The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-01-20
THE MYSTERIOUS RING.

curing Ine r All ol 1908 ana ~. Anu yet,
while the fact was apparent, the cause wal
so obscure that men could do little more
than speculate regarding it, and in default
of actual evidence, circulate innumerable
and extraordinary surmises.
Not many of his friends pretended to
any acquaintance Of his inner life. Think
that among them all was the only one
who had any such knowledge. l knew
him, not as one may know another from
casual intercourse or Indifferent converse
ton, but with coincidence of feeling and
an identity of sentiment that is often
found among those who have grown up
together and developed common sympa-
thies and impulses. We had been boys at
the same school, were in college together,
and now were studying law in the same
Office.
His whole life was encircled by and
bound within the signet ring he habitually
wore. 1t may seem an extravagant or
rather frivolous assertion, but it was a
fact, though none but myself knew it as
| such.
! The article in itself was peculiar enough
to excite any degree Of interest. lie wore
it on the fourth finger Of the left hand,
and derived from its proprietorship about
as much misery as any man ever gained
from the possession of any single object.
| Without any circumlocution or distor-
! ton of realities, the article in question was
! found in the stomach of blue fish which
| Lesler hauled in from the waters Of ia
maica Bay, during a fishing excursion sum-
mer before last. He had been out all day
with ill success. In fact he had caught
nothing, and was just making for the inlet
when his limo throlling through the water,
attracted the attention of large specimen
! of the race, and secured victim.
| During such preliminary Investigations
as was necessary the ring was found
How it had got there, where it had come
from, what were its antecedents, we did
not know. The fact Of its existence and
| its present purpose was evident. I.eisler
appropriated it and placed it, with great
satisfaction, upon the finger Aforesaid
The object was certainly curiosity. Apart
from the singularty of its discovery and
the uncertainty attending its previous his
tory, it possessed intrinsic peculaiarties
that entitled it to more than ordinary con-
sideration. The ring was small barely
large enough to fit Leisler's rather diminu-
tive hand. A broad fiat band of gold, sur
mounted by large oval seal of chryso-
praise. 1t had evidently seen use, but
when or how, or under what circumstances,
was profound mystery. On the face of
the stone were a number of imperceptible
scratches, apparently the result of some
injury, and regretted by Leisler, as i'm
pairing the value and beauty of the object.
The ring was certainly antique; and
tho advertised found no owner.
About month or six weeks after the
discovery, l began to notice change in
my friend. His manner seemed distracted,
distract and troubled, while the blithe,
light hearted look he had habitually worn
gave place to wearied, cheerless express
sion. At the same time he became unu-
sually reticent, avoiding conversation, par
ticularly Of a personal nature, and was
continually absorbed in the .perusal of an
old volume that appeared from some recess
of his desk, and which presented no legal
appearance. did not interfere with his
reflections, confident that time would
| hai nj a.,
passed by, working the more and he the
less, and exhibiting with tho neglect an
increasing devotion to the musty Anticipated
old tome.
One morning he closed the book, with
the tired look the last few weeks had
taught me to know, and resting his head
upon his hands, looked up as though about
to speak. He twirled the ring upon his
finger, as he asked, with a melancholy
smile:
"Rich, are you superstitious ~
looked at him in surprise. The posi-
bility Of his being affected with such con-
siderations had never occurred to me. l
replied:
"Not in the least, my dear fellow. Are
you?'
He unused for minute, as he looked at
the ring, and said:
"rm sure don't know l didn't use
to be-
"What on earth then, has brought it to
your mind now" inquired, with curios-
ity and with the intention of having it out
then and there.
"Well,' he said, slowly at first, rs tho
arriving at conclusion, "not that be-
lieve in any of the trash we. read about,
manifestations, mediums and the like. l
havn't seen any ghosts, or been in any
trance; but between this internal ring and
this abominable book, don't know what
do believe. I'm thoroughly mixed"
And he looked at me in uncertainty and
doubt. "The old book tells me all about
it. | don't know what evil spirit ever
prompted me to look it up; but I've done
it, and found out my fate. l won't trou-
ble you much longer, he sighed.
'Tell me all about it, FAR urged
LET hear what it is
"Well," said he, 81 don't know that it
will afford you much comfort or satisfac
ton, but you might as we'll learn. got
the ring, and, while wondering with You
about its origin, remembered an old book
in our library, that father picked up in
Europe, some medieval Italian chronicles
thought that perhaps l might there find
what | wanted. Here's the thing" and
he opened it on the desk before me. 1t
was huge volume, written In English,
and as the text and letter press indicated,
very old and correspondingly valuable
"Listen," said he. as he proceeded to read
"And it befell in Ravenna, that Ger
tain ring was made yearly, to be cast into
the sea, that, perchance, the favor of the
seas might be gained. And foraSmuch
as this did henceforth belong to the ele
ments any one who did take therefrom the
offering should be Judged guilty of death
But if he should find and wear it unkncw.
ingly, he should be left to the mercy of the
winds and waves, and this should surely
befal him. Now, the ring was of pure
gold very small, as for a bride, and very
7 for