Another win in The Aspiring Writers USA competition.
It will eventually appear in the 2015 anthology which will be available through Amazon.
The Civil War Box by Ken Windsor
‘Patsy! Look at this! It looks like a relic from the Civil War! The ring is engraved with a heart and the letters AVM and CAK. There’s also a note.’
‘What does the note say?’
‘It says “My dearest Amelia, We are crossing the Rappahannock River at first light to finish off the Confederates. Here is a ring to celebrate our engagement. We may cross the Pony Express route in the next few days. If we do, I will send it to you. Whatever way, my dear, I will see you in two weeks. All my love, Al.”
Patsy took the box I had found in the mud on a field-trip to research water fowl habitats and reread the note. She looked at the beautiful ring.
‘Too fussy for today’s fashion but I guess it would have become an heirloom in the 1860’s. I wonder what stories it could tell?’
Chet and Patsy completed their project for Professor Ogle and received a pass for their efforts. At the end of the semester, they went their different ways, Patsy into medical studies to become a doctor and Chet to Physics and engineering.
The ‘85 Class reunion was in full swing. Chet Stevens and his wife Emily were standing at the corner of the buffet, watching the crowd.
‘Wasn’t it 1985 that you found that ring?’ Emily asked.
‘It sure was! I was on a bird-watching project with – Patsy McLune, yes that was her name. I wonder if she’s here? Let’s go and ask Mike.
Mike pointed Patsy out to Chet.
Emily followed Chet across to where Patsy and her husband, Tom stood, talking together.
‘Hi, Patsy! Remember me?’ Patsy spun around.
‘I’d recognise that voice anywhere; you’re Chet from Ogle’s ornithology group, aren’t you?’
‘The very same, and this is my wife Emily.’ Introductions were made and they moved to a small table in a quiet corner to talk. Chet started.
‘How did you medical degree go?’
‘To be honest, it didn’t. I got almost to the end and changed direction. It was your Civil War box that did it. Do you remember it?’
‘I certainly do. It changed my direction a bit too! But, you first. What happened?’
‘I remembered those initials from the note and started doing some research. It was intriguing and I was totally absorbed by it. I met Tom at the library when I was digging through the Civil War records. He was the Assistant Manager and gave me a lot of help in areas where I was really lost.’ Patsy looked across at Tom like only a devoted wife can. We did find out a lot about the people, we also got married and I changed career path from medicine to history. I am now the historian at the State Library! What did you do? Are you designing turbines?’ Patsy raised her eyebrows expectantly. Emily smiled.
“Detective Superintendent Stevens is a long way from designing turbines!’ I took over.
‘I also had a change of direction, mainly driven by the Civil War box! I did some digging into the owner of the ring. I found that it belonged to Major Cholmondeley Aloysius Kent, a member of the British aristocracy. He came to America when the family fell on hard times and joined the army. The love of his life was Amelia Victoria Merewether, of the Missouri Merewethers. They never did marry as the Major died in the conflict. It is assumed that the box fell from his pocket in the river crossing, ending up in the mud, where I found it. So, the Civil War box as you called it changed me as well. I enjoyed the search and the data analysis so much, I changed my studies to law and joined the police force.’
Tom, hugging Patsy’s shoulder asked, ‘What happened to the ring?’
‘My research went further on Amelia’s family. She eventually married and I traced a great great granddaughter, also named Amelia. I gave her the ring, with a copy of my research papers. She was ecstatic to learn about the mysterious Englishman, “Al” who was mentioned in her family history. – What a powerful box − changing lives after more than 150 years!’
