The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-15
MY LADY'S CHAMBER.
BY OCTAVE THANET.
copyrighted 1ss5-Au Rights Reserved.
A s T O r Y.

flush OF the Of the azaleas gives the eye poign-
ant delight while everywhere the wistaria
vines are bursting into their royal bloom over
the succeed house fronts. Back Of the river in
the pine woods, beyond the red clay hills, the
glory Of the yellow jasmine is fading. The rose
leaves lie thick along the paths of the cemetery
It's on a side street, and lazy stream OF black
and white faces and ancient vehicles drifts pasti
daily. Ten years ago, my cousin, Grace Adams,
and knew the cemetery well. Coming up from
Florida we spent month in the town
Our &c orgian cemetery has not the the stump
tuous foliage of the far South, nor Goes the
Southern moss drape its oaks into ghostly senti-
nels such as those, beautiful and somber, guard
ing the graves of Charleston and Savannah; yet
it has its own placid and modest charm, with its
wide paths edged with iaporIcas and dwarf
magnOias, and the luxuriance Of roses which
aoftens the outlines of its rudest tombstones. 1t
is an old cemetery and its streets hold queer
blending of the present and the widowed pomp
of the past. Often generations of the same
blood lie together under the trees.
There was one of these colonies of the dead
which interested particularly. The family
:enotaph stood in the center of the yard. Two
.orpulent angels, in impossible drapery, wept
over the family name-Asbury. All about were
grouped the graves of the dead Asburys. We
came to know them by heart the Gordons, Ra-
phaes and Washingtons, colonels generals or
fudges-palpabl mighty men in their day. down
TO the confederate colonel and his two sons-the
Bethis, Honoriae 4nL Sallies, their wives; and
the infant children of the above, who died too
soon to help or hinder the worlds march, or,
happy innocents, to know its griefs. Last of ali
was new name above a short and narrow
mound "Raoul Moultrie Ravenel, beloved son
of Raoul and Aurora Honoria Asbury Ravenel'
The little fellow was only five years old when he
was accidentally drowned" in 1864 We OBJ
served that this grave was never without flowers,
80 lovely that we would often pause to look at
shem The first that time we thus paused is like
ly to abide in our memory. 1t was rather more
than week after our coming to the town. While
we were reading the names our attention was
attracted by lady who came down the path and
stopped before the iron railing about the yard.
She had a slim and graceful figure, clad in deep
mourning; and ungloved. white hands, We
noticed her hands first then that she was walk
Sng rapidly, circumstance to excite curiosity
IN the South. Apparently quite careless or ig-
norant of our presence, she threw back her long
grape veil. We saw an oval face, pale and care
worn, but retaining the traces of vivid beauty.
The black hair was brushed smoothly from her
forehead, and the eyes, which seemed to search
the foliage for some one, either in fear or in
anxious hope, were very dark and very sad. For
q moment she leaned against the iron gate posts,
her hand on her heart with the look and gesture
of one unused to exertion, who has walked too
rapidly, then Strengthening herself she walked
through the gate to the with the new
name. She knelt down before it and drew her
veil over her pale face, but under its shadow we
sould see her clasp and wiring her hands.
Come, Freddy" my cousin whispered, 'let
Us go!'
Before we could turn a man broke through
Che shrubbery to the right and strobe past
as. He was man whom we knew, boarding in
the same house. The Northern visitor sees men
of his type in every Southern city, thin, elderly
men. erect of bearing, though they may limp
little, with their threadbare frock coats buttoned
enugly about them, and their gray locks curling
under their old-fashioned hat brims Our
acquaintance limped, and his decent black coat
was shiny at the seams from countless brushings.
His face must have been handsome Def ore care
and time had Clipped so many lines in it. Now
1t looked grim enough, with the hollow cheeks
and big mustache, and brows knitted together
over his Roman nose. He was in such haste
that he did not see US, but went by with great
strides.
The woman heard the twigs cracke under his
Feet and sprang up. Even at distance
perceived that she was trembling exceedingly.
She laid her hand on his arm.
You promised" the man began.
Forgive me- Raoul." she answered Il
couldn't bear it in the house any longer, and
only came here-straight here
Her voice was shaken like all the rest of her.
ny some strong emotion, but it was wonderfully
sweet
The man gave a swift glance about him. OF
course ne saw US. He took off his hat and
bowed eravely, then drawing the womans
arm within his own, he caused her to turn
away. Feeling tacit rebuks in the action.
Though, truly, 1 think that mono was intended)
sc, too, turned and hurried out of the cemetery
There is a curve in the road where could not
resist stealing another picture of the pair. The
woman again kneeipg almost crouchng
over the grave, weeping bitterly, while the man
Stood a little apart, his arms folded. gloomily
regarding her.
Grace and l said not word until we were
Beyond the cemetery walls She spoke first.
FREDDY, that was DR.. Ravenel and can the
lady be his wifel"
'Idaresay." said l. ''he could hardly be SO
brutal to any other woman"
don't said Croco
" Dr. Ravenel isn't a brutal man."
Grace liked the Doctor; for that matter liked
him myself. He was as polite as Don Quxote.
md almost as solemn. TO women his manner
was happy blending Of Difference and protec-
ton; indeed, what won US most was his gentle
ness to all feebler creatures. He had a little
daughter whom he visby adored. a dainty little
maid Of ten. whose cloud Of shining hair was