Democratic messenger., 1888-10-13
THE ROMANCE OF A RING.
How Drummer Woods Found it's
Owner and Made her
His Bride,

SWhgE 0hu 04ou0 Q0E
His Bride.
A few months ago travelling salesman
named Woods, who was guest at the
Boody house In this city, was sitting npon
the sofa in his room, absorbed In reflec.
tion. While carelessly running his hand
behind the upholstery in the sofa he felt
q small finger ring which he drew forth
and discovered II to be gold ring with Q
diamond setting. He knew enough about
diamonds TO observe that the stone was q
gem, exquisitely cut and perfect.
He naturally began wondering how the
little treasure found its way Into so remote
a place, and amer considerable thinking
came TO the conclusion that Il had either
been hidden Intentionally, or that It had
slipped from finger Of the owner-evi
IDENTIFY lady, for Il was q lady's ring
while she had been thOughtlessly playing
With the upholstery In the same manner
lIe1ooked for initials or o name In the
ring, but found nothing that would lead
to the identity Of the owner. He went
10 the Office and inquired II a ring had
been lost, hut the clerk had heard of none,
and upon inquiry no one else was found
who knew anything Of II.
The next morning Mr. Woods was pre-.
pairing his toilet before the, dresser when
he noticed tho letters M. IT," and the
date Sept. IL" delicately q Yin the bevel
Of the mirror. lie thought nothing of Il
at the time, but shortly afterwards tie
Idea entered his mind that the initials
might possibly be those Of the owner Of
the ring he had found. They were Ger.
tainly cut by diamond. and Il was rea.
sonable to suppose that they were carved
BY this very ring which he had found
Anyhow Il was interesting. and he deter.
mined TO investigate the romance.
From the clerk he obtained the register
for last September and looked through the
list OF names for one the initials Of which
were NJ. c. +. Nothing satisfactory was
found. lie asked for the register Of the
September previous. and after little
search II was procured. Under the date
Of September 10Th he saw the name, In q
lady's handwriting: "Miss May g. Fow.
Ter, Madison, Wisconsin" and she was as.
signed to room IS. the very one he had
occupied.
Then lie was certain that the young lady
was the same who had ingraved her inl.
,ials on the mirror. The doubt still re-.
mained, II she was the owner Of the ring
he had found.
Ills first Intention was to address let.
ter to thc'iady named. but as he was go.
ing TO Chicago and Milwaukee, he con.
city 40 run over to Madison and
IL y.1gate in person.
.Ie did SO. From the city directory he
found several addresses of Fowlers, and
noted them in his Orler book. lie select.
cd the address Of Russell VI. Fowler, attor.
ney at law, judging that attorneys. as a
rule, being men OF wealth, their daughters
would more likely wear diamonds than
those whose parents were newspaper men
or followers Of other callings.
lie presented himself at the residence
and asked II Miss May Fowler was at
home. He received an affirmative reply,
md was ushered into room where the
young lady was sitting with her father,
who was reading paper.
Woods introduced himself and asked
Miss Fowler II she had ever lost a dia.
mond ring. Afler hesitaiing a nome mt
she said:
"Yes, sir. l lost one two years ago on a
visit east. don't know where, though"
Were you In Toledo, Oh;o!"
"Yes. stopped there over night while
on my trip. and waited until the next
evening for papa. You remember, don't
you iather?"
Quite well" the lawyer replied.
"Where did you stop ?" asked Woods.
II don't remember the name of the hotel
but Il was in the centre Of the city and
was the leading house in town. Il was
about two blocks from the river"
Mr.. Fowler then eyed Woods suspi.
ciously anil asked why he was so lnquisi.
tive
The drummer replied by handling the
young lady the ring and asking II 1, was
hers.
"Oh, the very same," was the reply
"where did you get ii Mr.. Woods:"
Woods related the circumstances rs re.
corded above, and concluded with the re.
mark that he hoped Miss Fowler found as
much pleasure In obtaining the ring as he
had derived In following the little mystery.
Mr.. Fowler gave himself up to hearty
laugh, at the same time thanking Woods
for his kindness, and remarking that Il
was one Of the cleverest pieces Of detec-
tive work he had ever seen. As criml.
nal lawyer he had observed many Of them,
too.
Woods was invited to remain for din.
ner. and he did so. lie made himselfvery
agreeable, and succeeded In creating a
favorable impression. lie was cordially
invited to call again II he ever happened
to return TO the city.
About three weeks later he found him.
self In Madison again. ON his return trip
from the west. lie was well received by
the Fowlcrs. and was introduced by them
to some Of the best peoplei in Madison.
II was nearly three months before his
next trip In that vicinity and he was sur.
prised at the anxiety he seemed to feel to
accept the invitation. he had received to
present himself at the Fowler mansion.
But what Is the necessity Of saying any.
thing more! Il was the most natural
thing In the world for the young people to
fall In love with so romantic an introduc-