Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-15
CHAPTER I.
The Ravengars Of Ravenhall.

an ancient stock; for, as students OF the
gospel according to st. Burke are aware
| the original Ravengar antedates by two
centuries that ultima thule of heraldry
the Norman conquest.
! Yet, though SO ancient a race, one
moreover, that has taken part in all the
great events of English history, 1t was
| not until the days of the Merry Monarch
| that the Ravengars entered the charmed
and charming circle Of the peerage.
At the battle Of Naseby that gallant and
loyal cavalier, Lancelot Ravengar, con-
trived to disfgure the face of the great
protector by sword cut that left behind
| 1t scar for life So valuable a service to
the state merited right royal recognition
said the courtiers of the restoration. That
something took the shape Of a patent OF
nobility, favor the more readily granted
by the monarch, inasmuch as 1t cost him
nothing. So the heretofore plain Lancelot
Ravengar became the noble Viscount
Walden, and at a later date was advanced
to the earldom Of Ormsby, a title derived
from the Northumbrian sea town, whose
| rents and leases supplied him with the
wealth requisite to maintain his dignity
rms Lancelot Ravengar deserves mention
as being not only the first peer of the fam
lily, but likewise the originator of very
curious funeral rite instituted by his tes-
tamentary authority
When the civil war broke out In Charles
days. Ravenhall, the seat of the Raven
gars, shared the fate of many other his.
TORE mansions: 1t was besieged by the Puri-
tan soldiery, and notwithstanding gallant
defense, was forced to yield to the foe.
It's owner, LancelOt, however, was fortu-
nate enough to escape to secret subter-
ranean chamber, specially made for such
emergencies, where. in addition to the fam
lily helrlooms, provisions for many weeks
had been stored The Roundheads not
finding the cavalier after a long and care
fOl search. concluded ba ha boJ
For several days the victors remained at
RaVenhall feasting and drinking and then
lafdef and wine cellar failing them. they
proceeded to plumber and dismantIe the
place for. the glory of the Lord and so
took their departure
Now, during this period of hiding, Lance
lot, with no companion but Bible had
ample leisure for meditation The seclusion
became the turning point in his spiritual
life; from that time the hitherto careless
cavalier developed religious tendencies
which were not to be shaken by all the
S1beS OF the merry monarch.
The place of his conversion naturally be-
came invested with more than ordinary in
tefest IN the eyes of Lancelot RayenRar:
he spent much of his. time there In con-
temptation and prayer, becoming at last SO
attached to the spot as to desire II for his
place of sepulture.
Accordingly, his last will and testament
enJoined that not only his own body, but
the bodies likewise of his successors in the
earldom should be buried in the secret
vault. This rite constituted the condition
OF an entail, inasmuch as neglect on the
part OF the next of kin to inter his prede-
cessor in this chamber necesSitated the for
feiture of the inheritance The will fur
thermore directed that the secret ingress to
this crypt should not be made known to
more than four persons at a time viz: the
then earl, his heir-apparent the family
lawyer and any fourth person whom these
three should choose to take into their con-
fidence.
When an Earl Of Ormsby died his body
was carried to the mortuary chapel on the
estate, where the burial service of the
Anglican Church was read. The coffin was
then carried back to Ravenhall; all the
servants without exception, were dismissed
for the day, and the four executors pro-
ceeded to remove the body to the secret
crypt.
Such was the singular testament of
Lancelot Ravengar, first Earl of Ormsby,
and its injunctionS were faithfully observed
by all his successors in the title
Some years prior to the events related in
the prologue of this story, the dignity of
the family was represented by Urien Raw
engar, the tenth peer. He was the father
the only son, and heir to the title and es-
tates, was naturally the object of his
fathers affection. The old earl did not keep
a steward, being content to leave his af-
fairs in the hands of the young viscount,
who consequently managed his fathers
correspondence. all letters addressed to the
earl being freely opened by the son.
Then came a memorable day in the an
nails of the house of Ravengar.
letter arrived for the earl bearing the
postmark of town in Kent. Olave, who
was passing through the entrance hall at
the time Of its delivery, took II from the
servant, and following his usual practice
in regard to his fathers letters opened it.
AS he read he was observed to change
color and to become strangely agitated.
Taking the letter with him, he went at
once to his fathers study,
What passed there no one ever learned,
save that there were high words between
the Ravengars being noted for their proud
spirit. In the end the study door was hung
open by the earl. who. with a face flaming
with anger, cried:
Leave the house."
Olave. with scornful glance at his
father, Obeyed.
He went forth. saying nothing to any one
as to the cause OF the rupture, making no
mention of his destination or plans. With
out word of farewell he disappeared from
Ormsby. To all who had known him he
became as one dead.
Every Sunday the earl while at Ormsby
attended the parish church with. commend
able regularity, but vainly did he try to
assume brave air; 1t was clear to all
that he felt the loss Of his son, and that
he was aging In consequence.
Five, seven, ten years rolled away, and
now the old earl lay dying in his grand
bedchamber at Ravenhall. wild even
Ing had set In, and the herring fishers, on
the point of sailing for the Dogger Bank,
put off their expedition for more propitious
weather. The dying man moaned uneasily.
His mind was wandering. and he frequent
~ murmured the name OF the absent Olave
Louder and ever louder grew the wind, till
at length 1t arose to gale. The gloom OF
night was illumined by vivid lightning
flashes, accompanied by peals of thunder
The distant roar of the sea could be plainly
heard at Ravenhal News came that a
yacht, supposed to be French, was founder
ing upon the rocks of Ormsby Race, in full
sight of hundreds of spectators on the
beach, who were powerless to give help
None OF the servants at Ravenhall. how
ever felt disposed to go and view the
wreck; their masters death. which was
hourly expected, affected them far more
than the drowning of hundred strangers
They clustered IN the entrance hail. wait
ing for the fatal news, and conversing in
hushed tones.
Suddenly, out of the darkness there
stalked into the entrance hall lofty fiys
pre. drenched to the ski without hat or
cloak, his long hair lying wet and lank on
his pale cheek
He looked neither TO right nor left, asked
no question o. the startled servants. but
passed quickly Ep the grand staircase with
the air of ona 20. whom the way was fa-
miliar with the Air eI one, too who had
the right to do az he did. Like the electric