Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-03-07
@Re Silenee Of
Dean QaitIand.
BY NE<MELL GRET.

place in which one must think of past
things and of things eternal, and yet
which is linked so tremendously with
things passing aud the little life Of to-
day
He Strolled into the gray, vast, echo
ing interior. and, sitting down Opposite
the open door, lost himself in 4 pi,as-
ant dream. How sweet 1t would be to
live there under the great minister's
shadow, within sound Of the holy bell;
TO lead a gentle, holy, uneventful life,
pacing daily that rich green turf look
ing on those great trees and red
rooted houses. and ON the pillared
cloiSter yonder, and on the light-SprinS.
ing arches OF the deanery, as one
passed TO and fro, lowly, perhaps but
calm and happy! Something light tlut-
tered between the slender black pillars
of the deanery entrance. 1t was a
young lady In a gay summer dress,
who passed ont and walked along by
the old cloiSter with an indeScribable
grace in the carriage of her slim
figure.
The sight of her youth and beauty
called up pleasant visions of sweet and
tranquil home life-life rich with love
and duty, and adorned with culture
and refinement: and little sigh eS-
capped him in spite of himself, when
he Thought of the possibilities of life,
and Remembered what he had missed
in his long agony. People began to
stream in slowly by twoS and threeS.
and he observed that the bells were
Ginning languidly; visitors with guide
books went out or moved chorward;
n dark. thin young Clergyman with
rapt face and aScetic lips, assembled
the choir-StepS. and recalled the Cyril
of twenty years ago with strange WV
idness; the great organ began to boom;
the choriSteTs paced slowly in, heaven
ly boy faces showing above their white
robes, or men with worn and rugged
faces; the bright silk hoods of the
clergy CLEANED as they passed; even
song began.
Everard did not dream of entering
the choir; the thought Of mingling
with others on equal terms even in
an act of worship was as yet far from
him. He felt himself dwrller on
the outskirts of humanity: it was as
yet Il boon to he allowed merely to
hook ON without rebuke. SO the solemn
words and heavenly music came echo
ing beneath the dim arches brokenly
to his far-off ears, and their peaceful
spell drew him gradually nearer to
the choir
At last the anthem began, and his
soul melted Within him beneath the
passion of the full voiced strain. and
he stole silently up the matted steps
with bowed head his consciousness
merged in the meaning which the mel
low voices strove with conflicting en-
deaver to make clear. The glorious
tumult increased till 1t dissolved in a
triumph of harmony; and then above
1T, like lonely sea-bird soaring over
sea of stormy, foam-tipped blllows,
there rose single boys voice. so
sweet and pure, so fun of unconscious
and unutterable pathoS, that Everard
trembled as he heard 1t, and stole ON
to the very gates of the sanctuary 10
listen. Higher and higher the solitary
boy voice rose, till 1T seemed as If it
must be finally lost in some clear hea-
ven of ineffable sweetness; there 1t
lowered and paused, and then denscen-
ded, rising and failing again upon the
pinionS of strong melody. till it fell
at length half wearied into the sea of
deep and mellow harmony.
The listener outside the sanctuary
gate gaZed In a tlmrflt of unspeakaIble
feeling. not knowing what memories
and hopes and longings tine boys beau
tiful voice awakened within him. but
vaguely conscious that he had stood
thus before in some far-off forgotten
time. seeing all his lost youth flash by
him, and realizing THE spell Of Li1ian's
long-mfssed presence once more.
The anthem died away, and Everar,i
came to himself. and Thought how I'M
fitted he was for life with a nervous
system 50 sensitive, 80 Mable TO es-
cape control. and he remembered the
scorn which once mingled with his
pity for such weaklings. He scorned
no man now
The chor+ster with the beautiful
voice had a face Of equal charm-a
face from which Everard could scarce
ly avert his eyes The other boys
looked rog11ish enough, though they
were very web behaved-partern Choir
isters. indeed; but this lads face and
demeanor had singular pathos, and
his eyes, instead Of being bent. as the
others were. on the desk. had a for
ward or upward gaze during the sing
ing. He evidently knew all his music
by heart.
When the service was over. and the
worshfpcrs had left the building. Ever
ard strolIed down the nave. looking at
different monuments. and spoke 70
the verger, whose offer to guide him
he had refused
II know the cathedral we'll" he said.
but | have NOT seen II for many
years"
You may have travelled and seen a