Evening journal., 1899-07-05
C'NAveV. Al.e.sas.y e.xe,sg
Id Bete"
: By Ethel Ramsey. Z
SASASAUA0A1@1n~ASaS

ated in an eminently respectable but
cheerless quarter of Paris. Moreover,
the story is founded on fact" as they
say, and is devoid of that lavish orna-
mentation which bona fde animal
story permits for teller, whether be
be church member or not
had been left In the convent 10 COM
plete my education. A slight illness
had excused me from the routine Of the
schoolroom, and as l stood in the re-
fectory one morning, struggling with
the demon of homesickness, an uncon-
trolloble desire to look out Of the win
dow seized me. Not the window which
overlooked the garden, where knew
there was nothing Of finterestto be seen
except few rowdy sparrows, or per
haps a sister scurrying across the
walled court to the other wing of the
building, but toward the opposite
house, where one of the girls declared
there dwelt a handsome young man,
who had looked out of the window
when we were playing in the yard and
had twice tried to attract her attention.
Had / been less homesick IL might have
been a temptation to Investigate, and,
II fortune favored me, TO establish
rival claim, but thirsted for a sight of
the street, forbidden pleasure.
Soeur Marie, lay sister, had taken
me 10 task when l. first arrived for de-
liberately standing at the front win
dow, where could see and be seen.
ut looked so bad" said she, "for
demoiselle to appear before the pub
lic."
Presently a man carrying box Of
tools came out of the house. Instead
Of turning to the right or left, he
crossed the street The door-bell
tangled and a moment later seour
Marie led the man into the refectory.
"what are you doing, mademoiselle2"
she asked.
Looking out of the window" soeur
Marie rolled her eyes.
"1magines yous," she said TO the car
penter. "the demoiselle likes 10 look out
of the window. She says that in her
country every young girl can look out
into the street all she wants to-"
He shrugged his shoulders politely.
He was much younger than she, and
possibly had broader views. decided
TO cultivate him as far as possible, so
as to rout utterly the girl whose ad-
mirer lived across the court. There had
never been any doubt in my mind but
that he was valet, and it seemed that
q present carpenter promised more ex-
citement than distant valet.
Soeur Marie hustled around nervous
lly. From time to time she eyed me
curiously as though deliberating. She
finally beckoned me to follow her into
= the hall
Il have to 20 down to the kitchen for
a few moments" said she. ''and don't
like to leave him IN there alone. An
the silver mugs are out in full view, and
who knows when the hour Of tempta-
ton approaches? Blessed is he who is
prepared TO resist it. Now you are an
American, and it will be proper for
you TO remain in the room while l am
downstairs, so just stay and watch the
mugs, but don't go to the window"
"Very well, ma soeur," ! answered
quietly.
There was evidently struggle in her
mind as to the propriety Of this, and
to betray interest would have settled
any doubt at once.
The carpenter by this time had
opened the door Of what had supposed
was a closet. When / returned to the
room, he was lSneeling by a hole in
the floor cut in the bottom Of the closet,
taking measurements.
"What are you doing?" asked.
He stopped in his calculations.
"Les bonnes seours," he said. "have
given me a Job. wanted TO put the
dumb-waiter out in the room, but no,
1t would look untidy, so they have made
me use the closet for It. which is con-
trary 10 the laws of carpenteringl"
''Are there laws of carpentering?"
asked.
"Oh, mademoisellel There are laws
10 everything. but carpentering is one
of the most difficult and complicated
Of artsl" Having found already that
every Frenchman considered his trade
an art, proceeded to converse amiably,
plying him with questions. and really
having almost as much fun as the day
the charbonnier came and brought my
lille dog and made him perform tricks
until a. sister came up from behind and
sent me on an errand.
The dumb waiter was a concession 10
1.-THE march Of time. Who shall say how
many years the patient sisters had
toiled up two flights OF stairs, carrying
every mouthful eaten by the IS or 90
boarding scholars, and carrying down
every utensil used in the service?
The meals and the service were of the
simplest. The refectory was large
well-lighted room, with whitewashed
walls and bare floor. The only or.
nament was a large ebony crucifix AZ
one end of the room. When the girls
went TO q meal they walked in 1.-TWO
by two" not dressed in the traditional
yellow, pink and blue" but clad in
black mohair aprons, which complete.
ly covered every vestige Of the dress
Each girl halted at her place at the
long black marble table, and, fixing