The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-06-28
D. -. s.....s....X
n The Garden of
A Forgetfulness

By CECIL MAR

the convent of st. Ursula and fell on
the peaceful face of the Reverence
Mere, who sat at one side Of the pol
ished oak table, talking to Baron Du-
mont. He was tall man of about
thirty-eight and sat with his right arm
encircling the figure Of little girl
who stood beside him and whose arm
was round his neck.
"EveIine and l." he was saying to
Reverence Mere, have not been part
ed for one day since her mother died
five years ago. / am intrusting her
now to you In Difference to her MOTH
er's wish; she will be seven years oIo
next month, and II she Is happy here
| should like her to remain until she
| is old enough to take her mothers
place at the head Of my household.
wish her to return to me every year
for the. summer holidays and | want
to be allowed to come and see her
here at least once in every month.
Will this be permitted?
The Reverende Mere rose. saying:
"If you will excuse me for few mo-
ments will consult our director, Pere
Estye, in the matter, and ! Will re-
turn and communicate his decision to
you"
AS the door closed upon her the
child flung her other arm round her
fathers neck and said, Don't leave
me here at all; don't want to stay.
He took her on his knees and strok-
ed back her long fiaxen hair. murmur-
Ing, "If you are not happy here l
will take you away after the first two
months, See; I suppose these are
some OF your schoolfellows. They
sound happy enough" he added, lead
Ing her to the window.
Merry voices rang out In the garden
beyond as a troop of girls varying
from six to fifteen years of age ran
past. They were all dressed In white,
their Sunday uniform, and were laugh
Ing gayly and paying but little heed
to the expostulations of the nun in
charge, who begged them to moder-
ate their transports as they passed
the parlor.
Reverende Mere here returned and
said to Baron Dumont:
"In view OF the exceptional condi-
lions Of your case, Monsieur le Baron,
we have decided that you may spend
the first Sunday OF every month here
with Eveline. And now" she added.
noticing his quick flush Of pleasure,
"as this Is the first Sunday OF Eve
lines new life no doubt you would
like to stay and help initiate her in
1T In o quarter of an hour the chill
dren who have Just passed the WIN
dow will be at mass. There is
strangers pew If you care to attend
the service"
The little chapel was full when
Baron Dumont and his daughter were
ushered through a side door into the
tall pew. It was shut off by a parti-
ton, and the inmates could see with
out being seen except by the choir,
which was stationed in the gallery
near the organ loft to the right.
As the man sat there feeling OF
old world repose stole over his senses.
From the open window opposite the
!, AGENT OF lilac and syringa fioated. to
! him across the altar to the left. The
long benches each side of the aisle
, we're filed with white robed figures
/. kneeling reverently and telling theii
beads. Two nuns, rosary in hand
paced up and down observing the chill
, Allied the little building as the priest
, advanced for service.
, Baron Dumont did not move, Pic
| lures Of the past seemed to float be
fore him In the perfumed clouds. He
saw himself once more In his old
home Drawing the anger of his father
, who threatened to disinherit him II
he persisted in his idea Of marrying
Eveline Hezeau, his first love. He
lived once more the impassionet
, scenes in which he vainly strove tc
, persuade Eveline to fly with him. ant
felt anew his despair at her refusa
, and subsequent disappearance. Al
) home, locked in his desk. there still
! lay the little note in which she told
|, forever. She loved him too well Il
\ ruin It. He had been mere boy a
! the time, and had not married unit
r he was nearly thirty. The two year,
OF his married life had not been hap
/. by, but his wife had been an excellen
!. chatelaine. and his little Eveline hat
| consoled him for much.
y He dreamed on. The chanting o
r the priests seemed far away, and thu
, fresh. childish voices which rose IL
? response to the litanies belonged II
| the sunshine and flower scents OF THU
' lovely spring morning. Suddenl,
: something leaped up within him ant
his heart seemed to stand still as The
!. sonorous organ notes swelled out ant
E above them rose the sound OF won
4 ans voice:
y Mater purissima, mater castissima
. mater dolorosa. ora pro nobis."
. His head turned involuntarily to tn,
r gallery, where the sunlight fell on |
4 woman's face which was encircled b.
5 the white guimpe and black veil. TIL.
D man gazed and listened as II spell
/; bound. The rapt expression. the hol,
z calm of her face. the voice tina
q seemed to ring the knen of his youth
shook the very foundations OF his be
ing, Tears stole down his cheek
as he fell on his knees In the shadow
of the tall pew while the sweet voic,
: sang on in higher and higher cadence
. How long he knelt he never knew
/. but by and by he was conscious OF ,
y little hand stealing into his and III
: tie face pressed to his arm as Ev,
. lines voice whispered. "Everybod
has gone: are We not going. too?"
; The little chapel was empty. and b
, went into the garden holding the chill
. by the hand.
, They crossed graveled path b.
tween some yew trees. and from on
OF the turnings nun with sweet
peaceful face and downcast eyes wa
coming toward them. She did no
look up as she passed. but walked Of
as II In deep meditation.