Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-06-11
A QUEER ENCOUNTER

A heavy rain storm had left me
stranded in the ancient and sleepy
city of Chichester. The country
roads, bad enough at the best OF
times, were go sloppy as to put bicy-
cling out of the question. I knew
nobody in the town, and as there is
only one place of interest the
cathedral--I went there.
In doing this / believed was
spending an idle hour. AS a mat
ter of fact, I was unconsciously full.
filling the object for which / was
probably brought into the world.
The building appeared to be emp.
ty, and I amused myself reading the
lives of worthy people who existed
generations ago. found that the
cathedral sheltered the bones of
many people named Clutton. This
was interesting, for my own name
happens to be Clutton, and, though
have never troubled myself about
family stress" I knew that we came
from the west of England. In
other words, the knights and danes
who lay in Elchester Cathedral were
in all probability my ancestors. I
wished that they had had the fore.
sight to leave me some Of their
property.
Wandering through the cloisters,
l came across living picture Of
much greater interest and beauty
than the images of stone and iron
lying around me.
1t was young lady who was
sketching corner of the building,
and making a frantic attempt to do
justice TO the wonderful arches and
quaint windows.
In order to get peep at her face,
l made a pretence of examining
monumen9 close at hand. It was
erected to the memory Of "Sir Fran.
els Clutton, 1153-l291." His legs
were crossed at the knees, which
signifed he had fought in three Cru.
sades and had it not been that
some barbarous visitor had broken
off the gentleman's nose, he would
have made q most imposing figure.
/ took the liberty of standing for
a moment by her side, to see her
work.
"If You will excuse my saying
so,' I yentured, "you have drawn
that arch wrong. It is out of per-
spective.'
~ know it ISL she answered, with
little moue. "But I can't get it
right. Are you an aftist2'
''Not exactly" said. aBut
know something OF architectural
drawing
81 wish you would show me how
to get the wretched thing in so that
il. doesn't seem to be standing on
one leg |"
"With pleasure
| took her place on the campstool
and on another piece of paper made
a rough drawing ofthe corner which
had puzzled her.
"What number Of people of the
name of Clutton are buried herel'
I said, by way of opening the con-
versation."
"Oh, yes; they used to be great
family in days gone by she said.
"Henry VIII took them away when
be was reforming the church. The
Clutton's didn't change their reli.
gion fast enough. Edgar Clutton
was the last of them. But be de-
served to be punished she added.
"He did a very shabby thing"
What was thatf" inquired.
The was betrothed to his cousin,
Dorothy Clarence, and Tilted her,
sand what became OF Mistress
Dorothy Clarence ~
"She went into convent. They
say she died of broken heart, and
soon afterward Sir Edgar was exc
culed for high treason"
Rather severe punishment y /
suggested. ~
mot at all,n she said warmly.
"He was mean wretch to behave as
he did, Since those days Clutton
has never owned an acre OF land in
Devonshire. And they will never
get back to their position OF land.
owners unless
She stopped.
unless what p I asked.
aWell, there is a ridiculous old
looond v,hsoy. H.. 4r--rS