The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-22
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A MODERN QUIXOTE.
An Adventure of Minister and d Con-
vent Girl on q Rainy Night.

vent tEl bIl " INeiiHD iNtShN'
minister of this city returned from
Canada this week with two ideas firmly
fixed tn his mind; one, that his kriowl-
edge of the French language left some
thing to be desired, and the other that
there were more churches In Montreal
than In any other city on the continent
two to one AS the minister tells the
story he came into Montreal one stormy
day last week on a steamboat whicn
was several hours overdue. AS they
neared the dock the captain drew the
preacher to one side and asked his aid
In a dilemma In which the former
found himself, young woman just
out of convent had been placed in the
captains charge, and he had promised
to escort her to the boat which would
take her to her home. Now the cap
tain found himself unable to ful1l his
promise, since in view of the lateness
of his arrival he must hurry his prepa-
rations for the return trip. Would the
minister kindly see the young woman
to the boat landing, since his train did
not depart until midnight? The
preacher would, only stipuating that
the transaction should be made plain
to the lady, since he spoke no French
and she no English. Agreed, and the
two started off for the steamboat land
ing in amicable silence.
ARRIVING at the dock in the pouring
rain" says the preacher. what was
my dismay to see the boats berth va
cant and the dock deserted. Who was
to break the news to the convent girl?'
The driver was English so no help
was to be expected from him, and the
dominic summoned up hts French, in
tending to tell the young woman that
the boat had gone and would she go by
the train. He confesses. however, that
what he did say sounded very much
like this: lie batong a allay, voulay
you allay a la shemin de fair?' But
his fair charge merely shrugged her
shoulders and said: RE no comprend
pas" and in despair the minister re-
entered the carriage and directed the
driver to proceed to the railway sta
ton. AS the vehicle turned away from
the docks the young woman was seized
with alarm. She threw herself around
the carriage like a mad thing, dashing
her head against the windows and try
ing to escape from the doors. All at
tempts to pacify her were in vain, and
the minister called halt and tried to
think what to do. 1t was getting on
toward night and few persons were
abroad in the rain, in the region of
warehouses bordering the river. Final
~ a newsboy appeared. and as he came
abreast of the carriage the minister
reached out and seized him, demand
H., cnAnlx ENGLISH p''
'Yes" sFrench? "Yes:'' whereupon
without more formality the services of
the youngster were engaged as inter-
prefer. When the situation was ex-
planned to the young woman she de-
clared that she would by no means go
by the train. Convent-bred girls didn't
travel par chemin de fer unattended.
Would she then go to hotel and await
the departure OIL the boat the next day
''Under the escort of strange man?
NeveT!"
The minister was almost in despair,
Had she, perhaps, a friend in the city?
The young woman frightened, She
had a schoolmate whom she had visi-
ted. She didn't know the street but
there was a church on the corner and
she was sure she would know it. 1t
was getting late, but there was nothing
else for it, so the preacher ordered the
cabby to drive in turn to all the
churches in the city. This was the
programme: A halt before church
would be made, and the minister would
assist his charge out, elevating his UNI
brella meanwhile. A few minutes
scrutiny and shake of the head would