The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-02

wink, and attempted renewal Of the
nsculatory 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 visitor
had appeared-a Mr.. Boodles, a distant
relative, who had inherited some Of the
family property, as before explained; a
tall, grim looking man, with thin, iron.
gray hair, carefully brushed of his tenn.
ples.
The aunts were looking rather serious,
not to say frightened, and both started
guilty when they saw Maggie.
"Leaye US, my dear, please" said Miss
Hammond gently.
Maggie had Just caught the words, "No
marriage at all, from Mr.. Boobies, who
seemed 10 be speaking loudly and excit.
eddy; and she went out wondering what II
all meant. Some piece Of scandal, no
doubt, for Boobies was the quintessence
OF spiteiulness.
at is very dreadful-very," said Miss
Hammond. "1never had much opinion
Of Uncle Richard, you know; but Tor the
sake Of the young people, l hope you'll
let 1t 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 l.?
I'm the next heir, you'll remember, please,
through my maternal grandfather, Hem
ry Hammond"
Mr.. Boobies had come to Wostbury 10
announce an important discovery that he
had recently made. 1nturning over some
Of his grandlather's papers he had come
across some letters from General Ham.
mond, in which It was firmly asserted that
his son, Major Hommond, 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 lightP asked Mics Hammond
with agitated voice.
END n cried Boobies. "This Is only
the beginning Of 1t. lam going to court
OF law TO have myself declared heir to
the Westbury estates under the settle
ment."
an this case" said Miss Hammond,
rising with dignity, "you cannot be re.
ceived on friendly terms in my house,
"Oh, very well, very we'll" cried
Boobies, snatchiug up his hat and whip,
and sweeping out Of the room without
further ceremony.
As soon "a the door had shut upon him
the sisters looked at each other In blank
condemnation.
az always feared there would be diff.
Guilty" said Ellen TREMENDOUSLY; "but oh,
to think Of Boobies having discovered it."
awe 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 OF to bring him up at once for a con.
sultation. But Smith brought little en-.
enlargement. He had heard from his
father that there were curious circum-
stances attending Major Hammond's mar
riage, and II Boobies had put his finger on
the flaw-Smith shrugged his shoulders
for want OF words to express the aWk-
wardness Of the case.
"But search must be made everywhere
the evidence OF the marriage must be
found, the children must not suffer, poor
things, and always brought up to look
upon the properly as their own"
'"Why, they could never marry" cried
Miss Ellen; ",hey could never live on
Ralphs pay"
ats altogether dreadful; and moi
getting Marie is the very lightes,
part Of the calamity" said Miss Ham
mOnd.
Smith undertook that every possible
search should be made, and went away,
promising TO set to work at once. Bul
his inquiries had no result. He had
traced out the family Of the repued wife
who had been the daughter Of small
farmer living at Milton in Kent; but they
had now fallen TO the rank Of laborers
and had no papers belonging to them
hardly any family traditions. lie had
searched all the registries Of the neigh
boring parishes; no record Of such 8
marriage could be discovered. lie had
issued advertisements offering a reward
for the production OF evidence; all OF nc
avail. What more could he do? To be
sure, there was a presumption in favor o.
the marriage; but then II Boobies had
documents rebutting such presump
ton - Again Mr.. Smith shrugged his
shoulders, in hopelessuess OF finding fit-
ting words to represent the gravity o.
,he crisis. "Aud them" he went on L
say, "the very fact that Boobies Is sPend
| ing money over the case shows that be
thinks he has strong one"
Boobies did not let the grass grow IN
der his feet; he instituted proceedings a
once, and cited all interested to appear
The thing could no longer be kept Sc
cre,; aud Maggie and Ralph were told O
the cloud that had come over their for
tunes.
~ don't care Il the property does e
away" said Maggie brayely. vt wi
make no difference. shall 60 10 lndit
with Ralph, that's all. will be n sol
diers wife, and so on the baggaE'
wagons"
Ralph shook his head. He had never
been able to manage on his pay wheI
there was only himself, and there wer'
ever 40 many lieutenants on the list be
| fore him, 20 that he could not hope to b.
a captain for many years.
There was no use Ia sitting broodtnl
over coming miNfUrtunes, and Ralph tool
the dog cart and drove over 10 Giggle'
sham, to see about the family vaul. at 81
Crispint. Il was an occupation tina
agreed we'll with his temper; the weather
too seemed all in keepins-a dull, driE
zIing day.
said 10 him at parting; "that Ia ours, yol
know, Ralph, II we find 1t, and perhaps !
may be worth lot Of money"
Ralph shook his head incredulously
And yet II was possible. The ring nigh
be there, and Il might prove Of grea
value. In mistortunes, the mind grasp
at the smallest alleviatious, and kalpi
consoled himself In his depression b!
picturing the finding Of splendid rub!
worth say $4,000. No more artiller!
work then-no more India,
GiggleshAm boasts Of several churches
and ST. Crispin's lies in a hollow By th'
river close 10 the bridge. A low squa
tower and plain ugly nave. But In II