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

What more could he dor To be sure,
there was presumption in favor of the
marriage; but then if Boobies had doc
uments rebutting such a presumption
- Again Mr.. Smith shrugged his
shoulders, in hopelessness of finding fit
ting words to represent the gravity OF
the crisis. "And then" he went on to
say, " the very fact that Boobies is spend.
ing money over the case shows that he
thinks he has a strong one"
Boobies did not let the grass grow I'M
der his feet; he instituted proceedings at
once, and cited all interested to appear.
The thing could no longer be kept Sc
cret; and Maggie and Ralph were told of
the cloud that had come over their fort
unes.
" don't care if the property does 50
away" said Maggie, bravely. 1T will
make no difference. shall go to India
with Ralph, that's all. l will be SOL
dier's wife and go on the baggage wag-
ons."
Raj phi shook his head He had never
been able to manage on his pay when
there was only himself, and there were
fore him, so that he could not hope to
be Captain for many years.
There was no use in sitting brooding
over coming misfortunes; and Ralph
took the dog cart and drove over to Gig
glesham, to see about the family vault
at st. Crispin's. 1t was an occupation
that agreed we'll with his temper; the
weather too seemed all in keeping-a
dull, drilling day.
" Don't forget the ring" Maggie had
said to him at parting; that is ours, you
know, Ralph, if we find it; and perhaps
it may be worth lot of money"
Ralph shook his head incredulously.
And yet it was possible. The ring might
be there and it might prove of great
value. In misfortunes, the mind grasps
at the smallest alleviations, and Ralph
consoled himself in his depression by
picturing the finding of splendid ruby
worth say 100000. No more artillery
work then-no more India.
Gigglesham boasts of several churches,
and st. Crispin lies in hollow by the
river close to the bridge A low squat
tower and plain ugly nave. But in its
nook there-the dark river flowing by,
the sail of barge showing now and then,
the tall piles of deals in the timber-yard
beyond, the castle keep frowning from
the the heights, and the big water-mill
with its weirs and rapids, the noise of
which and of the great churning- wheel
sounded slumbrously all day long-al-
lied with these things, the old church
had something homely and pleasant
about it, hardly to be replaced by the
finest modern Gothic.
Workmen were swarming about it now.
The roof was nearly off. There were
great piles of sand and mortar in the
graveyard. Mr.. Martin, the plumber
and glazier, who took the most lively
interest in the underground work, even
to the neglect of more profitable bust
ness, was on the lookout for Lieut. Grant
and greeted him cheerily.
We've got 'em all laid out in the
vestry, Cap'n Grant, all the whole fami-
ly; and now the question is, what are
you going to have done with them?
Would you like 'em put in the vaults be-
low, where they will all be done up in
lime and plaster? or would you like 'em
moved somewhere else more in the open
air like?"
"The least expensive way, 1 should
say" replied Ralph, grimly. Somehow
or other his appreciation of his ancestors
was deadened by this last stroke of fate
in cutting him adrift from his succession.
But look here, Martini" he went on,
taking the plumber aside; " there is one
of the collins, Maj. Hammond's, should
like to have opened. Can it be done?"
Easy enough, sir" cried Martin, who,
to say the truth, was delighted at the
prospect of little charnel-house work
" He's a lead 'un, he is. I'll have the
top off in no time"
Ralph looked gravely down at the last
remains of the Hammonds. The wife, if
she had been wife, on whom the inner
itance hung was not here; she had died
in India. But there was the Majors cof-
fin, the wood work decayed, but the
leaden envelope as sound as ever
Martin was quickly at work with his
tools. The cover was stripped off, and
for moment the Majors features were
to be seen as much as they had been in
life; then all dissolved into dust.
There was no ruby ring-that must
have been fable; but there was some
thing glittering among the remains, and
on taking it out, it proved to be plain
gold hoop.
Well, that's worth pound, that is"
cried the practical Martin, carefully pol
ishing up the treasure-trove. 1t had
probably been hung around the neck of
the departed-a tall, bony man-for the
ring was small one, and there were
traces of black ribbon attached to it.
1t was disappointment, no doubt;
and yet somehow the sight of the ring
had given Ralph little hope. 1t was
the wedding-ring, he said to himself, his
great grandmother's wedding ring. The
Major must have been fond of her to
have her ring always about him; and it
had been buried with him. That had
given rise to the story about the ruby.
He drove home after giving directions
about the disposal of the collins, feeling
less sore at heart. He was now con-
vinced that they had right on their side,
and there was some comfort in that.
When he reached home, he showed the
ring to Maggie, who agreed with his con-
illusions.
But there is something inside-some
letters, think, she cried.