Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-03-09
CHAPTER yu.-(Continued.)

In do sol" said the mother superior
witheringly. Then, checking herself at
once and speaking with greater aus
+eritv, she continued, listen to me, my
child, and do not interrupt. was point
ing out to you the heinous nature of
the conduct of which you have been
Ouiltv. You do not deny it, you do not
even attempt to conceal the terrible de-
tails of it. That is the best point, so
far as | can see, in your character Yet
when Won are confronted with the just
retribution of such an escapade, the APP
Mailing scandal, the despair of your
worthy gouvernante, and her most nat
ural reproaches. you make bad worse
YOU run away from your home without
even giving notice of your intention; and
alone, unaccompanied or ehaperoned even
bv a servant, you come here and ask me
me. the head of an establishment for
The proper education of modest and we'll
conducted girls-to take you in and give
YOU a shelter under our holy roof"
Reverend mother, Mere Margot has
no feeling for me. Oh, if you had heard
the things she said! l could not tell you
them-they were too shameful, too ter
rible And she did worse she would
have taken-she did take-oh reverend
mother. cannot tell you. while you look
at me in that way, and do not under
stand; but | beg-l beg you to let me
stay. for / cannot 60 back to her. l
could never live in the same house with
her again, and | would not mind the
hardest fare; l would help the lay sis
tiers in their work; I-oh, reverend
mother"
Bebe was on her knees, clinging to the
Others stiff black gown, and sobbing
passionately. The lady superior rose to
her feet, taking a step backwards as she
did so, so as to free herself from the
appealing clasp of those trembling little
fingers
"Angele Richard, | am dismayed,
shocked beyond words, at such a display
of abandon, of uncontrolled excitement,
in a girl once educated within these
walls. 1t makes me tremble to think of
what one so morally undisciplined might
do-may perhaps already have done
when left to herself. For tbs reason
only, to save you from spiritual destruc
ton and ruin. and only to certain condi-
tons, | would consent to allow you to
remain here-not mingling with our pres
ent students: That We're to imperil their
innocence and modesty, nor with our
pious young novices; but as a penitent,
seeking refuge from the temptations of
the world. and asking for instruction in
order that she may be admitted into the
bosom of the church in which alone she
can find strength. Remain on your
knees, my child, and pray f}r Guidance
to accept with gratitude thu. saving
chance offered you"
n,,4 nh p;al,ar1 boJ 81
bled to her feet, and her blue, tear
brimmed eyes were regarding the mother
superior with a look of dazed, half-in-
dignant sorrow.
"But, reverend mother, / cannot! A
penitent? That means some one who
has been wicked woman NJ lie pas
teur, he told Mere Margot that 1 could
20 to a penitentiary: but II have been
silly and acted mprudently-have l not
said so?--but have not done anything
wicked And do not want to be admit
ted into the church. | am a Protestant
Ny father, who was English, was one,
and | want to be like my father in all
things
1t was a child's answer, and the moth
er superior met it with a smile of CON
temptuous pity more chilling than any
her, she waited until a Law sister APP
peared said few words to her in an un-
dertone, and then, when the door had
closed again, turned to her visitor, who
stood there trembling little at her own
boldness. and wondering what would De
the result of it.
You came here" she said eeldly, etc
ask for advice, assistance. and a shelter
The shelter | am not justified in givina
you. TO do so under the circumstances
would be sin against the other inmates
OF tins house, against your eustodians in
Caen, to whose care your guardian COM
united you, and against my own con-
science. My advice, however, willingly
oiler you. 1t is that you return to the
home you have left, and that, having
asked pardon humbly and submissively
OF your foster mother for the pain and
scandal occasioned by your conduct, you
ende2vor to accept with meekness any
anger or reproaches on her part, even if
expressed with the vehemence natural to
persons of the humber class. Such hu-
inlilty cannot but be pleasing to heaven
MY assistance, which | also willingly af-
lord you, is to send one of the elder sis
ters with you to Caen. and desire her to
see you safely into the charge of the
Mere MaTgot. You came here, you said
by the steamtram; l see that there is
one returning 10 the city in half an hour
from now. That will give you time to
partake of a slight collation., which shall
be sent to you here, and when you have
finished it, I should earnestly recommend
you to pass few minutes in the chapel
yonder''-she indicated door at her left
hand" seeking the grace and guidance
you so sorely need. / will return to see
you off, five minutes before your time for
starting. At present my duties call nae
elsewhere
She left the parlor as she spoke. and
I'VE or six minutes later an old lay sister
entered with tray containing a plate of
brooches. another of ripe pears. and a
small Jug Of cider, which she placed on
The round table. There was no young
LADY IN the room, however, but the door
communicating with the chapel was
open, and having been told that the
visitor might possibly be at PRAYER there
in