The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-30

own vivid Imagination. Go
" On with your story; you
make me believe this thing
actually happened. What becomes OF
your devil and your sa-ut2'
"AlI sense OF his critical position van
shes from the mind OF he young man.
Here before him is some thing all Paris
cannot supply. This fair flower Of sane
tity seems to him more precious than
all the rest Of the world. Her sweet
refined, wlstful face ma tes Paris seem
tawdry and valueless. As for the young
woman. some latent instinct tells her
that here stands, concentrated in one
man. the vfckedness Of the earth and
this dlsquieting knowledge at once re-
pels and fascinates her. Can It be pos
stole that evil should wear so gracious
an exterior and what is this strange.
subtle, hitherto undreamt-of influence
which surrounds her; an influence that
nuilihes duty and prevents the oUtcry
which she knows she should raiser
"a term Of endearment bursts from
CardiIlac's lips; he strides forward to-
ward her with arms Outstretched. She
does not retreat. Those sympathetic
| eyes are filed with sorrow that dauuts
him. Slowly she raises TO her lips the
| little wooden cruci1x that hangs from
/ her girdle. When she speaks her voice
reminds him Of the soft whispers of
mellow organ at vespers.
! q" Please" she says, and then. 7 am
safe IN your courtesy and chivalry.
monsieur
'Cardiuac's arms drop helpless % his
side He steps back to his former posi-
! ton against the door"
oh muttered Pol. in accents Of dis
] lH
you have painted hirI. then2''
mo. there is good In the lad. He
| is at heart a Chris ian. and the en-
/ blem of his faith held thus aloft re-
minds him of his own peril He
/ breaks forth into self-accusation, and
/ entreaties for pardon. He tells the
I story TO the listening nun, and sees
] film of pity obscure the luster Of those
/ enhancing eyes. Their COuOquy is
rent asunder by a shattering expIo-
sion that makes the very walls trem-
"Ah. halt there. Francois, you are
/ forgetting. II was long after dark
/ the explosion took place, and Car
| dlIlac could not have seen those fas-
| ciuating eyes"
That's no matter. Pol, and merely
an impairment interruption on your
part. 1 did not think II necessary to
/ describe the descending Of night. The
explosion has caused commoton
/ In the convert"
lis there a secret passage 20 the
fOrestY' cried Card.lac
i know Of none replies the girl.
"The search for the young rnan
has begun under the dominance Of
the abbess.
d. stand behind the door; IT is your
only chance says the nun, and Car
dlliac obeys. The nun herself occu-
pies position on the threshold.
/ Have you seen a man within the
convent precinctsT demands the alb
The young nuns head IS bowed.
NO she replies.
For one long moment the peue-
traung gaze of the Rbbess IS upon
her, then her wrist IS seized. and She
IS Jerl1ed out into the hall. The ab-
| DeSs enters and BEIGE CardillaC can
! even make a motion or draw his
| sword. her iron talOns are sunk in his
neck, and he is pressed, breathIess.
/ against the wall. while the elder
nuns rush I'm to the aid Of their
| chieftainess-
In less than five minutes CarduIac
Is tied stin and helpless; the trembling
young nun is dragged IN, and the two
are placed back 70 back, and they are
tiled rlgidly tcsvuner like a dOuble-faced
mummy. They stand there as inf7ex-
ible as a wooden statue, and as help
less. With vehement push Of her two
EIueWy hands the abbeSS impels the
breathing mummies with a crash TO the
door. She draws the door shut and
sends for the masons, who are already
ItL WDIh DN lhlCluEnt repairing the
breach ut the convent entrance. There
under the stern personal command of
the aDbeSS, the maEOps with stone and
/ mortar seal the doorway and plaster
over their work until il takes on "a
Isemblancc of the corridor wall. When
the plasteriug Is Try there is painted
on 81 I'm black letters, Mali principu
Imalus fms
Thirty years later, when the cell IS
broken open, during some convent re-
pairs, two skeletons are found upon
9 the floor"
oh lord"' cried Pol, 81 am glad
2 have but to go a short league to the
r lights and sounds or BeauEcuCy. What
- ] need at the moment f. jOvial crew
7 / in a wine shop, a large, fun fagOU IN
my hand. L shall dream Of that story.
What would you do, Francois. # to-
{ might on your journey 20 Blois you en-,
{ lcountered De CardulaC and mademot
, sCNe2'
Il should glance IN every direction
to see that no one was looking. and
Ithen ] should help them TO escape"
= so would ], by -, Peters keys
q Adieu, Francois"
! thdicu. Pol