The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-09-13

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Crispin's where some of our ancestors
lie.'
Il know, said Ralph 'they are going to
pull the old place down. All right; III 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 riug--a family one too. 1t would
be great pity to miss it, if it's really
there
Ralph agreed.
We'll, 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 dinng.room
window painting into the presence of her
aunts.
Since she first left the room a visitor had
appeared-Mr, Boobies, distant relative,
who had inherited some of the family prop
erty, as before explained, a tall grim.look
ing man, with thin iron gray hair, carefully
brushed off his temples.
The aunts were looking rather serious, not
to say frightened and both started guitily
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 scandal no doubt,
for Boobies was the quintessence of spiteful-
ness.
1T is very dreadful-very,' said Miss
Hammond. Il never had much opinion of
Uncle Richard, you know but for the sake
of the young people, hope you'll let it be
kept a profound secret
Sake of the young people! screamed
Boobies at the top of his harsh voice. And
what for the sake of old Boobies? I'm the
next heir, you'll remember, please, through
my maternal grandfather, Henry Ham
mond.
Mr., Boobies had come to Westbury to an
nounce an important discovery that he had
recently made. In turning over some of his
grandfather's papers he had come across
some letters from General Hammonn, in
which it was firmly asserted that his son
Major 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 p asked Miss Hammond, with agitated
voice.
End ? cried Boobies. This is only the
beginning of it. I am going to court of
law to have myself declared heir to the West
bury estates under the settlement
in that 'case.' said Miss Hammond, rising
with dignity, you cannot be received on
friendly terms in my house
'Oh, very WELL cried Boobies, snatching
up his hat and whip, and sweeping out o.
the room without further ceremony.
AS soon as the door was shut upon hin
the sisters looked at each other in blank
CONSERVATION.
Il always feared there would be diff
Guilty. said Ellen, tremulously but oh, tt
think of Boobies having discovered i'll
we must send for Smith at once; the car
riageshall go in and fetch him., said Mis-
, Hammond, ringing the bell.
Mr., Smith, of fGigglesham, was the famil,
solicitor, and the carriage was sent off tc
: bring him up at once for consultation. Blu
! Smith brought little encouragement. H
had heard FROM his father there were curiou
circumstances attending Major Hammond
marriage, and if Boobies had put his fnge
on the fiaw-Smith shrugged his shoulder
= for want of words to express the awkward
| ness of the case.
But search must be made everywhere
4 the evidence of the m arriage must be founC
e the children must not suffer, poor things, an
: always brought up to look upon the propert
e as their own ?
1 why, they could never marry erie
) Miss Ellen they could never live O
0 Ralphs pay
It's altogether dreadful and not gettins
married is the lightest part of the calamity
I said Miss Hammond.
Smith undertook that every possible scare
should be made, and went away, promisin
to set to work at once But his inquiries ha
nosresult. He had traced out the family G
the reputed wife, who had been the daughtt
of a small farmer living at Milton in Kent
= but they had now fallen to the rank of labor
ers, and had no papers belonging to them
hardly any family traditions. He had search
' ed all the registries of the neighboring pal
ishes ; no record of such marriage coult
: be discovered. He had issued advertisement
offering reward for the production of evi
dence; all of no avail. What more coul
he do? To be sure there was presumptio
in favor of the marriage but then if Boo
dies had documents rebutting such a pr'
sumption-Again Mr.. Smith shrugged hi
shoulders in hopelessness of finding fittiu
y words to represent the gravity of the crisi
And he went.on to say, that the very iat
Boobies is spending money over the cas-
shows that he thinks he has a strong one.'
Boobies did not let the gisss grow unde
: his feet he instituted proceedings at one,
: and cited all interested to appear. Th
thing could no longer be kept secret an
Maggie and Ralph were told of the clou
' that hung over theii fortunes.
a i don't care if the property does go away
= said Maggie, bravely. 1T will make no di
nj ference | shall go to India with RALPH
n that's all, l will be soldiers wife, an
Il ride on the baggage wagons.
n Ralph shook bis head. He had new,
been able to manage on his pay when thel
A was only himself, and there were ever
ia many lieutenants on the list before him, s
that he could not hope to be scsptain fc
many years.
l. There was no use in sitting broodng ov'