The Irish standard., 1907-02-09
no ruins nj America.

no ruins IN America.
The buildings of st. Agatha's were
well hidden by the intervening wood,
and climbed upon the wall at the
iron gate for an ampler view. The
pillars at either side OF the gate were
of huge dimensions and were higher
than l could reach. The little Gothic
church near at hand was built of stone
similar to that used in Glenarm house.
AS l surveyed the scene number OF
young women appeared. and, forming
in twos and fours. walked back and
forth before the chapel. A sister clad
in 4 brown habit fingered near or
walked first with one and then an
other group of students. 1t was all
very pretty and interesting and not
ut all the ugly school for paupers l
had expected to find. The students
We're not the charity children | had
carelessly pictured: they we're not so
young. for one thing, and they seemed
to be appareled decently enough.
! smiled to find myself adjusting my
scarf and Strengthening my collar as
beheld my nejghbors for the first time
AS sat thus on the wall heard the
sound Of angry voices back of me on
the Glenarm side, and a crash of un-
derbrush marked a flight and pursuit
] crouched down on the wall and wait
ed. In a moment a man plunged
through the wood and stumbled over
a low hanging vine and fell not 20 feet
away from me. To my great surprise
it was Morgan, my acquaintance of the
morning. He rose, cursed his i'll luck
and, hugging the wall close, ran
toward the lake. Instantly the pursuer
broke into view. IT. was Bates, evil
IDENTIFY much excited and with an ugly
cut across his forehead. He carried
heavy club, and, after listening for
a moment for sounds of the enemy, he
hurried after the caretaker.
1t was not my row, though ! must
say it wakened my curiosity. l
Strengthened myself out, threw my
legs over the school side of the wall
and lighted cigar, feeling cheered
by the opportunity the stone barricade
offered for observing the world.
AS I looked off toward the little
church found two other actors ap-
pearing on the scene. A girl stood in
p little opening of the wood, talking
TO man. Her hands were thrust into
the pockets Of her covert coat; she
wore a red tam-o'.shanter, that made
a bright bit of color in the wood. They
were not more than a dozen yards
away, but wild growth of young
NAPLES lay between us. Their profiles
were toward me, and the tones of the
girls voice reached me clearly as she
addressed her companion. He wore a
clergy high waistcoat, and 1 as
sumed that he was the chaplain whom
Rates had mentioned. l am not by
nature All eavesdropper, but the girl
was clearly making plea of some
kind, and the chaplain's stalwart fig
IRE awake in me an antagonism that
held me to the wall.
"If he comes here l shall 20 away,
so YOU may as we'll understand it and
tell him. shan't see him under any
circumstances. and I'm not going to
Florida or California or anywhere else
on private car no matter who chap.
erones it,
Certainly not, unless you want to
certainly not" said the chaplain.
You understand that I'm only giving
YOU his message. He thought it.
best"
mot to write to me or to Sister
Theresa broke in the girl contemp-
tuously. What clever person he Isl"
And how unclever ami" said the
clergyman, laughing. well, at any
rate, | thank you for giving me the
opportunity to present his message"
She smiled, nodded and turned swift.
ly toward the school. The chaplain
looked after her for few moments,
then walked soberly away toward the
lake. He was a young fellow, clean
shaven and dark, and with pair of
shoulders that gave me twinge of
envy. could not guess how great a
factor that vigorous figure was to be
in my own affairs. AS swung down
from the wall and walked toward
Glenarm House. my thoughts were not
with the athletic chaplain. but with
the girl, whose youth was. I reflected,
marked by her short skirt, the uncon-
cern with which her hands were thrust
into the pockets OF her coat, and the
irresponsible tilt Of the tam.o'.shanter.
There is something jaunty, a sugges-
tion of spirit and independence, in q
m-o'.shanter, particularly red one.
IF the red tam o'shanter expressed, 50
to speak, the keynote Of st. Agatha's,
the proximity Of the school was not SO
bad thing after ALL
In high good-humor and with a
sharp appetite went In to luncheon.
CHAPTER VI.
The Girl and the Canoe,
Bates did not refer to his encounter