Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-22
ICONTINUED.l
CHAPTER xxi.
THE STORY or THE RAJAII'S RUBY.

As has already been stated, the won
.:erful gem known as the rajah's ruby
first came into prominence more than
geo wears ago. Like all minerals, its age
IS tevond computation, but it is enough
gor present purposes to say that when it
was carried to England by the doughty
soldier whose title to its ownership it is
not best to inquire into too particularly
he took with it n series Of superstitions
that would have been incredible in these
later days.
But the period named was that il
which the belief in witchcraft was gen
sral, and the clergy as we'll as the laity
cherished fanCies and beliefs at which
our children would laugh.
With the ruby was inclosed writing
OH parchment, first engrossed in San
scrit and afterward translated into Eng
ish. to the effect that the owner of the
rajahs ruby could retain possession of
it only by obeying certain requirements.
First Of all, he must always keep it in
his possession-that is, he must never
deposit it in the custody of another nor
anywhere except beneath his own roof.
lie could take it with him il he chose
while iourneyirg but he must retain his
guardianship over it. Thus the best
course at his command was to place it in
. strong safe in his own dwelling. That
was precisely what was done by Miss
Aivermore, its last owner
The invention Of the false gem was an
.lca of old Captain Ashleigh, who served
Great Britain during our Revolution.
The real jewel was kept in a secret
drawer in the safe, while the counterfeit
was left where a burglar, after once OBJ
aiming entrance, was sure to find it.
The early British owners Of the ruby
were in constant dread Of visit of emi~-
sarics from india. Ovcrtures were made
several times from different raiahs of
that country for its purchase, but they
were rejected, since another legend con-
arcCed with the gem was that whosoevcr
parted with it for money would speedily
meet with violent death.
Two attempts were made to steal it,
hut tho vigilance of IT'S possessors pre-
vented success, and shortly after the
lose of our war for independence the
ruby was brought to this country by the
grandfather of Miss Livermore. When
/
the strange myths and fancies as well as
the false @cIn. whose purpose she fully
understood.
While She shared 10 some extent this
singular lelicf attaching TO this jewel,
She WAS lady of education and deep
religious convictions. She wished to
east off the chain. though not wholly
able to do So There can be no doubt
that her mental worriment over its pos
session induced a state of nervousness
which eventually reduced her to the con-
Gition Of al invalid.
Thus matters stood when DR.. Maid
)off, her family physician, learned the
whole truth. He was man Of strong
miud and had 10 patience with bigotry
md superstition. This led him TO use
his utmost influence to persuade her to
disregard all the absurd iniunctions she
had received with the heirloom.
1t has been n curse to every one that
had anything to do with it," he said.
Sell it for the comfortable fortune it will
bring and get rid of the pest
But, doctor, you know the penalty"
she said, with a smile in which there
was no mirth.
"FauGh! Iou do not believe any such
rubbish
"Eo-that is. try not to believe it
and do not Yet when I contemplate
The sep | shrink with dread that
suppose is lnosJly due to my poor health"
"U Automatically, and why, therefore,
pay any heed to IL"
u Wi7h ii mad never been left to me,
If / could vii it to You or any one else, |
woUld do 500
Il don't want it, but | want you to get
well, which sou will never do as long rs
ycu remain morbid over that l shall
give you no rest until the thing is sold
and oiI yom mind"
y thi,d injunction, coming down from
tommCr generations, was that the owner
u The "o5ahs ruby must never give il
fWly Cr viii il to another until such an
act was among the last Of his or her life
that is to say. while Hiss Livermcra
was at liberty to designate by will the
next owner Of the gem, that owner could
not receive it until the formers death
Thus, as long as the injunction WIS
needed, Mss Liycrmore must remain
lice to it, for such virtually was her stu,
lion
While the good lady was in this state
Of lncnriude and distress, DR.. Maid
hoit received two valuable allies in the
persons of the niece, Miss Glider, and
hey bctrothed, Arthur Failvhild, They
ridiculcd her weakness with such sue
coss that she was forced to the deciding
point.
Il viii sell it and take the chances
Heaven viii not permit INV harm tc
come to me for such an innocent deed.
Il was at this juncture, while Mis-.
Glider was absent among her friends
ana Fai1cMld was III another section OH
business, that the alarming letter arrived
from India, written by d person unknown!
TO them, but who Miss Liyennore in.
stinChNuly felt was friend. She sent
for DR.. MaidhoH and gave him the let.
ter. He read it through and was so an,
gered that he tore the missive i'll two and