Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-09-11

same OF SonleIl'"o
And the fact that she ala not 20
either made little difference " '"'
terness between them.
"weu. Carfax was pressing ciose IN
punert so close, indeed, that ui
some strategy were adopted the or
liant cavalry leader was In dlre pei"
- was then that my ancestor RUPEE
Tjttimer came forward win HE
scheme. He Offered to disguise MIN
self and go into the camp OF CarIaA II
take him prisoner. The IDEA was ~
steal into the tent OF CartaN anu Wy
threatening him with, his life conhpel
vim IN issue certain orders, the result
~ which would be that Prince Rupert
could get away.
""You will never come pack again
friend' The Prince said.
Rupert Littimer said he was pre-
n red to run all risk of that. Ana II l
do die. YOU shall tell my wife, Sir ne
said And when the child Is porn ten
him that his father died as he shouii
have done. for his king and for his
country
""Oh. .here is a child coming?'' Ru-
pert asked.
"TJttimar replied that. for aught ne
knew. he was a father already. Ana
then he went his way into the camp OF
TIE foe. with his Curls cut shorttand III
the guise Of a countrylnan VINO comes
with valuable information. n what
"a more. he sChemed his way into car
fax's tent, and, at the point or a Dag
ger. compelled aim to write a certain
cider which my ancestors servant. VINO
accompanied MIN. saw carried into et-
feet, and so the passage for Prince Ru-
pert was made free.
"The ruse would have succeeded all
round but for some little accident that
T need not 20 into now. Rupert Litti-
mer was laid by the heels. his disg'rse
vas torn off, and he stood face to face
with his hereditary foe. He was told
that he had but an o u to live.
"'If you have any favor to ask, say
it, Carfax said.
4" 4 have no favor to ask. properly so
called Littimar replied; but 1 am 10th
TO die without moving whether or not
I have left anybody to succeed me
anybody who will avenge the crime
upon you and yours in years to come.
Let me go as far as Henson Grange,
and I pledge you my word I win return
in the morning.
But Carfax laughed the suggestion
to scorn. The court party were all liars
md perjurers. and their word was not
to be taken.
1T is as I say Rupert Llttimer re-
reated. My wife lies i'll at Henson
Grange and in sore trouble about me-
A 7 ,ko,,ll tie 30 cAa N W child hafnFn
] die
Then you shall have the chance
Carfax sneered. 4 will keep you a close
prisoner here for two days, and If at
the end of that time nothing happens.
You die. If, on the other hand, a child
is born to you. then you shall go from
here a free man.
And so the compact was MADE. Un-
fortunately, or fortunately, as the case
may be, the story got abroad, and some
indiscreet person carried the news to
Dame Littimer. Ill as she was, she in
sisted pom getting Up and going v er
to Carfax's camp at once. She had
barely reached there before, we'll, long
ere Rupert Littimer's probation was
over, he was the father OF a noble boy.
They say that the R~Ourdheads made a
cradle for the child out Of a leather
braastplate, and carried II in triumph
round the camp. And they held the ~
r'ous Carfax TO his word, and the story
spread until ii came to the ears Of
Prince Rupert.
Then he went to see Dame Littimer,
and from his own hand he drew what is
known in our family as Prince Rupert's
NIn~ IJa pIanad az q, Dapna Tttftrcar @
hand, there to remain for a year and a
day, and when the year was up 1t was
to be put aside for TIE bride Of the hair
of the house forever. to be worn by her
until a year and a day had elapsed after
ner first child was born. And that has
been done for all time, my aunt, Lady
Littimer, being the last to wear II.
After Frank was born it was put care
fully away for Ills bride. But the great
tragedy came, and until lately we fan
cied that the ring was lest to US forev-
er. There is, in a few words, the story
of Prince Rupert's ring. So far, 1t is
quite common property" "
Enid ceased to speak for a time. But
1t was evident that she had more 10
say.
IAN interesting story" David said.
And a pretty n to put into a book,
especially as it is quite true. But you
have lost the ring, you say"
II fancied so until tonight" Enid re-
piled. Indeed, I hardly know what TO
think. Sometimes i imagined that Reg
inald Henson had It; at other times I
imagined that II was utterly gone. But
the mere fact that Henson possesses a
copy practically convinces me that he
has the original. AS / said before, a
true copy could not have been made
from mere Instructions. And If I could
only get he original, our troubles are
all over
But I don't see how the ring has
anything to do with"
With the family dishonor. No. I am
coming to that. We arrive at the time.
seven years ago, when my aunt and
Lord Littimer and Frank were all liv-
irg happily at Littimer Castle. I told
you just now that the Carfax estates
edjoin the Littimer property. The FAM
lily Is still extant and powerful, but the
feuc between the two houses has neva-
ceased. OF course. people don't carry
on a vend eta these peaceful days, but
the families have not visited for centu-