The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-03-12
A Strange Story.

Strange stories have been from
time TO time related of jewels, rings,
and even watches, found in fishes
when bought and opened, and subse.
quently returned to their owner
Whether or not these stories be true,
we, of course, cannot say, but We
veuch for the entire truth of the fol
lowing, related by a clergyman, him
self the hero of the story, to won
dering circle of listeners. Though
expectant of something strange as a
finale, they were by no means pre-.
pared for the actual denoaement
at was one summer twilight said
he, 'tthat standing on rustic bridge
which spanned n well-known trout
stream ner my fathers house / won
from the girl / had long loved the
promise to be my wife. She was
something of a coquette and / had a
rival in the ield so, to make the
matter sure TO myself and evident to
others, drew from her hand ring
which she had often declared she
would only give to herbetrothed low.
err and transferred it to my own fin.
gers.
at was my mothers engagement
ring" said she, half in earnest, and
half playfnlly, "and there is a super.
stition connected with it. So long
as you keep and wear it, we are en-.
gagged; but if you lose or part with it
in any way, the engagement is bro.
ken. So take good care"
'Some weeks after, she went away
on visit, and then my great conso.
lation Was to hasnt that favoritc spot
on the bridge which had been our
trysting place. Once leaning over
the railing, and thinking of our be-
trothal, ! took from my finger the
treasured ring, and gazed fondly on
| the initials--her's as well as her
mother's--engraven within. In at.
tempting to replace it, the golden
circle fell from my grasp and disap-
| pcared in the waters below.
Only a lover under similar cir
ennstances can imagine how felt
Day and night | mourned disconso-
late, my lost treasure, and my great
dread was her returning and finding
the ring missing. Yet, strange to
say, | had a singular presentiment
or intuition that should recover it,
though by what means had no
idea.
"Not long after, fishing in the
same stream, some distance below
the bridge, l fell to thinking of my
lost ring. If could fish it up-and
just then there was culver. tug, a
pull, and q struggle at my line, and
after some play drew out a large,
fine front. AT the sight of him the
thought suddenly and unaccountably
flashed into my mind that my ring
my lost ring-was to be found in his
body. / cannot account for the feel
ing, but know it was heightened
into almosta conviction when, upon
grasping the victim | perceived on
portion of his body a singular protu-
berance, and felt there beneath the
skin something like hard foreign
substance.
Il seized my large pocket clasp
knife. Eagerness had made me cru
el, yet no more SO than if / had left
my victim to die a lingering death.
| cut off his head, and then, with
trembling hand, ! ripped open his
body and explored the suspicious
protuberance. My knife grated
against something hard, and-yes, l
caught the glitter of some shining
substance! Imagine my feelings
when, with beating heart and trem-
bling hand, i drew forth"
"rhe ring, uncle" breathlcssly in.
quired Nellie,
"No my dear. Only a piece of
green glass;"
The general CONSERVATION and in.
dignation may be imagined.