The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1913-10-23

Listening girl upon
the arm.
"Oh, Palo! 10 It you?" she cried.
He took her hands In his and print
ed fervent kiss upon her lipA Yes.
Mercedes" he answered. Il have come
back to see you once again"
But but" she began.
mo, ChiQuita, there 10 little dan.
ger. No one knows that l am here."
Out Of the convent window Sister
Sorice looked listlessly.
AZ she looked the two parted, and
Mercedes was left standing alone. She
was the daughter Of miller, he tho
son Of the governor Of the province
Of San Diego. Sister sorice shook
her head sadly. Three months before
che had witnessed their frst meeting.
When Palo went to his father and
confessed his love for Mercedes, ho
few into an awful rage.
Son." he said sternly, "you will
never 60 near the miller's daughter
again. shall give orders. II you
are caught there, you will be put in
, prison. Remember, I mean what
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. VIII
she wait for him till then?
In the morning." he said, II may
see you again, it's for the last time by
the bridge that goes over the Plaxa.
:, is 1t not so? Mia Carrissima!"
/! Tears came to the girls eyes az 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, fash, and it wai
done. She had drawn the dagger from
her girdle and plunged it into his back
He fell like log. Palo shrank bach
aghast.
If l 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 a deer, she
sped away, but before she had gone
hundred yards, she WAS discovered.
There was a shout and a dozen start.
ed 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 Sorice.
SnAtching the silver crucifix from
ner girdle Sorice held 1t deAantly into
the faces Of the oncoming mob. They
recoiled from It as from q great re-
pellant force.
STOP" she cried, "she has taken
refuge with God. Would you de6le
the sanctuary Of the Lord?"
They looked into the calm, de-
termined face Of Sister Sorice, and
one 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.
~ putting her arm about MercedeA
II will tell you a story. Twenty years
ago a maiden bid her lover goodbye
by that little bridge down there. Wait
for me- he said. I will return soon!'
But he did not. and soon the maid
took refuge In this convent to hide
her shame. A little girl was born and
q good man took pity on it and adopt
ed 1t as his own. That maid. Mercedes.
was myself. For twenty years have
looked down that road. watching for
the return Of my lover"
She paused and looked 1T Mercedes
with infinite yearning. And you,' -
she continued at last, HAS the miller
never told you"
Mercedes looked at the sister n
surprise. Told me what?"
"You-you are-my-ehild."
Many years have passed since then.
One weary watcher has been laid to
rest, but there is . sister still, with
snowy white hair and kind, vistful
face. who stands by the high little
window and looka out upou the road.