The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-04-07
eoesSSesse
THE SAPPHIRE
RING
A Story Of the Times Of the Par
liamentary Supremacy In
England
By F. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911
, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BY F. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

citation, 1911
ssessss
Now that bonny King Charlie has
returned to us, already we are begin
ming TO forget the trials through which
we have passed since the parliament
tary forces secured full control and
led their lawful sovereign to the block.
The confiscatlon of our estates not
only turned us out Of our homes, but
we found ourselves without the where
withal TO live. ] was a girl of twenty
when a psalm singing colonel in the
Roundhead army who had done some
service to the rebel cause was put in
possession of our homestead. My IA
Their had fallen in the kings defense
at Marston Moor and my brother at
Naseby.
And now since my mother had died
when was little girl l was left to
bear this great load alone, and when
/ walked out of the place where ]
and my ancestors for generations had
been born there was no other on earth
for me to walk into. Relatives I had,
but they were In no condition to re-
ceive me, having lost their all, as
had lost mine. My father had fore
seen that this trouble might befall us
and had placed hundred pounds In
gold pieces under an eve of the roof
as a last resort when the blow should
fall /, the last of my lineage, now
had this money In my purse, but what
to do with It | knew not. | walked
on road leading from my home,
weeping rs | walked, though admit
my tears were rather of rage than of
submission to an adverse fate. l had
wished when child that / had been
born n boy, for / preferred boys
sports to those Of girls, and when the
war came on | wished to be a man
that l might fight for my sovereign.
But I was still woman, without
mans advantages.
would not stop till l had reached
a point where ] would not be known,
for / could not bear that persons who
had long been familiar with the glory
of our house should see me dispossess-
ed and an outcast. I put ten leagues
between me and my home; then, tired
and footsore, coming to an inn,
stopped to rest. | would have con-
cealed the fact that I was q lady, but
] could not. The landlady, knowing
my estate, took me up to a room and
brought me little broth, of which /
partook but sparingly; then she In
sisted that l should rest on couch.
"You are the Lady Madge Clover
leigh" she said. 81 have seen you Of
ten pass our Inn in your coach. and
once you stopped here with your ia
ther to sup, Alas, that you should
come TO this! Our gentry are ruined.
l hear our young men, having naught
with which to keep body and soul to-
gether, are taking to the road. Only
last night young captain who has
fought with Prince Rupert left this
inn, and ten minutes later rich Round
head was robbed of his purse"
Burning with rancor as l was, this
put an idea Into my crazy brain Now
that these times are passed it fills me
with wonder that could have thought
of such a means to make living.
l resolved to take to the road myself.
Telling the landlady that | would fain
hide myself and my condition under
disguise, l bought from her n suit be-
longing to one of her sons who had
been killed In the war; also his weap-
ons. had entered the inn as a maid;
left 1t ms man. had only to get
me horse and | was ready for the
highway. This | bought from farm
err, and. once mounted. booted and
spurred, | felt the first return of spir
1t since the happening of my misfor-
tunes.
/ well remember my feelings on my
first robbery. heard man swear
ing at and lashlng horses to get them
through bog, for the road was bad
and the night was dark and misty. l
rode on until saw coach and pair
numbering through the mud. Refining
up at the coach window, drew pls-
tol on some one-I could not see
whether man or woman-and demand
tu lHt lIuNclef PURSE WIS tltih-
bling from head to foot
"Money | have not" said a mans
voice. 81 give you all have" And he
handed me ring, | slipped it on my
finger and rode on. overpowered with
sense of guilt and shame, SO dis
concerted was that ! forgot the ring
on my finger TIL the next morning,
when ! noticed that 1t was gem OF
great beauty-a sapphire set in chased
gold A distaste for the way it had
been acquired struggled In me with
woman's love for gewgaw. Thrice
essayed to throw II away. and thrice
its beauty forbade me. Then | thought
! would keep 1t, hoping that | might
again meet it's owner and restore It
to him.
made but poor success as high
wayman. struck rich Roundhead,
but he swore he had but one gold piece
on his person. | took Il, but later,
meeting young girl who had been
turned out OF her home as l had been,
gave It to her with piece besides from
my own purse | stopped only per-
sons In coaches. for In this way knew
that ran hut little risk. Several
whom l stopped recognized me for a
woman, aad this was their best means
of defense. for as soon as | knew that
my voice on my manner or veil
wore over my face IN lieu of n mask