The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-11-23
Sliall ta'nta democrat.
From the Kansas City Times.l
THE srORY OF A RING.
ONE or enc Romnnces or enc WAR.


In the year 1861. young man, then
living few miles from this city. went in
to the Missouri state guard as soldier.
AT Springfield. and on the reorganization
of this branch of the army, he took serv
ice as a Confederate. Afterwards he JOIN
ed company in Col. Up. Hays's regi-
ment, and participated IN the battle OF
Lone Jack.
Before leaving home, however his moth
er gave him an old-iashioned gold ring,
which had a heart upon it, and the letters
"R. ST. engraved upon this'heart She
placed it on her sons hand with wish,
or rather. II prayer, that he might go
through the war safely, and get safely
back to his home again.
II is not known that eitherthe ring or
the PRAYER acted as charm, butth young
man went unharmed through many bloody
FIGHTS. being hit in but one Of them, the
wound then proving to be only mere
scratch.
In 1864. the young man was very sick
of a fever at Clarksville, Texas. During
the dehrium attendant upon it, and while
he was tossing to and fro, the ring clipped
from his finger and was lost. The closest
search failed TO find 1t, and it was given up
for good. There waited upon the young
man, however, very pretty and amlable
girl, who seemed to be very sorry when
he got well enough to rejoin his command.
When he left he laughingly told her that
if she would find his ring, and he lived, he
would come back and marry her. II this
promise was made at first with any degree
of certainty. it was soon forgotten IN the
excitement and care of soldiers life, and
only at rare intervals, perhaps, did he re-
cali the sick room and the ministering
angel.
When the war was over theyouHg man
returned to his fathers farm IN Jackson
county, and went to work IN good earnest.
Two years ago his mother died, and once
more the loss of the ring came back 10
him with redoubled sorrow. He determ-
ined to write to the lady who had nursed
him, and to inquire of her whether she
was married or not, and whether she had
ever seen or heard anything of the pres
ent his mother had made him.
The letter was written in August, 1862
and IN March, 1870, what was his surprise
to receive an answer from the, identical
girl he had left in 1864, and to whom he
had made a slight promise Of marriage.
She was still single, she said, and waiting
for him. And what was stranger still,
onlv five days before she wrote she had
found the lost ring. The manner of find
ing it was as follows The father OF the
Young lady had determined to make some
repairs IN hls house, which repairs neces-
STATED the taking up of the floor of the
room in which the soldier had been sick.
After doing this, and while digging away
some rubbish beneath, the workmen came
upon the ring. 1t had slipped through a
crack in the floor, and had been lying
there, safe and sound, tor nearly five long
wears. The lady took possession Of 1t at
once, and wrote Immediately TO Its owner,
as we have stated above. Perhaps she
looked upon its recovery as an omen, and
perhaps II was. At any rate it was lit
tie romantic with all its attending circum-
stances.
The correspondence thus commenced, ol
rather renewed, was continued with az
ever increasing ardor on the part OF the
gentleman, until in the end he made new
and impetuous offer of marriage. With
out that the story would be incomplete
Last week with money IN his pocket
good home in Jackson county, and grea
happiness in his heart, this young soldier
now somewhat older and more settled
and sedate-started for Clarksville, Texas
the home of his betrothed. Who can dnub
Of the result? He will remain there prob
ably month, and return again to Mis-
sourI with his bride. When he does W
prcs.Iise to give his name. Until then j
Is impossible, for the condition of scores
was attached to the information before
we could obtain it. The circumstance
however, are Just as We have narrated i
every particular, and furnish another t
the long list of romantic incidents tha
have grown out of the war.