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

a reward for the production of evidence;
all of no avail. What more could he
do? To be sure there was q presump-
ton in favor of the marriage; but then
if Boobies had documents rebutting
such presumption-again Mr.. Smith
shrugged his shoulders, in hopelessness
of finding fitting words to represent the
gravity of the crisis. "And then" he
went on to say, "the very fact that
Boobies is spending money over the case
shows that he thinks he has strong
one"
Boobies did not let the grass grow
under his feet; he instituted proceedings
at once, and cited all interested to APP
pear. The thing could no longer be
kept secret; and Maggie and Ralph
were told of the cloud that had come
over their fortunes.
81 don't care if the property does go
away" said Maggie, bravely. at will
make no difference. | shall go to India
with Ralph, that's all. l will be sol
dier's wife, and ride on the baggage
wagons"
Ralph shook his head. He had
never been able to manage on his pay
when there was only himself, and there
were ever SO many lieutenants on the
list before him, so that he could not
hope to be captain for many years.
There was no use in sitting broOding
over coming misfOrtunes; and Ralph
took the dogcart and drove over to Gig
glesham to see about the family vault
at st. Crispin's. 1t was an occuption
that agreed we'll with his temper; the
weather too seemed all in keeping-a
dull drilling day.
"Don't forget the ring" Maggie had
said to him at parting; that is ours, you
know, Ralph, if we find it; and perhaps
it may be worth lot of money"
Ralph shook his head incredulOusly
And yet it was possible. The ring
might be there and it might prove of
great value. In misfortunes the mind
grasps at the smallest alterations, and
Ralph cOnsoled himself in his depres-
sion by picturing the finding of a
SPLENDID ruby worth say 100000. No
more artillery work lhen-no more
India.
GIgglesham boasts of several
churches, and st. Crispin's lies in q
A low squat tower and plain ugly nave.
But in its nook there-the dark river
flowing by, the sail of a barge showing
now and then, the tall piles of deals in
the timber yard beyond, the castle
keeps frowniug from the heights, and
the big watermill with its wiers and
rapids, the noise of which and of the
great churning wheel sounded slumb-
rously all day long-allied with these
things the old church had some thing
hOmely and pleasant about it, hardly
to be replaced by the finest modern
Gothic. .r.-
Workmen were swarming about it
now. The roof was nearly off. There
were great piles of sand and mortar in
the graveyard. Nir. Martin, the plumb
er and glazier who took the most lively
interest in the underground work, even
to the neglect of more profitable bust
ness, was on the lookout for Lieutenant
Grant, and greeted him cheerily.
" We've got. 'em all laid out in the
vestry, Cap'n Grant-all the whole fam
lily; 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
the open air like?' ....
"The least expensive way, [ should
say" replied Ralph, grimly. Somehow
or other his appreciation of his ances
tors was deadened by this last stroke of
fate in cutting him adrift from mis- sue
cession. But look here, Martini" he
went on, taking the plumber asaide;
there is one of the collins, Major
Hammonds, l 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 cnarnel house work.
He's lead 'un he is. I'll have the
top off if in no time" ~ %
Ralph looked grayely down at the last
remains Of the HammOnds. The wife,
if she had been wife, on whom their
inheritance hung, was not here; she had
died in India. But there was the Majors
coffin, the woodwork decayed, but the
leaden envelope as sound as ever.
Martin was quickly at work with his
tools. The cover was stripped off, and
for moment the Majors features were
to be seen much as they had been in
life; then all dissolved into dust. .a
There was no ruby ring-that must
have been a fable; but there was some
thing glittering among the remains, and
on taking it out it proved to be plain
gold hoop. a.e~.. ni.'&@#s.raE 81,
"Well, that's worth pound, that is"
cried the practical Martin, carefully
polishing up the treasure trove. Ithad
probably been hung around the neck Of
the departed--a tall bony man--for the
ring was a small one, and there were
traces of black ribbon attached to it..
1t was a disappointment, no doubt;
and yet somehow the sight of the ring
had given Ralph a little hope. 1t was
the wedding ring, he said to himself
his great grandmother's wedding ring.
The Major must have been fond of her
to have had her ring always about him
and it had been buried with him. That
had given rise to the story about the
ruby. He drove home, after giving di-
rections about the disposal of the collins,