The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-28

Copyright, 1903, by Daily Story Pub.
BY MRS. GEN. GEO. e. PICKETT.


Copyright, 1903, by Daily Story Pub.
Co.
Commencement was over at the
pretty little convent of the Sacred
Heart, half hidden among the trees
and vines of Alameda.
f. The prizes had been distributed, the
last note of music had died away. The
group of girls to whom the convent
had been a home for four. years of
study and bright young life had roamed
for the last time through the wide
halls and stood for the last time on
the south veranda taking leave of the
stretch of sea, where the waves dashed
against the shore like plunging steeds,
inviting to mount and ride away into
an unknown world.
Only Annette, the honor girl of the
class, yet fingered She was with Sis
ter Mary Frances at the end of the
.yeranda, where the great maple tree
spread out its branches to intercept
the shining. lances: of light the sun
thrust through their shifting leaves.
Turning to her companion with visit
full petition in her eyes. she said
-Four years ago, sister. before your
sweet influence and precept had taught
me the indelicacy of personal ques-
tons. l asked you why you had en-
tered the convent. When you have
been graduated you answered. and
must go out into the world and it's
temptations, If I am still here and you
still wish to know the reason, come
and ask me and 1 will tell you. My
IiffIa story NAV r,arbo nc I,aIya xyo,, fba,,
but it would only hurt us both now
Will you tell me now, If it will not
shurf yeu?"
eii Sister Mary Frances played softly
with the brown curl that fell over the
girls shoulder and trailed down upon
the cross the convent sister wore
snI -Four years ago-yes, l remember;
and twenty years ago cut off mass
of golden brown curls, not unlike these,
my dear, and put on this bonnet and
gown Twenty years." she said, in
IA low tone, speaking to herself rather
than. to- the girl. Her eyes were up
i lifted toward the overhanging trees
with far look in them, as if the gaze
went infinitely beyond.
. Annette's glance followed hers up
ward to the emerald arches of leaves.
She saw not beyond. Twenty years!
It was an endless age. 1t has all been
spent within the walls of the convent,
with no changing ripples in the cur
rent of existence save the opening of
the early flowers in spring, the deep
ening Of the gold in the sunlight of
summer, the criInsoning of the leaves
in autumn, the silvery CLEAN of snow
on the distant mountains in winter
She was going abroad that summer to
travel until she wearied of it. Would
that time ever come? Impossible! But
twenty years. She turned and
looked at Sister Mary Frances and
noted again the wondrous fairness of
her calm face. with it's radiance that
was not of earth. Under the folds of
her veil she saw a wavy ringint of
soft dark hair trying to escape from
it's prison.
Twenty years." she sighed You
must have been very young, then, sis
ter, and very beautiful"
No, child. 1t did not seem young
a few hours had made twenty years
seem very old Beautifui?-Yes, did
not look unlike you-sometimes you
even seem myself come back, and 1
shudder and am afraid
Il was graduated, too, at your age
eighteen. My chum was girl of my
own age and Of similar tastes with my
own, but of a very different position in
life. She. like you. was the only child
of wealthy parents. while 1 was being
fitted for a teacher and was to enter
.%v 70
as. L left school. We had loved each
other at first sight, and had been close
companions through the four years Of
convent life.
Soon after We were separated,
Olivia wrote me that she was going to
be married to man to whom she had
been engaged during the last year of
school, that he objected to Aeng en-
gagements and she had consented to
marry him at once, and wished me to
be her bridesmaid. I did not see the
bridegroom until the day before the
wedding, when I was attracted by the
sweetness of his expression and the
solar light in his face, like nothing I
have ever seen in any other face. Al
though young, he had been a widower
IoE SOfiiS years, dHQ HdQ Two RADIANT
little children who adored Olivia and
were never quite happy away from her.
'The wedding was brilliant one,
but to me it's charm was In the deep
happiness that looked out from the
eyes of bride and groom and the de-
lighted faces Of the two little flower
girls who seemed to fancy that the
event could never have been celebrated
but for their efforts.
"Olivia's letters came to me regular
1y, and were SO filled with the atmos-
phere of love and content that they
conveyed to my own heart some Of
their undercurrent Of joy.
in the second year she wrote to ask
me not to make any engagement for
another year, and il / was not already
promised to come to her home and be
goyerness for the children. She had
never allowed anyone else to assist in
the care of them, but She was not very
we'll. and her husband thought that the
greater needs of their expanding minds
were too heavy a tax upon her strength
just then.
81 would hate to give up any part Of
the little witches-tlley are so cute and
dear-to anyone else. but l feel that
I may share them with you if you can
come
.Se sweet q heHe as she could Of
fer me was temptation too great to-