The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-12

l wished to send him to Marion as Mr Stickney's assistant in the school. Mir. Stickney. not pleased with the idea of the young strangers coming, @dernur- , red. Nevertheless. one morning he ap- peared inst the town, where he was sreceiy.
 ed and put to work in the school. As time passed. he identified himself l with the school, being ever reticent. how.
 ever. about his past history and asso- 1 citation. A gloomy mystery seemed fo
 hang over his personality, The lot adjoining the school was now purchased as the site for the church
 building. with the ground fin the rear for
 cemetery. Then the building was de- signed and begun.
 The young EngIishman now proved him. sef or material assistance to Mir. Stick ney' HIS genius and talent was asserted
 ana ne made many useful suggestions. He also gave subsfsntiai financial aid and today. the quaint. diamond -paned little chapel, with it's sloping roof, and oyer-hanging caves. stands as a monu- ment to his work and memory.
 It was partially destroyed by ire some years ago and when rebuilt, a few alter
 ations changed 1t slightly from it's orig
 inal design.
 After about four years in the parish.
 MT. O'Neal seemed again inspired with
 that restlessness and rowing peculiar {o
 his nature. So one day he disappeared
 as suddenly as he had appeared, leaving
 a small oak chest which formerly con
 tained some of his effects. On the lid was
 rough, sunken place from which a mon ogram plate had evidently been torn. A year later some of the school children
 playing in the sandy bed of a stream
 that runs beneath the cemetery hillside,
 found a silver plate and carriedait to, Mfr
 stickney. It fitted the sunken place in
 the lid of the box. it's simple engraving
 with the name "Sptingrfce, revealing
 the secret which its owner had so en-
 deavored to hide. tslt-s
 Subsequent investigation ana faetn
 bror ght to light the truth of the young
 Englishman's identity and rank
 He was the son of Lord Montcagle. the
 Queens Exchequer. bearing the family
 name of "Springrice.''p A.
 Having committed some dishouorable deed he fled from his country and people
 to South America. only to become in-
 volved in further trouble there, Finally.
 case of biackmaii being instituted
 against him. he found 1t again necessary
 to seek refuge in flight
 Then tt was that he came to the United
 States and to Alabama bringing with him letters to Dr. Nevins from a missionary English friend of the 'latter's. He had known young Springrice there. and also in his native country.
 Sometime after his exit from Marion.
 the ill-fated young nobleman was seen in New York city by citizen of the town. | then visiting the metropolis. He was taking passage on an outbound | English steamer in which he presumably | returned to his home and kindred. | More than half century has elapsed since these events transpired. and the ever restless tide of time has swept away | the congregation of the little church. The older members are dead. many of the younger ones having responded tc the call
 of the larger towns and cities
 Today. however. the church stitl re- mains. ever jealous and tenacious. though
 it's congregation Is but a remnant weak and small'' On every church day the
 people assemble for prayers and service. ! believing that where two or three arc
 met together the spirit of God will come The oak chest, with it's missing mono