The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-06-03


iod full arrangements had been made
for celebrating the, marriage OF our cap
tain, Lord Dashcliffe, a very popular,
genial, and handsome young Fellow
who had succeeded to the title on the
death of his father, about two years
previously. The lady of the soldier
peers choice was Miss Daisy Wylkyns,
the daughter of Sir Pierce Wylkyns OF
Billoby hall, Yorkshire.
On the day before that fixed for the
wedding the two subalterns of the troop
and the requisite number of non-com-
missloned officers and men We're, by
permission of the commanding officer,
despatched by train to the hail. In order
to form a guard of honor at the church,
door during the time of the marriage.
Upon our arrival a most sumptuous
meal was provided for the rank and tils
in the servants hall; and beds for the
men, which were of the "shake-doWn'
order, were provided in the riding
school attached to the stables, about
half a mile from the hall.
Between eight and nine in the eve
ming, just as was thinking of getting
my men marched off to night quarters,
the senior lieutenant Mr., Chester, sent
for me and said: Sergeant-major, Lord
DashcHffe wishes a sentry to be placed
in the library where the presents are
laid out. Many of the articles are of
great value, and he thinks 1t best to
have them watched, in case of accident.
So just pick out three of the men and
form a guard. Lord Dashcliffe will re-
member them for their trouble, which
~, ISOLATION and
any three will do" Accordingly I pick
ed out three men, took command my
self, and one trooper, by name Martin
Clements, 1 ordered to go on duty
first.
l babe Clements put on his sword,
and we entered the spacious and beauti-
fully fit up library. The sight that
met my eyes was dazzling in the eX-
treme. A large table in the centre
was literally covered with pieces OF
plate, from a solid silver service, pre-
scented by a prince of the blood-royal,
to the modest inkstand we had sub
scribed for In our own troop. On sew
eral side tables were displayed numer-
Gus articles of jewelry, with tickets in
front bearing the donors names, rep
resentative Of nearly all the best fam
lies in England About a dozen gen.
tIemen were in the room, surrounding
a tall. florid-faced handsome old man.
with well-cut, aristocratic features and
the mistaakable bearing of a soldier.
The butler who was standing near,
WHISPERED to me: "That Is Major-Gen-
eral Wylkyns, Sir Pierce's brother"
When the general saw me, he called
out. II perceive you have got your man
on; very good" Then he said to the
others: EXCUSE me a moment, While
show the sergeant major round" In
a. most gracious and friendly manner
tie old officer pointed out to me all the
valuabIes in detail Then he stopped
at one of the side tables, and picking
I'm a, large emerald ring of very antique
pattern, said, in a garrulous fashion:
sAThat is one of my gifts to my niece.
Yor1 see-isn't the stone magnificent?
One of the finest ever saw. Well, 1t
was presented to am ancestor of mine
by Prince Rupert, some time after
Naseby. for services rendered at the
battle. I believe the prince took 1T
from his own finger, or something OF
the sort, Anyhow, the ring has been
in my family for over two centuries.
When my aunt died, a couple of years
ago, she bequeathed it to me; and now
having no children of my own l am
giving it to my niece. No, by Jove! 1t
won't go onw continued the general,
as he tried the ring over the glove on
the little finger of his right hand. L
remember when it would, though. My
fingers are a. trifle equity nowadays.
But see, sergeant-major and General
Wylkyns slipped the ring in rapid sue
cession over all the digits of his left
band-''no chance of a swelling of the
muscles here. I'll tell YOU why This
raw is made of wood and steel springs,
and so forth 1t takes the place of the
hand 1 lost at Sobraon. can fish,
shoot, hunt, carve, box-do anything |
with it, in fact"
While I stood opposite to Clements, / |
heard the voluble general still talking to |
a knot OF guests on the subject of the |
ring, when a young baronet, Sir Harry |
a well-known character in So |
ciety and on the turf, observed: Look |
here, general; wonder if that ring |
was ever consigned by your folks to tire |
care Of Messrs. A. or some bygone |
uncle in the same line of business as |
that distinguished firm? Perhaps, ac- |
to the condition pertaining to /
breach of contract in the shape of non
payment of principal and interest, the |
real one may have been forfeited and |
a sham one substituted, for the look Of |
the thing"
General Wylkyns, appearing a trife
angry, responded: "By Jove! Beynell,
| have heard stories of the same kind |
about diamondsI Outside the value of
this emerald from its associations, as
sure you it is intrinsically worth a
thousand pounds!
One of the guests now popped his head
Into the doorway, and cried: II say,
you fellows, come to the billiard room"
There was Immediately an exodus,
The last to leave being the general. He
had reached the corridor outside, when
there was a noise as if he had fallen,
and then heard the old warrior giving
vent to a volume of potent impreca-
TONS 1 rushed outside and said to
him: "Oh, L beg your pardcn, sir, but L
thought 1 heard you tumble; l hope
you aren't hurt, sir?"
He replied: mot at all, sergeant
major, thank you. My foot slipped on
the polished oak floor wonder if I've
nrokan NV artificial hand2', Having