The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1914-12-03

the great, cold halfway OF the ihOh
/ as.ery 10 watch the monks march past
/ on their way to the rcfectory They
/ came slowly. pacing by twoS. with
/ their heads bowed, trcadinG uoisrIeSSiy
/ with sandalcd feet upon the rough
! stone flags As the procession slowly
filed past. Eyres suddenly ErIppcd Gil
! liam by the arm. Look" he whisper
I cd. eagerly, lat the one just opposite
YOU uuw-the one on this side. with his
! hand at his waiSt-if that isn't Johnny
| Rellchambers then | never saw him.!
Gillian saw and recognized the lost
! glass Of fashion
What the deuce" said he. wonder
/ ingly. rs old Bell doing here? Tommy,
/ II surely can't be he! Never heard OF
! Bell having a turn for the religious
! Fact is, I've heard him say things
! when n four in hand didn't seem 10 tie
/ M Just right that would bring him up
for court martial before any church"
Its Bell, without a doubt" said
Eyres, firmly. "or I'm pretty badly in
need Of an OcuiSt. But think of Johnny
Bellchambers. the royal high chancel-
! Tor Of swell toys and the mahatml of
pink teas. up here in cold storage doing
penance in a snuff colored bathrobe!'
Brother Cristofer was appealed to
for information. BY that time the
monks had passed into the refectory
He could not tell to which one they
referred. Bellchambers All. the
brothers of St Gondrau abandoned
their worldly names when they took
the vows Did the gentlemen wish TO
speak with one of the brothers? If
they would come TO the refectory and
indicate the one they wished TO see.
the reverend abbot in authority would.
doubtless, permit It
Eyres and Gillian went into the din.
ing hall and pointed out TO Brother
CriStofer the man they had seen. Yes
II was Johnny Bellchambers. They
saw his face plainly now, as he sat
among the dingy brothers, never look
ing up. eating broth from a coarse.
brown bowl.
Permission to speak to one of the
brothers was granted to the two trav-
eers by the abbot, and they waited in
reception room for him to come
When he did come. treading softly in
his sandals. both Eyres and Gillian
looked at him in perplexity and aston
ishment 1t was Johnny Bellchambers,
but he had a different look. Upon his
smooth shaven face was an expression
of ineffable peace, of rapturous attain
ment, of perfect and complete happi.
ness. His form was proudly erect, his
eyes shone with a serene and gracious
light He was as neat and well groom
ed as In the old New York days. But
how differently was he clad! Now he
seemed clothed I'm but a single gar
ment, long robe of rough brown
cloth gathered by a cord at the waist
and falling in straight, loose folds
nearly to his feet He shook hands
with his visitors with his old ease and
grace of manner. IL there was any
embarrassment in that meeting II was
not manifested by Johnny Bellcham,
bers. The room had no seats They
stood to converse.
uIdu u see yOu. Olu uldu, sdlu
Eyres somewhat awkwardly. WASN'T
expecting to find you up here Not g
bad idea. though. after all Society's
an awful sham. Must be a relief t
shake the giddy whirl and retire to-el
contemplation and er-prayer and
hymns and those things"
"Oh. cut that. Tommy" said Bell
, chambers cheerfully. Don't be afraid
that I'll pass around the plate. In
Brother Ambrose here. with Just ter
minutes to talk to you fellows. That.
, rather a new design In waistcoats yor
, have on, isn't It, Gillian? Are they
wearing those things on Broadway
nowY"
a ITS the same old Johnny" said Gil
liam joyfully. What the DEVIL meal
why Oh. confound it! What did you
: do 1t for, old manT'
= "Peel the bathrobe." pleaded Eyres
> almost tearfully, land go back with us
The old crowd'll 60 wild to see you
, This isn't in your line, Bell ! know
half dozen girls that wore the willow
|, on the quiet when you shook US in tina
:. unaccountable way. Hand In your res
ignation, or get dispensation. or what
ever you have to do to get a releas
from this ice factory. You'll get ca
tarrh here, Johnny. and My God, 70
haven't any socks onr'
Bellchambers looked down at his sar
: daled feet and smiled
y you fellows don't understand" b
:. said soothingly. Its nice Of You {
want me to go back. but the old lif
o will never know me again. l hav
Is reached here the goal of all my amb
e tons. l am entirely happy and col
tented Here l shall remain for the RI
J. mainder OF my days. You see this rob
n that wearT Beilchambers caressin,
IS ~ touched the straight hanging gal
IS ment AT last have found somethin
g. that Will not bag at the knees. hav
II attained"-
o At that moment the deep boom OF III
,; great brass bell reverberated throug
d the monastery. II must have been
d summons to immediate devotions, Il
% Brother Ambrose bowed his hea,
d turned and left the chamber withor
Il another word.
/ nd 20