Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1869-08-28
AN OMNIBUS ADVENTURE.

Terrace, Noting HILL, to the CITY 10 tran-
sact some business for husband, who was
confined to the house with q severe cold.
Every one who has visited London 10
that most wretched of all months of the
year, must know how dismal and foggy
it is ; therefore. 1t is not at all surprising
that l should feel somewhat reluctant to
leave my comfortable Preside and start
off for my long, cold ride. I might have
go1e by the underground railroad, but,
had I done so, l should have been oblig-
ed to walk some distance to the CITY, and
the omnibus took me from the door.
/ soon equipped myself for my journey,
ami with q farewell kiss from my hus
band, and a parting injunction to take care
of myself. and to beware of p%ickpockts,
l started.
There were several people in the omni-
bus when I took my place, but ss a pass
ing glance told me they we're respectable,
! did not notice them further. We rode
along without anything Of note occurring
until we arrived at Regents Circus, where
we stopped for a few minutes.
Several persons got in amongst them
l observed a most elegantly dressed man,
who took q seat opposite me. | felt
rather surprised at seeing such a dandy
10 an omnibus, and looked at him with
some curiosity. lie was a good looking
man, but had something in his face | did
not like; and | thought | should be very
sorry to be in his power. l then happen
ed to glance at bis hands /; they were
white and small, and on the little finger
of the right hand l noticed a splendid
diamond ring. There was no mistake
abont its being genuine, it sparkled and
glistened SO beautifully. was passion
ately fond Of diamonds. If | have a
weakness-and l believe every one has
for something or other-t was for them.
l never felt tired of looking at diamonds.
but unfortunately l possessed but few.
l noticed that the gentleman seemed
rather 6dgety, and had a sort of restless
movement about bis fingers.
When we reached the bank, more than
half the people got out, The man with tn
ring also /; of course there was some
slight confusion, SO many moving from
their seats at one time, and l felt myself
very much pushed, but imagined it was
by accident. When, however, arrived
at my destination, l found bad been
mistaken ; putting my hand into my
pocket, to nv CONSERVATION, my purse
was gone. l felt more annoyed at the
fact than at the loss ; for, most forum.
ately, ! bad only few shillings in it ; aud
had always boosted that my pocket had
never been rt1ed, and, was vexed to think
that l could say so no longer. The con.
ductor was. very polite, for a wonder,
and said l could serd my fare to the
Office 10 postage stamps. l then trausac
ted my business, and asked the gentle
man whow ] had come to see to lend me
q shilling, to take me home, as I had
lost my purse. l then returned to my
house, feeling that my husband would
laugh at me.
"Why, little woman, what is the maj
ter? What are you looking so serious
about 7" exclaimed my husband on my
entrance. "What has my darling bad to
trouble her ~
II have had my pocket picked" I re
piled, and the same time putting my
hand into it, and feeling something in
one corner. l took it out, when, to my
establishment. l found it was the lovely
diamond that had attracted my attention
In the omnibus.
"Where on earth did you get that
from p said my husband, with looks of
amazement plainly depicted OF his u
tenance.
/, equally surprised, replied, " that ]
knew not, but had seen the identical ring
on q gentlemsn's finger in the omnibus"
l was only q moment perplexed and
bewildered, when suddenly the truth
flashed across me, that the exquisite was
. thief, and the weather being cold and
damp, had caused the ring to be loose,
and whilst taking my purse, it had slip
ped off bis finger without bis knowledge
Such. undoubtedly. vas the case, for l
never heard any inquiries about it, and /
have the ring to this day. / have been
told by judges that it is very valuable
need hardly say my husband did not
laugh at me, but considered me extreme.
'ly lucky. I felt delighted NTH my treas
IRE, and thought / would not frequently
losing my purse, if l could be SO we'll
compensated.
A steambost captain on the lakes was