The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-12-21
R0HHNCE Of THE CATHEDRAL

The musical festival was over. Still
few fingered. A clergyman. obviously a
stranger, came from the ambulatory,
crossed the transcpt, traversed the nave
and. turning with leisurely step, passed
through Il narrow doorway out of the
cathedral into the cloisters.
In the arches opposite he discerned fig
urc through the antique mullions, clad in
fashionable dress. Her face was up
raised in Il prolonged appreciation of the
grandeur of the architecture, which is
nowhere more picturesque than in the
view obtainabe through the silence and
gloom of the cloisters.
But lie was intent on the architecture
no longer. The strains of Mendelssohn
ceased TO haunt his ears, All he was aware
Of now was Il keenly human and strange
ly unaccountable interest in the solitary
lady whose face was framed under the
trcfoils and Guatrefoils of the old incrust-
ed traccry. 1t was her face mingling
with the stern shadows and dark mold
ings that now made those hoary flowers
of blGckcned 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 cloisters
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
goyie or final. He watched her pass to
the door of the tranSept. 1t was locked.
He heard her cndcavors 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 i'll the shadow.
He rose and went toward her.
The door by which l entered is lock-
ed" she said. "Will you tell me the way
out?"
Through the south gate" he replied,
studying her face attentively. 81 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
eve are not locked in?" she exclaimed
aryiously.
Il don't know. 1 have never been in
the cathedral before. 1 came here to the
festival"
glorious. superb. magnificcnt?"
superb. you say. Yes, and magnif-
cent. Never have I heard Memberships
Hymn of Praise so finely rendered. But
one thing was lacking"
~ hat was that?'
Devotion, religion. the sense of sac
rffcc. the presence Of the spirit of God"
u know yorr meaning" she responded
earnestly. The monks of old, when they
chantcd early mass while the common
worl;lay 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 contcmptuously.
yet, after all. we would not wish the
middle ages back again." she reflected.
''Thc superstition, the iniquity'-
Il heard her he continued incense
quentiy, vet continuing the same thought
on another line, that beautiful soprano!
Her voice was like an angels"
She biushed and, looking round, moved
uneasily.
Can we not get out|' she asked.
1--WE must find door," he stammered.
Excuse my-my abrupt confidence. In
truth, l am under her spell. But listen.
L
Her name was in the programme-Luini.
1t was Luini, a singer, probably at the
opera; a certain draw with the aid per- /
haps of ballet As likely as not she
plays the heroine in Don Giovanna.'
"She does nothing of the kind" said
the lady fatty.
"IIa. You know her them"
"No-yes. At least-that is" she STAN |
mercd blushing. 81 know something of |
her.
Il 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 l thought in |
that old, hallowed choir? AS you do. If |
l could live in an age when we women |
might lie servants of the sanctuary, or
daincd to the Most High; if 1 might |
SO devote myself to service-ah, how I |
could sing them" |
He stood electrified.
But | am woman" she added sadly. |
81 cannot dedicate my life to the church."
'Thore is one way" he replied, with |
quiet emphasis, as he laid his hand on |
hers. Believe me, there is no nobler ,
sphere for n good woman. The first lady |
III t!lG pdIlSl HIS ETcultI SCOpe lUT
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? I do not IN
derstand."
You heard my declaration, how your
voice moved me. l knew not then to .
whom I spoke. Have stumbled by good .
fortune on my destiny, or, rather-let me
say it reverently-has the providence of !
God given your life to mine?"
She looked up-looked long into his
manly, rcsolute face. Then she faltered
in an agitated voice: Il cannot answer.
l cannot think. Take me from here"
Only to cloister you in my SOUL" he
answered in a ferYent whisper, as he
drew her to his heart.-London Illustrat-
cd News