Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-07-16

ceive it,
As poised on the curb, it inclined 10 my lip.
y MOI mi 1iushIng goblet could tempt me I
The brightest that beauty or revelry sips.
And now, Tar removed from the, loved habita
tion,
The tear Of regret will intrusiyely swell,
As fancy reverts to my fathers plantation,
And sighs for the bucket that hangs in tn
well:
+ The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucke,
Ihe moss,covered bucket, that hangs in tn
well.
TRUE THROUGH ALL.
L read an incident of the late war
which may not inappropriately be call
ed here the story of the ring. 1t re.
lates to circumstance which occurred
when the old medical college was $
military prison. A party of young
men-six l believe-had been arrested
somewhere i'm the interior of the State
and brought to the city as prisoners OF
war. Months passed in weary confine-
ment. Expectation and ''hope defer
red makes the heart sick," and these
! men grew weary OF their long impris-
onment. They worked hopefully and
waited patiently, and the period of their
deliverance came at last. An excava-
| tion under the walls and abribed guard
was all there was of romantic interest
in the fight. But after getting lar away
from the prison one of the fugitives
stopped short and announced his in
tentioH of returning.
"Retlfrn :" said his companion, "why,
you will be taken. The guard have
been changed ere this, and our escape
no doubt discovered"
''True," he said, "but still must re-
turn.'' r
SO far the writer listened to the mar
rative as it was related by one of the
fugitives one night near the close of the
war, in a quiet little house nestled
among the Lexington hills. The mar
rator was the center of scene of gaye-
ty and brightness, a village party, but
one whose culture and refinement was
as noticeable as in the most brilliant
gatherings in the city. a lady sat near
him listening eagerly to what he said.
Even after the lapse Of SO many years
l can copjure now the beautiful vision
her memory recalls. A classic face,
with great luminous eyes, and figure
as faultless in contour and outline as
the Medician Venus. The face was sad,
even in that scene of pleasure. The
shadow of some great sorrow hung
about her life, and all the rosy hopes of
her youth had faded in their bloom.
L had noticed an evident constraint in
her manners, when in the evening she
was brought in contact with Mr.. W.,
one of the guests. They appeared to
mutually avoid each other; or rather
he refrained from paying attentions
that he feared would be considered dis
agreeable. And yet gossips said that
they had once been lovers.
''But to return is DEATH" urged up-
on my friend, said the narrator. ssYou
will be shot if taken.''
81 know it," he said, "but still am
going back
These words were quietly spoken,
but there was an inflexible determine
ton in their tone which almost appall-
ell me. l reasoned and demonstrated
in vain. showed him the certainty of
captured and the possible death that
awaited him. 1t produced no impress
sion. He listened to me quietly, sadly
l thought, but his resolve was unalter-
able.
"But Why asked, out of patience
with his obstinancy, "will you incur
this risk?' t-tl-rfs
81 am going back for my ring" he
said.
At these words the eager listening
lady started visibly, and her face flush
ed scarlet. But the narrator did not
perceive it, and went on with bis sivry.
"What ring?" l asked--anot that
little gold circlet saw you wearing?"
"Yes," he said, "it was the gift of
dear friend. 1 laid it aside as We were
working under the wall, lest should
break it, and in the hurry of escape l
left 1t. We were scarcely outside the
wall when thought of it, but would
not peril your escape by returning
then. Now you are safe, and 1 90 back
for my ring.''
"But why peril your life for trihe
like that?''
81 told you it was the gilt of II dear
friend; lady! 1t is the pledge of my
troth to her. If I lost or gave it away
she would hold me foresworn. If she
saw me without it, should stand in
her eyes a traitor. took in those con-
ditions, and l must go back"
There was no doubt of the lady's in
terest in the narrative now. She lean
ed forward in her chair. Her whole
soul was absorbed in listening Not
word, not an accent escaped her strain
ed and eager senses. My interest in the
story had given way to my interest in
the lady. l never saw such intensity
of feeling in my life.
IL expostulated with him." continued
the narrator; 81 ridiculed the idea
what value is the ring? Tell the lady
you lost it," Not so,' he said, SHE
could then say loved liberty and per-
sonal freedom better than the gift she
gave me-"
"And he returned ?'
1t was the lady who asked the uues-
tion. Her voice was very low, and the
inquiry came with a choking utterance.
"He did, and served for his pains nine
dreary months of Imprisonment, a soli-
tary captive, with ball and chain"
"And the ring" we all demanded
eagerly.
"He did not find it,"
Even rs he spoke, the lady rose from
her chair and passed across the room to
where Mr.. w. was sitting.
As quick as thought it flashed upon
us; these were parties.
l heard her say as she came close to
his side: al did not expect from you
impossibilities. You should have told