The Wahpeton times., 1913-09-18

n a ~ Palo approached
@ listening girl upon
"Oh, Palo! 10 It you?" she cried.
He took her hands In his and print.
cd fervent kiss upon her lips. "Yes.
Mercedes" he answered, Il have come
back to see you once again."
But but" she began.
mo, Chiquita. there is little dan.
ger. No one knows that I am here"
Out Of the convent window Sister
Sorice looked listlessly.
As she looked the two parted, and
Mercedes was left standing alone. She
was the daughter Of q miller, he the
son Of the governor Of the province
Of San Diego. Sister Sorice shook
her head sadly. Three months before
she had witnessed their first meeting.
When Palo went to his father and
confessed his love for Mercedes, he
few into an awful rage.
Son." he said sternly. 'you will
never 60 near the miller's daughter
again. I shall give orders. II you
are caught there, you will be put in
prison. Remember, mean what I
say"
But Palo came again to see his
Mercedes and Sister Sorice was watch.
ing from her high convent window.
Alas, he came to tell his sweetheart
that he is going away on q trip to
far of Spain, but he will be back
again In year, perhaps sooner. Will
she wait for him till then?
In the morning." he said, II may
see you again, tits for the last time by
the bridge that goes over the Plaza,
is 1t not so? Mia Carrissima!"
Tears came to the girls eyes as she
nodded her head. He kissed her and
went down the path. In the morning
she was waiting for him at the bridge
when Palo arrived. She was about
to fly into his arms. when. out from
the shrubbery stepped q soldier. Il
arrest you senor," he said.
The officers back was turned toward
her. An impulse, q flash, and It was
done. She had drawn the dagger from
her girdle and plunged it into his back.
He fell like log. Palo shrank back
aghast.
If am caught now" he cried.
But you will not. Go! Go! she
cried. in frenzy pushing him toward
the bridge. At the bridge she stop
ped. kiss me once," she cried. He
stopped and kissed her passionate
ly.
They parted and Mercedes began to
run quickly through the woods.
She saw people standing around the
body. She fancied she heard her
name spoken. Fleet as q deer, she
sped away. but before she had gone
. hundred yards, she was discovered.
There was q shout and q dozen start.
cd after her.
The silver bell Of the convent was
again ringing and she ran instinctively
towards the sombre sheltering walls.
She stumbled up the steps and fell
into the arms Of Sister sories.
enatching the silver cruciax from
her girdle eoriee held It deAantly into
tho facss Of the oncoming mob. They
reooiled from e % hom Z groat 70.
pellsnt force.
''stop," che cried, "she has taken
refuge with God. Would you dsdls
tho sanctuary Of tho Lord?"
They looked into the calm, Do.
termined taco Of Sister sorice, ana
ono BY one. skunk shamefacedly away.
Trembling. Mercedes wept out her
story to the sister. who. when she
heard It, wept with her.
my child" said Sister Sorice, gent.
y putting her arm about Mercedes,
II will tell you story. Twenty years
ago maiden bid her lover goodbye
By that little bridge down there. Wait
for me- he said. I viii return sooni'
But he did not, and soon the maid
took refuge In this convent to hide
her shame. 4 little girl WAS born and
. good man took pity On It and adopt.
ID It % his own, That maid, Mercedes,
was myself Foe twenty years have
looked down that road, watching for
the return Of my lover"
She paused and looked ct Mercedes
With Infinite yearning. "And you,"
she continued at last, HAS the miller
never told you"
Mercedes looked ct the sister {.
surprise. 'sTold mo What?n
"You-you are-my-child."
Many years have passed since then.
One weary watcher has been laid 70
rest, but there 10 sister still, With
snowy white hair and kind, wistful
face. who stands by the high little
window and looks out upon the road.
Perhaps she fancies she hears q
voice. It 10 only the humming Of the
old bell and the echo Of the quayeeins
voices - thay Sings
"0tDerori mel Domini"
fcoovriGht BY Daily Story Pub. co.l