The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-10-09
ROMANCE OF A RING
A Burglar in the House of His Old
Love Departs Without
Booty.
Courier Journal.

SDuc tiIuc dSO TIC WIiS VI a IucI'
chant was suddenly awakened in the
night by the sound of footsteps in her
bed room, and the next moment the
light of a dark lantern flooded her
face so near that she could almost fee
the heat and hear the suppressed
breathing of the intruder. Her hus'
band was from home. and the only
person in the house except herself was
servant girl who slept in the story
beneath. Her presence of mind did
not, however, forsake her. 1t doubt
less requires a great amount of resig'
nation and fcrtitude in a woman to
listen to, without screaming, the ran.
sacking of her store of valuable laces
and the appropriation of her iewelry;
but the lady very nationally deeming
her life worth all the laces and dia-
monds 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light was withdrawn from her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 occas-
ionally a low whisper Of surprise or
disappointment Then there was 81.
lence for full minute-it seemed an
hour to her-and a soft fOotstep APP
prosched the bed. and the glare of the
lantern again fall upon her face.
Through the closed lids of her eyes
she saw the light, but remained calm
and motionless in its scrutinizing rays,
fearful that the least movement might
imperil her life. What a moment of
suspense! The light was removed
from her face, and she felt that some
one was leaning against the bed. Still
she remained mOtionless, nor lid she
stir when the warm breath of the burg
lar famed her cheek. Not until his
lips pressed her forehead did she
spring up and talf shrek, "WhO
is in this room
"Hush ! responded a voice in a
hoarse whisper, while rough hand
was laid on her shoulder. "6peak
pothing, and fear nothing. The next
moment she heard the sound of re-
treating footsteps and the creaking Of
a shutter, then all was still again.
Satisfi d that she was alone, she sprang
from the bed and touched a lighted
match to the burner, then sank into
chair, completely Frustrated with the
danger through which she had passed.
Recovering she looked around to ascer-
tain of what she had been plundered.
The drawers were all in the utmost
but, strange to say, little or
nothing was missing. A casket of
iewelry was open ON the bureau. but
the diamonds and gold were ell there.
Beside the casket she discovered a
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 be-
wi!tlered at the singular proceeding.
she was about to cast the paper fro?
her when her eve caught the marks of
a pencil upon it. She carefully OPEN
ed il and read:
This ii.g, which once was mine,
tells NE in whose house l am. You
know | am an outlsw-the world
knows it, and | do not care to deny
it but. fallen as l 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. But who was
"Henrv ?" Ten years ago he loved
that same Maria, and he would have
made her his wife for she had prom
ised to be his-bad he not taken to
drink and gambling. and finally forged
the name of his employer, for which
he was given a home in a convict
prison. When he was worthy
of her love he gave her that ring,
and she had kept it in remembrance
of what he had been. This is the
story of the ring. On the return of
the husband the wife related to him