Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-05-08
The BachelOr,s button.

any Ou,cCt III view. MINE was aDstraCtlOVe,
cultivated it. increased my stock, so that
| might have good deal Of the tender pas
sion on hand, whenever saw an eligible
opportunity of investing it. Well, to re-
turn to the concert, it was crowded to ex-
cess, and the rush on leaving, to reach cabs
and carriages, was very great wore on
that memorable night blue coat with
brass buttons, and fattered myself there
were worse looking men in the room. tell
you candidly admired myself, and next to
myself the other party was most struck
with was fine girl, with dark eyes and
black hair, who sat with some young friends
a few forms distant. l hoped she noticed
me and my blue coat with brass buttons.
looked at her often enough to attract her
attention to both and being, as my friends
would say, in rather spooney state, workep
myself in a towering passion-of lore, But
how was to come at the object of my ad
miration, for | was as difident as devoted
'as shy as was vain.' as an over. candid
friend once said. Hall Columbia, which
concluded the concert, surprised me as un-
prepared as on my first glance to improve
the occasion, and the company were shoal-
ing out, while | stood mutely gazing after
the object of my love at first sight. She and
her party edded for q while by the inner
|
drawn out into the retiring current, and
lost to sight.
followed quickly after lest should lose
forever all opportunity of Identifying my
idol but alas, the lights in the outer cor
ridor were few and SO far between, that
mo glimpse OF my star could get
pushed and elbowed fercely through the
crowd, with a view of getting to the outer
door before nv fair ones r"-'y i-~d ."iorg-
cd, anu thus gaining once more sight of
my sweeting.
Hang it,! | muttered, impatiently. as
felt a tug at my coat tail, and was instant
ly conscious of one OF my hind buttons hav-
ing hitched to some lady's dress my pro-
gress was suddenly arrested How provok-
ing. said |, as | was brought to stand, for
could not push on without losing button
or tearing dress; how provoking the mo-
dern fashion, lady now has as many hoop,
and tentacles about her apparel as a sea
anemOne.' 1t was with some irritation |
stopped to undo the button, but my hurry
made the task more difficult, and instead OF
undOing, | only bungled and more twisted
the loop around the button.
Please to let me try said the lady her
self, as | bunged over the business; she
unglOved her hand, it was sweet white
hand; so looked at her face. Star and
garters but it was the fair one, black hair
and dark eyes was in pursuit of. AS she
stopped over the entangled button, a slight
blush tinted her cheek. Oh, it was deli
cious. hoped she never would undo the
loop, and ind ed, she would not, for her
fingers wers twitching nervously. and my
heart was beating audibly | tried to help
her. our fingers met.
Please to make way there shouted
uH VI
the passage was there ever such an un-
lucky spot for SO lucky an entanglement
You hinder the PEOPLE from going out.
ANNIE exclaimed one of her companions
with some asperity plague upon the tire
some loop, break it ! and suiting the action
the word, the speaker leaned forward
caught the sleeve of her beautiful friends
dress in one hand, and my coat tail in the
other, and giving quick and decided tug
severed u.s.
The crowd behind bore on, and we were
separated; not, however, before | gave my
star look intended to speak volumes
thought she did not seem unconscious of
my meaning-our eyes met, | know, and
this was the only consolation left me, for
Immediately afterwards l lost her and her
party in the darkness outside.
That night l hardly closed my eyes,
thinking of my bright particular stra, and
what means should employ to find her out.
| knew little of the town, which was q
large one, and to expect to know the name
of my fair one by mere description was
hopeless there doubtless must be a great
many with dark eyes and black hair within
bills of mortality as elsewhere,
My love fit grew more and moro violent
in the course of the day but tired ost a,
length with my search, | returned to the
hotel, and took out my dress coat from my
portmanteau to feed my fame even with
the contemplation of the inanmate business
button that had detained the 'black-eyed
divinity SO long. 1t was with no little de-
light 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 1t was lilac in color-and stopped to
gently disentangle it frOm..the bit Of brass. as
gently as though it were tress Of my loved
one hair when something clinked in the
skirt pocket supposed | had left some
money there, for in my perturbation and ex-
ciicment ! omitted to search the coat ON
taking it off the night before. thrust nv
hand into the pocket Gracious me What
did behold, what did take out IA gold
chain bracelet
You could have Drained me with nv
lady's fan. saw at a glance how matters
stood-in the excitement and furry of un-
doing the loop from my button, the lady
had undone the clasp OF her own bracelet
which, not unna turally, fell into the
coat-skirt with which she was engaged, and
doubtless on missing it, instead of regarding
me in romanticlight she put it down that
was one of the swell mob, and had purpose,
ly entangled myself in her dress to rob hel
Other jewelry.
Here was an anti-hcroic position to fine
ones self in, when wished to be considered
the most devoted of knights, to be remem
bered only as the most expert of pickpockets
Was ever an honest lover in such a plight
and to make it worse, could not see how
to escape from this inevitable dilemma.
3 must go down TO the grave rememb beret
only in the dear ones mind as the nefariou
purloner of her bracelet. To find her ou
/ was impossible, but a bright idea struck me
9 az my eyes lighted on a newspaper lying OF
the cOfee-roIm table. | sa
, down and wrote an advertisement it wa
, in the following words
If the lady, whose dress got entangled il
a genrleman's coat button, in leaving ia,
J concert last W ednesday will call at, or send
I TO the fremont Hotel, she will hear of SOM
thing To her ADVANTAGE