The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-15

again brought INTO use, and anounel
of grabbed characters found its way TO
the lawyers office accepting his terms.
And the waiting time began.
1t ID curious To know what effect even
the probability of wealth has on the av-
erage mind. Ezra Hampton was above
the average, SO he pursued the even tenor
of his way and performed his duties as
faithfully as though Uncle Zekc's thou
sands had never been heard Of Not so
his wife Hannah. Mindful of her com
ing greatness, it was impossible for her
not to show it. She took on superior
tone with her neighbors and hintcd at
coming changes, for so repeatedly had
Ezra charged her to keep the good news
a secret until they more surely knew the
result that she dare not enlarge ON il rs
she would have liked. In her marketing
she assumed little airs and eXtrava@ancrS.
Why should she buy round steak when
soon unlimited wealth would be hers?
So she ordered choice bits of portcrhousc
with IA wise nod of her head and remark
that her money was as good rs any other
folks. The people of her little world
wondered why Hannah Hampton acted
so important, and Ezra mildly remon-
stratcd. assuring her a bird in the hand
was worth two in the bush But she ST.
fenced him by saying that did not mean
! when you were going TO get the whole
bush too
And so the days wore on. DAYS had
grown into weeks and weeks into months
when the decisive answer came Again
Mrs. Hampton leaned over her husbands
shoulder with the joyous anticipatious of
the wealth soon to be theirs. But the
/ words I.rl 10 anp,pr.1,.,,l
was little doubt that the property he
longcd to them. but so many papers were
missing and the records had been SO neg
lectcd that no proof could be brought.
Almost endless litigation would probably
be the result to reclaim the land So it
would perhaps be as wen to drop the
matter
In these researches. however. they had
made another discovery Ezekiel H.
Hamilton had been a colonel IN the Rcyu-
lutionary army and had been enrolled as
member of the original officers. a So
ciety composed of officers who had served
in that war. Each member paid Il certain
amount to pcrpetuate tho associatiou
! Membership was to descend in the direct
male line. Said Ezekiel r. IIamp.oa
having no heirs, his next oldest brother
inherited life right in this society And
the writer took much pleasure in con.
graduating Mr. Hampton on being legal.
ly entitled to belong to this august ana
honorable body. His name had been sent
to the president for this state. ANA in IL
| few days he would doubtless be heard
from. Thus, through no fault Of their
| own, had come to these brave souls the
hard task of bearing bitter disappuini-
ment.
The president was heard from. Society
documents of all SORTS poured in upon
Ezra until in few weeks he had re-
ceived as much mail as had come 10 him
before in as many years. The village
postmaster and Hannah could scarcely
keep up with it,
OF course Ezra became a member His
faithful wife would permit nothing else
| And of course, too, he attended the an
nual dinner. And in hearing Of tho
! glories of that festive occasion Mrs.
| Hampton found some slight cumpcuSa-
ton for the loss Of the expected wealth
and official position. With brave heart
she tried to bring her husband to the
same opinion.
Il don't know, Ezra but it's most as
good rs being mayor. There's less care.
and it's ever 50 much more high toned"
And Ezra would answer submissivoly.
Yes, | suppose so, but did want that
Alderney."
Ezra's inheritance, however, had no
light influence on the people of Ruraltou.
for so soon as it was noiscd abroad they
straghtway began a search for warlikr
ancestors. Fortunately he had no rival
as a member of the O. o. s. Admission
to the body was too difficult But de-
sccndants Of the passengers on the over
loaded Maytlower were numerous. 1t
seemed as if the whole population of the
colony must have served it in the early
days so many grandfathcrs were found
who had held office, while sons and
daughters of the Revolution were dis
covered in every household Family
crests were nearthed or made to order
Rusty sabcrs and moth eaten army sad
dies were hung in many Il hall. And the
cnvled of all was Il summer traveller who
returned from her trip Ito the other side"
with a photograph of an English estate.
which She proudly exhibited as her family
homestead.
SO, though Ezra's inheritance brought
disappointment to him and his brave
wife. it came as n blessing to the peoplr
of Ruralton for without it they might
never have known the pleasure of seek
ing and finding illustrious forbears.-At-
lanta Constitution.