St. Mary's beacon., 1857-09-10

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rance around the foundation and covered
the whole shell with thick impenetra-
bic network. But for the jagged ends
of broken rafters revealed by the surging
of the wiud, it would have been taken
for an enormous tumulus of briar.
Coade, pushing aside with his staff the
thorny net work which curtaineG the
doorway, entered the chapel like some
animal seeking his lair, and by the moon
light which streamed down through the
cbasms Of the roof. took rapid survey
of his resting place.
The internal structure of the chapel
was an oblong arch, like a Saracenic
temple. The floor was paved with square
slabs of fine Italian marble, each bearing
some seriptural device or inscription
They we're said to have been presented
to Cecelius, the 2d Lord Baltimore, by
The then reignipg pontiff. Urban the 9Th,
or some Italian prince. The purity of
their original quarry was proved by the
fact that after 48 years Of neglect they
glittered in the moonbeams like fresh
4 driven snow, forming singular contrast
to the dark and mouldering RUINS above
and around them.
! On the east gable and on each side of
/ the altar platform, two marble tablets
were let into the wall. One bore the
inscription, Leonardus Calvert fecit,
1885," the other Johannes Altman, 81
j.. dedicavir, 1885," The floor of the
chapel was not covered With pews, bench
es or seats as churches were at later
date. The congregation either stood or
knelf, as they continue to do in Italy and
Spain at the present day. As Coade
sialked over the floor 10 select the spot
whereon he should make his bed, the
marble stiles under his feet gave tina;
hollow reverberating sound so peculiar
ito - sFasstsiAea By -groined arches.
\ XlTde felt supersttious awe Green
ovsashim as he covered down in an an
gle of the wall. through the riffs oil
which the creeping briar worked its way
and formed hanging mass which con-
cealed him while he was enabled to see
and observe all around him. Stretching
himself out at full length, in the full re-
sleep, but sleep came not.
Cosde was never tired, nor so super
] stitious as the majority of mankind In
bis days. He had that species of ami.
! NAL courage so characteristic of men oi
strong muscles, steady nerves, full con.
fidepce in their personal prowess, skill
, full use Of weapons and vehement i'm.
: pulsive temper, the same which gave
the Paladins and Troubadours their un'
. ique position in the military annals o.
! the middle ages. But the solemn and
mystic silence which followed the sound
} of his footsteps az they died away in {
: hollow, trembling and vibrating moan
, the awful terrors which popular super
: stition had invested the place, to which
{ the grotesque shadows of broken ma
: sonry, splintered iimbers, waving masses
: of briar as they intercepted the light o
the moon. gave a species OF material re-
ality. The host of by-gones recollec
? tions, evoking memories of deeds which
| he wished in the anguish Of his spiri
e had been left undone, rus hing and crowd
ing upon him, concentrating his past life
1 into moment, all these threw him int
{ that state of feverish wakefulBess which
: sometimes happen to men who have &C
ciGentalIy been ovcrworked or fatigued.
"Yes," said he, raising himself up
' throwing the weight Of his body upor
his elbow and resting his head in th'
2 palm of his hand. '.thIs truly is my Car
2 thage. where every fragment reads m;
a a requiem of retarniess hope and BLASTED
] expectations; where every sound toll
e memory's funeral bell for The last hear
: of aaisspent li(e, misguided ambition
q broken sword and fallen star. There
! beyond this mouldering pile. lie th'
2 charred timbers and sadden ashes of th'
schoof-house, where pious priest, II
( charity for ragged and dirty urchin il
! whom he saw, or though: he saw, soin,
!. sparks OF that FIRE men call genius, open
D ed TO bis young eyes the history of pas
$ ages and races, and gave him what fsv
] were able to purchase---the education
4 which raised him above his class. Tha
: ragged boy became strong man--emu
lous of the role Of Titns Ostes--swor'
that priests life away. Never shall
: forget tllatsook Of fsorsow--Rot ofanger--
/ he cast upon me as he sscended The scaf
T fold. Oh, Cod il siiag> me now that
did NOT nnsay that false OATH but had
done 50. John Coade, the natural son o
some unnatural mother. would neyel
have been high sheriff Of Sf. Mary
4 county. Colonel Of militia, smemeef o
The House of Burgesses, and, lastly, cfse
!. of The Protestant revoIistiorrtf MaTyiand
ssIs Il the signing of II : sssiad infoasi
i this lonely aisIe. o. j. il some spirit .
that priest thas whispers ~ my ear IN
J, finale of he seniences you never wouis
have bessn > poer neglected Old man
. asking . pittsnce from those whom you