Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-04-22
A. CASE OF
De- TINY@
by ATHoL. HOLLOWAY


A HEAVY shower of rain had left
~ me stranded IN the ancient and
sleepy city of Chichester. The country
roads, bad enough at the best of times.
were so sloppy as to put bicycling out
of the. question. knew nobody in
the town, and, as there is, only one
place of interest-the cathedral IL
went there.
In doing this I believed was spend
ing an idle hour. AS matter Of fact,
was unconsciously fulfilling the OBJ
ject for which was probably brought
into the world
The building appeared to be empty,
and / amused myself reading the
tablets that recorded the lives Of
worthy people who existed genera
tions ago. I found them interesting,
for my own name happens to be Clut-
ton, and, though have never troubled
myself about family trees" I knew
that we came from the west of Eng
land. In other words, the knights and
danes who lay in Chichester cathedral
were in all probability my ancestors
wish that they had had the foresight
to leave me<some of their property.
Wandering through the cloisters,
came across a living picture of much
greater interest and beauty than the
images of stone and iron lying around
me.
1t was young lady. who was sketch
ing corner of the building, and maxi
ing "A frantic attempt to do Justice to.
the wonderful arches and quaint win
dows.
In order to get peep at her face,
made pretense of examining monu-
ment close at hand. 1t was erected to
the memory of "Sir Francis Clutton,
1153-1201" His legs were crossed at
the knees, which signified he had
fought in three crusades; and had it
not been that some barbarous visitor
had broken off the gentleman's nose,
he would have made most imposing
/ figure.
/ took the liberty of standing for
moment by her side to see her work.
eff you will excuse my saying so,''
ventured, ''you have drawn that arch
wrong. 1t is out of perspective"
II know it isl she answered, with
little moue. but can't get it right.
Are you an artist?" il
mot exactly I said "But 7 know
something of architectural drawing"
ST wish you would show me how to
| get the wretched thing in so that it
doesn't seem to be standing on one
Leg
with pleasure"
/ took her place on the camp stool,
and, on another piece of paper, made
rough drawing CT the corner which
had puzzled her.
what a number of people of the
name OF Clutton are buried here!" I
said, by way Of opening the conyersa-
ton
"Oh, yes; they used to be a great
1 family in the days gone by" she said.
Henry VIII. took them away when
he was reforming the church. The
Cluttons didn't change their religion
fast enough. Edgar Clutton was the
last of them. But he deserved to be
punished, she added. "He did a
shabby thing
what was that?' 1 inquired.
HE was betrothed to his cousin,
Dorothy Clarence. and Tilted her"
"And what became of Mistress
Dorothy Clarence?"
"She went into a convent. They say
she died Of broken heart, and soon
afterward Sir Edgar was executed for
high treason
"a severe punishment 1 suggested
met at all!' she said, warmly "He
was a mean wretch to behave as he
did! Since those days a Clutton has
| never owned an acre Of land in Devon
shire And they will never get back
! their position of land owners unless
1 She stopped.
UNLESS what?" I asked.
'.Well, there is ridiculous old
legend which has been handed down;
but / don't suppose it will ever come
true. 1t runs:
my lord shall come to his own again
When a Clutton squire weds a
Clarence dame
$50 the theory is that when Clut-
ton marries Clarence and so repairs
the wickedness of Sir Edgar, then
i prosperity will return?'