Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-12
ROMANCE OF A RING.
n Burglar Meets His Old Love and De-
parts Without Booty.

-@N''oeette CcNftef'-J OAFHGk.
some time ago the wife of merchant
was suddenly awakened in the night by
the sound of footsteps in her bedroom.
ana the next moment the light of dark
lantern hooded her face so near that she
could almost feel the heat and hear the
suppressed breathing of the intruder.
Her husband was from home, and the
only person IN the house except herself
was a servant girl, who slept in the story
beneath. Her presence of mind did not.
however, fOrSake her. 1t doubtless re-
quires great amount of resignation and
fortitude in woman to listen to. without
screaming, the ransacking of her store of
valuable laceS and the appropriation of
her jewelry; but the lady, very nationally
deemlng her life worth all the lace and
diamonds in the world, quietly closed her
eyes and awaited the result. The light
was Withdrawn from her face and she
heard the rustling of silks, the picking
OF locks, and occasionally a low whisper
Of surprise and disappointment. Then
there was silence for a full minute-it
seemed an hour to her-and a soft foot
step approached the bed, and the glare of
the lantern again fell upon her face.
Through the closed lids of her eyes she
saw the light, but remained calm and
motiOnless in its scrutinizing rays, fear
ful that the least movement might inn
peril her life. What a moment of sus-
pense. The light was removed from her
face, and she felt that some one was lean
ing against the bed. Still she remained
mOtionless; nor did she stir when the
warm breath of the burglar famed her
cheek. Not until his lips pressed her
forehead dld she spring up and half
shrek, ''WhO is in this rOom?''
'Hushr' responded a voice in hoarse
whisper, while rough hand was laid on
her shoulder. "Speak nothing and fear
nothing" The next moment she heard
the sounds of retreating footsteps and the
creaking of Il shutter; then all was still
again. Satisfied that she was alone she
sprang from the bed and touched a light
ed match to the burner, then sank into Il
chair, completely Frustrated with the
danger through which she had
passed. Recovering, she looked round
to ascertain of what she had been plum
dered. The drawers were all in the
utmost confusion, but, strange to say,
little or nothing was missing. A casket
of lewelry was open on the bureau. but
the diamonds and gold were all there.
Beside the casket she discovered little
roll of paper containing a ring which had
been given to her many years before, and
which had been in her possession ever
since. Half bewildered at the singular
proceeding, she was about to cast the
paper from her when her eye caught the
marks of pencil upon it. She carefully
opened it and read:
This ring, which once was mine. tells me in
whose house am. You know | am an out
law-the world knows it, and do not care to
deny it-but, fallen as am, cannot rob YOU
Maria, forgive me, and God bless you.
HENRY.
This explained all. Falling on her knees
she prayed for him who had written the
scroll. And who was ''Henry = Ten
years ago he loved that same Maria, and
he would have made her his wife-for she
had promised to be his-had he not taken
to drink and gambling, and finally forged
the name Of his employer, for which he
was given Il home in convict prison.
When he was worthy of her love he gave
her that ring, and she kept it in remem-
brance of what he had been. This is the
story of the ring. On the return of the
husband the wife related to him the ad-
venture and showed him the note, but he
has never attempted to arrest the burglar.