Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-08-07
No. | 6

swered "It was my mothers ring.
She pnt it on my finger the day she
died.
By her mother understood Of course
that she meant Mrs. Donison, the only
mother she had ever known, and l al.
most seemed to hear the words:
'Search for the box IN the old we'll.
Could there be any connection between
the missing will and my strange vision?
The aaye went on, every hour bring
Ing me nearer that unhappy day when
must leave the Grange nd Mabel and
return to my office drudgery. had
often declaimed against sudden attach
ments, had often argued that loye
should be a growth, and here were al
my theories completely shattered. At
a glance from Mabel's blue eyes flame
had been klndled in my heart that grew
brighter and brighter as we walked or
droye together in the long, pleasant
days. Still, I did not mean to ask her
to be my wife, for what had | to offer?
Two or three rooms in dingy London
house perhaps. But one evening in the
garden, as The moonlight fell upon her
upraised face, l lost my head completely
and avowed my love, to find it frankly
returned. And when told Mabel how
little l had to lay at her feet, she drew
such picture of little home in Lon.
don that the two or three shabby rooms
became the brightest spot on earth.
Tom and Constance were delighted
and indeed l shrewdly suspect that the
whole affair was one of my cousins
wife's match making schemes.
"Ah, Lester she said, "if that will
would only turn up you might have
fortune as we'll as bride. Oh, yes,''
us protested that wanted no fortune,
Il know you are disinterested, but you
would still love Mabel, would yon not,
if she were rich ?
"By Jove," said Tom, "it's shame
about that will. Let's have another
search for the box"
1.-The box! What box?' I cried
jumping to my feet In my excitement.
"Why, the tin box the will is in, to.
gether with the papers. Didn't | tell
you the whole lot were missing?
For moment lost sight of Tom and
Constance, and before me saw pallid
hand, with its cleaning ruby, and it
traced the words: "Search for the
box in the old wel;'
l turned squarely upon Tom, who
was watching Inc somewhat curiously.
"Why don you search the old well ?
asked abruptly.
1t was Toms turn toiump to his feet.
The ola well What put that into
your head: Eut 1t shall be searched
before the sun goes down. And, by
Jove, Constance, don't you remember
when we leased the Grange that Har-
court spoke about the old we'll as DAM
gerous, and suggested that we have it
filled up:
There was well, then, and wanted
to ask where; but Tom had taken it
for granted that I knew all about its
existence, and I cid not want to tell
them NV strange experience on my first
night at the Grange. The search
might reveal nothing.
Tom would not wait moment, but
hurrying off to the stables, returned
with two or three Of his men, and mar
sha!lcd the party to the old WE'LL in a
remote corner OF the grounds.
The promise of Il sovereign to the
man who would make the search, quick
ly secured volunteer, and as he de-
scended, the stones In the sides giving
him foothold, Tom lit lantern to be
lowered to him. The well was quite
dry, and if the box was there at all, Il
brief search would discover it.
And we had not long to wait. Soon
we heard the man clambering up the
we'll side, and when his head rose a.
bove the curb Tom seized and fairly
lifted him out. And there was the tin
boz protruiing from his pocket.
There is little more to tell. The will
was found to- be unnirred. Lee lIar-
court never returned to England, con-
fesslng virtually that lie had stolen the
will, and Mabel in due time was install.
ed as Mistress of the Grange.
And I-weli, | tried to be magnan-
lmous, and told Mabel I was no match
for her and that she was at liberty to
break the engagement, whereupon she
declared that she would give the prop
erty to an orphan asylum and be once
more the dowcrless girl | had loved and
won.
So I became master of the Grange,
aud among our most frequent visitors
mara T,n, mad f1pcturpa