Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-21

WNGW by the bench in the garden, and re-
NZNW NAMED absolutely silent in that atti-
~ NN "a tude. Her companion started, then
w rose hastily to her feet and murnured
M the customary prayer that those
Qk9 three notes of bell demanded.
Sister Christina resumed her seat
and kept her eyes fixed upon the figure kneeng the
dew covered grass, which still statue Sister
Christina dress of white wooden material with
very loose sleeves gimp that rose to her chn INLET
that descended to her eyes, and ve1l also OF Wnte
Her companion wearing dress idenhcaly the same,
only in black.
summer evening moved the leaves of the trees. The
sound of womens voices that chanted the offices came
family from with black shutters over its VIM
dows and stanchions across the shutters.
Sister Agatha rose at last and sat down beside the
other She said word but appeared to be buried IN
some profound ecstasy mysterious dream. But
then She had spoken no word, murmured no whisper,
for two years. Her heavy black veil had filled her world
with night; and no knew what passed in her mind,
for she had taken of eternal silence And in that
ouietness in that gloom Sister Agatha lived her days
Of prayer and visions
A blaze of summer lightning illumined the sky, in
which the last of sunset disappearing In
that electric sheen the bell tower of the convent sill
houetted for second then merged again with the creep
ing shadows.
entered her veins She touched her companion on the
me, should like to tell you something"
Sister Agatha inclined her head.
Tomorrow must take the black veil, or-or say
goodby to the convent shall stay, know; but first
but first she stopped for she was quite breathless
with some emotion which her speech had caused which
srangled her Il should like to tell you what
happened to me before came here"
Sister Agatha inclined her head again.
Her companion pressed her thin hands upon the
square-cut gimp that covered her heavng bosom, and
then she went speaking, in sentences that at first
were ncoherent but gradually became controlled.
THERE is no one here who lives near to God as
you," she said. Il need your advice sorely. Your
soul is pure as flame There is here who crucifes
herself as you Sister should be like you could
dared. not afraid of the haircloth, or the long
watch of the Perpetual Alteration or the open CELL but
makes my poor heart ache all day and all night! 1t is
terrible passion that sent here to this retreat which
provoked crime, and from which cannot fee If you
have ever loved, you will understand me.
Il have lived twenty three years From eighteen to
twenty-one art student in Vienna. was poor
them and occupied one room on street near the Arse
nal. That the happeSt time OF my life, because at
the Museum College they spoke well of me, and be-
cause in that house by the Arsenal met Philip Ro-
manesco.
aPhilp was the son of poor musician of Trest and
had come to Vienna to study music. He played the
violin in cafe orchestra and was hardly able to keep
body and soul together. His dark eyes which used to
shine so wonderfully in his pale lean face awed at
first; but afterward grew to love him. For his part
he adored me.
@He had a above mine, and often would pay
him visit. or he would come to me- and would listen
for hours to his playing for he would make his violin
speak his love even better than he himself and would
Esten fascinated carried away from myself by those in
expressbe melodies which would often turn my heart to
tears
Il loved him dearly; but at times almost fright
ened when felt how much l was to him. when l saw
that glow in his eyes which like the shining of Sister
Heenes face when she knees for hour before the
holy and prays for all the sins committed
on earth.
$50 three years passed. Perhaps it Philips love,
beyond which he could that stayed his advance
ment. perhaps his playing which divine to me
not appreciated by Others but he did not make
more money. Toward the end of the three years he
began to write symphony He very enthusiastic
about it. He would shut himself up for hours and hours.
/ was Jealous, and when showed it he answered that