The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-09-11


ciaily at daggers drawn, I believe that
10th OF them had been in love with the
same woman, or something of that kind
And the fact that she did not marry
either made little difference to the Bit
terness between them.
We'll, Carfax was pressing close On
Rupert. so close. indeed. that unless
some strategy were adopted the bril-
liant cavalry leader was I'm dire peril.
II was then that my ancestor, Rupert
Iittimer 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 Carfax 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 The Prince said.
Rupert Littimer said he was pre-
pared to run all risk Of that. And IL
do die. you shall tell my wife. sir he
said. And when the child is born. tell
him that his father died as he shoull
Rave done. for his king and for his
country
""Oh. here is child coming?.' Ru-
PERT asked.
"Littimer replied that. for aught he
knew. he was a father already. And
then he went his way into the camp of
tie foe, with his curls cut short and in
the guIse of a 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 MIN to write a certain
CIDER which my ancestors servant, who
accompanied MIN. saw carried into eff
feet. and so the passage for Prince Ru-
pert was made free.
'.rhe ruse would have succeeded all
round but for some little accident that
I need not 90 into now. Rupert Iittl-
mer was laid by the heels, his disguise
vas torn off, and he stood face to face
with his hereditary foe. He was told
that ne had but an hour to live.
"If you nave any favor to ask, say
it, Carfax said
L have no favor to ask, properly so
called Littimer replied: but / am 10th
10 die without knowing 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 pledge you my word will return
in the morning.
But Carfax laughed the suggestion
to scorn. The court party were all liars
and perjurers. and their word was not
to be taken.
1T is as / say Rupert Littimer re-
Ieated. My wife lies i'll at Henson
Grange and in sore trouble about me
And should ike to see my child before
I die
Then you shall have the chance
Carfax sneered. L will keep you 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. I'm
fortunately, or fortunately, as the case
may be, the story got abroad. and some
indiscTeet person carried the news to
Dame Littimer. Ill as she was she in
sisted upon getting Up and going ov ~
to CarfaSG 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 Rour dheads made a
cradle for the child out of a leather
breastplate. and carried II in triumph
round the camp. And they held the fu-
rtous Carfax 10 his word, ard the story
spread until II came to the ears of
Prince Rupert.
Then he vent to see Dame Littimer,
and from his own hand he drew what Is
known in our family as Prince Rupert's
ring. He placed it in Dame Littimer
hand. there to remain for a year and
day. and when the year was up it was
10 he put aside for the bride OF the cir
of the house forever. to be worn by her
until a year and 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 it.
After Frank was born IL was put care
fully away for his bride. But the great
tragedy came, and until lately we fan
cicd that the ring was lest to US forev-
err. There is. in a few words, the story
of Prince Rupert's ring. So far, it is
quite common property"
Enid ceased TO speak for a time. But
IL was evident that she had more TO
say.
IAN interesting story" David said.
And a pretty one to put into a book,
especially as il is quite true. But you
have lost the ring. you say?"
II fancied so until tonight" Enid re-
piled. Indeed, hardly know what to
think. Sometimes imagined that Reg
inald Henson had it; at other times /
imagined that ii was utterly gone But
the mere fact that Henson possesses a
copy practically convinces me that he
has the original AS I said before,
true copy could not have been made
from mere instructions. And If 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
&C ming to that. We arrive at the time,
seven years ago, when my aunt and
Lord LittinIer and Frank We're all liv-
irg happily at Littimer Castle. told
you just now that the Carfax estates
sdjoin the Littimer property The fam
lily is still extant and powerful, but the
feud between the two houses has neve~
ceased. OF course, people don't carry
on vendetta these peaceful days, but
the families have not visited for centu-
ries.
There was daughter Claire whom