Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-12-15
ROMANCE OF THE CATHEDRAL

and. turning with leisurely step, passed
through a narrow doorway out OF the
cathedral into the cloisters.
In the arches opposite be disceEned fig
ure through the antique mullions, clad in a
fashionable dress. Her face was up
raised in prolonged appreciation of the
grandeur of the architecture, which is
nowhere more picturesque than in the
view obtainable through the silence anI
gloom Of the cloisters.
But he was intent on the architecture
no longer The strains Of Mendelssohn
ceased to haunt his ears. All he was aware
of now was a keenIy human and strange
ly unacconntable interest in the solitary
lady whose face was framed under the
trefoils and quatrefoils of the old incrust-
ed traeery. Ii was her face mingling
with the stern shadows and dark mold
ings that now made those hoary flowers
of blackened stone blossom into new life.
Although unconscious of the interest he
took in her, his eyes instinctively follow
ed her as She passed along the cioisters
from arch to arch, pausing now and
again TO contemplate through the lace
work OF Gothic stone some weather worn
cross or the grotesque fancy which some
monkish sculptor had wrought in gar
goyle or final He watched her pass &c
the door of the transept 1t was locked
He heard her endeavors upon the clank-
ing iron. heard her light footballs as she
again descended into the cloister and saw
her approaching the arcade. where he sat
obscure in the shadow.
He rose aud went toward her.
''The door by which / entered is lock
ed she said. "WiIl you tell me the way
out?''
Through the south gate" he replied.
studying her face attentively. Il will
show you. Come"
He took hold of the heavy ring handle
and tried to turn the lock. THE gate is
closed" he said. land the other too.
Then fear
I'VE are not locked IMP she exclaimed
anxiously
Il don't know / have never been in
the cathedral before. came here to the
festival"
"oh," she rejoined. has it not been
glorious. superb. magnificent
Superb you say. Yes, and magnifi-
cent Never have | heard Memberships
Hymn of Praise so finely rendered. But
one thing was lacking"
what was that?"
Devotion. religion. the sense of sac
rifce. the presence of the spirit of God"
81 know your meaning" she responded
earnestly THE monks of old, when they
chanted early mass while the common
workday people knelt on the bare stone,
remained to pray and to penance or went
to fast"
True. And where have all these tick
ct holders gone? To dance and to dine
His lip curled contemporary.
"Yet. after all, we would not wish the
middle ages back again" she reflected
1.-THE superstition. the iniquity"-
II heard her." he continued inconse-
quently, yet continuing the same thought
on another line, that beautiful soprano.
Her voice was like an angels"
She bushed and, looking round. moved
uneasily.
"Can we not get out 2" she asked.
I'VE must find door" he stammered.
Excuse my-my abrupt confidence. In
truth, am under her SPELL But listen.
/ know my folly Whose is this voicei
Her name was in the programme uini
1t was Luini, singer, probably at the
haps of a ballet. AS likely as not she
plays the heroine in Don Giovanna.
"She does nothing of tile kind" said
the lady fatty.
"Ha! You know her then?"
"No-yes. At least--that is" she STAN
mered blushing. 81 know something of
her"
II recognize you" he exclaimed sud
denly. "Your voice is hers. You are. you
must be Luini.'
BE it So" she replied, but tell me,
why are the clergy so hard upon the
singer? Do you know what | thought in
that old hallowed choir? As you do. If
could live in an age when we women
might he servants of the sanctuary, or
daned to the Most High; If l might
SO devote myself to service-ah. how !
could sing then"
He stood electrified.
"But am a woman" she added sadly.
81 cannot dedicate my life to the church"
"There is one way" he replied, with
quiet emphasis. as he laid his hand on
hers. Believe me, there is no nobleI
sphere for good woman. The first lady
in the parish has greater scope for inhu-
encing the lives of men than the vicar
himself The career has its humdrum
side-Dorcas meetings, parish missions
and afternoon calls--but life is made up
of everyday affairs. and a consecrated
life is but the ennobling of common
things"
"Of what do you speak? | do not I'M
derstand."
"You heard my declaration. how your
voice moved me. | knew moi then TO
whom | spoke. Have stumbled by good
fortune on my destiny, or, rather-let me
say it reyerently-has the providence Of
God given your life to mineT
She looked up-looked long into his
manly. resolute face. Then she faltered
in an agitated voice: II cannot answer.
l cannot think Take me from here"
"Only TO cloister you in my SOUL he
answered in a fervent whisper, as he
drew her to his heart.-London Llustraf'
The members of the Methodist church
of Arcola, Ills, have adopted novel
If not an original plan of keeping close
to the faith" says the Chicago Inter
Ocean. Promptly at IL o'clock every
H.,