I don’t remember why, but for some reason I left this tale as a response to a friend’s social media post, way back in early 2011. I remember sitting on my bed and typing it into my iPod Touch, before I got a smart phone.
And now, nearly a decade later, I’ve found it again so I can share it with you.
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Well! Hello there, traveler! And what are you up to, this fine evening? Come, sit by the fire and allow me to tell you a tale!
There was once an old man, who had inherited his father’s ring. The man had held onto this ring all his life, for his father told him the ring would guide to him his one true love, and also a great fortune. But, alas, this man was now very old, and very alone, and was beginning to doubt his father’s word.
“Love and fortune, bah!” said the man. “Were but this trinket to be truly as my father spake! I should not be an old poor man, alone in this shack of a house, but a wealthy young husband! Aye, mayhaps by now I should be just as old, but at least some company I may have! A hex on you, cursed ring! For you do not hold the key to my future! Nay, you are naught, save the key to my embittered past!”
And with these words, the old man threw the ring out his window. Just then, a beautiful heiress was traveling through the country, and the ring flew into her carriage’s window. “Lo, and what be this? Behold! A ring of mysterious origin!”
“M’lady, it did fly in the window from hither direction!” explained her servant. “From yonder dwelling, says I!”
The heiress ordered her driver to stop, and she and her servant rushed out of the carriage, towards the shack of the ring’s departure.
The old man heard a loud rapping upon his door. “Go away!” he exclaimed. “Shall thy interrupt an old man while he sups?”
“Sir, I mean no disrespect! May I please have but a brief word with thee?” responded the beautiful heiress.
“Very well,” submitted the old man. He stood up from his dinner, and opened the door. But the vision he beheld was beyond his belief! Before him stood the most beautiful woman he ever had seen! Stunned, the old man’s jaw did drop open.
“Good evening, old man,” began the heiress. “I have recently come into possession of this ring, and my servant claims she saw it come from thine window. Does she speak the truth?”
“A woman…of such beauty…at my door! Oh, joyous day! Callooh, callay! But that my father did tell me this ring would bring to me my one true love, and Lo, here she stands!”
The heiress was taken aback. “I beg your pardon, old man! Your one true love?”
“Aye!” exclaimed the man. “But not you, it is she who bewitches mine eyes!” He shouted, pointing at the servantwoman. “For your servant was a girl I did love when I was a but a lad! Age has had his way with her, this I can see! But I would know that face anywhere! I was a devilish child! I would throw rocks and lizards in her hair, hoping but only that she may spare a gaze in my direction!”
“You!” the servantwoman shouted. “I have not seen you since I was a lass! Since before M’lady was but a twinkle in her father’s eye! And here you are, all these years later! By what fate is should we be returned to each other’s company?”
“It was the ring! My father once spake to me, ‘Son, hold this ring, for it shall bring to you much wealth and your one true love!’ and behold, on the very day I doubted the ring and did throw it out my window, upon my doorstep you did appear!”
It was fortunate indeed that the heiress was a kind soul. “Woman,” began the heiress, “do you love this man?”
“I do!” replied the servant.
“Man, would you to give up thus humble shack to live in my palace?”
“Aye!” exclaimed the old man.
“Then make it so! Upon the morrow shall thee be wed!” And so it was, the ring brought to the old man all his father had promised and more!
But what ever happened to this ring, you may ask? One day, many moons later, the old man spoke with the heiress. “M’lady, do you remember this ring that brought me to my wife?”
“I do. As I recall, it was very beautiful.”
“Aye, it is. And now it is yours. For, though the ring brought my wife to my door, it was thine generosity that allowed us to become one. I have seen you are without a gentleman of your own, and for one as pretty and fetching as you, this is not right!”
Soon, the heiress met a charming young man, and thanks to the magic in that ring, ever after did they all happily live.