Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-02-10
The Birth VI "a Lady Of Quality"

Some friends OF Mrs. Burnett'a who
epioyed her hospitality while on visit
to London. subsequent to the appear
auce of "A Lady of Qmirv, were, NC
cordlng to the Booknan, curious to
learn whether the famous Old vault in
the story hud any substantial reality,
or was really tour de force of the
ina sination.
1--WE must wait until midnight all
swered Ms. Burnett. land then | viii!
show you what started the Lady OF
Quality
They were sitting in Mrs Burnr';s
own private den, cosy nook of the
great house IN Portland Place Altho'
it was in the month of July. they were
gathered around little open fire, for
Mrs. Bur EFT ia an ardent member OF
the sect of fire worshippers. and The
damp. penetrating chill of July rain
in London made the smoulderIng glow
on to endurable
Midnight came. and the big nruse
was still. They talked quietly by she
ire of old times and old friends and
heard the last distant window and door
bang At hey We're closed for The night
"Now' said MIS- Barnet >. LEI IL
90
She Int e. nde-th+ If ct wouId
ruined, she explained. by anV h2ht but
that of one solitary candle-and they
went downstairs. AS in most London
houses, the first Aoor is the dining room
and below that is the kitchen and an
elaborate system Of pan'ries, house
keepers quarters. servants dining and
sleeping rooms etc. Passing through
long, narrow passages, they left all this
behind. and their guide opened door,
through which sudden chill draught
# air struck them nearly ex'inguish
lpp the candle. Mrs. Barnet closed the
door behind them, and they followed
her along what seemed an in'ermlnable
winding passage, with cold stone under
their feet.
Mrs. Burt EFT o, cred door after !onr
ON one side aud the other, holding the
HlcN4rlny candle high t" show one wine
cellar ami vault after nnother. bleak
empty caves stretching OUT III m'>ter
lou, Mb>,inth. Each one nlh seem
to hr the last, when the winding pas
sage " uuId laie an unexpected turn
and a,other would open before them.
Finally by devious ways they came I"
the end The passage t.rtninate't at a
small cupboard door Llf'"g the "'d
fashioned lock, h \ Tttrrd M" "a"
lule triangular clos a, Il rrcolIrd TO
its d. MP chill.
you must 60 IN. SAID tn aut"c'nr
with the candle.
Only one at time crnli yet H. but
following Mrs Burnett they ""terrd.
turned sharply to 'hr night. -nd b. ldr
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 il round, vaulted room,
as remote, as secret, ~ hushed rs ii it
were thousand miles way from busy
London. Where they were. how far
they had come they could not guess
They ONLY knew that far behind them
somewhere was warm. cheerful house
bright with electric lights, aud that.
sounding mutllel over their heads, was
the ceascless living roar Of the streets
of London.
The candle was lifted high. Around
them were damp. stone walls shut in
like tomb, through which no ray of
daylight, had ever pen traied
Here" said Mrs. Burnett, and she
waved the candle dramaticaliy--too
dramatically for it hckerea out in the
close air. and left them for minute IN
absolutely impeuetrable blackness -
"here," she resumed after relighting
the candle, "the Lady of Quality was
born! When | first leased this house. |
explored these subterranean recesses
several times, before I discovered this
hidden vault. When | did it fascinated
ME with it's mysterious remoteness.
What was it for? Why was 1t ever
excavated? What dark purpose might
it have s'rved in the distant past?-
for the house is very old and has long
history. OF course, you know, | just
had to have something happen to fit
this vaul. and so Clorinda was born
and lived out her destiny. and in her
strong arms brought the body John
Oxon here, where no eye would ever
see it. 1t is perfectly obvious you see
in fact, it Was inevitable after | had
once stood 10 this room
- WooDnnk Kind