Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-19

the change. Just as I had stepped out,
and was closing the door with one hand,
with the other | partially withdrew the
handkerchief from my bosom, so that she
might see how fondly her gift was trea-
sured.
"Heavensi'' she screamed.
Was my absence, then, too much for
her? Perish the engagement Poor
girl, what violence of love my appear
ance has inspired!
Such were my thoughts. Meantime
the maiden screamed more violently-shc
was in hysterics-she had tainted! /
leaped into tie carriage, and telling
policeman to run for doctor, attempt
ed to lift her tcnderly into the open air.
No sooner had she touched the pave
ment and opened her eyes, than, seeing
herself in my arms, she shrieked more
loudly than ever.
"Hush, dearest." [ cried; "I am with
you; [ will see you home; | swear |
shall never leave you. Do tranquilize
YOURSELF"
Far from obeying me, she put her hand
to her bosom and fairly rent the air with
most u1lmaidenlike cries.
"My watch! my purse! Oh, save me
some one, from this wretch He has sto-
len my pocket Handkerchief; [ saw it in
lis breast as he left the omnibus. Oh,
save me save me !-save-"
This was an unexpected turn Of affairs.
A dozen stout hands grasped my collar.
The policeman assured the crowd that
he knew me well; that Twas an old state
prison bird, tried about six years since
for burglary with Black Crimes and
only pardoned out three weeks age" In
short, he gave so circumstantiaf an ac-
count of my WHO and WHAT, that [ began
to question my own identity, and wonder
seriously, whether my name might not,
after all, be civilian Smith," alias
"Cunning WILL" alias "The Omnibus
Dodger," " for by all Of these titles, not on
ly policemen No. |, but several other
stars who formed constellation around
me, declared | was well-known.
Gentle reader, do you pity me? What
could l say? The handkerchief was
drawn from it's fond resting place III my
bosom the lady read the name, &C Cath,
crime de Seymour" in the corner, and
identified it shers. She further declared
that when & lifted her out of the omni-
bus, she distinctly felt q tug at her watch
chain," Gt had caught at the handle of
the door, and that * on entering the om-
nibus, she now remembered my having
attempted to draw off her rings" (Oh,
faithless Catherine could you so mistake
The pressure Of respect and admiration,
for the touch of felon endeavoring to
filch a trinket y
In vain did protest my innocence, and
appeal to my pocket book for corFobora-
ton. An order on my banker COR three
hundred dollars was declared q gross
forgery, by one of thewell informed stars.
1t was Just the fac s5mile,' said the ruff
fan, g of the one he found on Yellow
jim afore he went to Sing Sing, last
year" 4 fifty dollar note in my porte
monraie was said to be identical with one
stolen from bed room in the Astor House
the night before: and after due eXamina
ton it became evident to the crowd that
one of the most notorious, cunning and
desperate rascals in the world then stood
before them.
\ phrenologist delivered an extempore
discourse upon the prominence of my az
cumulative and secrctive organs. "Nev
er," said the craniologist, "did | see
head more illustrative of the truth of my
theory. The moral organs are depressed
and all the bad passions, unchecked by
intellect, riot in his repulsive features -
1e gods must | bear this! s'Confu-
sion Agony"' ] cried. "Takc me to a
Justice! Ruffians, madmcn, perjurers F.!
You shall pay dear for this. / will revenge
it to the death-to the death-through
life unto death"
"He's obstropalous, Tor" said grog-
bIossomed constable. Hadn't we better
put on the irons? I've pair that II fit
hi:a, know: the same he wore when we
caught him carrying the cloth from Mul
berry street.
The confidence and cool assurance of
this last assertion staggered me. Was |
awake, or in dream! Was [ mad, or
in my senses Was I gentleman, or a
pickpocket Were my features handsome
or so repulsive as to convict me on suspi-
cion of every crime!
Reason staggered on her throne: the
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