The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-06
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III he could make her a ladyship, Mr. fot.
fridge ended by thinking that be could best
secure his object by causing himself 10 De
resiected MAYOR, and arranging, il possible,
that a. r. IA. the Prince OF Wales snouid
nav visit TO Scarborough during the term
OF his Office. Intent upon this scheme,
Mr. Pottridgc came up to town 10 call
unon Lord BeaconSfield. Lord Beacons-
field hearkened Kindly to the grocer,s
PRAYER. scarborough was about TO lnauga-
rate some public baths, the first es'aoiisn,
ment OF the kind ever seen 10 the town, ana
nothing could be more suitable than mat inc
heir to the throne should preside over the
ceremonial. "Truly,' said the Premier po-
litely, when he had heard the alderman
speak, .the cleanliness OF the people must
always be matter OF interestln: concern W
those who are brought into relations Win
them. | shall be happy to take her Males.
TVS commands on the-ahem :-puDllc-spl-
rited proposal which you have laid before
me-" -.
"If you can manage it, my Lord, shoula
be clad IL the visit could take place some
time after the 9th Of November next, for
shall be mayor then, and able to see that
reception given is proper one"
n ALI. quite sol" answered Lore Bea.
consfieid, dropping his eye. glass, Tor ne hao
studied Mr. Pottridge through it, and knew
the man by heart.
Leaving Whitehall, Mr.. Pottridge saun-
tered towards Regent street. and as ne
walked along life seemed rosy to MN De-
cause of Miss Dott. He began to stare into
the shop-windOws, admirng pretty things
which be was tempted to buy Tor MS love.
He was turning over this fancy ana 1umDllng
wistfully at the pocket where his check.book
lay, when suddenly he beheld through the
window curious sight. An elegantly
dressed lady was seated at the counter eX-
aiming pieces Of Brussels lace. The shop
man ayerted his head for an instant, and she
deftly whipped up yard OF the costly tex
ture and transferred it to her pocket. The
shopnlan spread over the counter a number
Of SQUARE, fiat boxes, containing cambrlc
handkerchiefs, and once more turned away.
Again the lady's deft hand went to work,
and a couple OF handkerchiefs found their
way under her cloak. "Now. that woman
must have capacious pockets" soliloquized
She astonished Mr. Pottridge. "She's
cunning thief, anyhow, and I'll just step in
and warn the firm"
He hesitated moment, and whilst he
lowered about the doorway the lady came
out escorted BY an obsequious commission
airc with medals On bis breast. A footman,
one OF a row basking OH bench like oyS.
tiers, rose and signalled to the coachman OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS brougham, who at
once drove forward. Evidently this lady
was not an ordinary thief. She was tall,
dark person OF about thirty, superbly
dressed, and very handsome. Perceiving
Mr.. Pottridge, and seeing his glance fixed
on her as she waited for her carriage, she
eyed him with aristocratic upercliousnesS,
ana thereby settled her fate, for Smalbor-
ough's alderman, who could brook the dis
dain of a shoplifter, hurried into tue mcr-
GERS and explained what had happened,
speaking in SO excited voice that mum.
Der OF customers heard him.
Great commotion was caused by his an
nouncement, and the shopman who had
served her was quickly fred by the idea that
be had let himself be outwitted, Darling
out of the shop he accosted the thief as she
was stepping into her carriage, and said:
.Will you come back, if you please? There
is some mistake"
"What mistaken" asked she, turning
round with fash in her eyes. But she
grew ashy pale.
"Come back, please" repeated the SHOP.
man, q pushing young man, whose voice
broke from emotion.
A small crowd had already collected, and
the lady was obliged to retrace her steps;
but as she was about to enter the shop she
slipped her band into her pocket and let a
piece of lace fall on to the pavement. "No,
ma'an,, that won't do" cried Mr. Pottridge,
Selling the thief's wrist. "You're going
to pretend those things fell by accident into
the folds of your dress; We know that
trick" And officiously acting as searcher,
he plunged his hand into the pocket de-
spite the lady'S struggles, and drew out a
second piece Of lace, three cambria hand
kerchicf$, two pairs OF new gloves, one
pair OF silk stockings, and lady's silk era
vat. "WeI, 1 never!" exclaimed the
pushing sbopman, and there was murmur
among the Dystanders, including the lady'S
own footman, who looked like powdered
figure Of CONSERVATION.
"How dare you'll" screamed the lady,
purple with rage and modification as she
glared at Mr.. Pottridge; "Pll prosecute
you for assault. l told the shopman here
that | meant to buy these things. Let the
bill be sent to my address; Pm Mrs.
Pounceiorth-Keane
"Ah, dessay," responded the shopman,
"but Pm just going to give you into Gus
tody" -; and, rushing to the door, he beck
oned to a blue-coated member of the force.
One of the partners Of the firm, gay,
civil-spoken man, who had been summoned
from his study, now came forward; and nc
was at first disposed to rebuke the haste OF
his shopman, but it was too late. The po-
lieeman had already entered, and all tns
shopmen and shop. girls, the customers, anu
the desultory people crowding arouha the
door were instant in chorussing that Tue
thief should be made an example OF. Mls,
eane, seeing publlc oP'ulen
so dead against her, uttered ho"i' anu
fell swooning to the floor.
.sNever mind that, We'll soon rouse her,
said the policeman facetlousiy; loI Ut usu
not vet know that he had to deai Win !auy
who Kent brougham. "The magistrate Is
sitting now at Marlborough street; wei!
inSt 90 there at once and have her charged"
T6is arrangement was acceded TO-. ana IN
. Yew minutes the lady and the policeman
Tgbo had got abaslied by this time from find
W. himself seated on the silk cushions OF
carrisge) were riding to the police court in
Mrs Pounceforth-Keane own vehicle,
While Mr.. Pcttridge, the shopman, and the
mercer followed on foot to give evidence.
One would think that in case where the
offence was fragrant aud the testimony so
clear the magistrate might have sentenced
the defendant straight of to six months
imprisonment, and, indeed, had the thief
hepn a DersOn of the lower orders il Would