The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-17

I sighted by Beatrice; the lady who had
once lived at Nantes in the very house that
fronted the scene of the murder of Du-
chesne. that murder for which his father
had been condemned: the lady who was
erecting in st. Oswald's Churchyard mar
bic cross inscribed with an epitaph that
seemed almost applicable 10 his fathers
case: the lady whose playing upon the
/ organ had wrought so weird an effect upon
his mind.
/ All these things contributed to invest
/ Lorelie Riviere with a charming air of mys-
/ terry, but ldris recognized that the time
was not yet ripe to press for condolences.
! Dragging a few logs forward he disposed
! them so as 10 form seat for himself near
/ the entrance of the cavern, remarking as
/ he did so:
I'VE must not forget to look out for pass
The afternoon sun was filling the air
/ with a dusky golden glow. The waves
! dancing and sparkling below the mouth or
/ the cave flashed emerald and sapphire hGes
/ upon its roof. irradiating the place with
/ an ever-changing light.
To Idris the situation was a charming
! tabeau, a living idyll, and one that was
/ rendered all the more pleasant by contrast
/ with their recent perilous position. Madem-
what might have happened but for the
/ chance passing OF this stranger. strange
that until this moment ii had not occurred
i to her TO ask his name!
| You know my name" she said, but
/ have yet to learn yours.
/ My name is Breakspear," he replied,
/ Withholding his true patronymic; and feel
/ ing as he spoke a sense OF shame or hav-
/ ing to deceive her even In small mat
/ ter; "Idris BreakSpear.
''Idrisl she said, with a sudden start.
as If the name had touched some chord
in her memory. ''Idris. 1t is a somewhat
uncommon name"
| we will say, then. that its rarity is a
| point in its favor" smiled Idris who had
observed her start, ana wondered at the
! cause.
Have we not met before, Mr. Break
| spear?'
II saw you two days ago in the Raven
! gar Chantry," he replied. He did not say,
as he might truthfully have said. that dur
| ing these two days he had been thinking
| OF little else but that brief meeting. MISS
| Ravengar and l." he continued, had been
listening to your recital on the organ. l
must congratulate you on your skill as a
musician, Mademoisele Riviere. May
| ask the name of the last chant you played?
Was it taken from some oratorio, or was 1t
| your own improvisation"
| THE last chant?" repeated Lorelie with
| a pensive air. Let think? What was 1t?
| Did il run like this?"
| And in a sweet silvery tone she trilled of
| a. bar which 'Idris Immediately recognized
! as a part of the refrain that had been
| played by her
THAT is the 'Ravengar Funeral March,"
| explained Lorelie. Its origin goes far back
, into the depths Of the dark ages tradition
affirming lat it is the composition of an
| ancient scald, and was first chanted at the
| burial of the old Morse chieftain who
| founded the Ravengar family, though he
| would be a bold person who would say
| that the tune has not undergone variations
| in its descent to our times. The unknown
| minstrel with whom 1t originated was
| genius, a medieval Mozart. Could you not
| fancy that you heard the tread of numer-
| Gus feet in procession, the clang OF sshield
| and spear. the groans of warriors, the
| plaintiVe weeping OF women?
| 1t certainly was weird requlem; IL
| moved me no other piece of music ever
| has
And then, absorbed in new idea, Idris
| Lorelie Riviere.
What are these Ravengars to me- he
| thought, ''or am / to them, that their
| funeral chant should produce in me such
| clafrvoyant sensations?
This question was succeeded by another.
| How had Mademoiselle Riviere bec2me IA
| miliar with this requiem? As If in: answer
| 10 his thoughts Lorelie remarked:
| Il heard Viscount Walden play it once in
| Venice; he gave it as specimen of the
| weird ana uncanny in music. III so took my
| fancy that L did not rest till l mad OBJ
| tanned a copy of it,"
1t was somewhat disquieting to learn that
| she had met Lord Walden abroad, and that
! she was on terms of sufficient friendship
| 10 beg from him copy of music Had this
| friendship changed into something deeper?
| Was he to regard Lord Walden in the light
or rival? Had Mademoiselle Rivieye come
| to Ormsby in order to be near the vrscount2
| In saving her from being overwhelmed by
the tide Idris had doubtless gained high
| place in her favor, but then gratitude is not
| love, and Ravenhall and a coronet were
| powerful attractions.
do you play at ST. Oswald's church,"
| he asked, after an interval of silence
| Yes. L find a charm in its dim religious
light"
And the quietude of the place" said
| ldrls, lis also favorable to the study of
medieval Observation-Disclosures Diaconus, for
| example"
"Ah! Mr.. Breakspear," she said: so it
| was you who carried off my book from the
| organ loft. | guessed as much when | went
| mi nnt
| get TO return it, for / value Ii highly. Now
confess, that you have wondered why l. a
| woman, should take to porting over that old
| Lombard histOrian?'
| Curiosity is not confined to the sex with
whom II is supposed to have originated"
| smiled Idris, land / am willing Is admit
mademoiselle. that l have been puzzled
| The book does not belong to the style of
| literature usually patronized by ladies'"
Mercl! | regard that last remark a
| compliment Well. l will explain the mys-
terry II you will promise to keep the mat
| ter secret And upon Idris giving his as
surance, she continued: II am trying TO
| write a poetical play, a tragedy re.ating to
the times of the Italo-Lombard kings, and
n as do not wish to commit anachronisms
| it behooves me to study the historical au-
| thorities in the original
| Il understand" answered Idris BIS opin-
| ion of Lorelie rising higher than ever; be-
sides being musician and a Latin scholar
| she was also a poetess! And what are you
| going 10 call your play?"
The Fatal SKULL" she replied You
| look surprised Mr.. Breakspear. Is there
already play of that name?"
| Il have never heard of it,
| Because one must not borrow another
authors title, is it not SOP
| The Fatal Skulli' Idris could not hut
| think 1t a curious coincidence that Lorelie's
drama should bear such title when he
hlinselI at this time was much interested in
a skull, 10 wit, that of Orm the Viking
| w ny so weird a title, mademoiselle?"
| Because 1t is appropriate to the leading
| incident In the piece for the play turns on
the famous historic banquet at which the
Lombard Queen Rosamond was forced bv
her husband to drink from her father :
skull. So now you understand, Mr. Break
spear, she went on, " that wherever the
words Fatal Skull or the initials Fl >
occur in the margin of my book. they mean
that there is something in the passage
thus marked capable of being worked into
my drama"
And when do you intend to publish II 81
Not yet; perhaps never. | write not for
fame but for my own pleasure
DO not say that, Mademoisele IF one
has noble thoughts the world will be hotter
for hearing them. / hope therefore to see
the day when your work will be published !.
nay. more, hope TO see IL acted"
1t Is kind of you to say So" She mur-
INJURED. The light of plea sure i'm her eyes
and the color mantling her cheek so en-
hanced her beauty that il was with dim
Guilty the impulsive Idris could repress the
temptation of telling her of his love But
even as he watched, the look of pleasure
faded from her face, and there succeeded
the melancholy air that he had previously