Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-09-01
ROLAND'S WIFE.

1t was scorchingly hot in Carminster
one July afternoon. The streets were
empty. Even the cathedral rocks were
DOING, and the only signs of life
seemed to be the chatter dimly heard
through the door of the quaint old inn
In the great cathedral it was less sun
ny, but almost equally close and op-
pressive.
Roland de lie Fanu felt as if the heat
and dust of centuries We're somehow
shut into that vast nave and as if his
torical associations weighed On his tired
brain.
He was one of a party being "showa
round" the building. Here was the in
evitahle would be archaologist, now
positive, anon doubtful of his dates,
two or three clergymen, a schoolmaster
and his class and a few young girls
In the crypt it was cooler, but damp
and nlusty smelling. Through the heavy
oak door passed the weary, but garrulous
verger, his chattering flock at his heels.
Then began more tiresome discussions
anent slypes and squints.
"This ere, said the verger, raising
his not too musical voice to drown the
talking of the others-"this ere was
once the private chapel of the De lie
Fanus. That stone marks where the al
tar stood. Over here is where Sir Gill
bert Archesmont defied the abbot in the
year thirteen 'undred and fifty. Notice
this zero dog tooth molding-most per-
feet example of its kind in England. "
There is finer at Canterbury, u
growled some one.
Pardon me, you must mean Lincoln
or is it York that I am thinking OFF,
said the Archaeological.
The descendant OF the De le Fanus
turned aside to his sister. She smiled
and put her arm through his.
II am SO tired' she whispered.
"Never mind, dear We've nearly
done, and we could not have left with
out seeing our old family tombs, SOL
"The LIE Fanu tombs," broke in the
painting verger. "They date back to
1910. This is the oldest of them all.
Notice the rich work round the sides,
and, as you see, the figure is missing
from the top. 1t is the wife of old Sill
Roland de le Fanu, who died in the
'Oly Land His wife died Of grief three
days after the sad news reached her.
The effigy is said to have been stolen,
though some there are who say that life
was given to it and it walked. I don't
'oId with that myself On this side are
the tombs of Reginald and Sir Bowls de
lie Fanu."
Roland spoke to the girl next him.
"The efigy," said he, ".hat is miss
ing from that tomb is the one of all
others that I should most have liked to
see. She was our great, great really
cannot say how great-grandmother,
and, oh, beg your pardon. I thought
you were my sister,.
1t was a tall, slight girl, wrapped in
a light grayish dust cloak, to whom he
had spoken, and who now responded
gracefully and with shade of amuse.
ment in her manner.
The sudden transition from the dark
Crypt to the brilliant sunshine was be-
wildering. Roland and his sister stun
bled along to the monastery ruins, and
then, seated Oh heap Of fallen stone
work, they rested. He was disapppoint-
ed on looking round for his cloaked di.
vinity to find that she had not followed
them.
In Carminster quiet night succeeds
the peaceful day. Roland, sitting by
his window, watched the round moon
rising behind the fretted spire of the
cathedral and was filled with sudden
longing.
His stay in the place had been brie1
and would end early on the morrow.
The sketches he had made were few,
and his visits to the. cathedral had al
ways been paid in company with others.
in the improving society Of the dean
or in that Of the unsympathetic verger.
What if he were to steal out now, when
the garish day was done and the moon
high in the clear sky?
Yes, he would, he must 60. The
temptation was not to be resisted. He
would study tracery and carving under
the magic light which made their beau
ties seem as something unearthly. He
rose and left the room, treading softly
so as not to disturb the other inmates
Of the house. Quietly as he went the
dean, sitting at work in the study,
heard him and opened his door.
Anything amiss, Roland?" he asked
cheerfully.
Roland, half ashamed, confessed hi
romantic ideas to his host, who sur.
prised him by sympathizing with them.
by all means. Our lovely cathedral
never looks more exquisite than by
moonlight. "
II should like, !" said Roland, taking
courage, Ito have one more look at thu
tombs and chapel Of my ancestors be-
fore ! leave"
Certainly, certainly. You are di