Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-12-07

from the bit Of brass as gently as though
it wore tress Of my loved ones hair,
when something clinked in the skirt of
the coat pocket. l supposed l had left
some money there, for in my perturba-
ton and excitement / had omitted to
search tho coat on taking it off the
night before. / thrust my hand into
the pocket. Gracious me! What did
behold, what did I take out-a gold
chain bracelet!
You could have 'sbrained me with my
lady's fan" saw at q glance how
matters 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 un-
naturally fell into the coat skirt with
which she was engaged, and doubtless,
on missing it, instead of regarding me
in a romantic light, she put it down
that I was one Of the swell mob, and
had purposely entangled myself in her
dress to rob her Of her bracelet.
Here was an anti-heroic position to
find oneself in, when I wished to be re-
garded as the most devoted of knig hts ;
to be remembered only as the most ex,
pert of pickpockets! Was ever an
honest lover IN such q plight, and to
make it worse, I could not see how !
was to escape from this inevitable di
lemma. ! must 60 down to tie grave,
remembered only in that dear ones
mind as the nefalio1s purloiner of her
bracelet. To find her out was impos-
sible but bright idea struck me, as
my eye lighted on q newspaper lying
on the coffee.room table. / rang the
bell, and inquired when the local paper
was published. "To-morrow, SIR" he
answered. I sat down and wrote an
advertisement: it was in the following
words
elf the lady who got her dress en-
tangled in a gentleman's coat button. in
leaving the concert last Wednesday,
will call or send to the Arch's Head
Hotel, she will hear something to hel
advantage"
There, thong ht, as | gave the ad-
vertisment to the waiter, and FIVE shil-
lings to pay for its insertion in thu
Sentinel-there, if that will not Civ,
me clue to escape from very un
pleasant dilemma, and at the same time
to know VINO my enchanter is, the fates
must indeed be very unpropitious.
My plans being thus so far adopted
| ordered dinner, and waited 7 atiently
or rather lmpatiently, the appearance
Of the newspaper next morning. 1
was brought up to my room damp fron
the press, and then | read, in all The
glory Of tie large type, my interesting
! advertisement. But, my stars ! Wha
an advertisement was it followed in tn
very same column. / only wonder m,
hair did not stand on end as follows:
INWARD.
"Lcst or stolen, on the night Of tn
concert at the Town Hall, Gold Chair
bracelet. It is supposed to have beef
taken from the lady's arm by picl
pocket, Of gentlemanly appearance
who wore q blue coat with brass but
tons, and who kept near the lady OF
leaving the hall.
"Any one giving such information
: IS will lead to the recovery Of tn
, bracelet or tie capture Of the thief ii
stolen }, will receive the above reward
r on applying to 7 Cambridge Parade.
,, Here was pretty plight-to be ad
! vertlsed in the public papers as pick
: pocket, when my only crime was llk
!, Othello's, that of
3 Loving, not wisely, but too we'll -
: Ny determination, however, wa
! quickly adopted. l went up stairs, pu
or the very identical delinquent blu
7 coat, so accurately described, and
; takiag the paper in my hand, proceede
t to Cambridge Parade.
. | knosai at the door, and aske'
7 the servant, who answered the nam
t Of the family. Having heard it,
1 said-"Is Mlss-in?"
t YES, sir" replied the servant NO
man, who shall say wants herr
''Tell her,'' replied, "that the pick
/ pocket, with gentlemanIy address
; and blue coat, with brass buttons, VII
stole her bracelet, is here and wishes t.
return it to her."
The woman stared at me as thong
/ I we're mad, but on repeating my re-
e quest to her, she went IN and delivered
my message. q j
Soon there came out, not my fai
one,
With ail that's best of dark and bright,
Meeting in aspect and in eye,'' ~
/, but stalwart brother. ..
"That," I said, handing hin tn
g bracelet, SIS Miss As pro2ert
, and though, as you perceive. 1 wear
blue coat, with brass buttons, and an
fattercd TO think my manners are nc
ungentlemanly, | am bound in cando
to say that am no p;ckpocket'"
| "Then, sir, you shall have tho re
ward" said The brother, taking out hi
purse
i "No,' 1 replied, ''for strange as
5 may appear, though ! am no plckpock
! ct, stole the lady's bracelet" a
The mar lookei puzzled; but whe,
, I told the trata. and pointed to my ad
t vertisem ent in the same paper, as
I nroof that 7 did not want tc walk of