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

there, aud it might prove of great value. In
misfortunes the mind grasps at the smallest
and Ralph consoled himself in
his depression by pcturing the finding of
of splendid ruby worth say 100000. No
more artillery work then-no more India.
Gigglesham boasts of several churches,
and st. Crispin's lies in hollow by the riv.
er, close by the bridge. A low squat tower
and plain ugly knave. But in its nook
there-the dark river flowing by, the sail of |
a barge showing now aud then, the tall piles
of deals in the timber yard beyond, the cas-
tie keeps frownng from the heights and the
big watermill with its weirs and rapids the
noise of which and of the great churning
wheel sounded slumbrously all day long
allied 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 aud mortar in the graveyard.
Mr.. Martin, the plumber and glazier who
took the most lively interest in the under
ground work, even to the neglect of more
profitable business, was on the lookout for
Lieutenant Grant, and greeted him cheerly.
We've got 'em all laid out in the vestry,
Capn Grant the whole family and
now the question is, what are you going to
have done with them Would you like 'em
put in the vaults below, where they'll all be
done up in lime and plaster or would you
like 'em moved somewhere else-more in
in the open air like p
The least expensive way, should say
replied Ralph, grimly. Somehow or other
his appreciation of his ancestors was dead
ened by this last stroke OF fate in cutting
him adrift from his succession. But look
here, Martin, he went on, taking the plumb.
er aside there is one of the coffins, Major
Hammonds should like to have opened.
1t can be done?
Easy enough, sir cried Martin, who to
say the truth, was delighted at the prospect
| of little charne house work. Hes lead
'un he is. I'll have the top off in no
| time
Ralph looked gravely down at the last re.
mains of the Hammonds. The wife. if she
had been a wife, on whom their inheritance
hung, was not there she had died in India
But there was the Majors coffin, 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 mo-
ment the Majors features were to be seen
much as they had been in life then all dis.
solved into dust.
There was no ruby ring-that must hav,
been fable but there was something gilt
tering among the remains and on taking i
out it proved to be plain gold hoop.
'Well. that's worth pound, that is, erie
the practical Martin, carefully polishing VI
the treasure trove. 1t had probably beer
hung around the neck of the departed-a
tall bony man-for the ring was small on
and there were traces of black rlbbor
attached to it.
1t was a disappointment, no doubt ant
yet somehow the sight of the ring had give
Ralph little hope. 1t was the wedding
ring he said to himself, his great grand
mothers wedding ring. The Major mus
have been fond of her to have had her rim
always about him; and it had been burie
} with him. That had given rise to the stor
about the ruby. He drove home, after Civ
ing direction about the disposal of the cof
4 fins, feeling less sore at heart. He was no'
convinced that they had right on their side
v and there was some comfort in that.
When he reached home he showed tn
t ring to Maggie, who agreed with his conclu
q sions.
q But there is something inside-some lie
= ters, think she cried.
~ 1T is only the Hallmark, said Ralpl
= having looked in bis turn. But sto
l. That tells us something it will give us
date
How can that be p asked Maggie.
> Because there is different mark ever
:, = year. See You can make out with maj
nifying glass. King George in pi
tall
! The siversmith at Gigglesmith turned |
his tabulated list of Hall-marks, and to
them at once the date of the rng-l760,
But it might have been made long tin
before it was used, suggested Maggie.
. True but it could not have been use
before it was made replied Ralph. 1T Civ
II US date,approxmately, at all events.
g At first the knowledge of this date did n
d seem likely to be of much use to them. b
II it gave them the heart to 60 on and NAL
n further inquiries. Ralph threw himself in
the task with fervor. He obtained leave
r search the records of the Horse Guards
- and 'ascertained att asst where had been st
l. toned the regiment that Richard Hammo
r then belonged to in in that same year.
d 1t was at Canterbury, as it happene,
IS and that seemed significant, for it was not
/ far from there to his sweetheart's home
d Milton. Ralph went over to Canterbury, a
n with the help of clerk of Mr.. Smith
= searched all the parish registers between
p two places, but found nothing,
Is The trial was coming on in few weel
g and not a scrap of evidence could they 9
s. of the marriage of Major Hammond. T
Ct other side were tull of confidence, and W
70 they might be. Ralph had made up
mind to return home, and was walking d
u consolately down the High street of Cantt
O. bury one day when he saw over a shop wi
'e dow the sign, Pilgrim, Goldsmith /; esta
q lished 17l5.'
- Il WONDER he said to himself if L
great-grandfather bought a wedding Ri
, there p
A sudden impulse sent him into the she
:, A nice looking old gentleman, with 10
~ white hair, was sitting behind the count
peering into the works of watch thou
Or an elongated eyeglass.
le Ralph brought out his ring, "Do y