The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-03-21
"This is
the victory
which ever.
cOmeth the
wOrld...Our
faith"

some hidden note within her urged he
Ito visit this peaceful spot where tn
4 .throes of life,s pains were forgotten o
I.had never been known. After a day o
lmental conflict it was soothing unut
! terably to come here out of the gos
sip and envy and longing of the out
side world-to come here, yes, but fo
only an hour-and to this nun, abou
whom there was always something
great and capable.
Il would like to see her reused anC
pushed to the full extent of her men
tai powers" though the waiting visi'
tor.
She was glad when the door opened
and the pure-faced woman with the
/ child eyes 4beamed down on her again
/ She felt better, more exalted by the
Nuns presence, though the influence
was only for the moment.
Sinking to commonplaces in the self
conscious pride and habitual egotisn
| of human nature, Hester reverted tC
| the cause of the Sisters absence.
THAT bell must be very annoying, .
she remarked, feelingly.
"Oh, no! am accustomed to it as
one of my duties.
The very surprise in the answer
made it a slight, though unmeant,
rebuff; still the reply itself urged Hes
Ter 10 IurIner speech.
IF the nuns are all of your tenn
perament it must be an easy matter
to observe convent regulations. When
ones disposition fits the routine and
ones duties and limitations are so
strongly defined there can be no ques-
ton of rivalry" she said thoughtful
ly, land no struggle for place." re-
membering her own unsatisfied am
bitions.
The Sisters eyes were on her work.
She said nothing, as one who allows
the wordy speaker his or her way.
Hester felt that her expressions, like
those interiors she had thought of,
were overdressed, but irritated at her
self she forced an opinion almost rude
in its personality. Why not compel
an answer?
The Sisters either must have no
loves or desires, or must strain them
by lack of temptation to infinitestimal
thinness and perfect tractability," she
ventured with deliberation. 1t hurt
her, now it was said, but a curious
interest in the answer animated her.
Did they ever feel like other people?
The faint glow mounting Euphemia's
face shamed Hester.
I'VE are human" was the low
voiced reply, with little reserve, but
not trace of resentment. What did
the children of the world know of
suppression, of the. stripping of ones
self of all the small delights that make
living sweet?
The listener felt the withdrawal and
inwardly granted its justice; in con-
sequence she. abated somewhat the
critical mood which seemed heartlessly
persistent today.
Human! Yes. How faultless her
irrelevantly -"one can
never judge nuns age thought the
girl. This one might be 20 but for
the fatigue marks about her eyes
What boon that repose of heart and
feature would be to women of fash
ion! 1t is all true; the emotions carve
themselves upon the face" she con-
cluded mentally. Human? Well, Sis
ter Euphemia's face was smooth as
a child's except for a little wave of
pain at the mouth. Possibly her words
implied the restfulness had been hard |
won.
Il know you are human said the |
privileged guest, ''and l should think |
you would be very tired of those
;loaks. Won't you let me help you?" !
Yes, I am tired sometimes Eu-
,hemia replied needlessly, for the wide
yeariness of her eyes was answer |
.nough. The last question passed un-
marked in it's understood impossi-
,ility.
do you make many of these gar
For all the Sisters. We are about
twenty-five" was the absent minded
nswer.
With unconscious wistfulness the nun
danced out the indow at the gorgeous,
rilliant flower beds. 1t strengthened
er to look out on this brave, perfect
nd beautiful development-few men
ttained such.
rough to do" was met with a glance
hat seemed to take the girls measure,
nd the way was cleared.
This" referring to her occupation,
has been my work ever since 1 came
} the convent" proffered Sister Eu-
hemia in the quiet. spiritualized voice
lat comes inevitably to the inmates
the cloister. Hester Strengthened up
surprised interest her favorite was
beyond generalities for the
rst time in their long acquaintance.
uphemia already suffered at the ex-
osition of her own life but the girls
'nclusions almost demanded refuta-
on, and for all her perversity Hester
,emed one of their own blood.
q loved all that" said Euphemia,
odding toward the brilliant splotches
color outside, but this is my forte,'
the garment in her lap
trough which the needle piled rapidly.
Fifteen years" she murmured. In
er habit of sitting alone she had in
oluntarily uttered her thought.
You haven't been in the convent that
ng, surely!" exclaimed Hester.
"Oh, MOI" f1urried at the inadvertent
,eech, sewing that long. / was a
she said, with some re- ,
raint; then went on as if she might
well finish. There could be no vanity ,
revealing her past. My father was
lad and my mother helpless. I was 1
lie only one to keep up our little house s
1t on the common, and then | did /
ain sewing at the window all day s
ng for months, just as 1 am doing i
Nv. Some day in Gods own time I !
i'll be num- kept measure with the I
ling wheel. There was no hurry, and :
! Sundays after mass used to go to
e convent. 1T seemed like a great
stle rising high above the sidewalk,
Id within the nuns like noble ladies
me so kindly down to me-
Sister Euphemia turned toward the o
lndow once more. How tired she was
en- and she had never grown rested:
1t what matter? 1t was in Gods serv-
e, and what a recreation those few
inutes of sweet atmosphere had been
her blank existence. She heard a
oning of voices in the room beyond.
Id memory came back of rare en-
oideries and gorgeous vestments that
Wished her eyes and moved to such
lssionate desire as was never before
lown in her arid life. oh, to evolve
meath her own fingers such miracles
the needle. She seemed to feel anew
e great influence working in her.
ishing her veins and injecting a great
gOr intn her, helm hut s.,,i.a.,,,1,-