Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-05-27

A lady travelling by the land ronte be-
tween New York and Boston, was unfortu'
nate enough to lose her purse, containing
considerable amount of money, which
was undoubtedly appropriated by gen
ilemanly person who occupied tbe seat
next her, but who left during the time the
train was passing The long tunnel gong
into New York city, having managed 10
pick the lady's pocket during the time
undetected, as half ap hour previous the
purse was known TO be safe.
In recounting her loss, to a friend who
was soon after about to make the same
journey, the danger of gentlemanly sp-
pearing men occupying the next seat TO
unprotected females, and, iu fact the
danger of trusting TO appearances at all, was
strongly dwelt upon.
The new tourist was particularly
to beware on going through the tunnel at
New York, aud being Thoroughly admon'
ished, c.acluded to keep her pocket BOOK
grasped 10 her hand during that perllous
passage.
The lady started; sure enough, gentle
manly looking person, on the arrivpl oil the
train at Springfield. solicited permission
to bill the unoccupied seat beside the fair
traveller, who, according to the rules OF
travel, e:uld not refuse. The strangers
manners were those of gentlemanly case,
(plckpockets 10 novels always are) his cos
tune was plain, servcable and adapted to
travelling. He was polite; he offered the
lady bis newspaper---t was coldly declined;
ne volunteered q few remarks, which re
ceived only chilling moposyllables 10 re,
sponse. 10 fact he made no progress
whatever in becoming better acquainted
with his neighbor, and evidently giving II
up in despair, occupied himself witt news,
paper and cheap novel. The lady BAD
almost forgotten her travelling companion
as well as the advice of her friend, when
The recollection of both suddenly hashed
upon her, as the train entered the Gimme
Ran Darkness of the tunnel. She hur-
rledly fumbed for her pocket. but the
hndlng OF lady's pocket amid the folds OF
Der dress is often matter of d ficulty, aho
now in the impenetrable darkness seemed
doubly so. Nervously she felt in the di'
rection where she supposed that appendage
was, till at last the apertare was reached,
and her hand thrust in to grasp and hold
her pockctbook safely till the train should
again emerge into daylight, when borrow
OF horrors, she encountered the gentleman's
hand in her pocket!
Whether 10 scream for assistance, to
seize the intruder, or in fact 1what to do,
she scarcely knew; however, acting upon a
sndden resolution, she seized the hand and
held on, determined to show the villain de-
tected in the very act, on emerging to the
light.
The train rolled slowly-it seemed SO
slowly on, that it appeared as If the end
OF that terrible tunnel would never be
reached-she clutcbed the iDtrudiDg hand
with o firmer grasp, which made no
special effort TO relieve itself, probably
knowing how useless would be the struggle
or else. as both were ungloved. feeling
content to rest in the soft, warm clasp that
encircled it. At length, however, the
train emerged into daylight. which found
both lady and gentleman auxiously looking
toward each other, the lady's face Nsat-
ing frightened, anxious expression. and
the gentleman's a curious and puzzled one,
as be gazed into the startled eyes Of his
companion.
SIT! she began Indignantly, tightening her
grasp, when, CHANGING to cast her eyes
down. she found, oh terrible circumstance,
her hand in the outside pocket of his coat,
desperately graspiug his hand, which it
had encountered.
The lady was covered with confusion at
this unlocked for turn of affiirs, AMI the
gentleman, who was man of discrimina.
ton saw hat the enconntar vas accidpn.
tai. and that each had probably received
pckpocket impressions OF the other from it.
Mutual explanations at leDgh ensued, and
cards were exchanged
1t remains for us to add that the ac-
quaiutance thus commenced was continued,
and that the lady and gentleman were re.
Gently united iu marriage We would not !.
however, advise marriageable young ladies,
as general thing, to mistake gentlemep's
pockets as their own. as the sequel may
not always turn out to be as pleasant as
in the above instance.