The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-03-04


"Oh, Palo! Is it your" she cried.
He took her hands in his and print
ed a fervent kiss upon her lips. Yes
Mercedes" he answered, 81 have come
back to see you n 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 a 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
flew into an awful rage.
Son." he said sternly, you will
never go near the miller's daughter
again. I shall give orders. If you
are caught there, you will be put In
prison. Remember, I mean what ]
say"
But Palo came again to see bis
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 a trip to
far off Spain, but he will be back
again in a 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 Plaza,
is it 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 a soldier. 81
arrest you Senor," he said.
The officers back was turned toward
her. An impulse, a flash, and 1t was
done. She had drawn the dagger from
her girdle and plunged it into his back
! He fell like a log. Palo shrank back
aghast. ...
If 1 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 he1
name spoken. Fleet as a deer, she
sped away, but before she had gone
a hundred yards, she was discovered
There was a shout and q 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.
Scratching the silver crucifx from
her girdle Sorice held It d~efantly into
the faces of the oncoming mob. They
recoiled from it as from a great re.
pellant force.
STOP" she cried, "she has taken
refuge with God. Would yot defle
the sanctuary Of the Lord?"
They looked into the calm, de-
termined face of Sister Sorice, and
one by one, skunk s~hamefacedly away.
Trembling, Mercedes wept out her
story to the sister, who, when she
heard it, wept with her.
MY child" said Sister Sorice, gent
ly putting her arm about Mercedes,
81 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
a good man took pity on it and adopt
ed it 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 at Mercedes
with infinite yearning. And you"
she continued at last, Has the miller
told you"
Mercedes looked at the sister In
surprise. "Told me what?" .
"You-you are-my-child."
Many years have passed since then.
One weary watcher has been laid to
rest, but there is a 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 a
voice. 1t is only the humming Of the
old bell and the echo of the Q~uavering
voices as they sing:
"Misereri mel Domini."
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub Coz