The Smuggler Chief

uences of the country in which it is professed; and while remaining the same fundamentally, the forms vary inf

ur readers will take the trouble to reflect, we doubt not bu

e a morose and mystical hue perfectly in harmony with what they see and feel. They are serious, sad, and severe, positive and material, because fog and cold remind them at every moment that they must think of themselves, take care

hology-Paganism, with its smiling images which deified vices and passions, with the gloomy and terrible worship of Odin in Scandin

of Teutates the principal cause of the mysteries which they celebrated? And, lastly, is not the benignity of the Greek mythology explained by the beaut

been, and still is, subjected to the action of the temperature of thos

usly celebrated in churches glittering with light, gold, silver, and precious stones, of interminab

t do not trouble themselves at all about theological discussions. They love God, the Virgin, and

uspect it, into a sort of Paganism, which does not account fo

they do not pray to Mary the Mother of our Saviour, but to Nuestra Se?ora de los Dolores, Nuestra Se?ora del Carmen, Nuestra Se?ora

at she is devoted to Nuestra Se?ora de la Sierra, because she is far

at Pilar, a worthy hacendero praying to God the Father to intercede for

serted by her lover, quick a mass to bring him back to her side; if a man wish to aven

m a meeting, never fails to pledge himself by a vow addressed to San Francisco or San Antonio to perform some pious deed, if the saint will consen

he Catholic religion is un

ks and nuns of every possible form, species, and colour, Franciscans, Benedictines, Genovevans, Barefooted Carmelites, Brothers of Mercy, Augustines, and many others whose names have escaped us. As will be easily understood, these religious communiti

they committed the mistake of alienating the inhabitants they would die of hunger in a fortnight. It is worth while seeing in Chili the extension given to the trade in indulgence

is precaution, he is plundered on the high road by the Salteadores, he does not fail on his return to go to the monk of whom he orde

id you expect to have for a peso? Ah, if you had been willing to pay a half ounce, we should have had the beadle, the cross, the banner, two choristers, an

he is in the wrong, and promising not

uncommon to see in a wine shop a fat monk with a red face and a cigarette in his mouth, merrily playing the vihuela as dance accompaniment to a loving couple whom he will confess n

largest profit possible, and does not at all compel t

the strangest of the incidents which we are about to record, that, in spite of the reproaches which the light conduct of the monks at times deserves-regard being had to the sanctit

all the Spanish convents; it is almost a small town, for it contains everything which may be useful and agreeable for life-a church, a hospital, a washhouse, a large kitchen garden, a shady and well-laid out park, reserved for the promenades of the nuns, and large cloisters lined with fresc

y be certain of finding a looking glass, and a few sacred pictures, occupy the principal space destined for necessary articles. In one corner of the room is visible, between a guitar and a scourge

are rare; the sisters are allowed to go into town and pay or receive visits; the rule is extremely gentle, and with the exception of the offices which they are expected to

horses, was reorganized as well as it could be; all the persons comprising it returned to their places so soon as the first alarm

the ranks were broken, and the nuns began chattering about the strange event which had suddenly interrupted them as they left the cathedral. Several of them were not

h other's arm, walked gently toward the most deserted part of the garden. They must have eagerly desired not to be disturbed in their private conversation,

water, whose completely motionless surface was as smooth as that of a mirror. No better place could have b

signed under their pure and exquisitely white wimple. The first was Do?a Maria de Souza y Soto-Mayor; the other was Do?

or she had felt on seeing herself almost trampled on by the smuggler's horse, or did

of the young la

you recovered from the terror whic

bed in secret thoughts, star

now; quite we

at, Maria! What is the ma

oung ladies took each other's hand, and wai

ch never failed them. They placed in a common stock, with the simple confidence of youth, their hopes and sorrows, their plans and dreams-brilliant winged dreams, which the convent walls would pitilessly break. They had no secret

acted indiscreetly in asking after your dear health

er companion tenderly; "and how wrong I am! Yes, I am suffering

use of so much terror!" Rosita cont

cavalier, for he has on his face such a nob

t him, sister?"

senses and opened my ey

sin to let a man see your face, and you must confess i

, and will

u had fainted, you could not prevent him raising your

y life!" Ma

bound to feel grateful to

can remember him

al to remember those who ha

nks, sister-thanks, sister: your words do me good, for I w

ne which rendered her ravishing, "you know that Mother Abbess dail

ht in giving him my scapular

give him that

d so affected, his glance was

er, and after the last words, entertained no dou

peaking so low that no other but the one for whom it wa

g you, my kind Rosita, is there a creature in the world that takes an interest in my fate, is happy at my smile or grieved at my tears? Have I ever known since the day when reason began to enlighten my heart, the ineffable sweetness of maternal caresses-those caresses which are said to warm the heart, make the sky look blue, the water mo

as terrified by this so true grief, and tried to restore her friend's

ce to God to complain so bitterly of t

an unknown light. Up to this day I have lived as the birds of the air live, without care for the morrow and remembrance of yesterday; and in my ignorance of the things which are accomplished outside these wa

that Rosita dared not interrupt her, and listened,

e; for I feel within me sensations which horrify me; shudders that traverse my whole being and cause me impossible suffering and pleasure. Oh, when that young man's hand touched mine this morning, I trembled as if I had seized a red-hot iron; when I regained my senses, and felt his breath on my face, I fancied that life was going to abandon me; and when I was obliged to leave him, it seemed to me as

tinge; her eyes flashed fire; her voice had assumed a strange accent of terror and passion; her bosom heaved wildly, an

ply poignant desolation, and seeking in vain by he

eventually succeeded the frenzy which had seized on Maria; and she was preparing, on her companion's entreaties, to return to

ing us, I thin

Maria continued; "what

sister, we will

hemselves in the presence of two or th

Mother Superior is asking after you, Maria; and w

nswered; "I will obey the

spered to her, with s

ide my feelings." And all returne