Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-31

man In the world Her voice III Gre ended
was stone wall OF defiance. Sister Wynn.
freda made desperate dash down another
road.
MY daughter. entreat that you will not
despise my offer. The yoke is not so heavy
here. Here is no strict convent rule; how
could there be? We are but handful OF
feeble old women left living after those who
| led us are gone, to the end that heather fog
smother not utterly the light which once
was so bright. In truth most dear child,
us. A few hours work in the
garden-surely that is pleasure,
watching the fair green things spring
and thrive under your care. And when the
| tenderness of the birds and the content OF
| the little creeping creatures have filled
your heart to bursting with sense OF
/ Gods goodness, to come and stand before
| the holy table and pour out your joys in
| sweet melody"
But Randalin's head was shaking too de-
cidedly. though she was not ungentle in
her answering. Il give you thanks, Sister
Wynfreda, but such a life is not for me.
My nature is such that 1 do not like the
| gloomy songs you sing, nor do care for
| green things, except to wear in my hair.
| And it seems to me that should be spirit-
| less and a coward If 1 should like such a
| life. / am no English girl. to trem-
BILE and hide under mean kirtle.
| am Morse maiden, the kinswoman
Of warriors / think 1 should not show
much honor to my father and my brother
| were 1 to leave them unavenged and sit
| king and get justice When he has slain
| the murderer and given me the castle
again, 1 will come back, and you shall
come and live with me, and eat meat in
stead of herbs, and"
In her desperation, Sister wynfreda
caught her by the wrists and held her. My
| daughter, my daughter. shake off this sleep
of your wits, l entreat you! The men you
are trusting in dreams which you have
| dreamed in the safety of your fathers
arms. They among whom you are going
t,o,l or;a 81 Nan
better had you married the son of I.eof-
wine. Think you / know nothing of the
pagans. that you set my words at naught?
Who but DaniSl1men laid low these walls,
and slaughtered the holy nuns lambs
are torn by wild beasts? Have l not seen
| their horrid wickedness? You think nun
a coward? Know you how these scars caine
! on my face? Three times with my own
hands. / pressed a red-hot iron there to
| destroy the beauty that allured-else had
| the pagans dragged me with them. Was I
a coward?'
| Randalin's eyes were very wide. 1T
seems to me that you were supplemented"
| she breathed. why did you not thrust the
| iron In his face?'
| But Sister Wynfreda's expression chang
| ed SO strangely that the girl foresaw an at.
| tack along another line, and FASTENED to
forestall it. 1T is not worth while to tell
me further about the matter Do you not
| see that it is by no means the same? I
shall be a Danish woman among Danish
| men, l shall not be captive, to be made
d
different. I shall be with my own people,
my own king. Let us end this talk. Give
me the bread and let me go. The sun Is
getting high"
She glanced at it as she spoke, and found
| it so much higher than she had realized
| that her haste increased
mo. dare not wait for 1t. It is neces-
sary that l get good start, or they will
overtake me- They are to join Canute near
Scoerstan: I heard it talked among
] them: My horse is somewhat heavy
one Gram rode yesterday: !
found him grazing by the road. Let me go.
Sister Wynfreda. Bid me farewell and let
me 60"
| the nun strove desperately to detain her.
'Randalin! Listen! Alasl how you grieve
| me by talking after this manner! Wait,
you do not understand. 1t is not their
| cruelty fear for you. Child, listen! 1t Is
not their blows
| But Randalin had wrenched herself free.
"Oh, fear, fear, fear!' she cried impatient-
| ly. Fear your enemies; fear your friends:
| fear your shadow! Old women are afraid
| of everything You will see when 1 come
back No, no. do not look at me like that;
| l do not mean to behave badly toward you,
| but 1t will become great misfortune to me
| if am hindered: it will, in truth. See
| now; 1 will kiss you-here-where your
| cheek is softest. l cannot allow you to
take hold of my cloak again. There! Now
| lay your hand upon my head, as you do
with the children when you wish them good
| luck"
| Because there was nothing else to do. and
| because the thought of doing this gave her
some comfort, Sister Wynfreda complied.
| Laying her trembling hands upon the barred
black head, she raised her desparing face
| to heaven and prayed with all the earnest
ness that was hers. Then she stood at the
gate in silence and watched the girl set
| forth. AS Randalin turned into the sunny
| highway she looked back with a brave
smile and waved her cap at the faded fig
ure under the arch. But the nun, left in
| the moss grown garden. wrapped in tho
peace Of the grave, saw her through blur
| Of tears
God guard you, my fedgling," she whis-
pered over and over. MY prayers be as a
| wall around you. My love go with you as a
| warm hand in your loneliness. God keep
you in safety, my most beloved daughterv'
(To be continued Monday.)