New-York tribune., 1909-12-19

bodied spirit, so free was It from all accent OF
human emotion
had only a mOmentary impression of the
absolute baroness of the floor and walls of the
room when passed into the chapel. The
altar was decorated and lighted: but without
the sanctuary there We're only q few chairs for
our comfort, small organ, and above 1t a
hanging lamp 70 illuminate our music All
else was emptiness, and not a soul visible On
each side OF the altar and stretching behind it
was railing and behind this the usual black
draperIes.
Suddenly from behind the grating came the
SOFT voices of the nuns IntOning the Psalms
Chanting III a whispered monotone and muffled
by the pail that hung between US, the effect
was OF voices heard far of at night. 1t was
altogether unearthlv, and If | had been else
where but that holy place ! should have hkened
II 10 nothing but the CIV OF lost souls. | was
glad when the priest entered and began the
mass. We sang the Pastoral Mass OF GOunod
which Is without solos and written in the severe
ecclesiastical mode. At the communion service
l noticed that the priest went 70 a small open
ing III the grill and there the nuns within ap-
preached and took the sacrament, lifting their
veIlS only to reveal the lower part Of their faces
The service done, returned to the recep-
ton room, and again the sweet voiced mother
superior spoke To us II seemed uncanny t.
converse with some one not two feet away and
still invisible She spoke Cheerfully of the rig
or0us rules OF their order, told me how they
never unveiled, never went bevOnd the con
vent walls tasted continually throughout the
Year prayed and worked at intervals through
the day, rose twice during the night for PRAYER
from their pallets OF straw on the floor of bare
cells. and were up at dawn. Twice a year. on
the great feasts OF Christmas and Easter. they
were permitted TO eat meat. and at the same
teaSts the privilege OF hearing such music as
We had brought was allowed. And this summed
up Their yearly round.
In nv ignorance I asked if the continued
yelling of the face was because IF the effects ot
the rigorous rule Of life. 4 Silvery laugh that
had the unnIstakable ring of amusement wa~
the mothers answer. Cd VIII make an eXCer-
veiled. she said. She went out and came back
presently The pail behind the grill was drawn
aside and We saw figure robed IN spotlesS
white her head shrouded by q thick black veil.
You may lift your vel, sister. said the
mother. and the nun raised the pail that hid
her features. l looked n anaZeuent on face
of striking beauty The features were patri-
clan. There was not a line OF q hollow 10 tell the
story OF her fasting and penance. The skin had
the freshness and SmOOthneSs of q Childs. The
nose was finely chiseed and the lips were per
feet IN contour and red as a cherry. and when
they broke INTO a gentle smile the teeth shOne
dazzlingly white and regular. There was only
one defect. the eyes that should have lighted all
this lOvelIness were sightleSs. Then | under
stood why the mother had permitted her 70 un-
veil for US. And | understood too why they
had named her Sister Dolores.
That beauty Of soul may be the true secret
Of physical loveliness was the lesson | learned
bv looking on the face Of that Carmelite. And
Il has always been a comfort TO me since 70
know that | had done something To win the
good graces OF those devoted women who
pray always for those who pray never"