The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-14
The Little Nun.
From Temple Bar. In fou. parts)

| the Mediterranean famed by its soft cool
| ing winds, and open all the year round to
the kiss Of the sun. Aldricks had spent his
winter there very happily. but towards the
| end Of February a herd Of American tour
| lists swept down upon Capri, invading the
| little inn he had grown to look upon as his
own, visiting his favorite haunts, making
merry with his chosen models Cloths
and Vandals," the artist called them bit
| terly in his heart, and finally, in fit OF
! disgust, he packed up his canvasses and
| set out for Rome.
| Rome, TO be sure, more than Capri. Is
the resort Of all nations. yet she still holds
| some spots off the beaten track und-scoV-
| cred by the foot of tourist-narrow, wind
| ing streets behind the wide piaZzas where
| shaft of sunlight lends sudden color 10
the grim high houses, or sets momentary
| halo round the head of some dark-eyed Ma
] donna goss:ping In the doorway; where the
| children playing their mimic life in the gut
tiers are RaphaeFs cherubs, and the Tu-t-
sellers wares are melons OF gold.
Il was such cunning memory OF these
| that took Aldricks TO Naples and sent him
buying a ticket to Rome.
The station at Naples is busy one. and
! the afternoon train to Rome proverbially
| crowded. The artist thought himself as
ton:shingly lucky 10 find an empty car
| rage He set his valise on the seat and
| was settling himself comfortably beside II,
I when a porter carrying luggage, and foi-
| lowed by two nuns, appeared at the door.
! Aldricks was not honestly glad TO welcome
| these fellow-travellers, but the step was
| high. he was American and had natu-
| raj courtesy for women, and he made haste
! TO offer assistance.
The nuns were French, and wore the
| fatigued appearance, not so much OF set
| ting out afresh on a journey, as OF coming
off some long voyage. They had not ar
! rived at the station much too soon. Before
| Aidricks had finished slowing away their
numerous packages on the racks and I'M
der the seats, the guard was slamm.ng the
carriage doors and the train giving groan
| of departure.
All" exclaimed the older nun, sudden
| " clasp:ng her hands, I'VE go, and mon
| seur. the young Englishman-where is
| he?''
The younger one murmured something In
French, and just at that moment the artist
| heard the shout Of an English voice on the
platform.
"Hi-hold hard. Oh. Stop, say; have
some friends must find. Where.-where!
| Oh,-here, Observation-Disclosures.
A face appeared for an instant at the
window, and a young fellow half-bounded
and was half-hustled into the carriage; the
door was slammed, and the train immedi-
ately moved off.
"Oh, Thanks, awfully! I beg your par
don, I'm sure" he cried breathlessly, as
he stumbled past Aldricks to his seat. and
took off his hat. Oh! By Jove. what
run I've had! What did you ladies Think"
| he asked eagerly. Did you fancy l was
| lost?"
The younger nun smiled and shook her
head.
But no, monsieur. said to Sister Ann.
Without doubt, Monsieur Berkely has
found another compartment
The voice was soft and sweet There
| was something very pretty about the for
e.gn English accent. Aldricks, surprised
tc near it, looekd at the speaker more at
tentively.
She was not so tall as the other sister
and she was decidedly younger; a small
slight creature in her sad-fall.ng black
gown, with a clear pallor of complexion
and shadows below the grey eyes; with
face not probably remarkable in any way
save for the rare beauty of the mouth
1t was not a small mouth: on the con-
trary it was rather large. but with lines
so gracious, SO tender, so finely formed. as
lent a peculiar charm of strength and
sweetness to the whole face; and the white
band barring the forehead and hiding the
hair from sight made no unbecoming Set
ting.
Another carriage" exclaimed the young
fellow reproachfully. What an idea! But
I had a near shave Of missing the train.
hadn't -" 1t was that beastly postoffice.
They kept me hanging on there for my
telegram an age"
But you received It, monsieur" inter-
rupted the little nun. You have had news
OF the sick father?'
NO sister-not /. And there comes in
the vilainy of these wretched Italians
kicked my heels for an hour at the post
Office, and after all, there was no tele-
gram. 1 shall have TO wait until l get
to Rome. Poor old pater," he continued
sobery, pulling his moustache. II hope
to heaven l shall hear good news OF him
there
Aldricks lifted his eyes from the paper
re was unfolding and glanced at the young
man.
He was undoubtedly English, and that
not only in speech but with an English
ness that stamped itself, from the clean
fnger-nails OF the strong tanned hands.
down 10 the big but not unshapely boots
over his whole personality; tall young
fellow OF about s.x-and-twenty, in rough,
grey travelling suit, with Saxon blue eyes
and fair hair, a face and neck burnt red
by the sun, and a short mounstache; not
positively handsome, but pleasant 10 look
upon. AS he talked he bent forward, the
big hands loosely clasped in front OF him,
in an attitude haif-boyish, half-reveren-
tial.
All. 1 hope so, very truly" said the little
nun gently.
What does monsieur say?" broke in the
other sister. who appeared to understand
no English "Quel dommage! Quel DOM
MAGE she exclaimed alphabetically
when the little nun had translated the
others speech 10 her. Then she opened her
bag. drew out small black book and
settled herself 10 read. her lips moving rap
idly as she bent over It.
And you, sister," said the young fell
low anx.ously 10 his conpanion-"how did
you ge, on? / can't tell you how swfully
sorry l was TO leave you az the ship,
with all the wretched bother OF the Custom
House 10 go through. ] was in fever 10
get back and help you; but you know It
was unavoidable. could not help myself"
But certainly. monsieur" she answered
Quickly Naturally so: and We have in
deed managed beautifully. Every person
has been most kind. And mons.eur''-in-
dicating -Aldricks with a slight gracious
raoyemen.-"was more than am:able with
the arrangement Of the baggage"
The -Englishman turned abruptly 10 his
reighbor with short suspicious stare.
"Oh. Thanks, awfully." he said rather
stiffly. lifting his cap; Tn immensely
obliged. ! should have been here myself
TO help these ladies' had rot uulucAily
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