Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19

bodied spirit so free was it from all accent of
human emotion.
l had only momentary impression of the
absolute baroness of the floor and walls of the
room when we passed into the chapel. The
altar was decorated and lighted: but without
the sanctuary there were only few chairs tor
our comfort, a small organ, and above it
hanging lamp to illuminate our music. All
else was emptiness, and not soul visible. On
each side of the altar and stretching behind it
was a railing and behind this the usual black
draperies.
Suddenly from behind the grating came the
soft voices of the nuns intoning the Psalms:
Chanting in whispered monotone and muffted
by the pail that hung between us, the effect
was of voices heard far off at night. 1t was
altogether unearthly, and if | had been else
where but that holy place should have likened
it to nothing but the cry of lost souls. l 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
| noticed that the priest went to small open
ing in the grill and there the nuns within APP
preached and took the sacrament, hitting their
wells only to reveal the lower part of their faces.
The service done, returned to the recep-
ton roon and again the sweet voiced mother
superior spoke to us. 1t seemed uncanny to
converse with some one not two feet away and
still invisible. She spoke cheerfully of the rig
orous rules of their order, told me how they
never unveiled, never went beyond the con-
vent walls tasted continually throughout the
wear prayed and worked at intervals through
the day. twice during the night for prayer
from their pallets of straw on the floor of bare
cells, and were up at dawn. Twice year. on
the great feasts of Christmas and Easter, they
were permitted to eat meat, and at the same
feasts the privilege of hearing such music
we had brought was allowed And this summed
up their yearly round.
In my ignorance l asked if the continued
yelling of the face was because of the effects of
the rigorous rule of life. A silvery laugh that
had the unmistakable ring of amusement was
the mothers answer. % | will make an excep-
ton and let you see one of our sisters UNI
yelled" she said. She went out and came back
aside and we saw figure robed in spotless
white, her head shrouded by thick black veil.
You may lift your veil, sister," said the
mother, and the nun raised the pail that hid
her features. | looked in amazement on face
of striking beauty. The features were patri-
clan. There was not line or hollow to tell the
story of her fasting and penance. The skin had
the freshness and smoothness of I, childs. The
nose was finely chiseled and the lips were per-
feet in contour and red cherry, and when
they broke into gentle smile the teeth shone
dazzlingly white and regular. There was only
ne defect. the eyes that should have lighted all
this loneliness were sightless. Then l under
stood why the mother had permitted her to
veil for And l understood too why they
had named her Sister Dolores.
That beauty of soul may be the true secret
of physical loneliness, was the lesson learned
by looking on the face of that Carmelite. And
it has always been a comfort to me since to
know that had done something to win the
good graces of those devoted women who
pray always for those who pray never"