The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-15
IN THE ABBoT'S SEAT.

.en,ed lfleness, Frank Csrcw lay on the
hillside above the ruined Aboey OF FurBess,
and wandered the embodimeut In canvas
and pipmeu,s OF the fauciee With which The
lime sunset had inspired hsu. For three
Of the brightest OF summer weeks the Young
AR. A. had occupied himself In multiply.
Ing sketches Of the Abbey ruins, uuu'
scarcely feature OF tlrew beautiful decay
but was lodged in bis portfolio. The chapet
was there, roohess, wiutowless. us auss
gone, grass clasping closely the lew srase-
stones that renamed; oar as malssto ~. ~ We
Jesa,nsion as ever 1t had looked IN those
Ssxs az Catholic prosperity when the Cister-
c,ao ,pcuks OF Furpess chantcd prayers fef
The souls parted from that dust over when
their feet were treadtng.
Carew iay dreamiuely under bis favorNe
fr,e. looking down on the gray stiiincss
Of the Abbey, aud trying TO give substance
"a the shadowy fapcies that connected
Themselves Ia his mind with the cawing OF
The black choristers opposite. Al length DE
started up with an exclamation.
al nave it, have IL. Time, midnight !;
the moon st its brightest; the ghost OF %a
King Harry Just stealing into the chapel
and a crowd OF rocks percbed on the seah'a.
and cawing curses on the robber VINO iett
the central niche OF The three seats empty
Of an Abbot. king Harry the Eighth
Visiting The Abbey OF Furness.' III nay
RIGHT hand remembers IFS cunning, III hotd
my own in the Academy next May"
downward scramble among trees.
bushes. and bits OF eruDblipg masonry,
and Carew crossed the arch into the ruins.
A light laugh struck upon his ear,
He sprang up the wall, and looked To-
ward the sediIia. Apparently the scene
actuaIiy revealed was more sailsihc'o'.
Than that for which the laugh bad prepared
him. for he at once leaped down into The
chanel and walked toward the stone steps
20 his left.
A figure in no way ghostly had already
risen fpom the central niche OF the three
WON recesses that still adorn the ruined
chapel of Furness; and, with great brown
ewes bent sbyly on the intruder, seemed
doubtful whether 10 remain or not. lhis
successor 10 The Abbots OF old days wore as
unplelendipgly tasteful dress Us an
English girl of eighteen summers con'd
figure in, and had a face OF the order thsl
one hesiates whether 10 call plain or hahu-
some, and ends by prononnclng slgnaliy
attractive a Madonna done IN marble
might have had those tintless cheeks and
tia, look OF seriousness.
80 il was YOU that laughed, Miss Mar
IL.
such sweet sounds on the Abbey CHESTS.
Ipiotest III paint you MS Medusa, il you 90
on keeping tryst and making merry with
the Furness ghosts, while everyday mortals
like Frank Carew can't get so much rs Il
smile from you"
1--WE known Furness, and its ghosts,
and its legends. ever since was old enough
10 walk from our cottage 10 the runs"
said the girl somewhat coldly. Mr. Carew
and have only been acquaintance Tor Il
msitcr OF three weeks past
"Tbe pleasautest weeks IN Mr.. Carews
life | was thinking TO have ended my
stay here in another three weeks or so !;
but something the Abbey spectres Whisper
ed 10 me Just before / intruded on you
inclines me TO make the three weeks three
months. Will you be as hospitabe as your
friends the ghosts!"
SHOW hospilablei"
"WilI you join with them inviting me to
remain Z"
"Oh nc"
The negative was so disdainful, and the
Girl turned away with so abrupt a haughti-
ness, that she was at the further END OF the
chapel before Carew had sufficiently re-
covered from his establishment TO stir
tongue or foot. Ia the twilight glowed for
single instant the apparition OF dark-olue
dress, a pale cheek, and certain dark curls
falling with graceful decOrum on the whitest
Of necks; then sunlight aud the shadow IN
question faded away together, and within
and without the ruins all was blank and
gray.
Carew walked toward the sedila, and sat
down here the departed apparitlon had,
ten minutes earlier, been mediiating.
He sat for few minutes thinking silently,
queer expression OF mischief and per-
pexity working 10 eve and lip. That barb
ed little arrow OF No eyideBtey ranked in
his mind.
"Doesn't care for the society OF mortals.
suppose. The girl has lived with ruins and
leg, nds lill she is sort OF embodied dream
herself. IL were Rip Van Wrinkle, or one
OF the Seven Sleepers. l might win era-
cious word from her; but being an every
day piece OF humanity her gOddess-sbip
scorns me. Such 40 from q mouth Of
eighteen summers: In paint that face
Pll-"
"Mrs. waif.- said CareW to .bis'l0ndlsdy,
when the psir met next morning in the
spacious gardea attached To the cottage
where he w2s stayi@g, "a think your
.dau gh,er has The straugest look ever saw
on any gitl's face. Where on earth did
q he pick e ap."
ain Futuess here. Mr.. C&ew. The lass
has lived all Der hfe but the Grst four'ye
lie this very hStlte; and the old ru;n is
.ah2sost all ike paaymates ske ever had.
When Maggie @as scarce high enough 10
sclin.b isto The Aabqrs Seat she wonid sit
by the be;ar uGdar tie stone dragons in the
chs pel= and nog that she's th&ee inches
IA a han no 4
In the daytime. &tbsn we're both busy
about tic house. shes content with now
and then liking Ieeg at the Aalsey from
ibe windog; but ser ticst hour after rising
and another before iFs dark she spends at
the akssseDd OF the dream
ing OF tae segels tlix asie hidden there"
"0h, 10 isn't the dead old AbDots she
dreaaas g. them w6st Aay these gewels
BE, Mr.. WeHe?"
4 kings sansom ia pearls and rubies,
Mr.. Careg. The story my grandmother
used 20 teii me forty years ago, and that L
often told Maggie whes she was bairn
Just able 10 understand me. says that In tie
War; OF ibe Roses an Abbot OF FurDsss Rad
a-but IN lease tee legend for Maggie TO
tell. 1t suits dar tongue far better than
mine. ap1>she rpss through it much more
prettily."
Ayd rather hear it from you" said Nr.
CIew.
. And I'd rather aay daughter told it.
The ehilds so jealQxs already OF the time
You spepd 10 tue ruins that Pm sure II she
though. I'd been sayisx anything TO you
about the legend she d come 10 to me, cry
ing. Mother. get q neE ledger. II Dir.
Csrew Gags with as he u be trying to lind
the treasure"
al H.