Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-10
THE STORY OF 4 RING.

| III the year 1861, q young man, then liy-
ing few miles from this city, went into
the Missouri State guard as soldier. At
springfield, and on the Reorganization of
this branch ofthe army, he took service as
a confederate. Afterwards he Joined a
company in Col Up. Hays regiment. and
participated in the battle of Lone Jack.
Before leaving home, however, his
mother gave him an old-fashioned gold
ring. which had heart upon it. and the
letters "R. s." engraved upon this hear
She placed it on her sons hand with
wish. or, rather. prayer that he might 90
through the war safely, and get safely
back to ishome again.
1t is not known that either the ring or
the prayer acted as charm, but the
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
q fever at Clarksville, Texas. During the
delirium attendant upon it, and while he
was tossing to and fro, the ring slipped
from his finger and was lost. The closest
search failed to find it, and il was given
up for good. There waited upon. the
young man, however, a very pretty and
amable girl, who seemed to be very sor-
ry when he got well enough to ioin his
command. When he left be laughinely
told her that If she would find his ring,
and he lived, he would come back and
marry her. If 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 into.
walls. perhaps, did he recall the sick room
and the ministering angel.
When the war was over the Young man
| returned to his fathers farm in jackson
county, and went to work in good earn
est. Two years ago his mother died, and
once more the loss of the ring came back
to him with troubled sorrow. He deter
mined 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. 1864.
and in March, 1870, what was his surprise
to receive an answ er from the identical pirl
he had left in 1864, and to whom he had
made 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 finding it
was as follows; 1.-The father of the Young
lady had determined to make some re-
pairs in his house, which repairs necessi-
tated 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 crack
in the floor. and had been lying there safe
and sound, for nearly five long wears.
The lady took possession of it at once, and
wrote Immediately to its owner, as we
have stated above. Perhaps she looked
upon its recovery as an omen. and per-
haps it was. AT any rate it was little
romantic with all its attending circum.
stances"
The correspondence thus commenced.
or rather renewed, was continued with an
ever increasing ardor on the part of the
gentleman, until in the end he made a
new and impetuous offer of marriage.
Without that the story would be incom-
plete. Last week, with money in his
pocket, good home in Jackson county.
and great happiness in his heart, this
young solder-now somewhat older and
more settled and sedate-started for
Clarksville. Texas, the home of his be-
trothed. Who can doubt the result: He
will remain there probably month. and
return again to Missouri with his bride.
When he does we promise to give his name.
Until then it is impossible, for the condi-
ton OF secrecy was attached to the infor-
nation before we could obtain it. The
circumstances, however, are lust as we
have narrated in every particular, and
furnish another to the long list of ro-
mantle incidents that have grown out az
the war.-Kansas City Times.