Year: 1878

Of the Hale House discussing various
topics in a social manner. Among
the number was noble looking man
of about ffty-fve, with long flowing
beard, in which the silver threads
predominated. He smoked a long
stemed pipe almost constantly, and
was really the central figure of the
group, although he had been rather
silent.


"Pleasc tell US a story, Major" said
one. Turningto your correspondent,
who was wearing a Masonic emblem
Of peculiar form he said. "Your pin
reminds me of "a badge which has a
a history-it isthis. (Without names).
A certain King Of England, some
hundred years ago, had a Masonic
emblem made for his own use. It
was Of solid gold, set with one dia-
mond and IL rubies and was admir-
ed for its beauty, rather more than
for value, One day the King was
enjoying a boat ride, with but one
attendant when the boat struck some
obstacble and was upset; after much
labor and great danger, the attendant
rescued his majesty, and as a mark
of gratitude he presented the gallant
friend with the jewel, upon condi-
tion that ifhe himself should ever be
rescued from danger, he should give
it over to his rescuer, and he too
must be instructed to do likewise, or
if no danger occurred, then it was to
be given to the eldest child of the
one having it in possession at the
time Of death. In case any one re-
fused to accept it then to be broken
up and cast into water where the tide
ebbs and flows; to destroy all traces
of the sacred token when st could not
be properly bestowed upon one
worthy to receive and wear it.


Omitting details,-it passed into
possession of eight different person in
the course of hundred years, and
strangely enough, was always in
keeping of Masons, But the main
incident in this peculiar story, occur
red at Adrian, Mich, in 1857, and
will be remembered by several per.
sons now living, who were then d.
rectly concerned, On a chilly day
in mid-winter the reception room of
r-=ss=zr, Hptel,wss filed, with guests
and visitors who were in animated
conversation, when the,doo opened
to admit another traveler--a total
stranger to all present. He bore un-
mistakable evidences of feeble health
and tottered as he walked with a
cane. His dress was after the Eng.
lish style-plain but clean and neat.
Addressing himself to the crowd, he
looked round for seat; none was of
fered until young gentleman rose
and politely asked him to accept his
chair which was done with "A mur-
INJURED expression of thanks, and a
smile which was even more express
i've than his word. Scarcely had the
invalid stranger taken his seat, when
II large, rough looking man, who had
watched him intently all the while
rose and walked rapidly across the
room toward the stranger, with an
angry exclamation and rude oaths,
but in a manner which showed his
intention to do personal violence
Pausing directly in front Of the new
conner, who was still seated, he said
in deliberate and positive tone "By
G. I've follered you for five years,
and I'm going to kill you right. now.
As he said this he drew back to
strike q blow which must have been
fatal to the invalid, when the young
man who had given away his seat,
sprang between them and said, "stop
sir, that man shall have a fair show,
don't you see he is not able toprotect
HIMSELF" "But will kill him, he
is--and he seduced my sister in
Toledo, I'll choke him to death-stand
asidesir, l WILL kill him for he de-
serves it," But the young man was
plucky and kept him at bay until
the invalid could say ~ ave never
been away from Hengland before, am
now looking for my sister Mrs
who lives ere-that man is mistaken


for | never saw his sister" Another
man rushed forward saying, "Your
sister is in this very house and am