The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-04-22
A CASE OF
DESTINY&
By ATHoL HOLLOWAY


ss.ss'T
A HEAVY shower of rain had left
~ me stranded in the ancient and
sleepy city of Elchester. 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-I
went there.
In doing this l believed was spend
ing an idle hour. As a matter of fact.
l was unconsciously fulfilling the OBJ
ject for which l was probably brought
into the world.
The, building appeared to be empty.
and l 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 l have never troubled
myself about family trees" l 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 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 max
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 a most imposing
| figure.
/ took the liberty Of standing for a
moment by her side to see her work.
IF you will excuse my saying so.'
ventured. you have drawn that arch
wrong. 1t is out of perspective"
| Il know it is" she answered, with a
little moue, But 1 can't get it right.
Are you an artist?"
| Not exactly" said. But I know
something of architectural drawing .
| Il wish you would show me how TO
get the wretched thing in so that il
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
a rough drawing of the corner which
had puzzled her.
What a number of people of the
name o. CIutton are buried here,"
said, by way of opening the converse
ton
| 'Oh. yes; they used 20 be a grea
family in the days gone by" she said
Henry VIII. took them away wher
he was reforming the church. Th'
Cluttons didn't change their religion
fast enough. Edgar Clutton was tn,
last of them. But he deserved to b,
punished" she added. 'He did
shabby thing"
What was that" I inquired.
"He was betrothed to his cousin
Dorothy Clarence. and Tilted her"
And what became of Mistres
Dorothy Clarence?"
-'She went into a convent They sa,
she died of a broken heart, and sool
lafterward Sir Edgar was executed 70
high treason"
"A severe punishment" suggested
Not at ALL she said. warmly H
was a mean wretch to behave as h
Ibid, Since those days a Clutton ha
I; never owned an acre of land in Devon
. shire And they viii never get bac
: their position of land owners unless
!, She stopped
Il "UnIess what?" / asked
well. there is a ridiculous oil
legend which has been handed down
but | don't suppose 1T will ever com
true II runs:
My lord shall come to his own agai
When a Gluten squire wsds
Clarence dame
SO the theory is that when a Clu
ton marries a Clarence. and so repair
The wickedness of Sir Edgar, the
n proSperitv viii return"
gl Yes; but | am afraid that vi
never happen now. she said, with
little sigh. Nobody knows what hi
become of the Clu-tOns. and the Cla
ences are nearly extinct"
: 1T appears to me- said. that W
are superstitious about the countl
legends"
Il am afraid l am" she said, laug
ing. because so many have con
true. But this one never will"
why nOt?"
5 Because she said. Il happen to
i the last of the Clarences. I was mann
Dorothy. after the lady who died of
broken heart
-. \ :. l. 4 IL =,