Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-28
COLONEL OUARITCH.

Melted down, suppose" said the colonSl "No, that is the odd part of it. I don't think it was. It was hidden somewhere don't know where. or perhaps it was turned into money and the money hidden. But I will tell you the story, if you like, as soon as we have done dinner"
 Accordingly, as soon as the servant had removed the cloth. and, after the old fashion, placed the wine upon the naked wood, the squire began his tale, of which the following is the substance:
 "In the time of James the De Ia Molle family was at the height of its prosperity, that Is, so far as money goes. For several generations previous the representatives of the family had withdrawn themselves from any active participation in public affairs and living here at small expense upon their lands which were at that time very large, had amassed q quantity of wealth that, for the age might fairly be called,enormous Thus Sir Stephen de la Molle, the grandfather of the Sir James who lived in the time of James I, left to his son, who was also named Stephen, a sum of not less than e2S, 900 in gold. This Stephen was great miser, and tradition says that he trebled the sum in his life time. Anyhow, he died rich as Croesus, and abominated alike by his tenants and by the country side, as might be expected when a gentleman of his name and fams degraded himself, as this Sir Stephen undoubtedly did, to the practice of usury.
 With the next heir, Sir James, however, the old spirit of the De la Molles seems to have revived, although it is sufficiently clear that he was by no means spendthrift, but, on the contrary, a careful man, though one who maintained his station and refused to soil his fingers with such base dealing as it had pleased his uncle to do. Going to court he became, perhaps on account of his wealth, considerable favorite with James I, to whom he was greatly attached, and from whom he bought baronetcy. Indeed, the best proof of his devotion is, that he on two occa- sions, lent large sums of money to the king which were never repaid. On the accession of Charles I, however, Sir James left court under circumstances which were never quite cleared up. It is said that, smarting under some slight which was put upon him, he made a somewhat brusque demand for the money that he had lent to James. Thereon the king, with sarcastic wit, congratulated him on the fact that the spirit of his uncle, Sir Stephen De la Molle, whose name was still byword in the land, evidently sur vived in the family. Sir James turned white with anger, bowed, and without a word left the court, nor did he ever return thither.
 Wears passed, and the civil war was at its bc46A1 SA SoAASS AaaA dS JSb SISaully fused to take any share in 1t He had never forgiven the insult put upon him by the king, for, like most of his race, of whom it was said that they never forgave an injury and never forgot kindness, he was a pertina- cious man. Therefore he would not lift a finger in the kings cause, but still less would be help the Roundheads, whom he hated with singular hatred So time went, till at last, when he was sore pressed, Charles, knowing his great wealth and influence, brought himself to write letter to this Sir James, appealing to him for support, and es- pecially for money.
 |" I hear,' said the king in his letter, that Sir James de la Molle, who was aforetyme well affected to our person and more espe- cially to the late king, our sainted father, doth stand idle, watching the growing of this bloody struggle and lifting no hand Such was not the way of the race from which he sprung, which, unless history doth greatly lie, hath in the past been each found at the side of their kings striking for the right. It is said to me also that Sir James de la Molle doth thus place himself aside, blowing neither hot nor cold, because of some sharp words which we spake ill needless jest many year that's gone. We know not if this be true, doubting if a mans memory be so long, but if so it be, then hereby do we crave his pardon, and no more can we do. And now Is our estate one of grievous peril, and sorely do we need the aid of God and man. There fore, if the heart of our subject Sir James de la Molle be not rebellious against us, as we cannot readily credit it to be, we do implore present his aid in men and money, of which last 1t Is said he hath large store, this letter being proof of our urgent need.'
 "TheSe were, nearly as can remember the very words of the letter which was writ ten in his own hand and show pretty clearly how hardly he was pressed. It is said that when he read it, Sir James, forgetting his grievance, burst into tears, and, taking the paper, wrote hastily as follows, which last he certainly did, for have seen the letter in the museum: My hege-Of the past will not speak. It is past. But since it hath gra- ciously pleased your majesty to ask mine aid against the rebels who would overthrow your throne, rest assured that all have is at your majesty's disposal, till such time as your enemies are discomfited. It hath pleased Providence to so prosper my fortunes that I have stored away in a safe place, till these times be past, a very great sum in gold, whereof will at once place 10000 pieces at the disposal of your majesty, so soon as a safe means can be provided of conveying the same, seeing that had sooner die than that these great moneys should fall into the hands of the rebels to the furtherance of an evil cause
 Then the letter went on to say that the writer would at once buckle to and raise 8 troop of horse among his tenantry, and that, if other satisfactory arrangements could not be made for the conveyance of the moneys, he would bring them in person to the king.
 "And now comes the climax of the story. The messenger was captured and Sir James, incautious letter taken from his boot, as a result of which he, within ten days time, found himself closely besieged by 500 Round heads, under the command of one Col. Play fair. The castle was but ill provsioned for siege, and in the end Sir James was driven by sheer starvation to surrender. No sooner had he obtained m entry than Col. Playfair sent for his prisoner, and to his astonishment produced to Sir James face his own letter to the king.
 "'Now, Sir James, he said, swe have the hive, and l must ask you to lead us to the honey. Where be these great moneys whereof you talk hereini Fain would be lingering these 10000 pieces in gold, the which you have so snugly slowed away
 "'Ay,' answered old Sir James; you have the hive, but the secret of the honey you have not nor shall vor1 baua The in 0O0