Middletown transcript., 1888-09-20
THE ROMANCE OF A RING.
HOW DRUMMER WOODS FOUND
ITS OWNER AND MADE HER
HIS BRIDE.

A few months ago travelling sales
man named Woods, who was guest
of the Boody house in this city, was
sitting upon the sofa in his room, alb
sorbed in reflection. While carelessly
running his hand behind the upholstery
in the sofa he felt a small finger ring,
which he drew forth and discovered it
to be gold ring with diamond set
ting. He knew enough about dia-
monds to observe that the stone was a
gem, exquisitely cut and perfect.
He naturally began wondering how
the little treasure found its way into so
remote place, and after considerable
thinking came to the conclusion that
it had either been hidden Intentionally,
or that it had slipped from finger of
the owner-evidently lady, for it was
a lady's ring-while she had been
thoughtlessly playing with the uphol-
stery in the same manner. He looked
for initialsror name in the ring, but
found nothing that would lead to the
identity of the owner. He went to the
Office and inquired if a ring had been
lost, but the clerk had heard of none,
and upon inquiry no one else was found
who knew anything of it.
The next morning Mr.. Woods was
preparing his toilet before the dresser
when he noticed the letters {" M. G. F."
and the date ''Sept. II" delicately cut
in the bevel Of the mirror. He thought
nothing of it at the time, but shortly
afterwards the idea entered his mind
that the initials might possibly be those
of the owner of the ring he had found.
They were certainly cut by diamond,
and it was reasonable to suppose that
they were carved by this very ring
which he had found. Anyhow it was
interesting, and he determined to in
vestigate the romance.
From the clerk he obtained the reg
lister for last September and looked
through the list of names for one the
initials of which were M. G. F. Moth
ing satisfactory was found. He asked
for the register Of the September pre-
vious, and after little search it was
procured. Under the date of Sepsem-
Der 18th he saw the name, in lady's
handwriting: Miss May G. Fowler,
Madison, Wisconsin," and she was as
signed to room 45, the very one he had
occupied.
Then he was certain that the young
lady was the same who had engraved
her initials on the mirror. The doubt
still remained, if she was the owner of
the ring he had found.
His first intention was to address a
letter to the lady named, but as he was
going to Chicago and Milwaukee, he
concluded to run over to Madison and
investigate in person.
He did so. From the city directory
he found several addresses of Fowlers,
and noted them in his order book. He
selected the address of Russell M.
Fowler, attorney at low, judging that
attorneys, as rule, being men of
wealth, their daughters would more
likely wear diamonds than those whose
parents were newspapers men or fol-
lowers of other callings.
He presented himself at the residence
and asked if Miss May Fowler was at
home. He received an affirmative re-
ply, and was ushered into room where
the young lady was sitting with her
father, who was reading paper.
Woods introduced himself and asked
Miss Fowler if she had ever lost a
diamond ring. After hesitating mo-
ment she said:
Eyes, sir. I lost one two years ago
on visit east. don't know where,
though"
Were you ever in Toledo, Ohio ?"
Yes. 1 stopped there over night
while on my trip, and waited until the
next evening for papa. You remember,
don't you, father P''
"Quite well,' the lawyer replied.
Where did you stop?" asked
Woods.
81 don't remember the name of the
hotel, but it was in the center of the
city and was the leading house in town.
It was about two blocks from the
river"