Long before there were machines, electricity, and technology, the world was powered by horses, and messengers. One day, a messenger came riding swiftly into the town of San Marc. The messenger stopped at the town-square and stood on a small platform so the people could hear his message. “A little girl has gone missing from the town of Bethol. Her name is Carey. We are asking our neighboring towns, to please organize a search party and help us locate the missing child.” And just as suddenly as he came, he jumped back onto his horse and rode away to the next town.

Many people were eager to help so there were plenty of volunteers to join the search party. One of those volunteers was a young man named Marley. Marley worked on his father’s farm, and though they weren’t rich, they had all the things they needed.

The volunteers jumped on their horses and ran off in search of the girl. When they got to the woods, they all split up, to cover more ground, and began calling out her name.

When Marley had entered the woods, he thought he heard someone walking through the leaves. He got down off his horse and tied it to a tree. He walked toward the sounds. “I know you’re there. The whole world is searching for you, would you please come out.” No one answered.

He heard sounds again, and walked closer to them. “There you are,” he said. “I can see you clearly.” Of course, he couldn’t see a thing. He was just trying to trick the girl.

A voice in front of him spoke loudly, “You can’t see me! I’m wearing the ring!” Marley was quite startled because he saw nothing in front of him. But he continued his ruse and said, “Why, I’m looking right at you.”

“That’s impossible,” she said. And suddenly, she appeared right in front of Marley as she was taking off a ring. Marley was shocked, but he didn’t show it. Then she slid the ring back on her finger and disappeared.

Marley continued his ruse. “I’m looking right at you, you keep putting a ring on and off your finger. Are you nervous? Why are you fiddling so much?”

The girl suddenly reappeared and threw the ring on the ground at Marley’s feet. “This worthless ring! That silly witch told me it would make me invisible, but it seems I’m only invisible to myself!”

“There now,” said Marely gently as he stooped down to the ground, “Don’t be upset. Let’s get you home. You’re parents are worried sick over you.”

Marley then picked up the ring and put it in his pocket. He put the girl onto his horse and then climbed on himself and he took the girl back to her hometown and reunited her with her family.

What Marley did with the ring is another story.