The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gray Nun, by Nataly Von Eschstruth

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Title: The Gray Nun

Author: Nataly Von Eschstruth

Translator: Lionel Strachey

Release Date: October 27, 2007 [EBook #23220]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRAY NUN ***

Produced by David Widger

THE GRAY NUN

By Nataly Von Eschstruth

Translated from the German by Lionel Strachey

When I was a young man I once made a foreign journey, betaking myself to
the royal court of X. on affairs of state. In those days politics would
take strange turns, not of unmixed delight, and so it happened that my
mission was prolonged well into the winter, and kept me at X. until the
carnival season. But at this I did not repine, for to pass a winter in
a beautiful climate and amid the fascinating society of a court seemed a
welcome change to my enthusiastic, pleasure-loving young soul.

The reigning sovereign had a predilection for masked balls,--a
traditionally favorite amusement at the palace, I was told--and
accordingly several fancy dress festivities were enacted on the royal
premises during the carnival. The first I was unable to participate in
because of an inflamed eye, and therefore awaited the second with all
the keener anticipation.

In the becoming costume of a Prussian officer in the army of Frederick
the Great, and with the agreeable sensation of being specially well
disguised beneath my mask and safe from recognition, I mingled in the
gay throng of the dancers and enjoyed to the full the charm of the
brilliant and delicious event. An exquisitely graceful little water-nix
had conquered my heart. The champagne was bubbling in my blood, and
in wild spirits I was pursuing the fleeing Undine into an adjacent
apartment.

Suddenly I stopped as though spellbound, and found myself staring into
a pair of dark eyes, black as night, which were rigidly fixed upon me.
Standing aloof, in a corner of the room, I saw a nun. Her long gray
garment reached to the ground, and lay about her very feet in folds like
a train. Her arms hung straight down, the hands being concealed in the
loose sleeves. White linen bands covered