Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-09-11

used before IL was made" replied Ralph
1t gives us date Approximately, at al
events"
At first the knowledge of this date die
not seem likely to be of much use &c
them. But itgave them the heart to &C
OF and make further inquiries. Ralph
threw himself into the task with fervor
He obtained leave to search the records
Of the Horse Guards; and ascertained al
last where had been stationed the regi-
ment that Richard Hammond then be-
longed to in that same year.
1t was at Canterbury, as it happened
and that seemed significant, for it was
not so far from there to his sweetheart's
home at Milton. Ralph went over tc
Canterbury, and with the help of q
clerk of Mr.. Smiths, searched all the
parish registers between the two places
but found nothing. j.#-
The trial was coming on in a few
weeks, and not a scrap of evidence
could they get Of the marriage of Major
Hammond. The other side were full
Of confidence, and we'll they might be
Ralph had made up his mind to return
home, and was walking disconsolately
down the High street of Canterbury
one day when he saw over shop window
the sign, pilgrim, Goldsmith; estab-
lished 1715."
81 WONDER" he said to himself. al
my great-grandfather bought a wedding
ring there?"
A sudden impulse sent him into the
shop. A nice looking old gentleman
with long white hair, was sitting behind
the counter, peering into the works of a
watch through an elongated eyeglass.
Ralph brought out his ring. "Dc
you think this ring was bought at your
shop?" he asked.
Glow long agoY asked Mr.. Pilgrim
taking up the ring and looking at it all
around.
"About the year 1760."
"Ah-h l can't remember so long age
as that. 1t WAS in my fathers time;
but for all that, perhaps | can tell you. .
lie took up the magnifying glass, and
examined the ring carefully once more
" Yes" he said looking up, q mvs-
ferrous expression on his face, chat
ring was bought from my father, have
no doubt"
Ralph questioned him as to the
sources of his knowledge; and Mr.. Pill
grim told him at last 1t was his
fathers practice to put his private mark
upon all the jewelry he sold. He could
do it in those days when his stock was
small and all his own. In these tim es
of changing fashions, when much of a
jewelers stock is on approval, this would
be impossible.
Ralph listened to these explanations
with breathless Impotence. Had Mr.
Pilgrim any books belonging to his
father which might possibly show the
sale? The old gentleman admitted
that he had lot of his fathers old
account books up in q garnet; but il
would be very troublesome to get al
them; and what would be the use?
"Why," said Ralph, "you might Dos
sibly make the happiness of two young
people, who otherwise may be sundered
all their lives He explained enough
of the circumstances to show the old
gentleman that it was not an affair Of
mere idle curiosity; and after that he
entered into the quest with ardor. Pill
grim, his father, had kept each year q
sort Of rough daybook, in which he en-
tered transactions as they occurred
with occasional short annotations. And
at last, after a long, troublesome search
they found the book for the year 176(
and 1761. Nothing was to be made O.
the first; but in the second they had the
delight Of finding the following entry
go March. sold ring, young Master
Hammond, two guineas, saw we wed
ding afterwards at st. Mary's, Fa
versham."
That night all the church bells o
Gigglesham were set a-ringing, for The
news oozed out that Ralph Grant ha(
come home with full proofs Of the M ar
riage that would make good his title t.
Westbury. For the young people were
liked by everybody, whilst Boobies wa
generally eXecrated. Indeed, the case
never came on for trial, as Boodle
withdrew the record when he found tina
there was full evidence to refute hi
claim. Ralph and Maggie were mar
ried soon afterwards; and the bride
wore as keeper over her golden circle
her own special dover, the long burie(
but happily recovered treasure, Majo
M0mmOnd'S rino .-t.s.l -.