Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-06-10

morse. She talked excitedly to him for
few moments, then She poured into
bis hand the bag OF gold and notes she
mad won at the gaming table
The young man kissed her affection
atcly whilst the monks hand was
placed ON her head in token Of blessing.
Sergius saw it all He tottered as if
intoxicated. He waited about in the
fields. Was it in the hope of seeing her
again? If so, what would he say 10 her
what questions would he ask
She came out of the chapel some two
/ OF three hours later. the hooded monk
closing the heavy doors after her and
walked rapidly in the direction of the
city.
It was almost broad daylight, and
presently from the monastery chapel a
soft-toned bell began to toll the An
gelus.
Olga paused; like all Poles. she was
deyout Catholic, and she stood in the
middle of the field to say her morning
prayer to the Virgin Mary, while from
within the chapel, now distant. came
family the monotonous chant of the
monks.
One moment he almost hoped she
would speak, and look OF entreaty-
an entreaty for faith and trust-for an
instant softened the set expression in
her eyes. She seemed to listen in the
distance to the monks still chanting and
praying to her who never sinned
Il have nothing to say" she said; 1T
would be best if you would leave me
now"
Their Sergius let 90 her hand and
walked away
But she, now left alone. for a while
watched his retreating figure. 1t al
most seemed as if she could not let him
60.
How Sergius Kousmenski spent the
remainder of that day he scarcely knew.
But, even with an aching heart and a
throbbing brain, duty must be gone
through and Sergius lived through that
weary day-and waited for the night.
When all was dark and quiet again
within the city walls, Sergius Kous-
menski went out-out, through the
gates, across the fields, beyond which
/ lay that convent chapel bathed in the
moonlight
He pushed open the heavy paneled
door. which was never closed on those
who wished to enter for rest, meditation
or prayer The little chapel at first
seemed quite deserted, and Sergius
paused wondering, till presently, at the
foot OF the altar to the Virgin, he spied
the Trappist kneeling.
The convent rules are rigid, Sergius
knew. From the day that the final
VOWS are taken, the Trappist monks
| lips are sealed forever; complete silence
shuts them ont from all intercourse with
mankind, and that silence may only be
broken in order to give the prescribed
greeting to, each other as they pass.
"AIomento mort" All other words NAV
only be addressed to God or His saints
in prayer.
Sergius knew this, and yet he crossed
the chapel aisle, and, touching the knee-
ling monk on the shoulder. he said:
Father, | would speak with YOU
"Memento mon,'' muttered the monk
half audibly
Monk, whoever thou art" said Ser
| gus, IF thou art a man, answer me,
| mat dost thou know of Olga
| He might as well have been talking
| to one of the stone images round the
chapel walls The monk remained silent
and prayed.
| Then the untamed Tartar blood rushed
wildly in Sergius' head He looked with
| eyes OF hatred at the fanatic monk. and,
/ drawing short dagger from his belt he
let it glimmer in the low lamplight
What did Olga do in this chapel last
! night?" he missed in the monks ear
Remember man, thy life is in my
| hands"
| The monk looked at the knife with
contempt, at Sergius with pity
'Memento mort was the sole answer
| He made no attempt to defend his life
but, when he felt the stab and felt his
| blood beginning to flow, with his hands
and his robe he tried to stanch the
wound, so that he should not polute
the Virgins altar But his lips remained
sea ed to the end To the end the Trap
Ipist had kept his vow.
| Sergius took hin up in his arms. hor-
Iror struck at what he had done. and
carried him out of the chapel to the lit
| tie cemetery beyond He laid the monk
| in one of the graves, and he lnelt by
its side and recited some prayers for
the dead Then he left him. and walked
away across the fields
| 1t was a cruel time that now followed
| A fresh Polish conspiracy had been dis
covered, and his eXcellency, Sergius
Kousmenski the governor. was more
lpitiless than ever toward those that fell
into the clutches of the police
A woman one olga Kriwenko by
name, was implicated in the plot Many
an influential person pleaded for her
life, bat the governor refused to listen
and ordered that she should be shot the
next morning. along with the others, and
he also ordered that the Angelus should
be rung from the Trappist convent
chapel at the hour of their death.
And when night came he wandered
once more toward the convent chapel.
Nothing seemed altered in the peaceful
| little house OF God \ monk was it
the same was kneeling before the al
tar. Sergius sat in the chapel he knew
not how long.
The chapel seemed oppressive He
wandered ont and into the little GENE
terry toward the spot where that open
grave had been that night. which now
bolJ the ho1v of Tho T,,auf,i.t ,vbo