The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-05-26
THE UNFAITHFUJ
POSTULANT,.
BY BESSIE LOU BURGESS.

so young. l. u6 H6Su IL reuOuuc6u lot
ever; all love is put aside; the gauds
and vanities of the world are cast away
forever, ,-one has nothing to look to
but Heaven"
81 know, dear mother" broke in the
eager postul mt, 'but I desire it above
all else. l am alone in the world; /
have never loved I care nothing for
gay life; have no desire for the gauds
and vanities of the world, and here 1
shall be so quiet and so happy,
'But it is too quiet for child who
knows not her own mind objected the
mother.
"Mother, l am not a child. am
sixteen, but feel much older. Do not
deny me that which I so much desire.
Only let me stay with you"
"You may not take the veil for yet
awhile, my daughter. You shall stay
with me until you feel sure of yourself.
If, at the end of a month, you are still
desirous of becoming nun, then you
shall have your desire gratifed."
81 thank you, dear mother" cried
Katherine, joyfully, as she pressed her
roseate young cheek against the dark,
flushed face Of the mother superior.
She met the direct gaze of the black,
stormy eyes with all the pain of su-
preme inquiry.
Something tells me, dear child,
that you will be an unfaithful postulant
Whatever you do, do not let your de-
sire war with your heart. This is a
fatal STEP" the mother superior
breathed rapidly, in lew, tense whis-
per. eff you love before you are
avowed, cast aside the thought of be-
coming nun, do not wreck your life
by accepting these VOWS through a
sense of duty. All, God! 1 took them
after life had shown me that it held no
more for me. / loved and lost aud
then"
There was silence for a moment.
Then the mother superior went out OF
the Ioom.
Sister Ethela came up O moment
later and looked into the bare grey
parlour. It was large and empty
looking. Near the doorway stood a
quaint old ash-wood desk; opposite it
was a tall brown bookcase, filed to
overfowing with the religious" books
of all ages. On the bare walls hung
but one adornment-a shining brass
cross, that caught the red glow of the
sunset as it faded over the distant hill
tops. Upon the low, straight chair
underneath it sat Katherine, her eyes
fixed upon it with an adoring passion
The Limitation Of Christ" lay open on
her knee.
"Where is the mother?" Sister
Ethela asked. The little postulani
started, as from dream.
"She has but lately left me-. = she tol{
Sister Ethela, who Immediately quilted
her presence.
"Such face! 1t is that of saint,
said the wondering sister as she wen
down the stairs. She went straight Il
the mothers room. She found he
there, kneeling in prayer. The lonI
black robes fell about her and from tn
proud, round throat shone out TIA
white yoke that was part of her attire
| Sister Ethela waited in respectful
silence until the mother rose. The
she gave her message.
"The artist who is to paint the neN
madonna for the chapel is ceme, " sh
said.
every WE'LL L will seehim in the par
lour, )" replied the mother superior.
And soft happened that when the artis
entered the bare, grey room, he took
all in with one sweeping glance, ,-th
hard, bare floor, painted in that sam
dull grey that he saw reflected in tb
quaint desk; the large browu bookcase
the straight chair beside it; the Ion
grey curtains drawn across the vindov
the brass cross hung upon the gre
walls, and, last of all, the little ambe
haired postulant seated where ray
sunlight illuminated the brass eros
her sad grey eyes bent dreamily upo
the blazing emblem. The mother o.
ened the door at that moment and SO
Katherine. A flush Of displeasu
mounted to her satiny cheek. sc
dear" she said, gravely touching Il
: girls brow with her lips. Katheril
started up and looked at the artist wi
eres into which o fame Of passion hi
suddenly dashed. Then she went o
I of the room.
; The next morning the artist enters
2 the grey parl, nc expectantly. The al
e ber- haired girl was not there, but t
g mother was,
: 81 called" he said absently, his ey
s bent tenderly upon the brass ere
I glistening in the morning sunlight,
e know whether you would prefer t
q madonna of the old masters or an or
inal painting"
q r'As you desire it, " the mother sa
"Then it shall be original" he 4