Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-07
How I Fell Among Thieves.
fHsrper's Bazar.l

IL
am single English lady or good position
and independent means-from four to five hun
dred pounds year. / have no near relations
and no settled home, my health making II ad-
v1sable for me TO spend the winter abroad. In
summer and autumn am glad to be In my '.ain
countree," and my friends kindly assure me
that | am always welcome at their various
houses. desire no pleasanter way OF passing
the time am able to spend in my native coun-
try; and my means have hitherto enabled me,
with due economy, to prevent my visits from
becoming burdensome TO those whose fortune is
less wide than their hospitality OF heart | am
anxious TO make this clear, because 1t may be
thought that In the tale am about to tell, there
breatheS spirit OF niggardlineSS unworthy the
posseSsor OF the comfortable income have mem
toned But every one knows his own business
pest; and though ana aware that many even
OF the friends who are acquainted with the exact
amount OF my fortune think IL must De more
than sufficient for my solitary wants. the estl-
mate Is unfair MY own PERSONA eH4 9rs IN
1 must have maid. must travel ike lady,
which too often means In this country, that
my maid must travel ike a lazy also. L must
be ready with perennial stream of loose silver
for guards and porters with handsome walls
for servants, meaning not only the house
maids and coachmen-who once on time were
the only terrors in ones path-but the buffers
footmen and pages amongst whom my lot may
be cast. have my hotels, boarding houses
and travelling expenses abroad; and I like of
course, to bring little presents. when | come
home. to my friends and their children. Then
there are ones charities doctors and church
enough and TO spare-only people think have
more than enough. l am alone in the world: |
have neither husband nor children to think OF
nave no poor relations openly and directly
dependent on my purse, no household to pro-
vide for, no visitors to entertain, no taxes say
the thoughtless and superficial, to pay. What
can do with my money? What but be ready
to give 1t to anybody who chooses TO lay claim
to it, my creditors being all the more numerous
because not one has any special right to the
post.
When say that have been lately in Italy it
may be supposed from the title of this paper
that the following is tale OF brigandage
abroad, In which my own courage and presence
OF mind are TO call for the admiration or all who
may read it. Let me at once state that never
met with any vulgar robbers-they are vulgar
enough now-even in Italy, and that have
never riSked my maids life or my own in i'm
prudent expeditions In search of the pictur-
esque. And let me confess at once that showed
neither courage. presence OF mind, nor even,
perhaps. common sense In the circumstances |
am about to describe. Indeed, but for faint
hope that the recital of my misfortunes may in
duce other sufferers to join me In protesting
against tyranny becoming year by year more
dangerous and oppreSSive-which is injurious,
moreover, as much to the moral characters of
those who inf1ict 1t as TO the purses and temp
ers OF those who wrtthe under it-well, If did
not hope that others, as weak Singly as myself,
might yet be found collectively strong enough
TO denounce and revolt against the blackmail
system OF which am going to give an in
stance. should prefer to submit to It in silence,
and only Try to forget what l was helpless
enough TO endure.
On my return from the Continent last year I
went to pay my usual round of country visits,
quaintance had Only made the previous sum-
mer, having met and taken a fancy to one of the
girls at the house OF mutual friend. While
abroad heard from her that she was going to
be married. and of course wrote TO offer nv
congratulations. In reply came a pressing in
Vitation TO pay the family visit and to be pres
ent at the marriage. which was TO take place at
their country seat in Scotland. This invitation
at once rashly accepted; and as l was going to
wedding, determined not to so empty hand
ed. Indeed, ! had already, thought, provided
myself with the needful wedding present, hay
ing, while at Naples, been tempted into buying
an extremely pretty little bookstand in carved
oiye-Wood not. grant you, a re1y costly thing,
but really very pretty and useful and more eX-
pensive-for it was beautifully carved and In
ia1d-than an Ignorant person might suppose.
1t was somewhat cumbrouS to carry and
endless was the bother my maid and | had to
make it iii into its proper corner OF my trunk
The damage its sharp edges did to my frills,
tween my faithful Abigail and myself and as
for the worry and anxiety 1t caused me on
rather roundabout homeward journey, when
my dread OF its being injured by rough usage
was constantly bringing down on me the SuS-
picions OF dO"dHterS and gpas-ddJ7aes. | should
never have done If l began to chronicle my
over, and myself arriving, with my troublesome
but precious convoy. safe at the home OF nv
friends the Macivors- let US call it Loeb Cateran.
pass over the arrival itself, and my welcome
which was all that weary traveller could
desire. Indeed il must be understood that
except iii one particular, have no cause but to
feel grateful for my treatment while ln the
power of this amiible though ruthless gang.
Each member OF IL individually is charming.
Nevertheless have been deSpoiled, and Bit
terneSS must now m1ngle with my recollection
OF what should have been cheerful and agree
able visit.
My maid and l had unpacked the terrible
bookStand for. as we fondly hoped, the last
time. Its dlabolical propensity to evil induced
1t, on taking its departure forever from the
vicinity OF my long-sunering wardrobe to
spring out OF my maids hands on to the top of
my best cap We Srnothered our groanS. how
ever. in songs of rejoicing at being at last rid of
our imp OF mischief; and as We unWrapped it
from Its coverings, and set it on table. over
Joyed TO ind its delicate tracery, clear-cut
corners, and polished surface unframed, we
felt almost repaid for our troubles.
wei, TO b" sure, Ii is pretty" said my maid.
I'm sure ma am. there won't be Il prettier
wedding present than that amongst them all"
s.. hope they win ike it., said |, modcstly
How glad felt afterward that ! had not be-
trayed TO my maid my own secret proud an
ticipatiODS OH the subject
settled in nv own mind most fortunately
no, perhaps should say most unfortunately
that would defer the presentation of my gift
until the next day. The first evening there
would be so much TO talk Of 50 much to hear and
tell. My beautiful bookstand now that had
nothing more to do with its transport I could
heartily appreciate its perfection) would add too
much TO the excitement OF the evening. Pleas
ure would almost become safety. Better enjoy
for few hours longer the prospect OF che happy,
grateful looks which o-morrow should be cen
tered on my present Probably the pleasure
would be enhanced by surprise. They could
hardly trle'f me TO give wedding present see.
ing that there was not the most distant shade
or relationship between us, and that our friend
Ship was OF such short standing. But how de-
nghtful II is 10 confer uneXpected Dement'S, Did
grudge the money and trouble this present had
cost me? Far from il.
AT dinner we talked good deal OF my travels
SLOW charming! What a delightful winter
you must have had dear Miss Fairgame, said
one after another OF my listeners. as In the in
nocence OF my heart, told where | had been
''liow should like TO travel about as you do.r
All said l but you know travel for
health as much as for pleasure
''Wen. shouldn't mind travelling for health
TOO. But one must be rich 10 do that. especially
noWad9y, when, as you say, prices have risen
30 much everywhere"
'Yes, replied incautiously: SIT Is shocking
the way IN which prices have risen. IL is the
fault OF those Americans. Now at Naples
where vas for a short time"
"Ch were you at NapleS?-were yo, really at
Naples? exclaimed Flora, the bride elect who
mad hitherto seemed TO take a less vivid interest
than the others In my humdrum travels. being
very naturally preoccupied with her own ap.
preaching honey moon trip ''Oh, tell me- did
you see an
IAN eruption OF Yersuvius? Yes, said I. with
all travellers satisfaction in finding the con-
Xersation DIN so iturally toward the most