Glories of Spain

p seated-Bewitching appearance-Se?ora dramatic-Ernesto-Marriage a lottery-Every cloud its silver lining-Gerona en fête-Delormais' mission-Deceptive appearances-Evils of conscription-Ernesto's ambition

Not peace but a sword-Not dead to the world

d work was suspended. The shops were open, but no one attempted to make purchases. Even our industrious little lady with the idle husban

in a procession of three. Delormais had duly administered his homily; and after so strangely opening his heart had gone into the town to prosecute his mission. Whether

ject in visiting Gerona were ecclesiastical

than a secret of the confessional. Just now when I promised to relate to you a part of my life I was offering you of my own. No one has a right to stay me. My experiences injure none. I might publish them to-morro

ed. "Before arriving we looked upon it as a deserted village, the ends of the ea

oblest heart, and a silken doublet cover the bosom of a Judas. Confess," laughing, "that when I took my seat next to you just now you voted me intrusive; said to yourself: 'Why does this old man

ering is misanthropical," we replied. "Not physical but heart pain brings out the sy

d tones. "That is only a general experience. And now I go my way. If all be well, we meet again at dinner. Ah! I n

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other content to follow in the Divine footsteps of humility and love; satisfied with a limited horizon; doing good by precept and example but asking no wider sphere than his little world. Yet in his way capable of influencing human hearts; of stirring up enthusiasm in a great crusade if only the torch of ambition inflamed his

T IN

tige of him remained. Whether he had gone right or left we knew not. The place was deserted. Looking upwards nothing was visible but outlines of the rare old houses. Here and there a gabled roof and dormer win

ir. Again the mantilla was being gracefully arranged. The lady-very properly-h

the town. It comes with all its shows and shoutings; distracts our attention; we may as well close the shutters for

she adjusted the folds of her mantilla more becomingly, and looking across a

idently just then thought the attractions of the fair far more i

umpets all sold. These are eternal and inexhaustible, like the snows of the Sierra. Oh! youth, youth, with all its capa

he was under a delusion:

more like his sister than his mother. Ahimé! If I had only waited a few years longer I might have chose

every cloud has

s a consolation. He is fond of swords and trumpets, but never shall be a soldier. I have long had the money put by for a su

lier hours of the morning and the appointmen

on, madame, which to-day seems to be runnin

on here, who has been carefully brought up, should suddenly be thrown under the influence of the worst and vilest of mankind-no, it is impossible to avoid disaster. So, Erne

his choice, and possibly a successful one, for he seemed to inherit his mother's energy with her dark eyes and brilliant colouring. But for the moment the fair and the fair only was the object of his desir

in into the boy's hand and bade him buy his mother a fairing and himself chestnuts and ambitions. "But after all, the pleasure

oad. To him the world was still a paradise, and his mother at the head of all good angels. Les beaux jours de la vie-short-lived,

raight, well-knit form and light footstep. As they disappeared round the corner leading to the noisy scene of action, a quiet figure issued from be

hed, turning to H.

ed. "There could not be t

one w

poke to her; felt we knew her-had known her long. Anselmo'

ssion. Hers was the face of one whose life is turned steadily heavenwards, to whom occasionally, whether waking or sleeping, a momentary glimpse of unseen glories is vouchsafed, one whose daily work on earth is that of a ministering spirit. As far as it is possible or permitted here, Rosalie bore the evidence of a perfect and unalloyed life that had never looked back o

voted to Anselmo," we said, without waiting to choose our words. "There coul

to Anselmo. There is no past tense for our affection, se?or,

f-possession never for a moment forsook her, though in our rashness we mi

eir careers would have been very different, but never otherwise than pure and holy. As we spoke to her a slight colour mounted to her pale, lovely

salie, and in my dreams am Rosalie of the days gone by. Sometimes my mother visits me in those dreams and calls me Rosalie. If we retain our

ing and parted at mid-day. As the clock struck twelve we stood

never within many yards of me but seen or unseen I know it

de by side with the histories of Paul and Virginia, Abelard and Hélo?se

I; and the possession is for ever. You think it strange to hear a Sister of Mercy talking of love in this calm and passionless way," she smiled. "You imagine me cold and severe. You do not believe that I have feelings deep as the sea, wide as eternity. It is true that my love for Anselmo is only the love we should all bear towards each other; but for him it is supreme and exalted above all words. In my dreams he comes

have given up? the right of calling Anselmo husband? the sacrifice of

CLOISTER

ank Heaven for the power it gave me. Had I married Anselmo, he would have become my religion; my heart's best affection given to him, Heaven would have come second. I know and feel it. And we know Wh

, and could never change. One rarely meets any

sick-room, at the bedside of the dying. The difference in the ministrations is wonderful. The very entrance o

rd and judged everything through her own nature; and to the

better part," we said. "Your life i

y of it. What higher mission or greater privilege could there be? I am constantly at the bedside of the sick, assisting the last moments of the dying, helping to restore oth

atory?" For of course Ros

ly be going to torment. If there be a transition state, it is one of bliss and holiness, where the soul

first conditions of their faith. Anselmo believes not in confession, you

ul how we think alike in all great matters. This morning I had the privilege of a long conversation with Père Delormais, who is staying for a week here. There, indeed, is a broad-minded Churchman who ought to be Pope of

who read and follow Fénélon will hardly go wrong.

red little. He cared not whether a soul worshipped within or without the Church of Rome. Would that all errors could be swept away and we were

e. Until then it is not to be peace but a sword. The bitteres

's friends, therefore mine. Do not think my heart closed to all human interests because I wear a religious garb and go through life as Sister Anastasia, ministering to the sick and dying. On the contrary, I take pleasure in all the worldly concerns of my friends. I like to hear of their being married and given in marriage. Nothing delights me more than the sight of a happy home and dev

et graceful motion; an angel of merc

C., following her with all his susceptible nature in his eyes. "

ve found their vocation. Both are happy, and we cannot doubt it is Heaven's ordering. T

Genii both str

guidance man

ed where on

her doth en

f the lovely o

of the loathl

d they married it might have been all sorrow and suffering. No, best as it is. Their sto