Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-09-11

AOee ANO, NV ~ Alls WHY Csu tuCy
leave our ancestors alone? And l am
sure always looked forward to being
buried there myself"
La! don't talk about that, Ellen, and
you five years the younger!" said Miss
Hammond. briskly: and as we can't
prevent it's being done, we must make
the best of it. Ralph had better 60 and
see to it."
Every well, sister; as you like" said
Ellen. Presently she resumed: "Sis-
ter, I've been thinking that this would
be a good chance to try and get back
Uncle Richard HammOnd's ring"
Uncle Hammond's ring!" repeat
ed the elder sister. ~ don't under
stand"
"You must have heard our father talk
about it. The family ring that ought to
have gone with tine estates-a ruby and
sapphire that General Hammond
brought home from Ceylon."
II ought to know all about it, Ellen,
daresay; but you were SO much more
with my poor father, and had more pa
thence with his stories.
"My father often tried to get the ring
and had offered to give Major Hammond
large sum for it. But he was so vexed
with father for supplanting him. that he
vowed 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 finger.
Our father always said that if he had q
chance he would have the coffin opened
to see."
Maggie, who had retreated to sofa,
and buried her head in a novel, reused
up at this, and joined in: II hope you
viii auntie. 1 do hope you will have it
looked for"
81 don't know, my DEAR said Miss
Hammond. II don't approve of violat
ing the sanctity of the tomb"
With the elder Miss Hammond
phrase was everything; she delighted to
bring thing within the compass of a
well rounded phrase, upon which she
would then make a stand-lnvincible
So Maggie threw up her head in kind
of despair, and ran off to look for Ralph,
who, when last heard Of was smoking d
cigar on the terrace.
Ralph" said Maggie, as soon rs she
had found him, and had submitted to a
smoky kiss-they were in the heyday
of their young loves, when kisses were
appreciated, even when favored with
tobacco" Ralph! auntie is going to
give you commissioning 60 and see
about a vault at St. Crispin's, where
some of our ancestors lie."
~ know" said Ralph; "they are 60
ing 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 Ham,
mond would not have it searched for.
"But it is a very valuable ring-a fami-
ly one too. 1t would be 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 know
ing wink, and attempted renewal
of the osculatory process; but Maggie
escaped him this time, and came flee
ing 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, a
tall, grim-looking man, with thin iron
gray hair, carefully brushed off his
temples.
The aunts were looking rather seri
Gus, not to say frightened, and both
guiltily 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 1t all meant. Some piece of scandal
no doubt, for Boobies was the quintes-
sencc of spitefulness.
cit is very dreadful-very," said Miss
Hammond. Il never had much opin-
ion 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!" scream
ed 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 grandfath-
er, Henry Hammond.
Mr.. Boobies had come to Westbury to
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
Hammond, in which it was firmly as
serted 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" asked Miss Hammond
with agitated voice.