Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-03-04

me TO be noising my ag6 abroad, as
ifit was my lady herself
We will advise with Father
Pierre and Lady Maria, = respond.
cd Grace BlackistoD; they are
coming this way"
At this moment the reverend
priest. and the ladies' with whom
he had been 10 conversation. APP
preached. The sister Of the Pro-
prietary was distinguished as we'll
BY her short stature and neat attire,
as by her little Indian attendants
who followed bearing the lady's
missal. The tall figure OF Father
Pierre, arrayed In his black tupic
and belt, lowered above his female
companions. He bore bis square
bonnet Of black cloth 10 bis hand,
disclosing q small silk cap closely
fitted to his crown, fringed around
with the silver lock which, separat-
ing on his brow, gave the grace OF
age 70 countenance full Of benign,
ity.
The presence OF the churchman
subdued the eager gaiety OF the
crowd, and two or three Of the maid
ems ran up to him with On affection
ate familiarity to make him acquain-
ted with the subject Of their conten-
tion.
Father. " said Grace Blackiston.
I'VE have q complaint to lodge
against Mistress Blanche for q pro-
mise. breaker. You must counsel
her father, TO her duty"
"Ah, my child pretty Blanchel''
exclaimed the priest, with tho
alacrity OF bis native French temper.
as be took the assaulted damsel by
the hand, what have they TO say
against your I win be your friend
as wellas your Judge. =
THE maidens, father replied
Blanche, ''have taken leave Of their
wits, and have beset me like mad
caps to give them q dance OF the
Rose Croft on my birthday. And
have stood on my refusal, father
Pierre. as for Q matter that would
bring me into censurefor pertness--
as I am sure you viii say itwould-
with worshipful people, thaeS dam
sci who should be modest In her be.
havior, should 50 thrust herself for.
ward TO be observed. =
And we do not heed that. Father
Pierre, /" Interrupted Grace Black
ston, who assumed to be the spokes.
woman Of the party, holding IL to
be scruple more nice than wise
Blanche has q trick ofstanding back
more than maiden needs. And
besides, we say that Mistress Alice
10 bound by pledge OF word, and
partly Blanche too, for she stood by
and said never q word against it,
that we should have good cheer and
dancing on that day ct the Rose Croft,
1t Is the feast OF the blessed virgin,
Terese, aud we would fain persuade
Blanche that the festival should be
kept for the sake Of her birth day
saint. I"
my children said the priest
who during this debate stood 10 the
midst Of the blooming troop, casting
his chances from one to another with
the pleased expression Of an inter.
ested partaker OF their mirth, and al
the same time, endesvoring to assume
. countenance Of mock gravity, I'VE
will consider this matter with Inn.
partial Justice. And first, we will
hear all that Mistress Blanche has
TO say. 1t Is profound subject.
Doyou admitthe promise, my child?'
II do not deny, Father Pierre, that
last Easter. when we met and dane.
cd at Grace BIackston's. my sister
Alice did make some promise. and
said nothing against II. But II
was an idle speech Of sister Alice,
which / thought DO more Of till now;
and now should not have remember.
ed It II these wild mates Of mine bad
not sung IL In my ear with such
cIamor as must have made you think
we bad eli gone mad. "
1T is honestly confessed" said
Father Pierre; land though / heard
the cutlery all the way TO the church
door. yet did not deem the dam.
sells absolutely mad, as You suppos.
ed. ! am an old man. my child, and
have been taught, by my experience,
In what key seven. eight, or nine
young girls will make known their
desires when they are together; and
truly, it's their nature to speak all
at the same time. They speak more
than they listen, ha. bal But we
shall DO mistaken II we conclude
they are mad"
Blanche, love, interposed the
Lsdy Maria. you have scarce given