Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-07-02
From the st. Louis Democrat.l
TRUE THROUGH ALL.

| read an incident of the late war,
which may not inappropriately be
called here the story Of the ring. 1t
relates to circumstance which oc-
Cured when the old medical college
was military prison. A party of
young men-six, L believe, had been
arrested somewhere in the interior of
the State and brought to the city as
prisoners of war. Months passed in
weary confinement. Expectation and
"hope deferred makes the heart sick" "
and these men grew weary Of their
long imprisonment. At last they
concerted means to escape. They
worked hopefully and waited patient
ly, and the period of their dellverance
came at last. An excavation under
the walls and a bribed guard was all
there WAS of romantic interest in the
flight. But after getting far away
from the prison one of the tugitives
stopped short and announced his In
tention OF returning.
"Return cried his companion,
"why you will be taken. The guards
have been changed ere this and our
escape 10 doubt discovered"
True" he said, "but still | must
return" :"
So far the writer listened to the
narrative 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 narrator was the centre of
scene Of gaiety and brightness, will
age party, but one where culture and
refinement was as noticeable rs 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 | can conlure
now the beautiful vision her memory
recalls. \ classic face, with great
luminous eyes, and figure as fault
less in contour and outline rs 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.
| had noticed an evident constraint
| in her manners, when during 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
wouli be considered disagreeable.
And yet gossips said they had once
been lovers. :,
but to return is DEATH" | urged
upon my friend, said the narrator.
You will be shot if taken
a know it," he said, ''but still l
am going back"
The words were quietly spoken
but there was an inileXible deter
mination in their tone which almost
appalled me. I reasoned and re-
monstrated in vain. | showed him
the certainty of capture and the pos
sible death that awaited him. 1t pro-
duced no impression. He listened to
me quietly, sadly l thought, but his
resolve was unalterable.
But WHY" | asked, out of pa
tience with his obstinacy, "why will
YOU incur this risk? What reason,
what necessity is there IN ii?
Il am going back for my ring, he
said.
At these words the eager.listening
lady started vis;bly, and her face
flushed scarlet. But the narrator dld
not perceive it, and went on with ms
story.
"What ring?" 1 askcd-''not that
little gold circlet l saw YOU wearing
eyes" he said, ''it was the gift of
dear friend. | laid it aside as we
were working under the wall, lest l
should break it, and in the hurry OF
escape | left it. We were scarcely
outside the wall when thought OF 1t,
but l would not peril your escape by
returning then. Now you are safe,
and / 20 back for my ring
"B1t why peril your life for trife
like that?
81 told YOU it was the gift of a
dear friend; a lady! 1t is the pledge
of nv truth to her. fl lost or gave
! it away. she would hold me foresworn.
If she saw me without it, | should
stand IN her eyes traitor. | took 1t
on these conditions, and | must 60
back"
There was no doubt of the lady's
interest in the narrative now She
leaned forward in her chair. Her
whole soul was absorbed in listening:
Not a word, not an accent escaped
her strained and eager senses. Ny
interest in the story had given place
to my interest in the lady. | never
saw such intensity OF feeling in my
life.
i expostnlated with him con
tinued the narrator; 81 rldiculed the
idea; "What value Is the ring? Tell
the lady YOU lost it!' Not SO" he
4 Il