Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-06-13
TWO NUNS LOST.
Pretty Romances Of Young Novltlates
in a Sombre Ottawa Convent.

In spite of the protests and entreat-
les of parents and religious superlors
two of the Gray Nuns Of Notre Dame
of Ottawa, have renounced their con-
vent life and gone back into the
world, enticed thither by the mis-
chievous imp Cupid, for whom the
bolts and bars of convent are no
more sacred than are the locksmltn
devices on more secure secular build
ings.
For over hundred years there had
been no scandal of the Gray Nuns OF
Ottawa, and when the first hint OF
the impending disaster came to the
Mother Superior and the good fathers
of the church, dire were the penances
and frantic the entreaties to winch
the. recalcitrant sisters were subjected.
But they might have known it would
be in vain. TWAS in vain, and now
Sister Bonsecours and Sister McMil-
Ian are out in the profane world, two
as happy wives and mothers as are to
be found in all Canada.
Mile. Baudoin, who afterwards was
known as Sister Bonsecours, was only
sixteen years old when she professed
herself a postulant of the Order OF
the Gray Nuns. She was the daughter
of narrow-minded, bigoted trades
man, who like many of his class
among the French Canadians mag
med that to have son or daughter IN
religious orders was to have sort OF
patent of nobility.
So Mile. Baudoin started in on her
probation-a probation of five years,
the vows being made only from year
to year. At first things went admir-
ably. Everybody loved the glrl-they
couldn't help it. She herself seemed
happy The pent-up sunshine in her
nature had to find some outlet, and 1t
dubbed out in music. The fame OF
Sister Bonsecours skill and genius IN
music soon crept out beyond the con-
vent walls. People in Ottawa and
from distance began to send their
daughters to her for instruction. She
became more popular than ever with
her superiors; she grew to be source
of substantial money revenue to the
convent. A brilliant musician, an
accomplished artist, possessing neat
little wit of her own, Sister Baudo1n
became something the rage among the
pious matrons of Ottawa and quite
the idol Of the pupils the matrons
sent her.
But in the mean time something
was happening to Sister Bonsecours.
1t dated from the day when hand
some young physician called at the
convent with his sister to see friend.
1t was observed by the lynx-eyed
sisters that the physician had occa-
sion for a number of days after his
visit to go by the convent very fire.
Quently, and furthermore in connec-
ton with this fact coincidence was
observed. This was that whenever
the physician was passing Sister Bon
secours was always playing the piano
with a nerve and dash which were re-
markable even in her, brilliant mu-
stefan as she was. Of course the Gray
Nuns we're scandalized at this. Then
came entreaties, threats, appeals to
the bishop. But it was all in vain
until the aid of Sister Bonsecours' S
father, Baudoin, was called in. Bau-
doin in substance pronounced sentence
of parental communication upon
his daughter unless she renowned her
profane purposes.
Poor Sister Bonsecours had braved
all the artillery of the Church; had
endured all the humiliation and the
disgusting penances that were heaped
| upon her without once shrinking in
her resolution. But under the pater-
nal wrath all her fine spirit gave way
She continued in the convent, dragging
out an unhappy, wearisome life until
!, liberty at last came with the death OF
/ her father. Then she shed the gray
gown forever and fluttered away like
a bird out of a cage.
! In Montreal she began giving music
lessons, until by the strangest OF
strange chances that handsome
physician reappeared upon the scene
And-well, they were married
and have been living happy ever
afterwards.
! The good Gray sisters of Notre
Dame had hardly recovered from the
shock this dreadful scandal gave them
when they were called upon to face
still another ordeal of the same ma
ture. Right on the heels of Sister
Bonsecour's flight back to the world
Sister Agnes Mcmillan was stricken
down gasping, with Cupid arrow as
deeply buried in her breast as ever
Sister Bonsecourss had been buried in
hers. 1t was a coincidence. but only