The home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1857, 1857-02-13
CHAPTER SECOND.

in the darkness outside.
CHAPTER SECOND.
now THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE DID NOT
RUN SMOOTH.
That night hardly closed my eyes
thinking Of my "bright particular star,
and what means should employ to find
her out. knew little of the town, which
was large one, and to expect 10 know
the name of my fair one by mere des
crption was hopeless, for there doubtless
must be a great many with dark eyes and
black hair within the "bills Of mortality
there as elsewhere.
My love fit grew more and more violent
in the course Of the day, but tired out at
length with my search, returned to the
hotel, and took out my dress.coat from
my portmantcau to feed my flame even
with the contemplation Of the inanimate
business button that had detained the
"back eyed divinity so long. 1t was
with no little deli ght | now discovered
what did not before catch my eye a
fragment Of the silk loop Of her dress
still adhered to the button, twisted round
the shank. pressed it to my lips; it
was lilac in color, and stopped to gently
dsentangle it from the bit Of brass--as
gently as though it were tress of my
loved ones hair-whcn something clink
ed in the skirt pocket. | supposed had
left some money there, for in my pertur.
baton and excitement omitted to search
the coat on taking it off the night before.
thrust my hand into the pocket. era
cious me! What did behold, what did
take out--a golden chain bracelet.
You could have "brained" me with my
lady's fan. saw at a glance how mat.
tiers stood--in the excitement and furry
Of undoing the loop from my button, the
lady had undone the clasp Of her own
bracelet, which had not unnaturally fell
into the coat.skirt with which she was
engaged, and doubtless on missing it, in
stead Of regarding me in romantic light,
she put it down that was on the swell
mob, and had purposcly entangled my.
self in her dress to rob her Of her jewelry.
Here was an anti.he7oic position to find
ones self in, when wished to be con.
sldefed the most devoted Of knights, to
be remembered only as the most expert
Of pickpockets Was ever an honest
lover in such plight, and to make it
worse, could not see how | was to es
cape from this inevitable dilemma.
must 60 down 10 the graz remembered
only in that dear ones min as the meta =,
farious purloiner Of her L.acelct. To
find her out was impossible; but bright
idea struck me as my eye lighted on a
newspaper lying on the coffee.room table.
| rang the bell and inquired Of the waiter
when the local paper was published.
"To.morro W, sir" he answered. sat
down and wrote an advertisement; it was
in the following words:
eff the lady, whose dress got ntangled
in gentleman's coat button, in leaving
the Concert last Wednesday, will call at
or send to the fremont Hotel, she will
hear something to her advantage"
There, | thought, as gave the adver.
tisement to the boy, and five shillings to
pay for insertion in the Traveller, there,
if that will not give me clue to escape
from very unpleasant dilemma, and al
the same time to know who my enchantel
is, the fates must indeed be very unpro
pitious.
Ny plans being thus so lar adopted,
ordered dinner, and waited patiently, Of
rather imPatiently, the appearance Of the
newspaper next morning. TWAS brought
up to my room damp from the press, and
then read in all the glory of large type
my interesting announcement. But my
stars with what an advertisement was i,
followed in the very same column.
only wonder that my hair did not stand
on an end as ] read as follows:
"s2 REWARD.-Lost or stolen, on
the night Of the Concert, at the Hall, a
Gold Chain Bracelet. L! is thought to
lave been taken from the lady's arm by
a pick-pocket Of sentlemanly appear.
ance, who wore blue coat with brass
buttons. and kent near the lady on leaving