The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-24

of the Horse Guards; and ascertained at
last where had been stationed the regi-
ment that Richard Hammond then be-
longed to in that same year.
1t was at Canterbury, as it happened;
and that seemed significant, for it was
not so far from there to his sweethearts
home at Milton. Ralph went over to
Canterbury, and with the help of a clerk
OF MIR. Smiths searched all the parish
registers between the two places; but
found nothing.
The trial was coming ON in a few
weeks, and not a scrap of evidence could
they get of the marriage of Mai. Ham
mond. The other side were full of
confidence, and well they might be.
Ralph had made up his mind to return
home, and was walking disconsolately
down the High Street of Canterbury one
day when he saw over shop window
the sign pilgrim, Goldsmith; estab-
lished 1715." ...
" l WONDER" he said to himself, eff
my great-grandfather bought his we'd
ding-ring there"
A sudden impulse sent him into the
shop. A nice-looking old gentleman,
with long, white hair, was sitting behind
the counter, peering into the works of
watch with an elongated eye-glass.
Ralph brought out his ring. do you
think that ring was bought at your shop?"
he asked.
How long ago?" asked Mr.. Pilgrim,
taking up the ring and looking at it all
round.
"About the year 1900"
"Ah-h! can't remember so long ago
as that. 1t was in my fathers time; but
for all that, perhaps I can tell you"
He took up the magnifying glass, and
examined the ring carefully once more.
" Yes" he said looking up mystic
rious expression on his face, that ring
was bought from my father, have no
doubt"
Ralph questioned him as to the source
of his knowledge; and Mr.. Pilgrim told
him at last. 1t was his fathers prac-
tice to put his private mark upon all the
jewelry he sold. He could do it in those
days, when his stock was small and all
his own. In these times of changing
fashions, when much of a jewelers.
stock is on approval, this would be I'M
possible.
Ralph listened to these explanations
with breathless Impotence. Had Mr..
Pilgrim any books belonging to his
father which might possibly show the
sale? The old gentleman admitted that
he had lot of his fathers old account
books up in garnet but it would be
very troublesome to get at them; and
what would be the use? .t
" Why" said Ralph, "you might pos
sibly make the happiness of two young
people, who otherwise may be sundered
all their lives" He explained enough of
the circumstances to show the old gen.
tleman that it was not an affair of mere
idle curiosity; and after that he entered
into the quest with ardor. Pilgrim, his
father had kept each year sort of rough
day book, in which he entered transac-
lions as they occurred, with occasional
short annotations. And at last, after
long troublesome search, they found the
books for the years 1850 and 1851.
Nothing was to be made of the first; but
in the second they had the delight of
finding the whole entry: 1875 March,
sold ring, young Master Hammond, two
guineas, saw ye wedding afterwards at
st. Mary's Faverham."
That night all the church bells of Gig
glesham were set a ringing, for the news
oozed out that Ralph Grant had come
home with full proof of the marriage
that would make good his title to West
bury. For the young people were liked
by everybody, while Boobies was gener-
ally execrated. Indeed, the case never
came on for trial, as Boobies withdrew
the record when he found that there was
full evidence to refute his claim Ralph
and Maggie were married soon after
ward; and the bride wore as keeper
over the golden circle her own special
dover, the long buried but happily re-
covered treasure Maj. Hammond's ring.