!" cried an
other voice more piercing and silvery
in tone. "Je veux voir qui est la!
C'est un homme je sails bien-parcedue
la yieille Mere Laura a rougi!' and
both young voices broke into
chorus of renewed laughter.
Then came the shuffling noise of the
old nuns footsteps returning; she
evidently caught the two truants, who
ever they were, for | heard her ex-
poStulating, scolding, and apostrophiz-
ing the saints all in a breath, as she
bade them go inside the house and
ask the good little Jesus to forgive
their naughtiness. A silence ensued
then the bolts and bars of the huge
gate were undone slowly-it opened
and | was admitted. l raised my hat
as | entered, and walked bare-headed
through a long, cold corridor, guided
me no more, but told her beads as she
walked, and never spoke till she had
led me into the building, through a
lofty hall of glorious and sacred paint
lngs and large statues, and from thence
into large, elegantly furnished room.
whose windows commanded a fine
view OF the grounds. Here she
motioned me to take a seat, and with
out lifting her eyelids, said
Mother Marguerite will wait upon
you instantly, signor."
| bowed, and she glided from the
room so noiselessly that did not even
hear the door close behind her. Left
alone in what | rightly concluded was
the reception-room for visitors, |
looked about me with some faint in
terest and curiosity. I had never be-
fore seen the interior of what is
known as an educational convent.
There were may photographs on the
walls and mantle-piece- portraits OF
girls, some plain Of face and form
others beautiful-no doubt they had
all been sent to the nuns as souvenirs
of former pupils. Rising from my
chair | examined a few of them care
lessly, and was about to inspect a
line copy of Murillo's Virgin, when my
attention was caught by an upright