Importing An Ancestor

[Copyright, 1893, by American Press Assocla-Üon-J CHAPTER III. I POSSESS MYSELF OF THE ASHES OF JTÏ ANCESTOKS. Having decided upon the "transference" of Sir Archibald and Lady Eleanor, 1 made carefiü rneasurements oí their tombstones and had boxes made for their reception anti transportation. The only real work in connection with the business was the exhumation of the remains, and even this was no great task for a man from a uiining región. The churchyard being half a mile from any vülage, and the graves being bidden in a thicket of brambles and thorn bushes, one might have worked there a week without any one appearing to ask questions. Had any questions been asked I was prepared with a plausible 6tory which I had concocted. Af ter mature deliberation and a careul-survey of the ground, I decided to de all the work of exhumation myself and in daylight, in order that I might be able to carefully inspect the eontents of the coffins. As the coffins themselves would be too much decayed for removal, I purchased two neat and strong trunks oí small size in which to place whatever I might tind in the way of remains. This done I had only to find means of tonveying the tombstones to the depot, i '. must secure a trusty drayman. Disjuising mj'self as a workingnian I one morning s&untered down to the iron ridge which spans the Ouse, uniting the ïorfolk and Suffol-i sides of the town of Fhetford. The town - we would cali it a city- is situated at the influx of the ittle river Thet, and the Ouse, thus strengthened, is navigable as f ar up ae ;he point where it is spanned by the I ridge. Some small vessels were discharging cargo at the wharf , and drays were haulng the goods up into the town. I presently went down upon the wharf and studied the faces of the draymen. Among them was a young fellow about my owu age, whose looks and manner 1 iked. I soon engaged him in conversation, and pretending to be interested in something he told me appointed a meeting with him for that evening at a tavern he named. I found Torn Bell, my drayman, awaitng me at the taverñ. After a long talk about the Thetford business outlook, in ;he course of which Torn complained )itterly of hard times, I suddenlx exclaimed: "By jove, Mr. Bell, I can do something for you! I can put a small ob in your way jn a day or two. It is not much - maybe L5 in it." Of course Toni Bell was all attention when fce heard me tnention L5 as a sura ie might easily earn. I then told him I was an nndertaker's man sent down from London to remove a couple of bodies, and that I had all in eadiness except the mere taking up of heremaina. "I'd like the five pun," said Torn, "but I don't much fancy handlin of dead bodies." I laughed and said: "Why, my friend, these have been in the ground a hundretl years. There will be nothing lef t but a few bones, and those you'll not even see, for ril have them in two small boxes. all ready for you. The only work about the job is the removal of the tombstones. I Yon see the fainily care as much about the tombstones as about the bodies, as the remains to be removed are those of a baron and his lady. It is an affair of family pride. The relatives, at least one wealthy family ainong them, want the remains and the two tftmbstones to givo a sort of tone, d'ye see, to their family btorial plot up where they now live, near London." "Oh, I was afeerd they was fresh uns like - that is, not so old but they'd be bad uns to handle," said Torn Bell. "You'll have the handling of nothing but the tombstones," said I. 'Til tako care of the small boxes." Tom was satisfied and deelared himself ready to take the job. "Are there anyjohnsons in thistown?' 1 asked. "Lots ariü lots on 'em," said Tom. I then told Tom that it appeared from what my master had told me that there was som e disagreement between two branches of the Johnson family as to which had the best right to the remains of the ancient and titled Johnsons. Therefore it would be best for us to say nothing of what we were about. "Some of the Johnsons here in Thetford may be of the same family," said I, "and may put in a protest against the removal of the bones of their ancestors, therefore let us earn our nioney and say nothing. We'll leave the Johnsons to fight the matter out in the law courts if they like. Heretof ore the graves seem to have been sadly neglected. Now, if these Johnsons up Lun'un way want to take proper care of the bones of their ancestors, why let 'em have 'em is what 1 say, particularly as they've got the money and are willing to pay vvell for all trouble." "1 don't want to git into no law court3," said Tom. "Pooh!" cried 1. "liighty little you and I would have to do with it. It's a matter between my master and the Sons. If my master sends me down here to do a job o' work, I'm going to do it according to orders. If there's any lawing or sich fussing, that's his look out." Torn said he niight as well have the job as another and would keep mum about the business - I had but to say when I was ready. This matter arranged, I went to the churchyard the next day in my working dress and disinterred the remains. In the grave of Sir Archibald I found a very well preserved skeleton. It showed him to have been a tall and powerftil man, an ancestor to be proud of. The coffln was much destroyed and crumbled almost at a touch. On it I found a silver plate containing the name and coat of arms of the deceased, and in it among some dust and scraps of cloth a number of large silver gilt buttons bearing the family crest. These were prizes to be treasured. In the grave of Lady Eleanor I found nothing except a few bones and a plain gold ring - doubtless her wedding ring. On her coffin was a plato similar to that found in the other grave. After the remains had been carefully packed in their respective trunks, and the graves filled, leveled ánd strewn with dry leaves and other nibbish, 1 went to the wharf and informed Torn that all was in readiness. After he had delivered the load he had on his dray, we went out to the clinrèhyard and loadèd on the boxes. Thö only work about the job was the carrying out of the boxes containing the tombstones, and we soon had them on the dray. Indeed before sunset we haó all &t the station ready for shipment to London the next morning. We did all the work in the broad light of day, and not a question was asked us by any one of the several persons we encountered at the churchyard and elsowhere. At parting with Torn Bell he said he bad never before so easily earned "five poun." 1 told him that people always expected to pay big prices for such work, as at best it was not very pleasant business. He said, "If the maister should send ye daoun Tef'ord way for 'nuther load o' the deadans, just'ee cali on Tom Bell, will 'ee?" I promised Tom he should have all my jobs in that line and left him a very happy man. The next evening I liad Sir Archibald and Lady Eieanor comfortably housedin London. I have given you all the particufars in regard Fo the onding and ' 'transferring" of my ancestors in order to show you how easy of accomplishment I found an enterprise which at first ir.ention one would think very difficult. Why, I would be willing to contract U) deliver in good order in any part of the United States the bones, tombs, ashes and all the belongings of any number of lang syne departed Browns, Smiths, Clarks, Robinsons, Richardsona and so on. In England the old parisb churchyards are full of them. To be Continued.