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

others.
"Have you copied her epitaph yet, OF
sketohed the tomb?"
No, have had no good opportunity.
but should uncommonly like to do so
before I 60, and I shall not have time
tomorrow.
He spoke wistfully, and the dean
laughed.
Here, then," said he. 81 see what
you are fishing for. Take the keys.
This large one opens the little north
west door, whence a staircase leads
straight down to the back Of the chapel.
You can't make mistake, only do not
fall down the broken stairs, do not lose
the keys, do not forget to lock up after
you and, above all, don't set the place
alight, or TIL never forgive you
Roland promised everything required
of him and went off.
Roland sought and soon found the
little door to which he had been direct
ed and from which the steps led
straight down into the crypt of the ca
thedral The key made but little noise,
even in the great stiffness, and Roland,
cropping his way down, soon found him
self at the back of the little chapel and
in great darkness Closing his eyes for
awhile to accustom them to the change,
he could soon distinguish the outlines
of the arches and moved forward quite
confidently.
Some might have thought the hour
and place eerie, but Roland was neither
nervous nor superstitious and boldly
advanced to where the moonlight, find
ing oblique entrance through the graft
ing in the roof and near one of the great
windows of the cathedral above him,
shone clearly and brightly over the
tombs.
It has been said that he was neither
nervous nor superstitious, but suddenly
he stopped short, and the throbbing of
his own heart seemed for the moment
to startle him, for here. just before him,
within touch Of his hand, was the
great table tomb and extended upon it.,
apparently, recumbent female figure.
Whoever, whether mortal or super
human workman, had made such an
effigy was possessed of no ordinary skill.
The exquisite suggestion of repose con
veyed by the graceful posture, the ar
rangement Of the sculptured folds of
raiment, the beautifully chiseled fea-
lures, all were alike lovely, and Roland
gazed at them long, as if he We're liter
ally entranced and not under the infln-
ence of some delusion of the senses,
some trick Of overexcited nerves, which
must soon fade away. He fell Oh his
knees on the stepped base of the monu-
ment and gently laid his lips on the lit
tie white fingers which were SO tempt
ingly near him. AS he did SO thrill
seemed to pass through him and
through the figure on the tomb. The
delicate eyelids quivered, the shadowy
lips parted in faint sigh, and the next
instant his statue was indeed imbued
with life and spoke:
"Where am l? Oh, where am II"
Roland repressed the suggestion that
she was reclining on her own tomb and
spoke gently and as if her present posi-.
ton were matter of course:
"You are in the crypt of Carminstel
cathedral"
The effigy sat up, pressing her colo
hands to her now burning temples.
Then she raised her great dark eyes tc
Roland's face
IT got shut in, " she said simply. 81
fingered moment to look at this tomb
because-well, because you were sc
much interested i'll it, and the vergel
never missed me-the pillars hid me.
heard the key CRATE in the lock and ral
and called and banged, but no ono came
and, oh, I was SO frightenedp' She was
quivering with cold and shock, and Ro
land supported and comforted her. "But
for you I might have staid here in this
awful place all night" she murmured
cts simply horribleW she went on
"You wouldn't believe what noises
there are when it's empty and no one
here. What made you come back: Was
it to look for me?" she asked naively.
He told her then how and why he hat
come back, giving her time to wipe away
few stray tears, which she hoped hi
did not see and to pull off the necktit
from about her head. Then he foun(
her hat for her in shadowy nook ant
prepared to take her home.
She was glad Of the support Of hi
arm, and the clinging touch of her fin
gers sent thrill through him which ht
seemed to feel long after they hat
parted.
81 recognized you again at once. /" sh'
said to him as they assembled the rickety
staircase together
II, too, remember you quite well
We were fellow tourists or sightseer
this morning, and have thought O.
you many times since and always a
the lady in the gray cloak"
! She smiled very humanity.
my real name," she said simply
sis JOAN"
Roland started slightly, and as hs
pressed her hand at parting murmuret
beneath his breath:
''By the Willie Of God, Joan, the be
loved wife Of Roland de lie Fanu, Knigh
and Gentilman. Princess.