Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-09-11

10th of them mad been IN love WIN tne
S. me woman, or something of that kind
And the fact that she did not marry
either made little difference to the BIT
terneSs between them.
well, CarfaX was pressing close en-
Rupert. so close. indeed. that unless
some strategy We're adopted the bril-
liant cavalry leader was in dire peril.
1t was then that my ancestor. Rupert
Littimer came forward with his
scheme. He offered to disguise him
self and go into the camp of CarfaX and
take him prisoner. The idea was %
steal into the tent of CarfaN and. by
threatening him with his life. compel
Rim to issue certain orders. the result
Of which would be that Prince Rupert
could get away.
"'You will never come back again,
friend me Prince said.
Rupert Littimer said he was pre-
| pared to run all risk of that And If
do die. YOU shall tell my wife, sir, he
said. And when the child is born. tell
him that his father died as he shout
| have done, for his king and for his
country
""Oh. there is child coning?, Ru-
pert asked.
"Littimar replied that. for aught he
| knew. he was father already. And
then he went his way into the camp of
tie foe. with his curis cut short and in
the guise of countryman who comes
with valuable information. And, what
is more, he schemed his way into Car
fax's tent. and. at the point of dag
ger compelled :lim to write a certain
| ia,y 1-p,i my onceStOr'S servant who
accompanied MIN. saw carried into ef-
feet and so the passage for Prince Ru
| pert was made free.
THE ruse would have succeeded all
round but for some little accident tina;
/ need not go into now. Rupert Litti-
ner was laid by the heels. his disguise
vas torn off. and he stood face to face
with his hereditary foe. He was told
that h had but All hour to live.
IF YOU have any favor to ask, say
it, Carfax said.
| 81 have no favor to ask. properly So
called Littim er replied but 1 am lot!
to die without knc wing 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 IS Henson Grange,
and pledge YOU my word I will return
| in the morning.
! "Eut Carfax laughed the suggestion
| to scorn. The court party We're all liars
and perjurers, and their word was not
| to be taken.
cit is as I say Rupert Littimer re-
| reated. My Wife lies Ill at Henson
| Grange and iE sore trouble about me.
And shovlj like to see my child before
I die
Then YOU shall have the chance
Carfax sneered. L will keep you g close
prisoner here for two days, and if at
the end of that time nothing happens.
YOU die. If. on the other hand. child
is born to YOU. then you shall go from
here free man.
and so the compact was made. In
fortunately, or fortr nately, as the case
may be, the story got abroad. and some
indiscreet person carried the news to
Dame Littilner Ill as she was. she IN
sisted upon getting up and going oN,T
to CarfaNs camp at once. She had
barely reached there before. we'll, long
ere Rupert Littirler's probation was
over, he was the father Of a noble boy.
They say that the RourGheads made z
cradle for the child out of a leather
br,astplate. and carried it in triumph
round the camp. And they held the cu-
.rous Carfax to his word, ard the story
spread until it came to the ears of
Prince Rupert.
"Then he went to see Dame Littimec
and from his own hand he drew what is
known in our family as Prince Rupert's
ring. He placed it in Dame Littimer
land, there to remain for a year and
day and when the year was up it was
to Ire put aside for tie bride Of the =:r
of the house forever.eto be Worn by her
until year and day had elapsed after
ner first child was born. And that has
been done for all time, my aunt Lady
Llttimer, being the last &c wear 1t.
After Frank was born it was put care
fully away for lis bride. But the great
tragedy came, and until lately we fan
cied that the ring was lest TO US forev
Ell. There is, in a few words the story
| of Prince RupeTt's ring. So far, it is
quite common property"
Enid ceased TO speak for q time. But
it was evident that she had more TO
say.
IAN interesting story" David said
And pretty one to put into a book
especially as it is quite true. But YOU
have lost the ring YOU savo"
Il fancied SO until tonight Enid re-
piled. Indeed. hardly know what to
think Sometimes imagined that Reg
irald Henson had it, at other times I
imagined that it was utterly gone. But
the mere fact thai Henson possesses a
copy practically ccnyinces me that he
has the original. AS I said before, Il
true cop: 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 ia Ely dishonor No, I am
&C ming to shat. We arrive at the time,
seven years ago. when my aunt and
Lord Littiner and Frank We're all lv-
iES happily at Littimer Castle l told
you just nov that the Carfax estates
sdjoin the Littimer property. The fam
lily is still extant and powerful. but the
fvuc between the two houses has nev..~
ceased. OF course people don't carry
on a vend etta these peaceful days, but
IA "a >-jSi