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

home from Ceylon."
81 ought to know all about it, Ellen,
l dare say; but you were so much more
with my poor father, and had more pa
tience with his STORIES"
/" My father often tried to get the ring,
and had offered to give Maj. Hammond
a large sum for it. But he was so vexed
with father for supplanting him that he
vowed that he never should have it; and
they say, sister, that rather than it
should ever fall into his brothers hands,
he had it buried with him, upon his fin
ger. Our father always said that if he
had a chance he would have the coffin
opened to see."
Maggie, who retreated to a sofa and
buried her head in a novel, reused up at
this and joined in: q hope you will,
auntie. do hope you'll have it looked
for"
81 don't know, my DEAR" said Miss
Hammond. {" don't approve of violat
ing the sanctity of the tomb"
With the elder Miss Hammond phrase
was everything; she delighted to bring a
thing within the compass of we'll
rounded phrase, upon which she would
then make stand-invincible. So Mag
gle threw up her head in kind of des-
pair and ran off to look for Ralph, who,
when last heard of, was smoking a cigar
on the terrace.
"Ralph" said Maggie, as soon as she
had found him, and had submitted to a
very smoky kiss-they were in the hey
day of their young loves, when kisses
were appreciated, even when favored
with tobacco" Ralph! auntie is going
to give you a commissioning go and see
about a vault at St. Crispin's, where
some of our ancestors lie"
Il know" said Ralph; "they are
going to pull the old place down All
right; I'll do it."
Then Maggie went on to tell him about
the ring, and how Miss Hammond would
not have it searched for "But it is
very valuable ring-a family one, too.
1t would be a great pity to miss it, if it's
really there"
Ralph agreed.
well, then, mind you look for it, sir;
only don't say word to auntie, or she'll
put stop to it."
Pm fly" said Ralph, with knowing
wink, and attempted renewal of the
osculatory process; but Maggie escaped
him this time, and came fleeing in at the
dining-room window painting into the
presence of her aunts.
Since she first left the room a visitor
had appeared-a Mr.. Boobies, distant
relative, who had inherited some of the
family property, as before explained;
tall, grim looking man, with thin, iron
gray hair, carefully brushed off his tenn
Piles.
The aunts were looking rather serious,
not to say frightened, and both started
guilty when they saw Maggie.
Leave us, my dear, please" said
Miss Hammond gently.
Maggie had just caught the words,
"No marriage at ALL" from Mr. Boobies,
who seemed to be speaking loudly and
excitedly; and she went out wondering
what it all meant. Some piece of scan.
dial, no doubt, for Boobies was the quint-
essence of spitefulness.
''It is very dreadful-very," said Miss
Hammond, 81 never had much opinion
of Uncle Richard, you know; but for the
sake of the young people, hope you'll
let it be kept profound secret"
Sake of the young people" screamed
Boobies at the top of his harsh voice.
And what for the sake of old Boobies?
Pm the next heir, you'll remember, please,
through my maternal grandfather, Henry
Hammond"
Mr. Boobies had come to Westbury to
announce an important discovery that he
had recently made. In turning over
some of his grandfather's papers he had
come across some letters from Gen. Ham.
mond, in which it was firmly asserted
that his son, Maj. Hammond, had never
been legally married to the woman known
as his wife.
"What end do you propose to serve,
Mr.. Boobies, by bringing this ancient
scandal to light?" asked Miss Hammond
with agitated voice.
EndT cried Boobies. "This is only
the beginning of it. l am going to
court of law to have myself declared
heir to the Westbury estates under the
settlement"
"In that case" said Miss Hammond,
rising with dignity, "you cannot be re-
celved on friendly terms in my house."
ooh, very well, very WE'LL" cried
Boobies, snatching up his hat and whip,
and sweeping out of the room without
| further ceremony.
AS soon as the door had shut upon
him the sisters looked at each in blank
CONSERVATION.
Il always feared there would be
difficulty" said Ellen TREMENDOUSLY, "but
oh, to think of Boobies having discovered
| itw
eve must send for Smith at once;
the carriage shall go in and fetch him."
SAID Miss Hammond ringing the bell.
Mr.. Smith, of Gigglesham, was the
family solicitor, and the carriage was
sent off to bring him up at once for a
consultation. But Smith brought little
encouragement. He had heard from
his father that there were curious cir
ctmstances attending Major Hammonds
marriage, and if Boodless had put his
finger on the flaw Smith shrugged
his shoulders for want of words to ex-
press the awkwardness of the case.
But search must be made every
where; the evidence of the marriage
must be found; the children must not
suffer, poor things, and always brought
up to look upon the property as their
own"