Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-03-28

OVs
/ had not time to spend over this mart Of
the exploration, for it was beginning to
get dusk, and Sarah was nervous. It
was late when we left the house. for it
was interesting to investigate; yet I lin
gered to examine the arms and the mot
to over the porch, which might pro5e an
important clue in my search for the
missing heiress.
Suddenly I bethought me of the ring
Olivia had given me on our engagement
which had belonged to her own father.
knew there was motto engraved in
side of it, if it would only tally with the
one l had just read it might prove very
much. I drew the ring from nv finger
and looked at it. Yes; there stood en-
graved in tiny characters the very same
words as we're facing me over the porch
ing Dieu as'ag amour. Olivia must
indeed be the lost heiress.
Sarah stood mean while eyeipe ma
doubtfully.
"That ring was Mr.. DIVERS" she
said sturdily, almost defantly 81
should know it anywhere.
"And you should know this" I pro-
ceeded, drawing Olivia's photograph
from my pocket, and showing it to her.
She looked long and hard at It.
II ought to know it, sir, and vet I do
not, she said. It is not maybe the
poor Italian lady ?-for indeed, sir, you
must belong to the family, and perhaps
you know what became of her and that
dear baby"
The poor old woman was crying as she
said these words, laying her hand be-
seechingly on my arm aud gazing i'm
ploringly into my face. felt that I had
been imprudent in revealing to her so
much OF my own private ideas, and hast
ened to assure her that I knew nothing
of the lost Mrs. Aylmer; that the ring
had been a present from friend; but as
I lived in L ndon, / would do nv ut.
most to discover the missing heiress. if
she were yet alive. In order to divert
the old woman's thoughts to another
channel, I asked what had become of
the money old Mrs. Aylmer was sup
posed to have amassed.
"We think she buried it, SIR" she
answered, land we have dug and dug,
but cannot find it anywhere"
The whole of next day I spent at Fair
Beeches, searching for papers. 7 found
a few old letters from Godfrey Aylmer to
his mother, and some to Oliver, but lit
tie else besides, except account books
without number. These and the letters,
together with bunch of keys, we're ali
in heavy oak chest of drawers in what
had been old Mrs. Alymer's bedroom.
1 felt no scruples about forcing the locks
OF the different cupboards and boxes I
met with all over the house in pursuit
of my researches; my white lock, felt,
gave me an indisputable right to do 60.
In my exertions in the last named
room 1 happened to move the chest
little away from the wall, and fancied I
heard something creak. Perhaps there
might be some secret drawer. or false
bottom, to such an old piece of furni-
ture; better have it out in the middle of
the room and survey it from all sides.
l thought l never should succeed in
moving 1t, it was so heavy, and very
disappointing when the task was accom-
plished. I tapped and sounded it all
over, but it proved merely massive oak
chest, with nothing mysterious about it.
l was just about to replace il, when nv
attention was arrested by the appear
ance of one Of the boards on the spot
where it had stood. The board certainly
was not even, and was also rather loose.
A sudden inspiration came over me, and
in one moment I was down on my hands
and knees, tugging and wrenching at the
luckless plank. So much energy was
soon to be rewarded. In few minutes
was able to raise it little, and then
my work was easy. Up flew the plank,
disclosing to my eyes long, fiat wooden
box; what would it contain-papers or
hoardings? Naturally it was locked, and
with Bramah lock too. turned to my
bunch Of keys and O, with what Joy I
found one Branah among them. Trem.
blingly tried it in the lock, found it fit,
and raised the lid. There, before my
astonished gazs, lay upward of 81, 900
in notes and gold, sever raj cases of old.
fashioned jewelry, some valuable, some
trumPery, but one containing really
fine diamond pendant, which must have
belonged to the Aylmers for generations.
judging by the date engraved on the
back of it; two or three old-fashioned
miniatures of long-dead Aylmers, and
some curious little pieces Of plate, but
no papers.
There remains little more to tell.
With the assistance of Mr.. Garwood and
of our family lawyer, and with the i'm
portant help of papers and possessions
OF her mothers sent to her from Italy.
Olivia's claim to the deserted manor was
easily established, and at the same time
l was proved to be the grandson of that
Godfrey Aylmer who had sought his
fortune in London, and having made it.
had married woman of rank, and re-
nounced his humble relations ut home.
Nevertheless, there was a great deal
to be done before Olivia and could
think of getting married. We intended
to make Fair Beeches our home, so dur
ing the year or two that must elapse be-
fore the old place could be inhabitable,
[ intended studying farming at an agri-
cultural college, whilst Olivia stayed
with the Garwoods, no longer as til cir
governess, but as their friend.
The two years. long waiting that we
bad set ourselves, however, gradually
dwindled down to one, and we were mar
rled last spring a twelve-month.
Amongst the most honored guests at
our wedding was good old Sarah Field
ing, who cried persistently through the
whole service for Joy.
Fair Beeches, with it's old-fashioned
furniture, it's carved oak staircase, it's
high mantelpieces, and its hundred
and one beauties within and without,
is the admiration of our friends, who
describe it as $50 very artistic and
quaint"
We have our boy, Oliver, who, with
his mothers brown eyes and my fair
hair, would be very pretty child were
it not for the exceeding prominence of
his "silver lock-"
Stephens and johnson.
In 1874 Alexander Fl. Stephens met
Herschel V. johnson on the stump in
Georgia, and Mr.. johnson frequently
addressed Mr.. Stephens as &c Sir Oracle"
which remark the latter considered an
epithet OF reproach, if not direct in
suit. The result was that in the course
Of q few days he sent Mr.. johnson a
challenge. His friend who bore it. Mr..
Col. A. 81. KEENAN,, found Mr.. johnson