Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-06-14

o. M 90 voUZDO0, - o9t00poe-
issd, J . wkIetk hey llRssed With peo.
fouad attention. Ip1eed, / 8onld no|
help being interested In the story, x
fanciful we're the idsaa, and % poetica
the language in which they were ex-
pressed.
"The story ended, the stranger re.
placed the children on the carpet, and
approached the table on which stood
in porcelain vase, a boquet of flowers
Thee he admired, and began dis
course on Horticulture. / listened with
earncstness, 90 profound we're al biz
observations. We were standing .,
the table for at least eight or ten min
utes my boys hanging on the skirt o.
my dress, and every now and then
compelling me to beg Of them to be
silent.
"One o'clock came, but not the
Msjor. received q note from him,
written in pencil on q slip Of paper
He would be detained at Government
House until half-past two.
"Again l requested the fascinating
stranger to partake Of luncheon which
was now on the table in the room
and again, vita the same winning
smile, be declined. As he was about,
as | thought, to depart, extended my
hand; bat, to my astonishment, he
stepped back, made low bow and de.
ciined taking it.
For . gentleman to have his hand
refused, is embarrassing enough. But
for . lady! Who can possibly describe
what my feelings we're Had he been
heir to the British throne, visiting tina,
penal settlement in disguise, land from
the strangers manners and converse
ton he might have been that iIlustri.
Gus persouage,) he could scarcely have,
under any circumstances, treated me
in such an extraor 1inary manner.
SC arcely knew what to think. Observ.
ing. Is the stranger must have done,
the blood rush to my cheeks, and be.
ing cognizant, evidently, Of what was
passing through my mind, he spoke a.
follows:
Madame, l am afraid you will
never forgive me the liberty l have
taken already, but the truth is, the
passion Suddenly stole over me, and
could not resist the temptation Of sat
isfying myself that the skill which
made me 80 conspicuous in the mother
country still remained to me in this
convict land
IL stared at him, but did not speak
Madam he continued, the penal.
ty Of sitting at table with you, OF tax
ing the hand you paid me the compli-
ment to offer me-yourself in igno-
rance Of the fact | am about to disclose
would have been the forfeiture oil
my ticket leave, and employment
on the roads in irons. As it Is | dread
the Majors wrath; bnt l cherish the
hope that you will endeavor to appease
it, if your advocacy be only return
for the brief amusement l afforded your
beautiful children.
"You are a convict" l said, indig-
nantly, my hand on the bell rope.
"'Madam' he said with an express
ion of countenance which moved me
to pity, in spite of my Indignation,
hear me for moment.
"'A convicted felon, how dared you
enter my drawing-room as a visitor q
| asked, my anger again getting the
better Of all my other feelings.
"'The Major, madam said the
stranger, requested me to tc at his
house at the hour when presented
myself; and he babe me wait if he
were from home when | called. The
Major wishes to know who was the per-
son who received from me \ diamond
necklace which belonged to the Mar
chioness Of Darlington, and came in
to my possession at state ball, some
four or five years ago-s state ball at
which bad the honor Of being pre-
sent. Now madam when the orderly
who opened the front door informed
me that the Major was not at home,
but that you we're, that indomitabIe
impudence which so often carried me
into drawing-rooms of the aristocracy
of or country, took possession of me
and, warmed as | WAS with generous
wine-just sufficient to give me cour-
age-l determined to tread once more
on lady's carpet, and enter into con-
versatiou with her. That much fell
the Major would forgive me and
therefore, requested the orderly te
announce gentleman. Indeed, ma
dam, ! shall make the forgiveness o.
the Liberties have taken in this room
the condition Of my giving that in
which shall restore to the Marchiones.
Of Darlington, the gem Of which de
prived her-a gem which is still I'm.
pledged, and in the possession of one
who will restore it on an application
accompanied by letter in my hand
writing.
"'Again l kept silence
"Madam !" he exclaimed, somewhat
impassionedly, and rather proudly, +"
am nc other man than Darlington, the
illustrious pickpocket; and this is the
hand which in its day has gently
plucked from ladies OF rank and wealth,
jewels which realized. in all, upwards
Of thirty-five thousand pounds, ire
spective of those which we're in nv
possession under lock and key, when
fortune turned her back upon me-"
harrington, the pickpocket! Hav.
ing heard 20 much Of this man and bis
exploits, although, Of course, had
never seen him.. l could not help re-