The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-19
CLORINDA'S VAULT.
Underground Passage Where the
LADY of Quality" Figured.
December BOOkman.

December Bookman.
Some friends of Mrs. Burnett's who en-
London, subsequent to the appearance of
"a Lady of Quality" were curious to learn
whether the famous old vault in the story
had any substantial reality or was merely
tour de force of the magma ton.
I'VE must wait until midnight" answered
Mrs Burnett, ''and then will show you
what started the Lady of Quality
They were sitting in Mrs. Burnetts own
private den, coy nook of the great house
in Portland place. Although It was in the
month of July, they were gathered around
a little open fire, for Mrs. Burnett is an ar
dent member of the sect of fire ,worshipers,
and the damp, penetrating chill OF July
rain in London made the Smolderlng glow
quite endurable.
Midnight came, and the big house was
still. They talked quietly by the fire of old
times and old friends and heard the last
distant window and door bang as they were
closed for the night.
Now said Mrs Burnett, 'let us co.
She lit candle-the effect would be
ruined, she explained, by any light but that
of one solitary candle-and they went down
stairs. AS In most London houses, the hrSt
floor is the dining room, and below that is
the kitchen and an elaborate system of
pantries, housekeeper's quarters, servants
dining and sleeping rooms. etc. Passing
all this behind, and their guide opened
door. through which sudden chill draught
the candle. Mrs Burnett closed the door
behind them, and they followed her along
what seemed an 1nterm1naDle WlnQlnS pass
age with cold stone under their feet.
Mrs. Burnett opened door after door on
one side and the other, holding the flick
ering candle high to show one wine cellar
and vault after another, bleak, empty caves
stretching out in a mysterious labyrinth.
Each one would seem to be the last, when
the winding passage would take an uneX-
pected turn and another would open before
them. Finally, by devious ways they came
to the end. The passage terminated at
small cupboard door. Lifting the old-fash-
toned lock, they peered into the little tri-
angular closet, and recoiled from its damp
chill.
you must go in" said the autocrat with
Only one at time could get in, but, fol-
lowing Mrs. Burnett, they entered turned
sharply to the right, and beside the door
opening into the closet and quite concealed
by it, they saw another door. Cropping their
way through that, they went down step
and found themselves in q round, Vaulted
room as remote, as secret, as hushed as II
it were a thousand miles away from busy
London Where they were, how ,r Tar they they
knew that far behind them somewhere was
a warm. cheerful house, bright with cleo
trio lights, and that, sounding muftied over
their heads, was the ceaSeleSS living roar
of the streets of London
The candle was lifted high. Around them
were damp stone walls shut IN liz Ike =, TOMB,
penetrated.
Here said Mrs. Burnett, and she waved
the candle dramatically-too dramatically,
for it fickered out in the close air, and left
them for a minute i'll absolutely impenetra-
BILE blackness-"here," she resumed after
relighting the candle, "the Lady or Quality
was born! When 1 first leased this house
explored these subterranean recesses sew
eral times before / discovered TINS hldden
vault When did, it fascinated me with its
mysterious remoteness. What was it for?
Why was it ever excavated? What dark
purpose might it have served IN the distant
nast for the house is very old and has
long history OF course, you know, I just
had to have something happen to ut TINS
vault and so Clorinda was born and lived
out her destiny, and in her strong arms
brought the body of John Oxon here, where
no eve would ever see it. 1t is perfectly
obvious, you see---in fact, it was inevitable
after 1 had once stood in this room