The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-03-23

MacDohalu was her shad0w-alwnys
unexceptionalin in manner andappearance,
always deierential to my aunt, aud the
prince Of good fellows with me, but
assuming quiet air Of proprietorship in
my sister which reused Jacks ferccst
Indignation, aud occasioued no end of
disquietude to myself.
At last my misery eliminated in
formal proposal from Captain MacDon
aid for kitty's hand, AMI the same day
Frank Wilton, arrived. 1t was an i'm
mcnse relief to me to see Franks honest
face and feel the friendly grip of his
hand once more but | soon discovered
that, for any influence he was likely to
exert over my sisters destiny he might
as well have remained where he was.
Kitty looked her prettiest aud smiled
her winsomest, and played of her whole
retnuc OF adorers against him with a
skill and grace worthier of better
cause ; but Frank met her with an un.
consciousness and Indifference that com
pletely rou ed her at her own game
Every particle Of his love seemed to
have died out of his heart, and made
up my mind before he had been twelve
hours in the place that could put no
reasonable obstacle in the way of the
Captains suit should Kitty please to
smile upon it.
had requested, However, a few days
grace from him. wherein to mike further
inquiries, and to talk the matter over
with my sister; and it was withvery heavy
henrt that | prepared myself to give her
to stranger, and to consign myself to
. lifetime OF loneliness without her.
1t was the morning after Franks
arrival, and again Sunday, that we
sat at salon where my story opened
Frank Wilton, Macdonald, aud myself
smoking our matutinal cigar, Kitty
having just left us, aud Jack occupied
in whiting and whistling "Ten little
Indians" very softly to himself at a
distant window.
"Will you allow ME to look at your
ring, Captain Macdonald ?" said Frank
in one of the pauses ofthe conversation !;
Otis very curious ring, | fancy have
seen one like it before"
"Ah," said Macdonald quietly, as he
slipped the ring off his finger and
handed it to my friend ut has been
in our family many hundred years and
| can tell you q very curious story
connected with it. At the massacre of
Cawnpore that ring"
eight little Indians on their way to heaven
One got there first-and then there was seyen,"
chanted Jack from the other end Of the
room
| gave Jack whitening look, which
meant :. leave the room," but which,
"not seeing it exactly in that light"
the grace!css boy took no notice of
whatever.
"Ah, you rere at Cawnpore, then ?"
said Frank, rising as he spoke, and
taking seat directly opposite the Cap
tain.
"Certanly was" replied Mae Donald,
with an air Of surprise. "The Ninety.
third we're on active service during the
whole time Of the lnutiny. We relieved
the garrison Of Luck now, and we're the
first to enter Cawnpore after that fright
full massacre. can scarcely think of
itnow with any eomposure, Mr.. Wilton
the mutilated remains of women and
children-thes blood ankle deep-it
makes my hair stand on end to speak Of
it,"
A strange look came over Frank
Wiltoa's face, and he fixed his steel
blue eyes upon Macdonald with an
expression that eurdled the blood in my
veins, and caused me to spring to my
feet and approach nearer to them both.
Then he said slowly aud deliberately !:
"Sir, you are liar and an impostor !!
You have never been in India or if you
have, you held no honorable position
there. Captain Macdonald Of the
Ninety third Highlanders was killed at
the storming of Lucknow. Ihave seen
his mother within the last ten days, and
heard from her own lips the story Of her
sons gallant death. This ring is the
sisuet ring of the Macdonald clan.
Who and what you are, and how the
ring came into your possession, is known
best to yourself. What | have said l
repeat, and am prepared to prove
that you are liar and scoundrel.
Now, sir, what have you got to say 10
you own defence Z"
The Captain had risen ut Franks first
startling announcement, with look Of
indignant defiance on his face; but when
he felt his whole cdifco Of deceit aud
imposture crumbling beneath his feet,
he sank back upon the sofa, and buried
bis face in his hands. There was pro-
found silence for few seconds, during
which Jack crossed the room on tiptoe,
and seated himself where he could stare
comfortably and unrestrainedly at his
fallen enemy.
The presence of Jack, whom heshad
always disliked, seemed to act as a sort
of tonic upon Macdonald, for he arose,
and, turning to Frank and myself, said
with an amount Of straightforwarduess I
hardly expected from him:
Gentlemen, have nothing to say
in my own defence, but that, like many
a better man, have been the victim Of
my own ambition. was the confi len-
tial servant of the late Captain Mac
Donald, and when he fell at Lucknow,
dug his grave with my own hands and