Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-04-28
THE SAPPHIRE
RING
A Story Of the Times Of the Par.
Gamentary Supremacy In
England
By r. A. mitchell

by r. a. MlICHEL
. Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
ssssssssssssssssssssssesee
Now tina; bonny King Charlie has
returned to US. already we are begin
ming to forget the trials through which
we have passed since the parlIamen-
tary forces secured full control and
led their lawful sovereign to the block.
The confiscation Of our estates not
only turned US out Of our homes brt
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
ther 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 / was left to
bear this great load alone. and when
I 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 had.
but they were in no condition to re-
ceive me. having lost their all. as l
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 last resort when the blow should
fall I. the last Of my lineage, now
had this money in my purse. but what
to do with II | knew not. walked
on a road leading from my home.
weeping as walked. though I admit
my tears were rather Of rage than Of
submission to an adverse fate 1 had
wished when child that had been
born boy. for l preferred boys
sports to those of girls, and when the
war came on l wished to be a man
that l might fight for my sovereign.
But was still a woman. without
mans advantages.
would not stop till / had reached
point where I would not be known.
for l could not bear that persons who
had long been familiar with the glory
Of our house should see me dispossess-
ed and an outcast put ten leagues
between me and my home; then, tired
and footsore. coming to an inn, I
stopped to rest. l would have con-
cealed the fact that I was lady, but
] could not. The landlady. knowing
my estate. took me up to a room and
brought me little broth. Of which l
partook but sparingly; then she In
sisted that 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 a rich Round
head was robbed Of his purse"
Burning with rancor as | was, this
put an idea into my crazy brain. Now
that these times are passed 1t tllis me
with wonder that | could have thought
Of such means to make living.
/ resolved to take to the road myself.
Telling the landlady that would fain
hide myself and my condition under a
disguise, bought from her suit be-
longing to one of her sons who had
been killed in the war; also his weap-
ons. l had entered the inn as a maid:
l left it as a man. had only to get
me horse and was ready for the
highway. This bought from farm
er. and. once mounted, booted and
spurred, felt the first return Of spir-
it since the happening Of my misfor-
tunes.
l well remember my feelings on my
first robbery. l heard a man swear
ing at and lashing horses to get them
through bog. for the road was bad
and the night was dark and misty.
rode on until saw a coach and pair
numbering through the mud. Refining
up at the coach window, l drew a pls-
tol on some one-I could not see
whether man or woman-and demand
ed the travellers purse was trem-
bling from head to foot.
money l have not" said a mans
voice. ~ give you all have" And he
handed me a ring. slipped IT on my
finger and rode on, overpowered with
a sense OF guilt and shame. So dis
concerted was | that l forgot the ring
on my finger till the next morning.
when l noticed that it was a gem Of
great beauty-a sapphire set In chased
gold. A distaste for the way 1t had
been acquired struggled in me with a
woman's love for a gewgaw. Thrice l
essayed to throw 1t away. and thrice
its beauty forbade me- Then thought
! would keep it. hoping that | might
again meet its owner and restore it
to him.
made but poor success as high
wayman. l struck a rich Roundhead.
but he swore he had but one gold piece
on his person. took 1t, but later.
meeting a young girl who had been
turned out Of her home as had been.
gave 1t to her with piece besides from
my own purse stopped only per-
sons in coaches. for In this way knew
that / ran but little risk. Several
whom I stopped recognized me for a
woman. and this was their best means
Of defense. for as soon MS | knew that