Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-01-14

eyes. And I don't thank the vandnls
who stole her efipy. l should have pre-
ferred that they had taken any Of the
others"
"Have you copied her epitaph yct, or
sketched the tomb?"
"No, l have had no good opportunity,
but | should uncommonly like 10 do so
before l go, and / shall not have time
tomorrow"
He spoke wistfully, and the dean
laughed.
Here, then" said be. II sec what
you arc fishing for. Take the keys.
This large one opens the little north
west door, whence n staircase leads
straight down to the back o. the chapel.
You can't make a mistake, olly 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 I'll never forgive you"
Roland promised everything required
Of him and went of.
Roland sought and soon found the
little door to which no 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 tho great stiffness, and Roland,
cropping his way down, soon found him
self at tha back of the little chapel and
in great darkness. Closing his eyes for
awhile to ncoustom 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 graf
ing in the roof and near one of the great
windows Of the cathedral above him,
shono clearly and brightly over the
tombs.
1t has been said that he wGs neither
nervous nor superstitious, but suddenly
he stopped short, and tho t~hrobbing 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, a recumbent female figure.
Whoever. whether mortal or super
human workman, had made such IN
efigy was possessed Of nc ordinary skill.
The exquisite suggestion Of repose con
veyed by the graceful posture, the ar
rangement Of the sculptuIed folds Of
raiment. the beautifully chiselod fea-
lures, all were alike lovely, and Roland
gazed at them long, as If he were liter
ally entranced and not under the irflu-
ence OF some delusion Of tho senses,
some trick Of overexcited nerves, which
must soon fade away. He fell OH his
knees on tho stepped base of the monu-
ment and gently laid his lips on tho lit
tie white fingers which were SO tempt
ingly e him. AS he did 60 II thrill
seemed TO puss through him aud
through the figure on the tomb. The
delicate eyelids quivered, the shndowy
lips parted in u faint sigh, and tho next
instant his statue was indeed imbued
with life and spoke:
"Where am /? 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-.
tion were a matter of course:
"You are in the crypt Of Carminstel
cathedral"
The efigy sat up, pressing her cold
hands to her row burning temples.
Then she raised her great dark eyes &c
Roland's face.
II got shut in, " she said simply. 81
fingered a moment to looE at this tomb,
b~ecause-well, because you were sc
much interested in it, and the vcrgel
never missed me-the pillars hid Inc. ]
heard the key crate in the lock and rnr
and called and banged, but no II came,
and, oh, l was so frightenedr' She was
quivering with cold and shock, and Ro.
land supported and comforted her. but
for you l might have stnid here in this
awful place all night" she murmured.
cts simply horriblev' she went @
lyon wouldn't believe what noises
there arc when it's empty and nc one
here. What made you come back! Was
it to look for me?" she asked naively.
He told her then how and why he had
come back, giving her time to wipe away
a few stray tears, which she hoped he
did not see and to pull of the necktie
from about her head. Then he found
her hat for her in u shadowy nook and
prepared to take her home.
She was glad Of the support of bis
arm, and the clinging touch Of her fin.
gers sent a thrill through him which he
seemed to feel long after they had
parted.
81 recognized you again at once, " sh'
said to him as they assembled the ricket!
staircase together.
II, too, remember you quite we'll
We were fellow tourists or sightseer
this morning, and l have thought o
you many times since ard 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 b
pressed her hand at parting Wurmure
beneath his breath:
"By the Willie Of God, joan b
loved wife of Roland de lie Fanui
and Gentilman. Princes.
ami Circumstances
81 can always tell q novel1
a womau.O