, 1908-03-26

broke a blade of my pocket-knife try.
ing 10 pry it up. but. in a moment, I
succeeded. and found 1t to be In reality
, tran door, hinged to the substantial
mart Of the floor.
A current of cool, fresh air, the
same that had surprised me IN the
night. struck my face as l lay fat and
peered into the opening. The lower
massage was as black as pitch, and I
lighted a lantern I had brought with
ME, found that wooden steps gave safe
conduct below and went down.
stood erect in the passage and had
several inches to spare. 1t extended
both ways. running back under the
foundations Of the house, and cut
~,ouarely under the park before the
house and toward the school wall. The
air grew steadily fresher, until. after
had gone about two hundred yards, I
reached a point where the wind seemed
to beat down on me from above. I put
up my hands and found two openings
about three yards apart, through which
the air sucked steadily. I moved out
OF the current with a chuckle in m
throat and = grin on my face. I had
passed under the gate in the school
wall. and 1 knew now why the piers
that held It had been built so high
they were hollow and we're the means
OF sending fresh air into the tunnel.
When l had travelled about twenty
yards more I felt a slight vibration &C.
~companied by a mufled roar, and al
most Immediately came to a rough
wooden stair that marked the end OF
the passage. I had NO means Of judg-
Ing directions, but / assumed that I
was well within the school park.
| climbed the steps and in q moment
stood blinking. my lantern in hand. In
4 small, fioored room. Overhead the
tumult and thunder Of an organ ex-
heard below. I was IN the crypt of st.
Asatha's chapel. The inside of the
door by which I had entered "a a
part Of the w~ainscoting of the room.
and the opening was wholly covered
with = map Of the Holy Land.
II was all very strange and interest
ing. l looked at my watch and found
that II was ave o'clock. but I resolved
to 90 into the chapel before gong
home.
The way up was clear enough, and
| was loon in the vestibule. J opened
the door. expecting to find = service
in progress: but the little church was
empty save where. at the right Of the
~chancel, An organist was filling the
church with the notes of an exultant
march. Cap In hand I stole forward.
and sank down in one of the pews.
A lamp over the organ keyboard
gave the only light in the chapel, and
made an aureole about her head
bout the uncovered head Of Olivia
Gladys Armstrong! smiled as I rec
ognized her and smiled, too, as I re-
nembered her name. But the joy she
brought to the music, the happiness in
her face a. she raised 1t in the minor
harmoniss. her isolation, marked BY
the little isle Of light against the dark
background of the choir,-these things
touched and moved me. and l bent for
ward, my arms upon the pew in front
of me, Watching and listening with =
kind Of awed wonder.
There was no pause in the outpour-
ing OF the melody. She changed stops
and manuals with swift fingers and
passed from n composition to an
other; now It was an august hymn.
now q theme from Wagner, and finally
Msndelssohn's spring song won the
cold, dark chapel to light and warmth
with its exuitant notes.
CT $1,000 -,IIAlu 18th q 1fflA
sigh and struck her hands together.
for the place was cold. As she reached
up to put out the lights l stepped for
ward to the chancel steps.
Please allow me to do that for
you,"
She turned toward me. gathering .
cape about her.
oh. it's you. is it!- she asked. look
ing about quickly. IT don't remember
that you were invited"
4 didn't know l was coming my
self" remarked %truthfully. lifting my
hand to the lamp.
That is my opinion Of you,-that
you're q rather unexpected person.
But thank you. very much"
- showed no disposition tn pro
iu.s the interview. out hurried towari
the door, and reached the vsstibuls ~
lore | came up with her.
You cant go any farther. Mr.. Glen
arm" she said. and waited as though
to make sure ! understood. Straight
before US through the wood and be-
yond the school buildings the sunset
faded sullenly. Night was following
fast upon the gray twilight and al
ready the holder planets we're afiame
In the sky. The path led straight
ahead beneath the black boughs.
Il might perhaps walk to the dormi-
tory. or whatever you call it." ! said.