Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-12-02

swered, with emphasis; "a fatal-a
fearful curse! as child it made. her
hayward, AS a woman it keeps her
Maynard still Enough OF this, sig
ncr!" and she bowed her head; "ex-
cuse my rlin cpeaking. Rest assured
that wish you both happiness"
We. had by this time reached the
door OF the chapel. through which the
sound 81 she pealtng organ poured
forth in triumphai surges OF melody.
Mere Ma gnerite dipped her fingers in
the holy water, and sig ming herself
with the cross, pointed out bench at
the back of th9 church, o. one that
strangers were allowed to occupy. |
ted myself, Pnl looked with a GER
tain soothed admiration at the pictur-
esque scene before me- The.e was the
sparkle of twinkling lights he bloom
ard fl gra nee CT flowers. The were
silent lows of nurs blue-robed and
white-veiled, kneeling and absorbed
in prayer. Behind these a little clus-
ter of youthful figures in black, whose
dropped heads were entirely hidden
in wells OF flowing white muslin. Be
hiEn these again, one woman's slight
form arrayed in heavy mourning gar
nents; her veil was black, yet not
so thick but that | could perceive the
shiney glitter of golden hair-that
was my wife, | knew. Pious angel!
how devout she looked! | smiled in
dreary scorn as | watched her;
cursed her afresh in the name of the
man | had killed. And above all, sur
rounded with the luster OF golden rays
al d inorJsted Jewels, the uncovered
Hoste shore sgrenely like the CLEAN
of the morn ing stsr. The stately ser
through and through the church as
though it were strong wind striving
to set itself free--but amid it all
sat as one in dark dream, scarcely
seeing hearing-intiexible and cold as
marble. The rich plaintive voice of
one of the nuns in the choir, singing
the Agnus Del, moved me to chill
sort of wonder. "Qui TOLLS peccata
mundi Who takest away the sins
OF the world" No, no! there are some
sins that cannot be taken away-the
SINS of faithless women, the little"
sins as they are called nowadays-for
we have grown very lenient in some
things, and very severe in others
We will imprison the miserable wretch
who steals five francs from our
hirf hn
thief who robs us Of our prestage, our
name, and honorable standing among
our fellowmen, escapes almost scot
free; she cannot be put in prison. or
sentenced to hard labor--not she, A
pity it is that Christ did not leave us
some injunction as to what was to be
done With such women.-not the peni-
tent Magdalenes, but the creatures
whose mouths are full OF lies even
when they pretend TO pray-they who
would be capable of trying to tempt
the priest who comes to receive their
last confessions-they who would
even act out "a sham repentance on
their death-bens in order to look well
What can be done with devils such az
these? Much has been said latterly of
the wrongs perpetrated on women by
men, will not one take up the other
side of the question? We, the stronger
sex, are weak in this-we are too
chivalrous. When a woman filings
herself on our mercy we spare her and
are silent Tortures will not wiring
Der secrets out of us; something holds
US back from betraying her. | know
not what it can be-perhaps it is the
memory of our mothers. Whatever
it is, 1t is certain that many a man
allows himself to be disgraced rather
than he will disgrace a woman. But
time is at hand when this foolish
chlvalry of ours will die out. On
changera tout celia! When once our
heavy masculine brains shall have
grdsped the novel idea that woman
has by her own wish ana choice re
signed all claim on our respect or
forbearance, we shall have our re-
yenge. We are slow TO change the
traditions of our forefathers, but no
doubt we shall soon manage to quench
the last spark OF knightly reverence
left in us for the female sex, as this Is
evidently the point the women desire
to bring us TO. We shall meet them
on that low platform of the equality"
they seek for, and we shall treat them
with the unhesitating ana regardless
familiarity, they so earnestly invite
Absorbed in thought, | knew not
when the service ended A hand
touched me. and looking up | saw
Mere Marguerite, who whispered.
Follow me, If you please"
| rose and obeyed her mechanically.
Outside the chapel door she said.
Pray excuse me for hurrying you.
but strangers are not permitted to see
the nuns ana boaders passing out.
| bowed ana walked on beside her.
Feeling forced TO say something, [
asked:
"ltaye you many boarders at this
holiday season."
nplx ~.