Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-01-14
ROLAND'S WIFE.

It was scorohingly hot In Carminster
one July afternoon. The streets were
empty. Even tho cathedral rocks were
doing. and the only signs Of life
seemed TO DO the chatter dimly heard
through the door of the quaint old inn.
In the great cathedral it was less sun
by, but almost equally close and op-
pressive.
Roland de 10 F. felt as il the heat
and dust of centuries were somehow
shut into that vast nave and ns il his
torical associations weighed on his tired
brain.
He was one of n party being "shown
round" the building. Here was tho in
evitable would be archmologist, now
positive, anon doubtful Of his dates,
two or three clereymen, q schoolmaster
and his class and a few young girls.
In the crypt it was cooler. but damp
and musty smelling. Through the heavy
oak door passed the weary, but garrulous
verger, his ohattering flock at his heels.
Then began moro tiresome discussions
anent slypes and squints.
"This ere" said the verger, raising
his not too musical voice to drown the
talking of the others-'this ere was
once the private chapel of tho De 10
Fanus. That stone marks where the al
tar stood. Over here is where Sir Gill
bert Archesmont defied the abbot in the
year thirteen 'undred and fifty. Notice
this ere dog tooth molding-most per-
feet example Of its kind in England"
There is finer at Canterbury"
growled some one.
Pardon me, you must mean Lincoln
-or Is it York that nm thinking OFF,
said the archRologist.
The descendant of the De le Fnnus
turned aside to his sister. She smiled
and put her arm through his.
81 am so tiredl'' she whispered.
Never mind, doar. We've nearly
done, and we could not have left with
out seeing our old family tombs, SOL
THE Le Fanu tombs," broke in the
painting verger. "'They date back to
1910. This is the Oldest of them all.
Notice the rich work round the sides,
and, as you see. the figure is missing
from the top. It is the wife Of old Sir
Roland do le Fanu, who died in the
'Oly Land. His wife died Of grief three
days after the sad news reached her.
The efigy is said to have been stolen,
though some there arc who say that life
was given to it and it walked. / don't
old with that myself. On this side are
the tombs Of Reginald and Sir Bevis de
lie Fanu."
Roland spoke to the girl next him.
1.-THE efigy," said he, THAT is miss
ing from that tomb is the one Of all
others that / should most have liked to
see. She was our great. great really
cannot say how great-grandmother,
and, oh, 1 beg your pardon. l thought
you were my lister"
It was a tall, slight girl, wrapped in
q light grayish dust cloak, to whom he
had spoken. and who now responded
gracefully and with a shade of amuse-
ment in her amer.
The sudden transition from the dark
Crypt TO the brilliant sunshine was be-
wildering. Roland and his sister STUN
bled along to the monastery ruins, and
then. seated ON a heap of fallen stone
work, they rested. He was disapppoint-
cd on looking round for his cloaked di-
Vinity to find that she had not followed
them.
In Carminster a quiet night succeeds
the peaceful day. Roland, sitting by
his window, watched the round moon
rising behind the fretted spire Of the
cathedral and was filled with n sudden
longing.
His stay in the place had been briei
and would end early ON the morrow
The sketches he had made were few.
and his visits TO the cathedral had al
ways been paid in company with others
IN the improving" society Of the dear
or in that of the unsympatbetic verger
What IL he were to steal out now, wheI
the garish day was done and the mOol
high in the clear sky?
Yes, he would, he must 60. tn
temptation was not TO be resisted. H
would study tracery and carving unde
the magic light which made their bean
ties seem as something unearthly. II
rose and left the room, treading softl
90 as not to disturb the other inmate
Of the house. Quietly a. he went tn
dean, sitting at work in the study
heard him and opened his door.
Anything amiss, Roland?' he nske
cheerfully.
Roland. half ashamed, confessed hi
romantic ideas to his host, who SUI
prised him by sympathizing with them
by all means. Our lovely cathedra
never looks more exquisite than b
moonlight"
n should like" said Roland, takin
ii TO have one more look at Oh
tombs and chapel OF my ancestors b
fore / leave"
Certainly. oertainly. You are a d